Nautical Term: Water lines

Definition of Water lines

Water lines refer to parallel lines drawn on the outline of a ship at varying heights above the water surface. In the sheer plan, which is a two-dimensional representation of the ship’s profile, the water lines appear as straight and horizontal lines. In contrast, in the half-breadth plan, which is a three-dimensional representation of the ship’s cross-section, the water lines show the form of the ship at each of the successive heights marked. For example, in a paragraph describing the design of a ship, the author might write, ‘The water lines on the sheer plan reveal the graceful lines of the ship’s profile. In the half-breadth plan, the water lines demonstrate the three-dimensional form of the ship at each of the successive heights marked.’

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