Re using waterline length: For powerboats and bigger sailboats, it is an advantage to use the shortest possible length in their boat names, because they pay dockage fees and sometimes ferry fees based upon boat length. (I can picture a great cartoon for this -- like a DoubleX 23 that has a 23-foot waterline but is 50 feet from bow to stern. <img src="http://www.catsailor.com/forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif" alt="" />
