Boat Weight Capacity

[Geo2008]

Below are the specifications on my boat and they list weight capacity as 625lbs or 5 Persons. I can not think of four friends that would equal 625lbs.

Maybe myself 180lbs and four 110lb good looking ladies with 5lbs to spare.OK the good looking part is not a part of the weight discussion, just preference

The question is "how much should I worry if I exceed the recommended weight capacity by 50lbs or so? Will it sink my boat or just be sluggish?


# Length Overall (LOA) - 17
# Max. Recommended H.P. - 125 HP
# Max. Person Capacity - 5 Persons
# Max. Person Weight - 625 Lbs.
# Max. Weight Capacity - 1150 Lbs.
# Weight Approx. - 1402 Lbs.
# Fuel Capacity - 25 Gallons
# Package Length - 21' 10''
# Package Width - 97"

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

The rule of thumb is NEVER exceed the total weight (1150) as for the specified amount of people,why would you want more than 5 people in a 17' boat, thats dangerous,how much freeboard does she have ( distance from top of side's to water) exceeding weight limits lowers this drastically and may cause you to flounder,or worse,porpoise,(bow goes under wave) by/by boat...

 

[Geo2008]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

Personally I would only like to have me, the wife, and Halo my dog but she is all excited and keeps inviting people to go to the lake. I am hoping this will wear off eventually.

I would never put more than five in the boat but the other day I had four that was up to 615lbs. and I hate to leave my dog at home since he absolutely loves the boat. He even jumped in a couple times while the boat was in the garage and just stayed a few hours.

Anyway,this led to a disagreement between me and the wife since the 48lb dog would put us slightly over the published weight capacity at 663lbs.

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

Your weight capacity is 1150# not 625#,your fine...here fido,fido

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

Check this out... http://www.boat-ed.com/wa/course/p2-1_knowyourcapacity.htm

 

[External Combustion]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

More people, bigger boat, less trouble. Think of it this way, your wifes social habit has just justified a bigger boat!

A win , win situation to me!

 

[fishmen111]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

Be careful and someone correct me if I'm wrong. Your 1150# is total capacity. You take away your motor (300) gas (150) battery(s) (40-80) and any other item that did not come with the hull, and you are back down near the 625#. I believe most OB boats do not include the motor in their net weight. No, you're not going to sink if you put another few pounds on, but people rarely take into account all the small stuff they put on a boat (coolers, tool set, spare prop, wife, etc.). It all adds up. $.02

 

[marine4003]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

Fish is right.....'twasn't thinkin.Looks like its time to buy BIGGER.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

the 5 persons is what the boat will seat safely underway. i have a 23 ft deckboat, rated for 13, but it is stuffed with 13 on board.

 

[marquette]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

if your wife wants to understand boat capacity and acceptable weight just wait till opening day of duck season and take her down to the launch ramp to watch. any thing that floats with 2 full figured men, 60 decoys, 2 shotguns, a case of shells, outboard, gas tank, lunch and a 65lb dog qualifies as a properly loaded boat. and somewhere under 10 layers of camo paint is a coast guard capacity plate. i don't condone it but i have certainly done it and it is probably why we lose a couple of duck hunters a year to october and november storms here in minnesota. but she will certainly understand that being 13lbs overweight the boat isn't going to the bottom like a rock. and she will probably never take up duck hunting.

 

[Coors]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

My 21' cuddy is rated for 10; if I saw 9 people in it, I wouldn't get in..

 

[ebry710]

Re: Boat Weight Capacity

Below are the specifications on my boat and they list weight capacity as 625lbs or 5 Persons. I can not think of four friends that would equal 625lbs.

# Max. Person Capacity - 5 Persons
# Max. Person Weight - 625 Lbs.

I am rather a simple person. If the specification says 5 people, not to exceed 625#, then don't put 5 people in that exceeds 625#. The Coast Guard will look at it that way. Your insurance carrier will look at it that way. The judge at your trial will look at it that way (if there is a mishap).

The dog though is (despite its owner's opinion) is not a person and is not counted in either the number of people or weight of people category.

Why it is that way? ... is in the link that Marine4003 noted. Nice link.