Length overall (LOA)

What it means

Length overall, usually abbreviated LOA, is the distance from the foremost point of the boat to the aftermost, measured along the centreline. It is the length that matters for berthing, transport and most regulations.

What it does and does not include

Definitions differ on the fittings. Some builders quote hull length and exclude bathing platforms, bow rollers and outboards; others include everything that projects. The difference can be half a metre on a small boat, which is enough to change a berth quote or a trailer's legality. Where a builder quotes both, the hull length is the smaller figure and the one used in most technical standards.

Why it matters

Almost everything else follows from it: berth cost, which is usually charged by the metre, whether the boat can be trailered, which design category applies, and here, which of our two networks lists it, with the dividing line at 8.53 metres. Length is also the most reliable figure a builder publishes, which is exactly why we split the catalogue on it.