Anatomy
Ligne de flottaison
Définition
La ligne où la coque rencontre la surface de l'eau lorsque le navire flotte.
Ligne de flottaison in practice
The waterline length (LWL) is a key figure in yacht design: the longer it is, the faster a displacement boat can go. Theoretical hull speed in knots is roughly 1.34 times the square root of LWL in feet.
Many boats have a painted boot-top stripe at the waterline. If it is underwater, the boat is overloaded or loaded unevenly.
Common questions
- What is hull speed?
- The speed at which a displacement hull's bow wave and stern wave match its waterline length. Going faster needs a huge increase in power.
- What is antifouling and why does it stop at the waterline?
- Antifouling paint stops weed and barnacles growing on the hull. It is applied below the waterline, where the hull is immersed.