There are lots of things that you need to consider when it comes to staying safe on your boat. One of these things is loading your boat. If you overload your boat you could warp the vessel, causing it to capsize or become swamped with water.
What is the best way to avoid overloading your boat? We have put together this helpful guide to keep you safe in the water.
What Is The Maximum Weight Capacity?
The best way to avoid overloading your boat is to make sure that you do not exceed the maximum weight capacity. Each boat has a different maximum weight capacity depending on the manufacturer and the style of the boat.
How Do You Find Out The Maximum Weight Capacity Of Your Boat?
Every boat has a capacity plate. This includes all of the information you need about how much weight the boat can carry.
It will usually tell you the maximum capacity in pounds, and tell you what that equates to in terms of how many people are allowed on the boat. It will also have a separate figure for the total maximum capacity including gear and passengers.
The capacity plate may also include the horsepower of the boat.
All motor powered boats up to 20 feet in size are required by federal law to have a capacity plate. A lot of boats between 20 and 26 feet in size will also have capacity plates because they are required for National Marine Manufacturers Association certification.
A lot of bigger boats will also include them as they are a good safety feature. Manually powered boats do not require capacity plates, but the capacity information will be displayed in the users manual provided by the manufacturer.
Where Is The Capacity Plate?
If you have your own boat you will probably be familiar with the location of the capacity plate. If you are renting a boat or buying a second hand boat, check the transom for the capacity plate as this is the most common location.
The transom is a flat area on the back of the boat where you would also find the mounted outboard engine. It will be very easy to spot.
If you are on a larger boat then the capacity plate is more likely to be found at the helm. It is usually in clear view of the driving position, so check the control panel and around that general area until you find it.
The capacity plate is supposed to be easily visible while you drive the boat, so keep this in mind when you are looking for it. It shouldn’t be hard to spot. Very occasionally, the capacity plate will be on the side of one of the seats.
What Should You Consider When Loading Your Boat?
Knowing the maximum weight capacity for the boat is important, but there are some other things that you need to take into account to avoid overloading your boat.
Gear
The most important figure to keep in mind is the total maximum weight capacity of the boat including passengers and gear.
If you are carrying a lot of gear and equipment or extra items then you might need to reduce the number of passengers that you allow on board. You also need to monitor how much gear the passengers bring onto the boat with them.
Distribution
The weight needs to be evenly distributed across the boat to ensure that the vessel is safe. This means that people cannot walk freely around the boat without being careful, and you need to carefully consider the organization and storage of gear.
Avoid carrying too much weight in one area of the boat, or this part could dip too close to the surface of the water.
Water Conditions
If the water is expected to be particularly rough or choppy, you should consider reducing the maximum weight capacity of the boat, or making sure that you carry less passengers or gear. You will be safer if there is less weight on the boat.
You should also remember that the boat will always be more stable on sea water than river water due to the salt content, so rough river waters are more likely to rock the boat.
Acceleration
If you have the boat loaded up to maximum capacity, you should not travel at full speed. This level of acceleration is not safe when the boat is weighed down with passengers and gear.
It will put too much strain on the motor and will also make the boat unstable. You need to stick to modest speeds when the boat is loaded to the maximum weight capacity.
Fishing
If you are fishing, you need to take into account the weight of the fish that you are going to catch. If you set out on your fishing trip at maximum weight capacity, you will not be able to bring any fish back with you.
If you are expecting a successful fishing trip, leave plenty of spare weight for whatever you catch.
Secure The Load
It is always important to tie the gear and other items down securely. You can use netting, cable ties, or whatever works best for you. The cargo needs to be kept still so that the boat stays steady.
This will also help to keep the boat stable if you hit choppy waters.
What Happens If The Boat Is Overloaded?
If a boat is overloaded there is a strong possibility that it could capsize. This is very dangerous. The boat could also warp and lose its shape, possibly even cracking to let in water.
If the boat is weighed down too heavily, it will come too close to the surface of the water. This could cause water to swamp the boat, causing it to sink.
Summary
It is important to stick to the maximum weight capacity of your boat. Even if you are careful with how much weight you carry on the boat, you should make sure that your passengers are always wearing life jackets.
