Question 118General Subjects - 1st Asst/Chief

The correct answer is B. The drive arrangement where the drive motor, electric brake, and gear reducer are mounted on the deck below the weather deck, while only the capstan head is located on the weather deck, requires a flexible coupling between the reduction gear output shaft and the capstan head input shaft. This is necessary to accommodate the relative movement and misalignment that can occur between the components on different decks. The other options are incorrect because: A) the components are all hung from the underside of the weather deck, so a flexible coupling is not necessary; C) with all components on the weather deck, a flexible coupling is not required; and D) a flexible coupling is not universally required for all three drive arrangements.