Glossary · Dimensions
Waterline length
Also called: Longueur à la flottaison, LWL, flottaison
The length of hull in contact with the water when the boat is at rest.
As long as a hull is not planing, its top speed depends on its waterline length: the longer it is, the faster the boat can go. Hence straight or inverted bows, which lengthen the waterline without lengthening the hull.
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No source yet · updated 30 Sept 2026