The Seattle-based naval architecture firm Hockema & Whalen Associates released a detailed primer on the federal regulations for building fishing boats and tenders, including the latest parameters that require classification standards and the Alternate Loadline Compliance Program.
The Coast Guard Authorization Act of 2010 dictated new requirements for classification of fishing boats 50 feet and above that were built after July 1, 2013, provided they operate outside of 3 miles and with more than 16 individuals onboard.
The 2015 act adjusted those guidelines, including setting the bottom cutoff for classification at 79 feet instead of 50, beginning on Feb. 8, 2016.
If you have questions — and if you’re building or significantly modifying a boat, the chances are, you do — this document lays out the specifics in great detail.
