SHIP’S AXES

WATER PLANES
&
SECTION AREAS

2240
slug units
z

The ship’s structure is shown oriented about the three principle axes, x, y, & z
Where:
- The x-axis is the length of the ship, from which stations are measured
- The y-axis is the width of the ship, from which buttocks are measured
- The z-axis is the height of the ship, from which the water planes are measured
 M=?
y

WATERPLANE AREAS
Half Breadth distance

x
•0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10

Stations
• Stations are measured along the x-axis
• Half breadths, distances from centerline to the outer hull, are measured from the x-axis
• The area described by the inscribed area is called the water plane area, or A wp
•A different water plane is created as you move up or down the z-axis, or the depth of the ship
 1.99
Half-Breadths from Centerline (ft)
USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
STATION
WATERLINE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark 3.85 8.14 10.19 11.15 11.40 11.40 11.26 11.07 10.84 10.53 10.09
18' Waterline 3.72 -
16' Waterline 3.20 7.92 10.13 11.15
14' Waterline 2.41 7.36 9.93 11.10 11.39 11.40 11.26 11.07 10.84 10.53 10.09
12' Waterline 1.58 6.26 9.20 10.70 11.19 11.32 11.21 11.02 10.76 10.45 10.02
10' Waterline 0.97 5.19 8.39 10.21 10.93 11.17 11.05 10.84 10.59 10.27 9.84
8' Waterline 0.46 4.07 7.43 9.63 10.64 10.98 10.87 10.66 10.41 10.07 9.65
6' Waterline 0.00 2.94 6.25 8.81 10.15 10.65 10.56 10.32 9.97 9.56 9.04
4' Waterline - 1.80 4.60 7.23 8.88 9.65 9.67 9.25 8.50 7.27 3.08
2' Waterline - 0.72 2.44 4.44 5.85 6.39 5.46 0.80

Half Breadth Plan

12.00
10.00
8.00 10 ft w aterline
Y-axis

6.00 8 ft w aterline

4.00 6 ft w aterline
4 ft w aterline
2.00
2 ft w aterline
0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Stations (x-axis)

The half breadth distances can be presented in tabular form, as shown here. This is
for the YP. The graph depicts the water plane areas from the 2nd thru 10th water planes.
 roll
Half-Breadths from Centerline (ft)
USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
STATION
WATERLINE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark
18' Waterline
16' Waterline
The stations are the x-values...
14' Waterline
12' Waterline
10' Waterline And these are the y-values for the 2 ft water plane
8' Waterline
6' Waterline
4' Waterline
2' Waterline - 0.72 2.44 4.44 5.85 6.39 5.46 0.80

Half Breadth Plan

12.00
10.00
8.00
Y-axis

6.00
4.00 2 ft w aterline

2.00
0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Stations (x-axis)

The x- and y-values can be plotted, thus defining the water plane at that particular level
 Half-Breadths from Centerline (ft)
USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
STATION
WATERLINE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark
18' Waterline
16' Waterline
14' Waterline
12' Waterline
10' Waterline
8' Waterline
6' Waterline
4' Waterline - 1.80 4.60 7.23 8.88 9.65 9.67 9.25 8.50 7.27 3.08
2' Waterline - 0.72 2.44 4.44 5.85 6.39 5.46 0.80

Half Breadth Plan

12.00
10.00
8.00
Y-axis

6.00
4 ft w aterline
4.00
2 ft w aterline
2.00
0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Stations (x-axis)

The process can be repeated for the 4ft water plane,…..

 Half-Breadths from Centerline (ft)
USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
STATION
WATERLINE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark
18' Waterline
16' Waterline
14' Waterline
12' Waterline
10' Waterline
8' Waterline
6' Waterline 0.00 2.94 6.25 8.81 10.15 10.65 10.56 10.32 9.97 9.56 9.04
4' Waterline - 1.80 4.60 7.23 8.88 9.65 9.67 9.25 8.50 7.27 3.08
2' Waterline - 0.72 2.44 4.44 5.85 6.39 5.46 0.80

Half Breadth Plan

12.00
10.00
8.00
Y-axis

6.00 6 ft w aterline

4.00 4 ft w aterline

2.00 2 ft w aterline

0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Stations (x-axis)

