Gross tons and net tons?

[alaskadog]

I have a question that should be an easy one for you salts that have travelled to other countries. I am planning to leave soon for Mexico and Central America. Cruising guides that I've been studying have suggested that I prepare crew lists in advance of arriving in port and have many copies ready for the authorities. The sample crew lists presented in the guides all have questions about the boat as well as the crew. Exit zarpes require much of the same information. About the boat, they want to know about gross and net tons (toneladas brutas and toneladas netas). My question is: Do they want to know what the boat really weighs or do they want to know the gross and net tons figures on the Coast Guard documentation? Because I've heard that some cruising fees are assessed on the basis of boat tons then I want to get by as inexpensively as possible but I certainly want to give them the figure they want. Documentation tons are more measures of boat volume than weight (i.e. the weight of my boat dry as listed by the manufactured is approximately 13,500 lbs; the documented net tonnage is 12 tons, twice what the boat weighs empty) . Thanks to all.

[GordMay]

I always declare 'Net Register Tonnage', from my Builder's Certificate.

For a short discussion of Tonnage, goto: http://cruisersforum.com/showthread....hlight=tonnage
~ Displacement Tonnage is the actual weight of the vessel and its contents.
~ Deadweight Tonnage is the maximum weight that a ship can safely carry when fully loaded.
~ Gross Tonnage or Gross Register Tonnage is the internal volume of a vessel.
~ Net Tonnage or Net Register Tonnage is Gross Tonnage less the volume of spaces that will not hold cargo (engine rooms, etc.).

[alaskadog]

Gord, Thanks, as always. I read the link you provided. The background info is illuminating. Apparently this is an internationally used system in the maritime world. So I will follow your lead and use the GRT and NRT measures of tons when preparing my crew lists.

[BC Mike]

The English spelling of the lower amount is nett with two ts.
Gross and nett. I think it is only the US and Canada that spell it wrong.
Michael