Tugmuts Archive Documenting my R-23 - is it 5 tons?

[jasonpeacock]

I'm working through BoatUS to document my R-23 with the Coast Guard, and the minimum size is 5 tons of "tonnage".

To calculate the tonnage via the formula, they need the length (at waterline), breadth, and depth (not draft).

I assume the length is 23ft, and the breadth is 8.5ft, but what is the depth of the R-23? Apparently it's from where the cabin attaches to the hull down to the keel.

I'm the second owner, so I don't have the original builder's certificate from the factory, though I'm not sure that would have the tonnage info included?

Also, if anyone knows of other R-23's that are already documented that would probably help too 🙂

Thanks!

 

[Admiral S]

The R-23 is definitely NOT 5 tons. The R-27 barely makes it. If it is for Financing reasons, usually the bank handles it and there is not much issue.

If you are trying to do this on your own just for the heck of it, you may run into issues...

 

[simonp]

My R23 is documented which was handled by the dealer at time of purchase.

 

[baz]

My R27/OB was Homeland/USCG Documented and was handled by my Marine Title company.... It's spendy but worth it to have done correctly. It cost $26/yr to keep active.

 

[Brian B]

I read on another forum that the documention process is at a standstill due to the government shutdown. There will be quite a backlog when they get up and running again.

 

[jasonpeacock]

Thanks Simon! It looks like CG has your vessel depth listed as 5ft.

Going with the smallest listed measurements of 22.75'L x 8.5'B x 5'D, the formula for a powerboat is 0.67 * LBD / 100:

(0.67 * 22.75 * 8.5 * 5)/100 = 6.478 tons

And the CG docs say that an outboard powerboat has the same Net & Gross tonnage because there's no need to account for the inboard engine volume.

So the R-23 is larger than 5 tons, yay! In fact, to meet the minimum 5 tons requirement, the depth could be as small as 3.9ft.

 

[Scotty Mac]

For some reason I thought that the minimum length was 25’ to document. But don’t know if that is LOA which would make a difference.

 

[Matty]

I think the reference to 25 ft was that most boats 25 and over would work out to 5 tons just due to the math. Since the requirement is of cargo carrying volume you could have a 20 ft boat with a lot of depth that would meet the 5 ton requirement.

 

[PatsyG]

MY R23 is documented. Honestly don’t know why except the Coast Guard at the safety course recommended. I don’t plan on leaving the USA, but I think it’s kind of cool. I must have met the minimum requirements and it only took a few months. Done two years ago.