Guaging the waterline

[tangomoon]

Have a hull that has not been moored only trailered hence no markings on hull ref antifoul and boot topping.Anyone please tell me how to guage the waterline accurately apart from floating her for a week or two and follwing the scum line!

 

[Channel Ribs]

Float her and padle round with a tender and a marker pen on top of a piece of polystyrene or similar, you dont need to do the whole water-line just some marks at the key points.

 

[boatmike]

If you have space on either side when out of the water, and if the boat is set up level, the easiest way is with a lazer level. You can buy them complete with tripod in B&Q, Wickes or similar. If there is not enough room you can make a water gauge with a length of hosepipe with a plastic bottle on either end and a little imagination but the lazer is easier. If you can't get the boat set up level (try a spirit level across your cockpit seats) you will have to mark a level line and then estimate how much out it is (difficult). If in doubt a boot-top line that is higher at the bow looks better than one the other way around! You can always do it as well as you can this time around and adjust after the boat has been in the water. On a flat calm day you can even paint the top in with the boat afloat providing that the antifoul you put on now comes above the W/L.....