Overhang

Overhang is the part of a vessel’s hull that projects beyond the perpendiculars, the forward overhang ahead of the forward perpendicular and the after overhang abaft the after perpendicular. The length overall therefore exceeds the length between perpendiculars by the sum of the two overhangs. A raked bow and a counter or cruiser stern create overhang that lengthens the effective waterline as the ship heels or pitches, adding reserve buoyancy and sailing waterline. Pronounced overhangs were typical of classic yachts and liners; many merchant ships now use near-vertical stems with little forward overhang.