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

Multiple Choice

The line seen in the window or marked on the compass bowl is called what?

The line in the window or marked on the compass bowl is the lubber's line. This is a fixed mark that points toward the bow and stays stationary while the compass card rotates beneath it. It shows the forward direction, so when you read the heading, you align the lubber line with the marks on the rotating card to know which way the vessel is pointing. The other terms don’t fit this feature: the horizon line is a reference used in different navigation contexts, not a fixed forward marking on a compass; the centerline refers to the vessel’s midline, not a compass feature; and baseline is a general reference line used in charts or calculations, not the forward-mark on a compass bowl.

The line in the window or marked on the compass bowl is the lubber's line. This is a fixed mark that points toward the bow and stays stationary while the compass card rotates beneath it. It shows the forward direction, so when you read the heading, you align the lubber line with the marks on the rotating card to know which way the vessel is pointing. The other terms don’t fit this feature: the horizon line is a reference used in different navigation contexts, not a fixed forward marking on a compass; the centerline refers to the vessel’s midline, not a compass feature; and baseline is a general reference line used in charts or calculations, not the forward-mark on a compass bowl.