How many people can my boat hold?
8 min read
Asked by: Jennifer Hernandez
If your boat does not have a capacity plate, the U.S. Coast Guard recommends the following formula for calculating maximum occupancy: multiply the boat’s length times its width and divide by 15. For example, a 6-foot wide, 18-foot boat can carry up to seven people safely.
How do you calculate boat capacity?
Multiply the length of your boat by the width of your boat and divide it by 15 to get the number of people your boat can safely hold. For example, if your boat is 30 feet long and 15 feet wide, your boat’s capacity would be 30 x 15 / 15, which is 30.
What is the maximum load capacity of a boat?
The Maximum Gross Load is the total weight your boat can handle, including people, equipment, stores, fuel, engine assembly and steering controls. If your boat doesn’t have a Capacity Plate, you can calculate the number of people you can safely take onboard using the following equation.
What size boat do I need for 12 people?
What Size Boat For Family Of 12? On average, a 28 ft is a good boat size for a family of 12. However, the length can vary from 20 ft to 32 ft or more depending on the boat type and, most importantly, the boat’s purpose, fishing, cruising, water sports, or other boating-related activities.
What happens if you put too many people on a boat?
Putting too many people and gear aboard reduces freeboard, increases instability, and raises the risk of swamping in rough weather. Even in calm waters, an overloaded boat is more likely to capsize, especially if the boat makes an abrupt turn, or if someone on board suddenly shifts position.
How many people can you put in a 17 foot boat?
Many boat captains will tell you that, as a general rule-of-thumb, multiplying your vessel’s length by its maximum width and dividing that number by 15 (or sometimes 18) will give you the total number of passengers that your boat can safely carry.
How strict are boat weight limits?
Boats have weight limits, and it varies for each boat. It’s usually called a boat’s gross load capacity and represented in weight (lbs) OR the number of persons plus weight. If a boat exceeds its gross load capacity, it becomes more unstable in nature, and in the worst cases, a boat can capsize or tip over.
Does boat capacity go by weight or people?
The average weight used by boat manufacturers to calculate maximum capacity is about one hundred and fifty pounds per person. If the passengers on a boat have weights above that threshold, or if the weight of supplies is too great, the number of passengers should be adjusted.
Can the maximum person capacity of a vessel be exceeded?
When manufacturers determine maximum person capacity of a vessel, they calculate it by assuming the weight of each person at around one hundred and fifty pounds. Never load more than the listed maximum person capacity, even if each of the passengers weigh well under the manufacturer’s guideline.
How many people can fit on a Bayliner 185?
Bayliner 185 specs
Passenger capacity is bumped up to eight and there’s more in the way of appointments.
Is it illegal to have more people on a boat than its rated for?
Amy in short: Technically, yes. It’s not illegal to exceed your capacity rating, but it’s not smart. And whether or not the boat’s overloaded depends more on weight than on the number of people.
Does a baby count as a person on a boat?
Um 3 persons? They are a person, so they would count as one person per your boat’s capacity plate regardless of what state you were in. That said, IMO, most law enforcement personnel would not count small children as one person unless a serious offense had been committed.
How do I get a capacity plate for my boat?
The number of seats in a boat is not an indication of the number of people it can safely carry. Capacity plates can generally be found on the inside transom, or next to the helm station. Capacity plates should never be removed, altered, or tampered with.
Does boat capacity include motor?
About Capacity
The “maximum capacity” or “maximum weight” for a recreational boat refers to the weight, including people, gear and the motor, that can be carried safely.
How do you determine the gross load capacity for a personal watercraft?
x vessel width (ft.) / 15. So, for example, if a boat measures twelve feet in length and four feet in width, one would multiply those values, equaling forty-eight. Then, divide that value by fifteen to give one a maximum capacity of three people. The other value to remember is a vessel’s Maximum Gross Load.
How do I calculate my boat capacity NSW?
POWER BOATS 6M OR MORE IN LENGTH DIRECTIONS FOR USE
For vessels longer than 15 metres use the formula: Safe persons capacity = 0.6 x length x √ beam (nearest whole number). However, a stability analysis is recommended to be used to establish maximum passenger capacity.
How much weight can a 12 foot jon boat hold?
