WHERE DO I MEASURE?

[imagine2frolic]

When I measure my beam in the hulls. Do I measure at the waterline, or the beamiest part of the hull? It makes a huge difference in ratio.

[Tnflakbait]

If you are looking for a length/beam ratio then I would say at the waterline.

[Whimsical]

If it aint in the water it has no effect so measure it at the waterline

Mike

[imagine2frolic]

That was my logical guess. I was pulling watertanks out last night from the bilge, and the question just came to me....THANKS

[gramos]

Originally Posted by imagine2frolic

When I measure my beam in the hulls. Do I measure at the waterline, or the beamiest part of the hull? It makes a huge difference in ratio.

ok i agree its a waterline measurement but its taken at the widest point of the hull then, its not a constant width throughout the length so how can it be a representative measurement ??

[GordMay]

Generally, the beam is the widest part of the hull, measured at a right angle to the length of the boat, no matter where it occurs (vertically).

[imagine2frolic]

I always managed to think of the beam being measured at the deck. With the waterline ratio to length on a multi seems it would be different. When I get back into the bilge tonight I will measure the width of the hull at the waterline also. I am just curious to see the difference in the ratio......14to1 as compared to 8to1 as an example

[David M]

Gord is correct. When you see specifications for boats, you are seeing the measurement for the absolute widest part of the boat.

If you want to measure beam for stability reasons you have to realize that the maximum width at the waterline might change as the boat heels because as the water "sees" it, the shape of the hull changes as angle of inclination changes.

[imagine2frolic]

David M ,
Is that different from the waterline on a cat? For ratio sake only. I understand the mono situation, but after reading all of these post about ratios on cats. I just started wondering where the measurement is taken last night while my head was below the waterline

[Joli]

B is not the same as BWL.

If you're going to measure waterline dimensions the next question that begs to be asked is........ do you measure static or do you measure at speed? Do you measure in light ship or do you measure fully loaded? And on and on........

It's been a long time since we've measured our boats (bwl, lwl, 7% lwl offsets,...)for racing, you can change the rating substantially by how you rig and ballast a boat. Today we just say screw it and have another beer......

[imagine2frolic]

Joli,

Nice friends you have there.....LOLOLOLOLOL

[Joli]

I just gotta make it to Octoberfest some day, beer and boobs

Sorry about the hijack, returning now to your regularly scheduled programing.

[44'cruisingcat]

I though one of them WAS you Joli!

If you're measuring for the LWL/BWL ratio then measure both length and beam at the designed waterline. If you measure LOA vs BOA on a cat you get some pretty slow sounding ratios.

[imagine2frolic]

44,

That was my thinking. That will teach me to get my head down in the bilge to work.........lolololololol....I'll send the wife next time

[Ex-Calif]

Originally Posted by Joli

It's been a long time since we've measured our boats (bwl, lwl, 7% lwl offsets,...)for racing, you can change the rating substantially by how you rig and ballast a boat. Today we just say screw it and have another beer......

I was gonna ask where she was gonna put all that freakin' beer.

Then I figured it out...