Boat clearance

[Harro]

My Beneteau first 41s5 has boat clearance of 18.6m. According to the specifications.
Is this a measurement from the plimsel line or from the keel?
Any help appreciated

[Paul L]

Air draft is measured from the masthead to the waterline. You are far better to measure this yourself on your boat rather than rely a manufactures spec.

[Harro]

Thanks for the advice. I will

[psk125]

A plimsoll line is not necessarily your waterline, either.
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/plimsoll-line.html

[billknny]

Originally Posted by psk125

A plimsoll line is not necessarily your waterline, either.
https://oceanservice.noaa.gov/facts/plimsoll-line.html

I'm just guessing here, but I suspect it is infinitely more likely that the OP was just showing off his nautical vocabulary than his bendy-toy ACTUALLY has a Plimsoll line...

His showing off would also have arguably been more effective if he had spelled it right...

[Sojourner]

There ain't no way OP's got a plimsoll mark painted on that boat, but the concept and question is fair enough... Is the air draft quoted on specs the empty or fully loaded boat?

And I don't know. I'd guess empty. BUT a) It doesn't much matter for us unlike the big boats that have painted marks...no matter how many cans of beans and cat food I carry, my draft isn't changing by dozens of feet, only millimeters or maybe a few inches. b) don't try to go under something where a couple mm or inches clearance difference means the loss of masthead gear (unless you do the heeling thing but yikes, I wouldn't risk my home like that) and c) other posters are absolutely right, MEASURE it yourself at whatever level of load you normally have to be sure. Don't forget to include the aerials.