If you were to cut through a hull as if cutting a
slice of bread from a loaf you would see the shape of the section at that
point. Designers commonly draw ten sections for a modest-sized hull, of which
the midship section, or midsection, is sometimes called the ‘master section’
since it sets the shape for all the others and does much to stamp a character
on the hull as a whole. (See also: Lines, Bilge and Chine.)