Safe
Loading — Subpart C
Category Two: Outboard Boats
Example of Calculations for Maximum Weight
Capacity and Persons Capacity
Comments on rating a boat in this category:
Obviously the manufacturer will not want to
exercise his right to use these high numbers on the capacity
label. It is unreasonable to rate a 16 ft. boat for 11 people,
and it will be expensive to “float” the excess
weight.
If the manufacturer “de-rates” the
boat to a more reasonable number, such as the number of seats
in the boat (say 6 persons), let’s calculate how many
of the allowed 1,513 pounds of maximum capacity will be used.
We use the regulation formula but reversed:
Pounds of persons (desired rating) = (6 X
141) –32
Pounds of persons (desired rating) = 814 lb.
And the difference to the maximum weight capacity
will be:
1,513 pounds - 814 pound of persons = 699
pounds allowed for gear, which may still be too large.
The manufacturer must now select among the options,
which are (as they must be displayed on label):
Option 1 -
11 PERSONS or 1,513 lb. (allowed but unreasonable)
1,401 lb. of persons, motor and gear (reasonable—see
* below)
Option 2 -
6 PERSONS or 814 lb. (reasonable persons
load)
1,401 lb. of persons, motor and gear
* Remember that in outboards the maximum weight
capacity is in persons, motor, and gear, which will allow:
- 814 lb. of persons
- 550 lb. for motor, controls, battery, and
fuel tank
- 37 lb. of gear
- 1401 lb. total for persons, motor and gear.
A manufacturer has ample freedom to rate the
boat as he sees fit, as long as it does not exceed the maximum
weight capacity. The parameters to be considered in the decision-making
process are:
- How many intended occupant positions does
the boat have?
- What is a reasonable number of persons to
load this boat with?
- How much gear we should consider?
- How much added flotation will be required?
- Has the boat been performance-tested with
heavy loads?
After all these considerations, the manufacturer
may decide for something like this:
6 persons or 814 lb.
1,401 lb. persons, motor, gear
100 horsepower motor.
Previous |
Next
|
