Nautical Term: Body plan
Definition of Body plan
A body plan refers to a detailed two-dimensional representation of a ship’s hull. This representation is composed of a pair of half-transverse and elevations, which share a common vertical centerline. The right side of the body plan depicts the ship as it appears from ahead, while the left side shows the ship as it appears from astern. Water lines, buttock and bow lines, diagonal lines, and other various details are also included in the body plan.
For example, let’s consider the body plan of a sailing ship from the late 1800s. The body plan would depict the outline of the hull, complete with all the various waterlines, buttock and bow lines, and other various details. The body plan would serve as an essential tool for shipbuilders and naval architects, allowing them to accurately design and construct ships with optimal efficiency and performance.
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