How many is too many

[Cheechako]

Originally Posted by DotDun

The manufacturer stated the limits on the vessel capacity plate. Normally for 4 usage classes, A, B, C, & D. It should be in a visible place.

I've never seen this plate on a sailboat. Hasnt been on any of mine. Is this only done on open boats? Havent seen it on a cabin cruiser either.... There may be some out there, but it doesnt seem common...

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I've never seen this plate on a sailboat. Hasnt been on any of mine. Is this only done on open boats? Havent seen it on a cabin cruiser either.... There may be some out there, but it doesnt seem common...

Dave corrected me stating these are only on EU boats (which is all I've owned).

[skipmac]

Never seen the plate on a sailboat but then I've never owned a new, US built sailboat. I just looked at the plate on my ski boat. It says US Coast Guard capacity 8 persons or 1050 lbs. I would take that to mean if you had 9 people in the boat you would be liable for a citation.

[markpierce]

Originally Posted by Teknav

How many people can comfortably sleep on your boat? (It won't be 14, otherwise you might as well open a hotel on the water.) Add two extra PFD's to that number! Voila!

Mauritz
Knows all and sees all...waiting for my daily revelation...

My Dad's routine was to carry two extra parachutes on the B-17. When the crew abandoned the bomber over Germany, an extra parachute was used after a crewman opened his chute prematurely in the plane.

[Garrettw]

Originally Posted by Cheechako

I've never seen this plate on a sailboat. Hasnt been on any of mine. Is this only done on open boats? Havent seen it on a cabin cruiser either.... There may be some out there, but it doesnt seem common...

Curiously I have one on my US made (although European designed) Jeanneau. I'm sure the parts bin is the same, regardless of manufacture location so I suppose that explains it.

[David M]

In the US, boats over 20 feet are not required to have capacity plates. Inspected vessels are required to have an inclining test. A formula is then used to determine the maximum number of people onboard. The maximum number of people is stated on the vessels Certificate of Inspection.

If you wanted to you could run your own inclining test and use the same formula for determining what would be safe. Of just use common sense. An overloaded vessel is really obvious to the Coast Guard...placard or not.

[OldFrog75]

Are those categories based upon an international standard or are they manufacturer specific?

Even so, what do the different categories mean? Is 'A' fat people and 'D' little kids? Just kidding but really...what's the difference?

[DotDun]

Originally Posted by OldFrog75

Are those categories based upon an international standard or are they manufacturer specific?

Even so, what do the different categories mean? Is 'A' fat people and 'D' little kids? Just kidding but really...what's the difference?

The CE standard

* A. OCEAN: Designed for extended voyages where conditions may exceed wind force 8 (Beaufort scale) and significant wave heights of 4m and above but excluding abnormal conditions, and vessels largely self-sufficient.

* B. OFFSHORE: Designed for offshore voyages where conditions up to, and including, wind force 8 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 4m may be experienced.

* C. INSHORE: Designed for voyages in coastal waters, large bays, estuaries, lakes and rivers where conditions up to, and including, wind force 6 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 2m may be experienced.

* D. SHELTERED WATERS: Designed for voyages on sheltered coastal waters, small bays, small lakes, rivers and canals when conditions up to, and including, wind force 4 and significant wave heights up to, and including, 0.3m may be experienced, with occasional waves of 0.5m maximum height, for example from passing vessels.

[DaBod]

How many is too many? In my opinion, any number more than 2 (my wife and me). Add others and they just tend to eat all the food, drink all the booze, clog the head, and just generally get (and somehow stay) in the way.

[hpeer]

Ditto that. Once we took out 4 from our church for a fund raiser.

Scared the dickens outta me. They were sooooo clearly out of their element.