When weighing a boat for CBH rating, it is essential that the boat is empty, also known as light ship condition. What exactly is empty?

Empty is exactly that. The measurer must inspect all lockers, lifting every board, and insisting on the removal of everything, down to the toilet rolls. Among things to watch for are: 

• Bilges full of water.
• Mainsail on the boom. Anchors 'forgotten' under bunks. 
• Water fuel and holding tanks. Watch for second (and third and fourth….!) water tanks. 
• Chart tables full of charts and other rubbish. 
• Portable electronic equipment (laptop computers etc.) 
• Safety gear: horseshoe rings and Dan buoys on the transom. 
• Gas bottles (and spares!). 
• Fire extinguishers. 
• Are removable cockpit boxes on board? 
• Fenders and mooring lines as the boat is lifted. 
• Running rigging shall be slack.
• Cushions if removable
• Water and holding tanks should be pumped dry and water ballast tanks shall also be empty. 

Fuel, if in a permanently attached tank is more difficult, and it is acceptable to deduct a known weight of fuel from the gross weight. If doing the latter, two means of estimating quantity should be sought. For instance, a fuel gauge, and a measurement of tank volume together with either dipping the tank or a sight glass. The fuel gauge alone should be a last resort. Diesel has a specific gravity of 0.85, i.e. 1 litre weighs 0.85 kg.

The only loose items aboard should now be fitted (but not necessarily fixed) bunk cushions, loose bunk boards, floorboards and washboards, and spinnaker pole(s). Make a note of the number of loose cushions for CBH records.  

Also, the number, identification if possible, and size of batteries (if there are an unusually large number of batteries, check that they are actually connected), and the quantity of internal ballast. In the case of production boats any deviations from standard, e.g. addition/removal of furniture such as doors and tables should also be noted. 

For more information about CBH click here.

By Glen Stanaway