Hand Lead


A hand lead is a traditional tool used by sailors to determine the depth of water beneath a ship. It consists of a lead weight attached to a length of line, with markings indicating the depth. The lead weight is lowered over the side of the ship until it touches the bottom, and then raised back up to read the depth. Hand leads are still used today on some vessels, particularly smaller boats and ships, as a backup to electronic depth sounders. They are also used in situations where electronic equipment may not be reliable, such as in shallow or rocky waters.


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