…As well as the 6 ft water plane,…

 Half-Breadths from Centerline (ft)
USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
STATION
WATERLINE 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark
18' Waterline
16' Waterline
14' Waterline
12' Waterline
10' Waterline 0.97 5.19 8.39 10.21 10.93 11.17 11.05 10.84 10.59 10.27 9.84
8' Waterline 0.46 4.07 7.43 9.63 10.64 10.98 10.87 10.66 10.41 10.07 9.65
6' Waterline 0.00 2.94 6.25 8.81 10.15 10.65 10.56 10.32 9.97 9.56 9.04
4' Waterline - 1.80 4.60 7.23 8.88 9.65 9.67 9.25 8.50 7.27 3.08
2' Waterline - 0.72 2.44 4.44 5.85 6.39 5.46 0.80

Half Breadth Plan

12.00
10.00
8.00 10 ft w aterline
Y-axis

6.00 8 ft w aterline

4.00 6 ft w aterline
4 ft w aterline
2.00
2 ft w aterline
0.00
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Stations (x-axis)

…And every other water plane thereafter.

 z
SECTION AREAS

12
10
8
Height (ft)

6
4
2
Baseline

y
10 8 6 4 2 keel 2 4 6 8 10

Buttocks (ft)
• Buttocks are measured along the y-axis
• Heights, distances from the baseline to the hull’s outer surface, are measured along the z-axis
• The area described by the inscribed area is called the section or sectional area, or Asection

A different section is created at each station as you move along the x-axis, the ship’s length!
 USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
Heights Above Baseline, ft (z-axis)
STATION
Buttocks (y-axis) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark 18.50 17.62 16.85 16.19 15.65 15.24 14.97 14.79 14.71 14.71 14.70
10' Buttock 14.20 9.24 5.63 4.48 4.49 5.11 6.08 7.52 11.75
8' Buttock 16.59 9.14 4.82 3.24 2.71 2.77 3.16 3.71 4.36 4.97
6' Buttock 11.51 5.65 3.00 2.07 1.88 2.10 2.55 3.10 3.69 4.30
4' Buttock 7.87 3.40 1.76 1.32 1.41 1.78 2.30 2.86 3.45 4.08
2' Buttock 13.09 4.36 1.63 0.82 0.73 1.02 1.53 2.10 2.68 3.27 3.91
Keel 6.00 0.66 0.10 0.09 0.28 0.71 1.34 1.95 2.54 3.14 3.76

Section Areas
This is the height table for the
YP along with the constructed 18.00
Sta 0
sections
16.00 Sta 2

• Note that sections are presented 14.00 Sta 1

in half sections due to symmetry Sta 3

12.00
Sta 4
•Forward sections are on the 10.00
Z-Axis

right Sta 5

8.00 Sta 6
•Aft sections are on the left
6.00 Sta 7

Sta 8
4.00
Sta 9
2.00
Sta 10

0.00
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Buttocks (Y-axis)
 USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
Heights Above Baseline, ft (z-axis)
STATION
Buttocks (y-axis) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark 18.50
10' Buttock
8' Buttock
6' Buttock
4' Buttock
2' Buttock 13.09
Keel 6.00

Section Areas
Here is the table data for station
“0”, at the forward perpendicular 18.00
of the ship (FP)
16.00

• Note that it is relatively small 14.00

as expected since it is at the
“pointy end” of the ship 12.00

10.00
Z-Axis

•Due to the rise of the ship at the Sta 0

forward end, the keel is 6ft 8.00

above the ship’s deepest
6.00
baseline
4.00
•Again, only half of the section
is drawn due to symmetry 2.00

0.00
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Buttocks (Y-axis)
 USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
Heights Above Baseline, ft (z-axis)
STATION
Buttocks (y-axis) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark 18.50 17.62
10' Buttock
8' Buttock 16.59
6' Buttock 11.51
4' Buttock 7.87
2' Buttock 13.09 4.36
Keel 6.00 0.66

Section Areas
...And here is the table data for
Station 1. 18.00

16.00
• Again, the section is presented
in a half section due to symmetry 14.00 Sta 0

