Prepare for the Water Survival 929 Test. Use flashcards, multiple choice questions, hints, and explanations. Get water safe!

Multiple Choice

Davit span is defined as what?

The davit span is the horizontal distance that the lifeboat’s supporting wire runs between the tops of the two davit arms. In a two-arm davit system, the lifeboat is hung from wires attached to each arm, and the span is essentially that wire length linking the arm heads. This distance matters because it sets how far apart the arms are and how far the lifeboat can reach during lowering, affecting clearance from the hull, deck fittings, and other equipment. It’s not the vertical distance from deck to water, not the length of an embarkation ladder, and not a rope used to secure the lifeboat.

The davit span is the horizontal distance that the lifeboat’s supporting wire runs between the tops of the two davit arms. In a two-arm davit system, the lifeboat is hung from wires attached to each arm, and the span is essentially that wire length linking the arm heads. This distance matters because it sets how far apart the arms are and how far the lifeboat can reach during lowering, affecting clearance from the hull, deck fittings, and other equipment. It’s not the vertical distance from deck to water, not the length of an embarkation ladder, and not a rope used to secure the lifeboat.