If your fleet draws 36 feet and your keel draws 4 feet, what is the clearance from the water's surface to the bottom of the keel?

To find the clearance from the water's surface to the bottom of the keel, you need to subtract the depth of the keel from the total draft of the fleet. The total draft of the fleet is given as 36 feet, which represents the vertical distance from the waterline to the lowest point of the hull (in this case, the bottom of the keel). The keel itself draws 4 feet, indicating how much deeper it extends into the water.

Using the formula:

Clearance = Total Draft - Keel Depth Clearance = 36 feet - 4 feet Clearance = 32 feet

This calculation shows that the clearance from the water's surface to the bottom of the keel is indeed 32 feet, making this the correct answer. Understanding this relationship between the total draft and the keel's depth is critical for navigation and ensuring that vessels do not run aground or encounter submerged obstacles.