🔍 Key Concepts

• Sea painter purpose – what the sea painter is used for during launching and towing alongside • Vertical vs. horizontal distance – how far the lifeboat is above the water vs. how far it is from the bow • Typical regulatory wording in 46 CFR and SOLAS about sea painter length (e.g., ‘sufficient length to…’)

💭 Think About

• Ask yourself: Is the required length mainly about how far the lifeboat is from the bow, or about safely reaching the water and holding position alongside? • Compare the answer choices: which one sounds like a fixed calculation, and which one sounds like a performance-based requirement tied to actual ship conditions? • Think about a vessel with a heavy list or trim: what happens to the point where the painter is made fast compared to the waterline, and what does that mean for the minimum safe length?

✅ Before You Answer

• Verify the primary function of a sea painter during launching (control alongside and towing, not position along the deck). • Check whether regulations specify a numeric formula for painter length, or a general requirement like ‘of sufficient length to…’. • Consider the effect of an adverse list or trim on how long the painter must be to still do its job safely.