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How to Calculate Wetted Surface Area

Ship builders spend massive quantities of time and money on research and design in order to select the most efficient ship designs. While the size and shape of the hull play a large role in determining the speed and efficiency of a ship, the material or "skin" used to cover the hull is also an important factor. The wetted surface area is the area of the surface of the hull that is actually immersed in the water. Fortunately, the wetted surface area for a variety of different ships can be determined using a single formula.

Instructions

- 1
  Measure the vessel's length on the waterline (LWL). This is the length of the vessel from the bow ending of the waterline to the stern ending. Use care when taking this measurement as this is the primary figure used to calculate the wetted surface area.
- 2
  Measure the beam of the vessel. The beam is the measure of the widest section of the vessel's hull.
- 3
  Measure the vehicle's draft by taking the measure of the hull from the waterline to the bottom of the vessel's keel or fin.
- 4
  Calculate the wetted surface area by adding the figures obtained for the draft and beam and then multiplying by the LWL figure.

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