From: Mike Eckstein [mailto:mike.eckstein@yahoo.com] Chief Measurer
Thursday, April 24, 2008 11:16 AM
Subject: Boat Weighing Rule and Procedure


Boat Weight.

Strike existing displacement rules. Replace with the following:

Completed yacht minimum weight requirements

Displacement must be measured in order to receive a One-Design certificate. The Empty Boat Weight shall be a minimum of 6,950 pounds.

Empty boat weight is as defined below.

Each yacht must be weighed and meet the minimum yacht weight requirement to complete its measurement certificate.

The yacht must be weighed empty using a calibrated electronic scale.

Empty Weight is the weight of the boat in the following dry condition:

1. Fully rigged with all spars (including spinnaker pole), boom, standing rigging, backstay, 3 halyards (jib, main, spinnaker), main sheet,topping lift, downhaul, cunningham, and vang.

2. Engine.

3. One battery. Batteries larger in size than a Group 24, will be replace with a Group 24 for weighing.

4. Fitted “V” berth cushions on board in their normal positions. Bunk cushions may be fitted if they are integral to the bunk, ie. they are plywood with cushions permanently attached and together form the horizontal bunk top panel. These items will be described and noted on the boat’s certificate.

5. All permanent fixtures and fittings and items of accommodation whether detachable or not, including bunk and floorboards, hatches, companionway slide, portipotti, and winches.

6. Water tanks should be pumped dry.

The following items shall not be on board for weighing:

1. Sails, headsail and spinnaker sheets and guys, spare standing and running rigging.

2. Fuel, see note below.

3. Water and the contents of any other tanks.

4. Removable berth cushions other than the required “V” berth cushions and integral bunk top panels.

5. Food, cooking and catering utensils.

6. Anchors, chains, tarps, mooring lines and fenders.

7. Clothing, bedding, and personal effects.

8. All removable safety equipment. Including fire extinguishers, first aid kits, horseshoe rings, life preservers, etc.

9. Boat hook, removable swim ladder, etc.

10. Tools and spare parts.

11. Loose gear.

12. Fenders.

13. Winch handles

14. All other removable items including bilge water.


A standardized checklist is to be used and signed by the measurer who conducts the weighing to assure that all removable equipment is off of the yacht during the weighing.

If the fuel tank cannot be emptied, the fuel tank level is to be recorded and the yacht’s weight adjusted accordingly. The fuel quantity should be estimated using two methods and weight calculated at 7.1 pounds per gallon.

The preferred method of weighing is hanging the boat from a single point beneath a load cell.

The weight of lifting gear below the load cell (i.e. spreader bars, straps, shackles, etc.) must be determined and deducted from the gross weight. If not using a center lift point, and the boat is being pulled from the water, the slings should first be immersed in water.

The boat should be weighed twice, with all weight removed from the load cell between weighing. If any significant difference is seen, find the problem and repeat until two consistent readings have been made.

• Wind and rain can have noticeable effects. Wet decks and topsides can hold significant

quantities of water. Wind will also increase the readings.

• If sufficient freedom of movement for the load cell is not allowed, any torsion or twist

when lifting will be directly transmitted into the load cell, giving a potentially erroneous answer.

• Mooring lines and fenders must be accounted for if they are attached to the yacht during

weighing.

The yacht must weigh a minimum of 6950 lbs. A conforming yacht does not have to be re-weighed unless rebuilding or substantial revisions to the yacht are done which may affect its weight.

Any yacht that initially weighs less than 6950 lbs. shall be re-weighed with an empty fuel tank in order to confirm her minimum weight and to determine the amount of lead ballast corrector weight required, if any.

If the yacht is still below the 6950 lbs. minimum weight, lead or steel ballast necessary to bring the yacht up to the minimum weight must be divided equally between the port and starboard sides of the yacht and permanently mounted to the inner hull. The ballast shall be formed of rectangular blocks measuring approximately 4 inches by 8 inches by a maximum of 2 inches thick and when installed, shall project no more than 2.5 inches inboard of the inner hull skin. The ballast shall be securely glassed onto and encapsulated onto the inner hull in a single row, centered fore and aft of the chain plates, equally divided between starboard and port sides and be located no more than 10 inches below the hull-to-deck joint.

The boat shall be re-weighed and a follow-up inspection of the installation of the required weight shall be made to assure that the weight was installed and properly distributed prior to issuance of the measurement certificate.

The completed measurement certificate will be signed only after the yacht has met the minimum weight requirement. The certificate, containing critical hull and rig measurements, will be issued and is not required to be updated unless modifications affecting the yacht’s compliance with the minimum class weight or affecting critical rig dimensions are made. The amount and location of any added ballast weight is to be documented on the certificate.

The yacht’s owner must declare each year that the yacht has not been modified, in order to obtain a current certificate.