Dimensions
What does Beam mean?
Beam is a boat’s width, generally measured at its widest point.
Why it matters when choosing a sailboat
Beam influences interior room, deck space and marina requirements. A wider boat is not automatically more comfortable at sea; hull shape and loading matter too. Catamarans often need a much wider berth than monohulls of similar length.
A practical example
Two boats of the same length can have very different saloon space and slip requirements because their beams differ.
A question to ask before buying
What beam will my intended berth accept, and how does this boat handle the conditions where I plan to sail?
Related sailboat terms
Put the term to work.
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