A boat description lists beam, draft and freeboard. All three may be expressed in metres, but the shared unit does not make them interchangeable. One looks across the boat; the other two use the waterline as a reference in different directions.
Learning those directions makes a specification sheet easier to read. It does not by itself establish whether a boat is suitable for a berth, a route or particular conditions.
Beam looks across the boat
The Oregon State Marine Board’s glossary defines beam as the boat’s maximum width. In a basic drawing viewed from above or ahead, think of a measurement across the hull rather than along its length.
When reading an actual specification, retain the label and units supplied by the manufacturer. Do not substitute a width guessed from a photograph. Perspective can make two very different dimensions appear similar on a screen.
Draft looks below the waterline
Draft concerns the boat’s depth below the waterline. Freeboard concerns the height of its side above the waterline to the stated upper reference, such as the deck or gunwale. They answer different questions even when their numbers happen to be similar.
In a notebook exercise, draw a waterline and place the two labels on opposite sides of it. Keep the drawing conceptual. A generic diagram does not provide verified dimensions for a real boat or enough information to make clearance decisions.
Copy the definition with the number
Make three columns on a study card: term, direction and source. Add an example number only when it comes from a clearly identified specification. Include the model and any qualification printed beside the value, rather than collecting an isolated figure from a search snippet.
If two documents disagree, preserve both references and investigate their definitions and conditions. Do not average the figures into a value that neither source supplies.
Our guide to finding the manual for the exact boat model is a useful next step. Understanding the vocabulary helps you ask a precise question; the current boat documentation and qualified guidance are what you need for practical operating decisions.