A plan where the shape of the hull up to the moulded dimension is drawn. Three basic views are drawn on it: the longitudinal elevation or profile showing the general outline, the half-breadth plan showing the shapes of the deck and waterline, and the body plan giving the transverse sections. This information describes the hull shape in three dimensions.
If there are no plans available it is often necessary to “take-off” the lines of a yacht or small craft to produce drawings for subsequent technical work. The lines plan produced in this way may be needed for stability calculations prior to certification, or to enable modifications to be planned for the interior spaces or accommodation.