Water Lines, or Lines of Flotation

Those horizontal lines supposed to be described by the surface of the water on the bottom of a ship, and which are exhibited at certain depths, upon the sheer-draught. Of these the most particular are those denominated the light water line and the load water line; the former, namely, the light water line, being that line which shows the depression of the ship's body in the water when light or unladen, as when first launched; and the latter, which exhibits the same when laden with her guns and ballast or cargo. In the half-breadth plan these lines are curves limiting the half-breadth of the ship at the height of the corresponding lines in the sheer plan.