bearing boards— The wood members that transmit the deckloads to the floats in some 

 floating-dock systems. 



bedding layer— The first and lowermost layer of gravel or stone that acts as a bearing layer 

 for larger stones or armor units placed upon it. It also functions as a filter layer for the 

 material beneath the structure. 



benefits— The dollar value placed on the overall contributions of a project such as a marina 

 to the economy, including the indirect as well as the direct contributions (as 

 distinguished from actual revenues). 



benefit-cost ratio— The ratio of the estimated average annual benefits from a project to its 

 estimated average annual cost, including debt-servicing, periodic replacement of major 

 components, operating expense, and maintenance. 



berm— A nearly horizontal part of the beach or backshore formed by the deposit of material 

 by wave action. Some beaches have no berms, others have one or several. 



berth— A place where a boat may be secured to a fixed or floating structure and left 

 unattended. 



berthing area— The water area in which craft are berthed. 



bifurcation— A division of the main stream or channel into two branches, often caused by an 

 island or exposed bar in such a manner that the two branches remerge into a single 

 channel downstream. 



bight— A bend in a coastline forming an open bay. A bay formed by such a bend. 



boat— Any type of surface craft that may be berthed in a smaU-craft harbor. 



boater— A person who uses any type of small craft. 



breaker depth— The Stillwater depth at the point where the wave breaks. 



breakwater- A structure protecting a shore area, harbor, anchorage, or basin from waves. 



bulkhead— A structure or partition to retain or prevent sliding of the land. A secondary 

 purpose is to protect the upland against damage from wave action. 



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