Subpart H – Flotation Requirements for Outboard Boats Rated for Engines of 2 Horsepower or Less
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FEDERAL LAW
183.305 - Passenger carrying area
(a) For the purpose of this section, a boat is level when it is supported on its keel at the two points shown in Figure 2.
(b) As used in this subpart, the term "passenger carrying area" means each area in a boat in which persons can sit in a normal sitting position or stand while the boat is in operation. Passenger carrying areas are illustrated in Figures 3 through 8.
(c) The length of each passenger carrying area is the distance along the centerline of the boat between two vertical lines, one at the forward end and one at the aft end of the passenger carrying area, when the boat is level, as illustrated in Figures 3 and 4. For boats with a curved stem inside the passenger carrying area, the forward vertical line is where a line 45 degrees to the horizontal when the boat is level is tangent to the curve of the stem, as illustrated in Figure 5. For boats with cabins, the forward vertical line is where there is a minimum distance of two feet between the inside top of the cabin and the water line formed when the boat is swamped and loaded with weights under Sec. 183.320 as illustrated in Figure 6.
(d) The breadth of the passenger carrying area is the distance between two vertical lines at the mid-length, excluding consoles, of the passenger carrying area when the boat is level as illustrated in Figures 7 and 8. For boats with round chines inside the passenger carrying area, the vertical line is where a transverse line 45 degrees to the horizontal is tangent to the arc of the chine, as illustrated in Figure 7.
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NOTE: See Appendix B for 33 CFR Subpart H, figures 2 – 13.
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FEDERAL LAW
183.310 - Reference areas
(a) The forward reference area of a boat is the forward most 2 feet of the top surface of the hull or deck, as illustrated in Figure 9.
(b) The aft reference area of a boat is the aft most two feet of the top surface of the hull or deck, as illustrated in Figure 9.
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NOTE: See Appendix B for 33 CFR Subpart H, figures 2 – 13.
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FEDERAL LAW
183.315 - Reference depth
Reference depth is the minimum distance between the uppermost surface of the submerged reference area of a boat and the surface of the water measured at the centerline of the boat, as illustrated in Figure 10. If there is no deck surface at the centerline of the boat from which a measurement can be made, the reference depth is the average of two depth measurements made on opposite sides of, and at an equal distance from, the centerline of the boat.
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NOTE: See Appendix B for 33 CFR Subpart H, Figure 10
FIGURE 2.1 - Length of Passenger Carrying Area – Location of Center of Gravity of Weights
FIGURE 2.2 - Length of Passenger Carrying Area – Boat with Deck
FIGURE 2.3 - Length of Passenger Carrying Area – Boat with Center Console
FIGURE 2.4 - Length of Passenger Carrying Area – Open Boat with Curved Stem
FIGURE 2.5 - Length of Passenger Carrying Area – Boat with Cabin
Loading Area: Forty percent of the length of the passenger carrying area and forty percent of the width of the passenger carrying area, centered in the passenger carrying area, and the position where the center of gravity of the test weights must be located. See figure 2.1.
Reference Area: [see 183.210 & 183.310] The forward-most two feet and the aft-most two feet of the top surface of the hull or deck, as shown in figure 2.6.
FIGURE 2.6 - Reference Area
Reference Depth: [see 183.215 & 183.315] The minimum distance between the uppermost surface of the submerged reference area of a boat and the surface of the water measured at the centerline of the boat, as shown in figure 2.7.
FIGURE 2.7 - Reference Depth
Static Floating Position: The attitude in which a boat floats in calm, fresh water with fuel tanks filled to rated capacity, but with no person or items of portable equipment aboard. The boat should include all permanently installed factory supplied equipment and options such as, but not limited to the engine or engines, batteries, seats, engine oil, railings, fishing towers, etc. It should not include portable gear such as, but not limited to flags, searchlights, movable cushions, mattresses, portable fire extinguishers, lines, fenders, chairs, tables, anchors or live bait wells. See figures 2.8 and 2.9.
FIGURE 2.8 - Static Floating Position
FIGURE 2.9 - Location of Supports for Level Boat
NOTE:
Point A is exactly at the waterline at the Bow; Point B, exactly at the intersection of the waterline and the centerline of the transom. Points C and D are at the waterline amidships, at either side. If the boat is mounted in chocks, this line should be horizontal.
FIGURE 2.10 - Swamped Waterline
Swamped Waterline: A theoretical waterline above which dry weights will be used and below which submerged weights will be used, when calculating for the required flotation.
Wd = Dry weight of deck (all above swamped waterline including deck, windshield, hardware, factory accessories, etc.).
Wh = Dry weight of hull (all below swamped waterline).
Bilge: The area in the boat, below a height of 4 inches measured from the lowest point in the boat, where liquid can collect when the boat is in its static floating position, except engine rooms.
Connected: Allowing a flow of water in excess of one-quarter ounce per hour from the engine room bilge into any other compartment with a 12-inch head of water on the engine room side of the bulkhead.
Engine room bilge: The area in the engine room or a connected compartment below a height of 12 inches measured from the lowest point where liquid can collect in these compartments when the boat is in its static floating position.
Engine room: The compartment where a permanently installed gasoline or diesel engine is
installed, including connected compartments.
Open to atmosphere: A compartment that has at least 15 square inches of open area directly exposed to the atmosphere for each cubic foot of net compartment volume.
Sealed compartment: An enclosure that can resist an exterior water level of 12 inches without seepage of more than one-quarter fluid ounce per hour.
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