Powerboats are divided into classes by length. A boat's length class dictates the equipment necessary to comply with federal and state laws. These four classes are determined by the industry and are not necessarily how American Modern classifies powerboats for insurance purposes.
Length is measured from the tip of the bow (front) in a straight line to the stern (back) of the boat. This does not include outboard motors or any part that is not a molded part of the hull .
Class A - Less than 16 ft .
Class 1 - 16 ft. to less than 26 ft.
Class 2 - 26 ft. to less than 40 ft.
Class 3 - 40 ft. to less than 65 ft.
More than half of the recreational boats in the U.S.A. are less than 16 feet in length, and more than 90 percent are less than 20 feet in length. Ninety-five percent of all recreational boats are trailerable.