Topic: CG Tonnage Problem

I am looking into the process of regristering a Contessa 26 with the US Goast Guard but have fallen into the same trap that Dave Morgan and Newell Decker did with their regristing (read "Bad Dog vs. the Landlubberly Bureaucrats" on home page).  The CG on-line "simplified measurement" CG-5397 formula (have the official instr. document on the formula) puts a Contessa 26 at 4 tons due to the keel factor of 0.75 (hull designed for sailing) and not 6.12 tons using 1.0 factor that Dave and Newell used.  Has anyone tried to regrister their boat thru CG recently?  Is there anyone out there with a CG regrister Contessa 26?  Help.....

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Mine is registered in Canada...I had no trouble, but she was already registered by previous owner, who was a marine tanker pilot, so that likely had alot of pull.  Mine is listed as 4.10 tons.  Plus, I was a female registering my ship, so it seems like I always get the guys perking up a bit more than they normally would?!  And let's just say I sound quite young on the phone! ;D

“You get a boat for only one reason, because you want one.  If you’re worried about being practical, forget boats.”

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

That's unfair shannon!

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Can you be so nice and talk to our US Coast Guard for me . . . please.  I need the big eye blinking at them.

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

john-

i don't have any advice but would be very interested to hear how your registration goes.

cody

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

John,

     I registered my Contessa with the Coast Guard last year.  I used a commercial service which I would not recommend since their incompetence cost me about a month and a half of sailing time(a long story).  If you want, I can scan and e-mail you copies of my application paperwork which was acceptable.

                                                                                                  John

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

John,

     Those forms are what I used and have a gross tonnage of 5 and net of 4.  I will take the forms into work tomorrow since my scanner at home has died.  You should be able to use the measurement data from my simplified measurement form along with you boat data to submit a good application.

                                                                                                            John

9 (edited by ShannonRHIANNON 2006-04-28 20:01:38)

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Hey guys, I'll see what kind of pull I can do with the Coast Guard....come to think of it, there is a marine cop and a coast guard guy that follow me out of the harbour when I am heading out for a day sail...they chat and "escort" me along the harbour, quite cute!  Plus, being solo, and all clipped on with harness, and jacklines (yes, even for a day sail)  with my horn, binocs, bucket..I mean the whole silly nine yards of safety gear all ready, the guys tell me they are quite thrilled to see that...maybe it's also how groovy I look sitting on my traveller and steering with my foot....har har!

And the reason I always do have my halyards all clipped on the sails, the covers off, ready to hoist, was proven by the guy here last week who still had his sail covers on and halyards at the lifelines (!) and his engine dies and he's on the rocks in three minutes in the 30k wind!   A total "what not to do" picture, for sure! ;-)

I guess it boils down one thing: you guys will have to find a cute, young, female Coast Guard agent to start with!  ;-)

“You get a boat for only one reason, because you want one.  If you’re worried about being practical, forget boats.”

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

I just got my letter back from the USCG rejecting my regristation of my Contessa 26.  They stated that "Only vessels of at least 5 net tons wholly owned by a citizen...."  The net of the boat is 4 tons, so how does everyone else get regristered with the USCG with their 4ton net boats?  I know of two boats regristered, one being Varuna.  May I ask now many of us USA contessa 26 are regristered with USCG and year it was done?  I will have to call these people on this issue and that is going to be a pain.  Thanks for you help.

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Hi John,

My boat is a JJT '78 and it's registered with the USCG.  I bought it
last year and transfered the documentation in the spring of this
year.  I'm not sure when it was originally documented, but probably from
the very beginning as I bought the boat from the original owner.
Perhaps the net tonnage requirement was lower in the past and there is
some grandfather clause.  Have you tried talking to them over the phone?
Send me an email and I'll send you the official number.

Best,
Marc

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

John,

To get the numbers to come out above the 5 net ton cutoff one must use the calculation format usually followed for fin keel boats.  The depth value is measured internally from the shear line to the "the top of the keel" which from the inside is the bottom of the bilge sump, .  We all know that the bottom of the sump is actually in the keel, but that's what some have used to make it work.

Too bad you already submitted once.  By sending in an application with less than 5 net tons you got a quick administrative rejection.  I'm sure they didn't look any further than that one value... 

Bill

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Mine was documented by a former owner, I can mail you the scan.
Don't know how they went about doing it, the only thing I ran into with the transfer was the citizenship thingy that the patriot act provided. So now it is in my wife's name, is that a good thing?
I am looking for other options , but they all seem expensive.
Peter

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Per Johns measurements and the USCG site

the DEPTH is from the TOPSIDEs deck to the base of the keel and NOT the waterline depth to the base of the keel (if you have a full keel boat vs a fin keel)

this gives you all the interior volume.

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

I got a reply on my tonnage issue with the USGS - Tonnage Division Chief - and our Contessa 26 are grandfathered in using the Fin formual.  I have asked Adrian to post the letter for others to read in the tech section as I e-mailed to him just a minute ago.  Thus, this crisis issue came out on a positive note.  Thanks for everyones help with me on this.  jklee

17 (edited by John Lee 2006-11-09 16:01:49)

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Well, Adrian told me to upload the letter into the photo gallery, which I did for others to view.  What I learned was that the letter does not come up but the Adobe symbol, which one has to chick on it to being it up as single item then chick on it twice to actually being up the letter.  Sorry for the extra work to see it.  I tried to figure out a way to make a picture of the document but failed.  I hope this of use to others who want to register their Conteesa 26s with USCG.  jklee

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

I'll try to fix this later today John.

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Re: CG Tonnage Problem

Just a note to say my application for Registering my Contessa 26 came through today.  Thus, Cavendysh is finally registered boat outside of some paperwork I need to send the USCG.  So, a story with a happy ending, amazing.