Was wondering about the listed beam for sidewheelers.
Is the beam listed the hull beam or the beam across the paddle boxes in most dimensions listed?

hi,

listed dimensions normally for the hull only, unless specifically listed as an overall dimension then it should include the sponsons/paddleboxes.

this is certainly the case in the UK, i assume its the same in US.

hope this helps.

it's usually stated the same here in Australia.

total beam length including sponsons is often listed after the beam length I've found.

With the beam, I thought that it was from one side of the hull to the other, unless the book or measurements specified across paddles or sponsons!
Possibly the sponsons are the norm for measuring beam, but isnt the beam measuring the hull only?!?

Thank you everyone for confirming what I thought.

Hi PD's - the understanding of the 'beam' of a vessel has really not changed over the past 1000 years...[+ or - 10]  :roll:

Two vertical lines when projected from the waterline & taken to the belly or widest vessel hull section and measured in units are determined to be the vessel's 'beam' and also as being measured and termed as 'ATWART' ships

The units of measure of beam [inches/feet or mm] are sufficient, the word 'length' nor the 'width' of a vessel at deck level or water level are applicable   when confirming ....'beam'

Early paddler hulls incorporated 'Tumble Home' so the beam measurement is again not at water level or deck level... but again those same two vertical........as above

So where does this leave us :?:

1) Paddler hulls have a beam dimension, but this has no reference to the atwart dimension over the paddle box extremities

2) submarines have a hull 'width' dimesion as taken in the horizontal plane, however this does not take into consideration those  :boom or things that stick     out to the sides.... Derek