USCG documentation application declined - net tonnage too low

[Adnaan]

Hey all,

I just received notice that my USCG initial documentation application has been declined. They calculate that my 323 does not meet the minimum of 5 net tons. I am really surprised to hear this, and would like to appeal the decision somehow. Surely a 323 is big enough. I've heard most vessels over 25 feet meet the requirement.

Has anyone here received USCG documentation? Has anyone had their net tonnage estimated at 5 tons or more?

Thanks very much for your assistance.

Edit - They made their judgement based on the form I sent in for simplified measurement, using the numbers from sailboatdata.com: LOA 32.25, Beam 10, Draft 4.5.

[rnebergall]

Mine was documented by the original, (and only) prior owner.  No issues in the meantime renewing each year.

Did you use any of the material on this site?  If not, check out the documents at this link.  If these don't work, perhaps someone else will have another idea.

https://www.pearson323.com/pearson-323-documents.html

Good luck.

[rnebergall]

In case you have not found the USCG measurement guidance, here is the "Simplified Measurement" document, along with a link to the Coast Guard site dealing the "tonnage"

Again, good luck.

https://www.dco.uscg.mil/msc/tonnage-guides/

[Alma]

Likely the clerk didn't see the movie "Dunkirk"!

[Dolce_Vita]

My 323 was also documented by a previous owner, but it has lapsed and I don't have the details (there have been 8 POs!)

I just went through the USCG "Simplified" rules for calculating gross tonnage, using estimated measurements from memory, and came out with a Net Tonnage (NRT) of 9!!!
This is so far above the required 5 minimum that either I'm WAY off on my numbers, or they are wrong on your application.

For reference, here's the numbers I used.  Refer to the "Simplified Measurement Tonnage Guide 1" (https://www.dco.uscg.mil/msc/tonnage-guides/) pages 7-9:

Hull Volume = S x K x L x B x D = 825
-------------
S = 0.5     (shape factor for sailing hulls)
K = 0.75   (keel factor for sailing hulls)
L = 32.25
B = 10.5
D = 6.5    (toerail to bottom of keel)

Deck Structure Volume = Ls x Bs x Ds = 127
--------------------------
Ls = 15   (average length)
Bs = 8.5  (average width)
Ds = 1     (average height)

Gross Tonnage (GRT) = trunc((Hull + Deck) / 100) = 9
------------------------
Hull = 825
Deck = 127

Net Tonnage (NRT) = trunc(M x GRT) = 8
--------------
M = 0.9   (Machinery factor for vessels designed for sailing with propulsion machinery inside the hull )


Now, admittedly, my estimates for the deck structure dimensions and depth (D) are pretty approximate, but even if I set the Deck Structure volume to ZERO, and reduce the depth to 6, It still comes out to A GRT of 7 and an NRT of 6!!

It sure looks like there's an error in the numbers they used in calculating your application.

Please feel free to point out any errors in my numbers. I won't be offended.

[Dolce_Vita]

Adnaan,

  In your first post, you stated that you filled in the form with a draft of 4 1/2 feet.  From my reading of the simplified measurement rules, draft does not play a part in the calculation.  Is it possible that you submitted the draft measurement where they wanted the "depth" measurement? "Depth" on a sailboat hull is the measurement from the toerail to the bottom of the keel.  On the 323, this would be the draft PLUS the freeboard, somewhere in the vicinity of 6 ft.  If you used 4 1/2 ft as the hull depth, this would erroneously cause the Net Tonnage to be calculated as under 5.

[Adnaan]

Dolce_Vita - That's IT! Silly mistake to make.
Deck house doesn't count, because it's less than the volume of the hull. But I'll still pass muster.