How long is it ?

[Mike NZ]

Where should a boats length be measured?

 

[mattttt25]

Re: How long is it ?

there are quite a few measurements, all useful. loa or length over all, is the largest dimension, measured from bow to stern at the longest point. can be misleading, especially if the boat has a bow pulpit and swim platform. the waterline length is just that, measured from bow to stern, but at the waterline. usually less than the loa. another length would be usable length, which i think really matters. measure from bow to stern, and skip any pulpits or attachments. be careful when shopping for boats and using their models (420 sedan, 200 center console, 240 walkaround). the number doesn't always mean the same thing.

 

[Mike NZ]

Re: How long is it ?

Thanks Mat, I am having a boat built and I ordered 5.8m or 19ft, after running a tape over it we get 5.4m with swim platform and bow rail we get 6m. I was fishing for what is in the average boaters mind when refering to lenghth. For me its bow to stern exluding any tack ons. Buyer beware.

 

[ISkiH2O]

Re: How long is it ?

Most boats aren't exactly the length they are called. +/- several inches isn't uncommon.<br />Didn't you see the 19 FT boats this manufacturer had made before ordering?<br />Does the 200mm (8 inches) make that big of a difference. We are talking about a 19 FT boat.

 

[Northern Eclipse]

Re: How long is it ?

I judge a boats length at the water line, that is whats wet when sitting at the dock, I don't pay to much attention at the model, for example my current boat is a Wellcraft 196 Eclipse, which some people believe would be 19.5 feet not so it is actually registered as a 19ft on the vessel permit, If I take a tape measure to it at the rubrail its 21ft 8inches, some manufactures would suggest it a 22foot, but its true length at the water line is in fact 19ft, therefore the vessel permit is correct in this case, I have had a few gentlemens disscussions, as to what is my boats length which tends to be with somebody that has just purchased a new 19 or 20 foot boat, when put beside mine theirs looks much smaller, I even had one fellow boater comment that my Wellcraft is the Biggest 19ft he ever saw... I thought a foot was a foot ..but it seems with boats that is not always true.

 

[Bob Kimber]

Re: How long is it ?

Hi Mike NZ<br /><br />As Mattttt25 said there are several ways boats are measured, LOA is the length around the rub rail or rubber on the gunnel where the deck joins the hull, sounds OK but is not a good indication of true dimensions, waterline length is not commonly used in Australia or probably NZ either. The measurement used by the older makers such as Haines Hunter used to be centre line measurement (CL), this is down the centre of the boat from transom to bow and is the best indicator of true length, EG my boat is 17ft 2ins CL but is well over 18ft LOA. When you measured your boat is this how you did it? The builder has probably used LOA for the size as it seems more impressive, they will also include any pod or pulpit (bowsprit) to increase the dimensions.<br /><br />Bob

 

[Mike NZ]

Re: How long is it ?

Iskih2o; If the boat is measured bow to stern exluding fittings we are 400mm short of actual work area. Does it matter? Not really the sun will still come up tomorrow (I hope) Yes I did sea a simaler boat but didn't measure it.<br />Bob has sussed it out pretty well, boat builders are in a transision of changing over from hull length to LOA to market their boats with increaed length. Its a dirty trick but I'll get over it. Lifes cool. The summery of the matter is it is not that clear really. I can't imagine old school boat builders ever shortchanging their clients. I like Nth. E comment ''I thought a foot was a foot''. Regards Mike.