What Is a Pulpit on a Boat?

While the pulpit is a rather obscure bit of nautical terminology, the image of the pulpit is ingrained in many as a piece of classic nautical architecture. The result is that most people misunderstand what exactly a pulpit is. This is especially the case with modern boats, where the pulpit (if there is one) is usually quite modest.

Misconceptions

In the strictest sense, the pulpit is the railing at the bow of a boat. This applies even in instances where the railing is well inside the bow, contrary to the popular conception of a boat pulpit. This railing sometimes bends outward, with or without an extension. If a boat does not have railing along the front bow, it does not have a pulpit.

Common Meaning

The more popular and less nautical definition of a pulpit is an extended, railed platform jutting out from the bow. These were once very common for observation purposes. In the days before sonar and radar, it was often necessary to have a man placed out beyond the bow looking ahead at the local waters for obstructions. They were also useful for whaling and fishing. This kind of pulpit is instantly recognizable to many from the classic film "Jaws," as the Orca had a prominent pulpit. They derive their name from a general resemblance to the raised lecterns used for sermons and readings in many churches.

Modern Pulpits

The extended kind of pulpit is still in use on many boats and ships, although rarely for observation. It is more normal for a boat to have a small pulpit for a forward-deployed anchor. However, some whaling ships continue to use pulpits to mount their harpoon guns.

Rear Pulpits

The railing on a boat's stern is sometimes called the stern pulpit, but this use of the term is less common and not widely known. When used on modern boats, it is usually to describe a small railed platform for diving off the back of a boat.

Bowsprits

Sometimes confused with the pulpit is the bowsprit. This is a pole or tube that extends out beyond the bow. These are usually extensions meant to accommodate sailing rigging, but they are sometimes added to non-sailing vessels for strictly decorative purposes.