A boat is not a single piece of equipment but an amalgamation of many boat parts. The component boat parts can be well over a thousand in number. A modern boat is a very complicated piece of machinery, which retains all the traditional boat parts. To know your boat well, you need to know the boat parts well. The hull is one of the important boat parts. It consists of an internal network of frames, which extends transversely all along the boat. The hull runs longitudinally and is generally covered by outer shell plating made of fiberglass or metal. Keel is an important boat part, which runs along the bottom of the boat. It is placed in a central location and is acknowledged as the backbone of the boat. The bow is another essential boat part. The shape of the bow is made in such a way that it lifts with the waves, rather than cutting through the waves. In this fashion, the resistance of the waves on the boat is reduced. The deck is the boat part on which the passengers get to relax and have a stroll. The deck is also curved, from one side of the stem to the other, giving the boat its necessary curves. This reduces resistance due to water and air. The top of the deck is generally flat and is utilized for the relaxation of the passengers. The flare and the tumblehome are the other curved boat parts, which give the much needed streamline motion to the boat. The flare increases the displacement of the boat and it is the outward turn of the hull, while the sides of the boat come up from the waterline. The tumblehome is actually the reverse of the flare. The tumblehome is the shape of the hull, as seen from the gunwale and it is the upper edge of the side of a boat, to the waterline. The chine is the boat part which remains invisible to our eyes, as it remains under the waterline. The handling and the speed of the boat depends upon the shape of the chine. Another important boat part is the stern. The stern helps in maintaining the overall balance and stability of the boat, in high seas. The rudder and the propeller consist of the other important boat parts, which are required for steering of the boat. The rudder actually steers the boat, while it is driven by the propellers. There are many more boat parts which are not standard in all boats, but are part of the expensive boats. Navigation system along with GPS is one of them that have become a part of the modern boats.