Length overall (LOA, o/a, o.a. or oa) is the maximum length of a vessel's hull measured parallel to the waterline. This length is important while docking the ship. It is the most commonly used way of expressing the size of a ship, and is also used for calculating the cost of a marina berth[1] (for example, £2.50 per metre LOA).
LOA is usually measured on the hull alone.[2] For sailing ships, this may exclude the bowsprit and other fittings added to the hull. This is how some racing boats and tall ships use the term LOA.[3] However, other sources may include bowsprits in LOA.[4] Confusingly, LOA has different meanings.[5][6] "Sparred length", "Total length including bowsprit", "Mooring length" and "LOA including bowsprit" are other expressions that might indicate the full length of a sailing ship.
- ^ "Boat Moorage". Mosquito Creek Marina. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
- ^ "Definitions of: Boat, Yacht, Small Craft, and Related Terms". Westlawn Institute of Marine Technology. Archived from the original on 2010-01-23. Retrieved 2009-07-13.
- ^ "Racing & Sailing Rules and Special Regulations" (PDF). Sail Training International. 2008. p. 2. Archived from the original (PDF) on 2009-09-02.
- ^ Launer, Donald (2006). Dictionary of Nautical Acronyms and Abbreviations. Sheridan House, Inc. p. 64. ISBN 978-1-57409-239-4.
- ^ Schäuffelen, Otmar (2005). Chapman great sailing ships of the world. Hearst Books. p. xix. ISBN 978-1-58816-384-4.
- ^ "Glossary". Wilh. Wilhelmsen ASA. Archived from the original on 2009-05-24. Retrieved 2009-07-18.