BoatingMotorboat, RIB or cruiser: how to choose a boat
Choosing between a motorboat, RIB and cruiser depends less on the brand than on your trips, passengers, nights aboard, berth and the documented limits of each specific boat.
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Draft
A boat’s draft is the vertical distance between the waterline and the lowest submerged reference point of the boat, according to the definition being used.
Reviewed 05.10.2026 · Version 2 · Scope: General
How to interpret it
Draft can vary with the boat’s load and condition. A figure in a specification should be read together with the conditions it describes, without assuming it applies to every use situation.
Example
Hypothetical example: a loaded boat may float deeper than the same boat when unloaded. Therefore, a single figure without a stated loading condition may be insufficient.
Why it matters to you
It helps explain an essential hull dimension and interpret information about depth in the appropriate context. This definition does not replace a navigation assessment.
Common points of confusion
It is neither the boat’s total height nor the depth of the water. The difference between those values should not automatically be treated as a safe-passage instruction.
Documentary sources
Dimensiones y desplazamiento del buque Comisión Europea · 2026-10-05
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