Question: How do you assign handicaps to boats that are not currently handicapped on Lake Ontario?

Do you use the US Sailing numbers? 

Answer:

All handicaps for NEW classes of yachts on Lake Ontario are set by our Districts (regions within Lake Ontario). They hold meetings regularly to set these handicaps and to review any appeals that may be pending.

They use a variety of resources (one of which is to reference handicaps in other regions using the US Sailing book) but mainly refer to strong comparisons to classes of boats already handicapped on this lake.

They then take all gathered information to come up with an Initial Handicap.

As a member, your club handicapper (as designated by your club) is notified of these meetings and can bring any New classes to the meeting for the others to review.