Bow (ship)

From Simple English Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

This article is about the ship part. For other meanings, see Bow.
Bow of the Cruise ship Spirit of Endeavour
Bow of the Cruise ship Spirit of Endeavour
The bows of lifeboat 17-31 (Severn class) in Poole Harbour, Dorset, England
The bows of lifeboat 17-31 (Severn class) in Poole Harbour, Dorset, England
View from the forward superstructure of the Scharnhorst, looking toward the bow, as the ship throws spray while underway during the winter of 1939-40
View from the forward superstructure of the Scharnhorst, looking toward the bow, as the ship throws spray while underway during the winter of 1939-40

The bow is the forward part of the hull of a ship or boat, the point that is most forward when the vessel is underway. The bow is designed to reduce the resistance of the hull cutting through water and should be tall enough to prevent water from easily washing over the top of it.