The other day a question arose as to what a dashed line meant on the plans. The answer, of course, was that it was a hidden line, in back of what is being seen. The reply "But how do you know that?" is a legitimate question. Perhaps, too often, we assume something is common knowledge. So a short review as to the type of lines used in standard drafting procedures seems appropriate. Yes, of course, there are many standards. For example, the hidden line technically should have a certain length of each dash and a set spacing between them. A computer may follow this standard, but let's be practical; a draftsman with pencil in hand drawing a hidden line does not measure the length or spacing of dashed lines. Let's take a look at the most common of these lines used on boat plan drawings... _______________ Solid Line; This outlines an object being seen or lines seen in the plane being viewed. _ ____ _ ____ _ ____ _ Dash, Long Dash, Dash, etc.; Indicates the centerline of what is being shown. _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ _ Dash, Space, Dash, Space, etc.; A hidden line, one that is in back of the object being viewed. _ _ ____ _ _ ____ _ _ Two Short Dashes, Space, One Long Dash, Space, etc.; Indicates out of the plane of reference... e.g. an object in front of that being shown. <----------------------------> Solid Line with Arrows on Either End; Used for indicating the distance between point ends of the arrows. Sure, most of you know this. But, just maybe not everyone.