How is the "stated" length of a boat "actually" measured?

[FairhopeAlabama]

How does manufacturer measure a boat for it's given specs?.....verses overall length?

Joel

[finbox]

you will have to use YOUR ruler to get the real measurements

[Onewolf]

There's no standard definition amongst manufacturers what constitutes the boat length. For instance the Contender 25 is 28 feet long. Some companies include the molded in pulpit length (like Key West) so that their "23" boat is actually more like 21 1/2 foot boat.

Like the previous poster said, you gotta bring a tape measure.

[t3rockhall]

LOA (Length overall) and LWL (Length at the waterline) are the most common.

If you are paying dock fees based on length, it will always be LOA. If you have your outboard up at the dock, they'll charge you for that additional length, too.

[CaptinMike]

boat from bow to stern engines not included in length

[UBETRUN]

I've always heard it's the length of the boat's rubrail. A bolted on pulpit or engine bracket doesn't count but a moulded pulpit or bracket does if a rubrail covers them.

[The Magster]

LOA is determined by the molded in components of the vessel. Engines don't count, although a Marina may "count" them so as to charge you more. Bolted on brackets and pulpits do not count towards LOA.

Most builders will understate LOA so as to leave them wriggle room to make last years 24 this years 25.

[ken2]

I think the reason there are so many answers, is there is no actual rule.

Some manufacturers count brackets, some don't, some count bow pulpits, some don't.


I'm honestly amazed noone has tryed to put a 5 ft bow pulpit, and 3 ft engine bracket on a 16ft Skiff, and call it the "Narwhale Offshore 2450"

[Boatdood]

I'm pretty tricky with this one. I measure to see how long it actually is, then I state what it is. If a pulpit is molded into the boat, I measure that. If not, I don't.

[A Few Dollars]

Originally Posted by FairhopeAlabama

How does manufacturer measure a boat for it's given specs?.....verses overall length?

However they wan't.

[obguam]

There used to be an industry standard ... hull lengths were measured at the centerline and fancy pulpits were not included. Most countries still follow this rule, but in America, the last thing we want is for Big Government to come between us and our trustworthy manufacturers.

[B-Faithful]

I don't know why the nmma hasn't come up with approved standards regarding this..

[OReely]

Boat mfg's that are certified by the NMMA have a standard to go by. The length of the boat is as molded. If a part such as the pulpit or the bracket are molded into the boat hull rather than bolted on, then it is counted as part of the length overall (LOA). If those parts are bolted on then they are not added to the LOA.

Boat mfg's that are not NMMA certified don't have to follow this rule. Some add, some don't. As others have said, you'll have to measure for accuracy.

Marinas and boat storage facilities are renting an envelope to contain your vessel, most of them don't care what the mfg says. They care about square footage. If your envelope needs to contain outboards, a bracket, and a pulpit then that's what the are going to charge you for.

[LI Sound Grunt]

Originally Posted by B-Faithful

I don't know why the nmma hasn't come up with approved standards regarding this..

They need to. Some manufacturers seem to use the tip of your anchor to the end of your wake. And judging by my last bill, seems the Marina is charging me for slip that size.

[gator1]

The NMMA standard is only used to determine what class the boat falls in for certification. Under 26 feet is the boat program, 26 and over is the yacht program. Beyond that, the builder has the right to call it whatever they want. For example, the comment above about a manufacturers' 25' boat actually being 28' long-the mfg can call it a 25 if they want. The certification, if the 28 feet is actual LOA, will fall under the yacht program, which is actually preferrable as it has fewer standards that apply than the boat program does.

[Nuke]

IT'S whatever the builder want's to call it / simular to HP ratings for example 48 hp Evenrude sold as 50 or a 140 hp suzuki actualy closer to 122 hp .. gets back to Marketing .got to sell it make it sexey

[PMac2277]

I have worked in the boating industry for 18 years and I can tell you that not only is boat length often questionably measured, so is boat weight. Get on 5 boats at a big show like Miami that are all supposed to be 31'. Typically 1 will seem bigger than the others, 1 smaller and 3 about the same in the middle somewhere. Take a tape measure to a boat show and use a consistent method for measurement and see what happens. Some of the manufacturers will have a hard time explaining the lack of length in their boats. NMMA boats do have a standard to go by and there are many requirements for a boat to meet their standards. If a boat your looking at new doesn't you need to know why not......

[mbb]

you can count on this, cheap boats are always overstated. They will call a boat a model 2500 that is really a 22' boat with a built in bracket and pulpit.

[Bly]

Originally Posted by mbb

you can count on this, cheap boats are always overstated. They will call a boat a model 2500 that is really a 22' boat with a built in bracket and pulpit.

Why? Because its not a complete boat with out the bracket! What the heck would you mount the engine OBs to? Buy a new Off Shore CC with no where to mount your 350 Yam OBs? Duh?

[svendsenjoel]

The "top tier" boats sometimes cheat a little also...but in the other direction. You might think, "wow, this 35 foot express seems a lot roomier than the other brands", and if you measured it you might find it is 36.5ft long, not including the pulpit.