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  Boating  Nautical File

How Many is Safe ?

As a boat owner, have you ever decided how many people can be carried safely in your boat? Current boating regualtions provide that recreational boats must not be operated in an overloaded confition, but how many is safe and how many is overloaded?

The majority of new boats sold are now fitted with a capacity plate. This plate is fitted by the boat manufacturer, and indicates the number of people the boat can carry safely on smooth waters. This number is worked out according to Australian Standard 1799, based on the size and design of the boat and the average weight of 75kg per person.

If your boat is not fitted with a capacity plate, you could use the charts below as a guide to the number of adults your boat can carry safely. The figures given in the tables or on the capacity plate refer to the number of adults a boat can carry safely on smooth waters and under ideal conditions, such as on a river or protected waters. This number needs to be reduced when boating in adverse conditions or the open sea. As a guide, reduce this number by one third when boating on the open sea or in rougher conditions.

Maximum Safe Capacity for Conventional Boats:
Single Hull Open, Half Cabin & Cabin
Length (m)
3
3.5
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
7
8
9
10
Breadth (m)
1
2
3
3
        
1.5
3
3
4
4
5
5
6
    
2
 
 
4
5
5
6
6
7
8
10
12
2.5
 
 
 
 
6
7
7
8
9
11
12
3
 
 
 
 
 
 
8
9
10
12
13
3.5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11
13
14
4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
12
14
15
4.5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
16

The above example shows that for a boat measuring a length of 4 metres and breadth of 2 metres, the total carrying safe capacity on smooth, calm waters is 4 adults. On the open sea, this should be reduced to 3 adults.

Maximum Safe Capacity for Conventional Boats
with Flybridges
Length (m)
4
4.5
5
5.5
6
7
8
9
10
Breadth (m)
1.5
3
3
4
4
4
    
2
3
4
4
5
5
6
7
88
2.5
 
 
5
5
6
7
8
9
9
3
 
 
 
 
6
7
8
9
10
3.5
 
 
 
 
 
 
9
10
11
4
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
11
12
4.5
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
 
13


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