Whats a Gunnel on a motor boat please?

cliffdale

Active member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
2,635
Location
Falmouth Cornwall
Visit site
Im just booking some parking space for next year. On a yacht the gunnel is where the hull meets the superstructure.

In the specifications I havefor a motor boat, it reads, Length of hull 34.4".

Length over all including gunnel 36.6".

Do you think the length of hull is referring to the water line?
I'm not sure what the gunnel is to add 2 feet.

CD

<hr width=100% size=1>
 

jfm

Well-known member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
23,981
Location
Jersey/Antibes
Visit site
In this context it means the length overall including the bow pulpit protrusion, whereas the LOA is the length excluding this overhang. Nothing to do with gunwhale, therefore, which means the top edge of the hull on a MoBo just as it does on a sailboat. I dunno quite where gunnel comes from, an americanism maybe? Let me guess, you saw this on the Fairline website?
 

adarcy

New member
Joined
31 Aug 2001
Messages
844
Visit site
I always thought it was gunwhale

a little sort of wall around the edge of the superstructure, much taller than the toerails we normally get on smaller boats.

The length of the hull is really the length of the hull overall but nothing to do with waterline length. You are a little confused by LOA length over all includes any tilt forward by the gunwhale but, much more important the overhang of the pushpit and if any pulpit ( er rails at the front and the back - sorry)

Also sorry - didn't realise that fast typing jfm was around
<hr width=100% size=1><P ID="edit"><FONT SIZE=-1>Edited by adarcy on 23/09/2003 13:41 (server time).</FONT></P>
 

burgundyben

Well-known member
Joined
28 Nov 2002
Messages
7,484
Location
Niton Radio
Visit site
"a little sort of wall around the edge of the superstructure, much taller than the toerails we normally get on smaller boats" - I think what you refer to is bulwark?

<hr width=100% size=1>Sod the Healey - I think I'll buy an E-Type.
 

trev

New member
Joined
23 Jun 2001
Messages
778
Location
London/Home Counties/Middle East
Visit site
The Gunn'l,or gunwhale, is a section of bulwark extension above the actual bulwark, usually found on an open boat - its the bit that the oars poke out of in a rowing cutter. Never heard it referred to in context of length, or even in context to a motor cruiser. Could be someone is trying to be 'over nautical' and failing miserably.

<hr width=100% size=1>Trev
 

boatone

Well-known member
Joined
29 Jul 2001
Messages
12,845
Location
Just a few cables from Boulters Lock
www.tmba.org.uk
Re: The Royal Navy sez.......

Gunwhale....The name (pronounced GUN'L) given to the uppermost line of planking of a boat's sides. In the old ships the upper tier of guns used to fire over the top planking which was therefore specially strengthened by "whales".
Dunno wot your spec is referring to but sounds as if whatever it is its wrong(ish).


<hr width=100% size=1><A target="_blank" HREF=http://www.boatsontheweb.com/> Website, Photo Gallery, Chat Room, Burgees</A>
 

cliffdale

Active member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
2,635
Location
Falmouth Cornwall
Visit site
If I was IT literate, I would do you a little hyperlink to <Fairline.com>, but Im not so you will have to look up the info manually. Look at Targa 34 specifications. Any helpers?


<hr width=100% size=1>
 
D

Deleted User YDKXO

Guest
The length overall includes any protrusions like the pulpit (the sticky out bit of the handrailing) and bathing platform on some boats and is usually longer than the hull length which is measured from the transom to the bow. As to the 'gunnel', obviously this is gunwhale and I dont see it has any effect on length so I dont know why its mentioned

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
D

Deleted User YDKXO

Guest
I already have done and it does'nt make sense. Maybe what they're trying to say is length/beam measured AT the gunwhale which sort of makes sense
In terms of the T34, the gunwhale will be the top of the vertical sides of the hull where it meets the side deck

<hr width=100% size=1>
 

jfm

Well-known member
Joined
16 May 2001
Messages
23,981
Location
Jersey/Antibes
Visit site
The use by US-centric people of the word gunnel is confusing and possibly wrong. I dunno. But what they mean by it (possibly incorrectly using the term) is LOA including pulpit, whereas when they say LOA they mean hull length overall (not waterline) but excluding the pulpit.

I'm not saying they're right terminology-wise, but this is what they mean to say. Nor am I saying everyone does it this way, many people quote LOA when they mean the hull length including the pulpit. That's more logical imho. Fairline website is most obvious example of use of "gunnel" length, hence my guess above.

<hr width=100% size=1>
 
Top