Two Lives Lost on Cheasapeake Bay, Four Resuced

[TheFrog]

Originally Posted by kaluvic

Is 6 guys in an 18ft boat overloaded...

It depends on the design of the boat and the size of the people. My 19' boat is rated for 8 people. I wouldn't take it out with that though. 6 adults tops, but that is more of a comfort issue than safety. Of course, I also don't go out in SCA conditions...

[Boasun]

Some of you are forgetting that each person for a boat is now rated at 180#s
It use to be 140#s But over the years the population has gotten larger in size. (I won't crack fast food jokes here)
The builders plate will give the total weight allowed in that boat or what it is rated for.
Then you need to figure the outboard engines' weight, the fuel weight, the acessories weight (food, fishing tackle and such) then the weight of the passengers at their true weights. And many times you will either max out or go over the weight allowed in that boat. Boat is now in the danger zone.

So if you say that your boat can hold six people. Are the people weighting each: 140# or 160# or 180# or 200# or 300#... What is the Max rate that your boat can carry?? It may carry six children but not six oversized adults.

[N0NJY]

According to the ASA specific stuff I'm looking at, or, the coast guard stuff, or the licensing stuff....

According to what I am reading (studying for my classes) manufacturers have to put in capacity plates, and they MUST read:

XX Persons or XX Pounds
XX lbs persons, motor, gear
xxx hp motor

Where XX was calculated by the manufacturer.
If the boat were homebuilt or boats that do not have a requirement for plates on them, there's a formula based on 150 lb people.

That means if everyone is over 150 pounds you have to TAKE THAT INTO ACCOUNT.

NOT 180 pounds. Granted you might have a license (according to your signature line) but I'm reading material from books published in 1998-2002, so when did this "change"?

[Boasun]

Don't have ASA books with me.
the change came about when a tourist boat broached and on investigation they found that while the boat was legal in the number of people on board, they noted that many of those exceeded the average weight and the boat was really overloaded. Thus they increased the weight for passengers.
I believe it is now 160# or 180#. Will have to research the USCG weight requirements on this.

[CGMojo]

The link references a USCG recommendation of 185 lbs:

Coast Guard Raises Weight Standards for Boats

Still looking for the final regulation.

[Boasun]

It is a good thing that the weight requirement is for the number passengers you are allowed on board.
If the requirement was for as to whether you can go out on your own boat is a different matter....
USCG: Boasun we noticed that your weight is about ten pounds above Max weight allowed and therefore we are restricting you to dry land.
Now that would be a bummer.

[kaluvic]

How many people do you feel YOU safely carry in your 10ft rib?

[Davidrogerson]

I think the owner has been punished enough by the death of two friends or family (whichever one) i just hope that others will take heed of this, to coin an old quote prevention is better than cure