Lateral plan
The lateral plan (from lateral : "laterally") is the lateral projection of the underwater surface of a ship or boat . It counteracts lateral drift - the larger the lateral plan, the less the watercraft drift.
Estimates of the maneuverability of the ship can be derived from the form of the lateral plan. Depending on whether the keel is long, short or deep, one speaks of a long, short, deep or flat lateral plan. A large and elongated lateral plan causes good course stability, but reduces the speed with a correspondingly large frictional resistance. A small and short lateral plane (in part: split or "trimmed" lateral plane) has a lower resistance, the boat but rather tends to be "from the rudder to run", that is to undesirable changes of direction.
The geometric center of gravity (center of gravity) of the lateral plan is referred to as the lateral center of gravity or also as the lateral pressure point .