What do length, beam, draft, and clearance mean?

These simply refer to the standard dimensions of a boat. Length refers to how long the boat is from the bow (front) to stern (back). The length of a vessel advertised by the manufacturer may be different than the length overall (LOA) of the vessel in person due to add one that boaters may customize their vessels with such as swim platforms at the stern or pulpits at the front. 

The beam of a boat is simply the width of the boat from the widest point to widest point. Most vessels are usually never greater than 18 feet to 20 feet in beam. However, most catamarans, regardless of length tend to be greater than 22 feet in beam, and sometimes may be as wide as 30 feet. 

The draft of a vessel is the minimum depth of water the boat needs to stay safely docked in mean low tide. It is one of the most important measurements if not the most important measurement on your listing. 

Draft requirements can vary greatly from manufacturer to manufacturer, but below is a rough guide on the draft requirements based on vessel size:

32 feet and under: 3 feet or less. 

32 to 45 feet: 3 to 4 feet

45 to 65 feet: 4 to 5 feet

65 feet or greater great: 5 to 7.5 feet

The exception to the above rules are sailboats with large, non-retractable keeps, which may have 5 to 7.5 feet draft requirements even though they are less than 65 feet in length. On the other hand, catamarans are typically very efficient in displacing water due to their dual hull design and usually do not draft more than 4.5 feet regardless of size. 

Clearance, or vertical clearance, refers to the height from the waterline to the absolute highest point of the vessel. Most vessels, aside from catamarans and sailboats, are not higher than 20 feet, but this can vary from boat to boat as some boaters place specialty electronics such as antennas or towers/fly bridges atop their vessels, which are dedicated compartments that allow boaters to control their vessels outside the cockpit near the waterline. Sailboats and catamarans naturally have high mast heights which usually require 35 to 75 feet of vertical clearance.

Your listing had a clearance designation which allows you to input the maximum vessel height you can accept at your space given bridges in the vicinity of your space or other obstructions such as trees or power lines. We are currently deceiving a bridge tool that will prompt boats boaters and dock owners of fixed bridges in the vicinity to ensure a smooth docking experience. If you are unsure if your space’s clearance restrictions please contact our customer service team who will be able to advise you of the best measurement to attach to your listing.