Basic Boating Information

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BOAT LENGTH

The length of a boat is established by the manufacturer, following guidelines set by the U.S. Coast Guard (USCG). The only time you may need to measure a boat for legal purposes is if the original paperwork has been lost, if major modifications have been made to the hull, or if it is a homemade boat. Otherwise, the length listed by the manufacturer’s statement of origin is accepted as the official length of a boat.

Boats are divided into classes based on their length. There are four boat classes: Class A (less than16 feet), Class 1 (16 feet to less than 26 feet), Class 2 (26 feet to less than 40 feet) and Class 3 (40 feet up to 65 feet).