LOA stands for length overall: the length of a boat from its forward endpoint to its aft endpoint. The catch is that no single rule decides what counts as an endpoint. Whether a bowsprit, swim platform, outboard motor or rudder is included depends on the definition that applies to your boat and your purpose. In the U.S. Coast Guard regulation, LOA is “the horizontal distance between the forward-most and after-most points on the hull.”
How LOA is measured in practice
Start by identifying what the number is for: a registration form, a marina booking, a fisheries rule, a classification document or a brochure. Then follow that rule’s endpoints, measurement path and rounding. Each of these is a separate decision, and different authorities make them differently.
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How different rules define LOA
The examples below are official definitions, each limited to its own jurisdiction and purpose. They don’t combine into one universal list.
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U.S. Coast Guard
The regulation cited here defines LOA as the horizontal distance between the hull’s forward-most and after-most points. It treats LOA as one of several length measures (see the next section).
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EU fishing vessels (Regulation 2017/1130)
Length is the straight-line distance between the foremost point of the bow and the aftermost point of the stern. The result is stated in metres to two decimal places.
- Bow includes: specified watertight hull structure, forecastle, stem and forward bulwark.
- Bow excludes: bowsprits and safety rails.
- Stern includes: specified hull structure, transom, poop, trawl ramp and bulwark.
- Stern excludes: safety rails, bumkins, propulsion machinery, rudders and steering gear, and divers’ ladders and platforms.
NOAA Fisheries (U.S. fisheries definition)
NOAA describes a centerline longitudinal distance, rounded to the nearest foot, between specified foremost and aftermost portions visible above the waterline. Bulwarks count. Bowsprits and similar fittings are excluded at the bow. Rudders, outboard motor brackets and similar fittings are excluded at the stern. NOAA presents this as a fisheries regulatory definition and directs readers to the actual regulation for compliance.
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Washington State ownership applications
The state rule says to measure from the bow tip to the stern down the centerline. It excludes boomkins, swim ladders, outboard engines and other extremities, and you round down to the nearest whole foot. This is a state registration rule, not a universal convention.
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LOA runs from the foreside of the foremost fixed permanent structure to the afterside of the aftermost fixed permanent structure. Hull portions that can detach but are fixed for safe operation are included. A permanent, integrally moulded bathing or boarding platform is included. Excluded items include safety rails, bowsprits, bolted bow rollers, outboard motors, rudders, steering gear and removable platforms.
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Side-by-side: the common disputed items
| Item | EU fishing | NOAA fisheries | Washington | Transport Malta |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Bowsprit | Excluded | Excluded (and similar fittings) | Not named; “other extremities” excluded | Excluded |
| Outboard motor | Propulsion machinery excluded | Outboard motor brackets excluded | Excluded | Excluded |
| Rudder | Excluded | Excluded | Not named; “other extremities” excluded | Excluded |
| Swim/boarding platform | Divers’ platforms excluded | Not stated | Swim ladders excluded; platforms not named | Included if permanent and integrally moulded; removable ones excluded |
| Rounding / units | Metres, two decimals | Nearest foot | Down to whole foot | Not stated |
Where a cell says “not named,” the source doesn’t list that item explicitly, so don’t assume either way.
LOA versus related length measurements
The Coast Guard regulation separates LOA from three other lengths. Don’t swap one for another when reading a spec sheet or rule.
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- LOA (length overall): horizontal distance between the hull’s forward-most and after-most points.
- LWL (length on the waterline): distance between the forward-most and after-most points on the waterline.
- LOD (length on deck): measured along a specified deck between defined points, excluding sheer.
- LBP (length between perpendiculars): uses perpendiculars tied to the waterline at the deepest operating draft.
Why two length figures for the same boat can disagree
When two numbers don’t match, compare these five things:
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- Measurement path: straight line, centerline, waterline or along a deck.
- Appendages: bowsprit, platform, bracket, rudder, ladder, rails.
- Purpose or jurisdiction: registration, fisheries, harbor or classification.
- Units and rounding: nearest foot, round down, or two-decimal metres.
Which number to use
- Registration, licensing, legal limits or fees: use the governing authority’s definition and rounding, not a generic internet one.
- Marina or storage fit: a bowsprit, anchor roller, swim platform or outboard can add real length at the dock even when a rule excludes it. Ask what the figure includes, and measure the full extent if space is tight.
- Brochure or listing LOA: use the manufacturer’s stated measurement, and ask what it includes whenever a length threshold matters.
This article explains the terms and cites example rules. It isn’t registration or compliance advice for any particular boat.
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