2.3.3 Design category

Design categories define the essential safety requirements for the design and construction of a watercraft. These requirements should be met through a conformity assessment procedure before placing a watercraft on the European Union market. The design category is indicated on the Builder's plate.

The design categories (A-D) define the wind force and significant wave height in which the craft is designed to operate in. Your boat's design category, that is stated on the builder's plate, is C/B.

In category C

  • The wind force is no more than 6 on the Beaufort scale (approx. 14 m/s).

  • The significant wave height is no more than 2 m.

In category B

  • The wind force is no more than 8 on the Beaufort scale (approx. 21 m/s).

  • The significant wave height is no more than 4 m.

The significant wave height is the average height of the highest one third of all waves, visually estimated by an experienced observer. Some waves may be twice as high as the significant wave height. These conditions can occur in open water on lakes, estuaries, and in coastal waters in moderate weather.