Question about the length of a boat

[weheritage]

I' am well awaire of the various ways to measure a boat. For instance, if you have a 35 foot boat, up in the bar it is probably a 40 footer. But when you pulled in to dock her over night, shes a little over 30 . But my question is L.O.A. If a boat is 33 feet on deck and has an additional 7 foot bow sprit is she 33' or 40' L.O.A.?

[Tom Hunter]

Do you own a marina or a boat with a bowsprit?

[S/V Laura Ellen]

My yacht club would insist that a 33' boat with a 7' bowsprit would be a 40' boat.

If the boom extends past the stern rail by 3', they would call it at 43' boat.

[weheritage]

Boat with a bow sprit
http://www.weheritage.com/002A.jpg

[rbgarr]

In Maine all sailboats without motors are twenty one feet long. Longer boats need registration numbers. ;>

[Ian McColgin]

When I first brought my own schooner into what became my winter dock for decades, the owner asked how long she was. I said, "Thirty three feet on the water but I suppose you want length on deck." "Yeah." "Well, that's 43 feet." We just never discussed the 8 foot bowsprit and three foot boomkin . . .

The true notion of size involves tonnage. Marmalade is only 25 feet hull length (we don't discuss all that boom hanging out past the stern) but she displaces 6 tons. Serious size.

[Dan McCosh]

LOA and LOD are technically the same. Marina and dockage measurements are arbitrary, depending their policies. They often add the bowsprit, as that is the length of the dockage you are using. In Europe, this has resulted in boats with retractable bowsprits.

[Figment]

LOD and LOA are the same?
I must disagree.

[paladin]

That's why they invented tumblehome and retractable sprits....

[John B]

sigh, LOA is the length of the hull and has been since time began. a bowsprit is a spar.
Regardless of whether its quirky or less than intuitive, that how it was until marina managers got into it ,and corrupted the term.IE, the last short while.. say 25 years or so.

[Figment]

Yes, but LOD can be less than LOA.

http://www.jessemartin.net/images/solo/images/arrival_home_jpg.jpg

[John B]

:D The ole retrousse, eh.

[The Bigfella]

... and when Waterways ask you when anchored in Farm Cove - its 49'10"

They tried to kick me out of there for the Olympics Closing Ceremony because there is a 50' limit.

[George Ray]

LWL: Length Water Line
LOD: Length On Deck
???: Spar Length (includes the sprit sort of stuff)

[Ian McColgin]

A good example of the differences between LOD and LOA is Marmalade. She's 24' on the water, 25' LOA about half way up the stem, and 24-6 LOD.

We do no discuss the 4' or so of rudder that sticks out past the transom or the 4' more the boom that sticks back. Were we correctly charged for dockspace used up, it comes to 33' or, if we peaked the boom up really high, perhaps we cold get her down to 29'. The rudder does not ship readily.

A more controversial measure is 9".

[The Bigfella]

A more controversial measure is 9".

Ian !!!!

[John E Hardiman]

LWL = length of the waterline when sitting her lines
LBP = Length between perpendiculars is a lofting measurement, normally the distance between the deepest laden condition on the stem to the aft end of the rudder post at that waterline and trim
LOD = Length on deck is from the aft face of the stemhead on the highest full deck to the projection of the rudder post head to that deck.
LOA = Length overall is from the outside of the stemfitting to the furthest aft projection of the hull.
Spared length is from the tip of the sharks tail on the flying jibboom to the end of the spanker boom or boomkin, which ever is further aft.

Or so says I. ;)

BTW, Burns say 9" will please a Lady

[kc8pql]

When I titled my boat with the State of Ohio they said my boat was 45' measured from the tip of the bowsprit to the aft most edge of the transom hung rudder. When I turned the title in for Coast Guard documentation, they said my boat is 37 1/2', the length of the hull. I guess it depends on who wants to know and why.

[George Roberts]

While numbers impress some, the reported numbers do not affect the actual length.

[mmd]

Let's not confuse the issue by bringing up the details of L, B, D, & d as they relate to tonnage measurement, OK? <wink>

[Gary E]

Make it any length ya want with your CHAIN SAW

Anyone remember when a 2x4 actually was ?