Abstract: A freeboard-measuring device has a central housing with streamlined fins extending along sides and bottom of the housing to prevent uplifting of the housing when lowered into water and minimize resistance to wind and current. The housing defines a chamber with a bottom water ingress allowing swift filling of the inner chamber. A calibrated gauging stick is removably a positioned within the inner chamber. A stabilizing cross bar and a transverse bar are secured by flexible connectors above the housing. The attachment of the stabilizing bars above the water-contacting portion of the measuring device allows to avoid water resistance when using the measuring device.

Abstract: A device is disclosed for measuring the change in the freeboard of a barge, indicating a varying amount of cargo within the barge. An oil gauging tape is used to lower the device which comprises a vertical pipe transversed by a horizontal bar with an aperture therethrough. A flexible tube is coupled to a nipple which is secured to the underside of the block. Water, entering through the tube, flows into the vertical pipe and contacts and changes the color of a chalk or water-seeking paste material lightly spread on the graduated area of a gauging stick, resting in the vertical pipe. The device is lowered until the horizontal bar is submerged approximately 3" below the apparent surface of the water and the oil gauging tape is read for a measurement. The device is held steady to ensure that the vertical pipe is filled to the outside water level and is then reeled to the deck where the gauging stick is removed and the measurement of the water mark is noted and added to the measurement on the oil gauging tape.