As boat length increases the weight capacity similarly increase, so with a 12 foot boat approximately 400 lbs can be safely contained and at 14 foot 400+ lbs. At 16 foot in length a Jon boat can usually hold about 1,000 lbs. An 18 foot Jon boat will hold, on average, about 1,500 lbs.
Can a Jon boat go in the ocean?
Jon boats can go in the ocean but only under very specific conditions. A mod-v Jon boat is the best choice for ocean use but only in optimal calm weather conditions and never far from shore. The flat bottom and low freeboard make a Jon boat unsuitable for rough ocean water.
How much is a 12 foot aluminum boat worth?
On average, a 12 ft aluminum boat cost between $2,000 – $5,000. However, the cost depends on the make, model year, and modifications.
How much is a 10ft Jon boat?
10 ft Jon boats can range in price from $700 to $800. 11 ft – 13 ft Jon boats usually cost from $850 to $1000.
Are Jon boats worth it?
These are an excellent way to try your hand at fishing and boating without breaking the bank. If you do decide on a jon boat, you will find that it is one of the best ways to get started in fishing and boating. Known for their flat, stable bottom, jon boats are an excellent way to have a fun day on the water.
What are the benefits of a Jon boat?
Benefits Of Jon Boats
- They Are Affordable. Jon boats are usually the most budget-friendly type of boat. …
- They Are Easy To Use. Some Jon boats are powered by a simple pair of oars. …
- They Are Easy To Transport. Jon boats are small and light. …
- They Are Versatile. …
- They Are Easy To Maintain.
What is the shortest Jon boat you can buy?
Jon Boat Size You Need
- 8 feet (2.5 m) long Jon boat. This Jon boat has the smallest size with a minimal weight capacity. …
- 10 feet (3 m) long Jon boat. …
- 12 feet (3.65 m) long Jon boat. …
- 14 feet (4.3 m) long Jon boat. …
- 16 feet (5 m) long Jon boat. …
- 18 feet (5.5 m) long Jon boat. …
- 20 feet (6 m) long Jon boat.
Can you use a Jon boat on a lake?
A Jon boat is a perfect vessel for use on lakes. Its flat bottom, shallow draft hull means it can easily be used to navigate waters that are only a few inches deep but this does not mean it cannot handle deep water.
How long do Jon boats last?
After fiberglass, aluminum is one of the common materials used in boat construction, and most small & popular fishing boats (Bass boats, Jon boats, etc.) are made out of aluminum. A well-maintained aluminum boat can easily last up to 30 years or more if it is well maintained.
What is the most popular size Jon boat?
More weight capacity requires more boat length. Understanding the activities you plan to engage in using your jon boat is a major deciding factor with the weight capacity you will need. What is this? While you can find boats in a range of shapes and sizes, the most common lengths are 8, 10, 14, 16, 18, 20-feet.
Are Jon boats durable?
The Lund Jon Boat series features flat-bottomed fishing and hunting boats designed to float in extremely shallow waters. They are made of aluminum, which makes them highly durable and exceptionally lightweight.
What is the widest 14 foot Jon boat?
- 10 foot Jon boat. Widths available: 48 inches. …
- 12 foot Jon boat. Widths available: Between 48 and 60 inches. …
- 14 foot Jon boat. Widths available: 48 – 60 inches. …
- 16 foot Jon boat. Widths available: Up to 78 inches. …
- 18 foot Jon boat. Widths: available 60 to 80 Inches width. …
- 20 + foot Jon boat. Widths available: 70+ inches.
How deep are Jon boats?
around 2′
Jon Boats are available in a range of sizes with typical common lengths around 12’2” (3.7 m), widths of 4’3” (1.3 m), depths of around 2′ (. 61 m). Jon Boats are flat-bottomed boats with two or three bench seats ideal for fishing, hunting, or civilian protection during floods.
Are flat bottom boats more stable?
For shallow inland waterways a flat bottom hull offers the most stability. For ocean use a v-hull or rounded hull, preferably with a keel, are the most stable. For very challenging open water a deep v-hull with keel is the best design.
Why do they call a Jon boat a Jon boat?
Because the boats were stable and easy to construct, they became favorite transportation for many fishermen. Apparently, one of the fishermen named his flat bottomed boat “john boat” after himself. And the name took off from there especially since “Jon” or “John” is a very common name in Scandinavia.