12.00

10.00
Z-Axis

8.00

6.00
Sta 1
4.00

2.00

0.00
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Buttocks (Y-axis)
 USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
Heights Above Baseline, ft (z-axis)
STATION
Buttocks (y-axis) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark 18.50 17.62 16.85
10' Buttock 14.20
8' Buttock 16.59 9.14
6' Buttock 11.51 5.65
4' Buttock 7.87 3.40
2' Buttock 13.09 4.36 1.63
Keel 6.00 0.66 0.10

Section Areas
...And so on for Station 2,...
18.00

16.00
Sta 0
14.00

12.00

10.00
Z-Axis

Sta 2

8.00

6.00

4.00
Sta 1

2.00

0.00
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Buttocks (Y-axis)
 USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
Heights Above Baseline, ft (z-axis)
STATION
Buttocks (y-axis) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark 18.50 17.62 16.85 16.19
10' Buttock 14.20 9.24
8' Buttock 16.59 9.14 4.82
6' Buttock 11.51 5.65 3.00
4' Buttock 7.87 3.40 1.76
2' Buttock 13.09 4.36 1.63 0.82
Keel 6.00 0.66 0.10 0.09

Section Areas
... Station 3,...
18.00

16.00 Sta 0

14.00

12.00
Sta 2

10.00
Z-Axis

8.00
Sta 1
6.00

4.00

Sta 3
2.00

0.00
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Buttocks (Y-axis)
 USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
Heights Above Baseline, ft (z-axis)
STATION
Buttocks (y-axis) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark 18.50 17.62 16.85 16.19 15.65
10' Buttock 14.20 9.24 5.63
8' Buttock 16.59 9.14 4.82 3.24
6' Buttock 11.51 5.65 3.00 2.07
4' Buttock 7.87 3.40 1.76 1.32
2' Buttock 13.09 4.36 1.63 0.82 0.73
Keel 6.00 0.66 0.10 0.09 0.28

Section Areas
... And for Station 4,and so on.
18.00

As we approach amidships and Sta 0

16.00
the ship begins to narrow aft, it
makes sense to show them on 14.00
the other side of the body plan... Sta 2
12.00

10.00
Z-Axis

Sta 1

8.00

6.00 Sta 3

4.00

Sta 4
2.00

0.00
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Buttocks (Y-axis)
 USNA YARD PATROL CRAFT TABLE OF OFFSETS
Heights Above Baseline, ft (z-axis)
STATION
Buttocks (y-axis) 0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
Top of Bulwark 18.50 17.62 16.85 16.19 15.65 15.24 14.97 14.79 14.71 14.71 14.70
10' Buttock 14.20 9.24 5.63 4.48 4.49 5.11 6.08 7.52 11.75
8' Buttock 16.59 9.14 4.82 3.24 2.71 2.77 3.16 3.71 4.36 4.97
6' Buttock 11.51 5.65 3.00 2.07 1.88 2.10 2.55 3.10 3.69 4.30
4' Buttock 7.87 3.40 1.76 1.32 1.41 1.78 2.30 2.86 3.45 4.08
2' Buttock 13.09 4.36 1.63 0.82 0.73 1.02 1.53 2.10 2.68 3.27 3.91
Keel 6.00 0.66 0.10 0.09 0.28 0.71 1.34 1.95 2.54 3.14 3.76

Section Areas
Finally, as the remaining stations
are plotted, the resulting body 18.00
Sta 0
plan for all sections looks like
16.00 Sta 2
this.
14.00 Sta 1

Sta 3
12.00
Sta 4
10.00
Z-Axis

Sta 5

8.00 Sta 6

6.00 Sta 7

Sta 8
4.00
Sta 9
2.00
Sta 10

0.00
-12 -10 -8 -6 -4 -2 0 2 4 6 8 10 12
Buttocks (Y-axis)
In summary, remember your axis labels and what they represent:

• x-axis represents the length of the ship. Stations are laid out on the x-axis
• y-axis represents the width, or breadth of the ship. Buttocks are laid out on the y-axis
• z-axis represents the height, or depth of the ship. Water planes are laid out on the z-axis

x
 And finally, the different areas of the ship are obtained by viewing different
combinations of axes:

Looking at x and y axes, or looking Looking at y and z axes, or looking

DOWN into the ship….. at the ship from the ends…..

y
z
Half Breadth distance

Height (ft)
0 1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10
x y
Stations Buttocks (ft)

…you’ll see the water plane areas …you’ll see the section areas