Boat lengths , waterline or deck ?

[Total loss]

When an Ad. gives the length of a boat, is it measured at the waterline or the deck ?. Only on a speed boat it can make a big difference at the bow. Also am I correct in assuming that the length (which ever way) wont include the drive (inboard engine) poking out the back of the transom ?. This is all with regard to storing on land & buying a trailer .
Thanks
Martin

[SeeFive]

Typically, the default people talk about the LOA - length overall of the hull - not pulpit, davits our leg. Some mention LWL - length at waterline -again a hull measurement.

Edited by SeeFive on Friday 1st January 15:00

[Taffer]

Length quoted for most ships/boats is usually LOA - length overall. This is the maximum length of a vessel from the two points on the hull measured perpendicular to the waterline. So, deck (sort of) rather than waterline (which would change depending on the draught of the vessel anyway).

[village idiot]

LOA is normally absolute length overall (hence the use of the word 'overall') to include pushpit, pulpits etc etc). After that you have LOD (length on deck) which is effectively the physical hull length (ie without the bolt-on parts) and then you have LWL.

There are other measurements commonly used, mainly for the purposes of registration. For instance, above 24m the rules and regs on driving yachts changes dramatically, so you will always see a variety of yachts measuring in at 23.99m on their certificate of registration which are actually significantly longer in terms of LOA or even LOD. Physical aspects such as bulwarks and bathing platforms are often disregarded as they are not part of the original hull moulding.

[Rum Runner]

These measurements are quite often inaccurate and to be sure its best to measure it yourself. We have this problem a lot when transporting boats .

[Huntsman]

Rum Runner said:

These measurements are quite often inaccurate and to be sure its best to measure it yourself. We have this problem a lot when transporting boats .

I think this thread has demonstrated well that you need to check for each specific boat.

[Total loss]

Thanks to all for replying, 23/24 meters I don't think will ever be a problem for me even if I won the lottery ! 7/8 meters is all I am looking at.

[village idiot]

i remember back in the earluy 90's when fairline changed their naming/measurement policy for their model range.

you ended up with a targa 30/33, a targa 33/36 and so on... the difference was the LOA to the LOD... quite confusing! (most notably if you said you had a targa 33)

i still laugh when people say that don't want a turbo 36 as they only want the larger turbo 38... same bloody boat chaps!