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

Multiple Choice

In lifeboat davit systems, what is the primary function of the falls?

Falls are the lifting lines of a lifeboat davit system. They are the cables that attach to the lifeboat and run through the davit’s pulleys to the winch. When the winch operates, the falls are wound in or paid out, creating the upward or downward movement of the lifeboat with controlled speed. Their purpose is to provide the lifting force and precise lowering of the boat during deployment and recovery. The boat’s buoyancy comes from its hull and flotation gear, not from the falls; securing to the deck and the release hooks are separate functions related to attachment and release, not the actual movement provided by the falls.

Falls are the lifting lines of a lifeboat davit system. They are the cables that attach to the lifeboat and run through the davit’s pulleys to the winch. When the winch operates, the falls are wound in or paid out, creating the upward or downward movement of the lifeboat with controlled speed. Their purpose is to provide the lifting force and precise lowering of the boat during deployment and recovery. The boat’s buoyancy comes from its hull and flotation gear, not from the falls; securing to the deck and the release hooks are separate functions related to attachment and release, not the actual movement provided by the falls.