Over loaded Boat

[black sheep]

How much is to much? Ever loaded your boat with tons of gear, coolers, and people and been worried it was over loaded?

 

[salty87]

Re: Over loaded Boat

i've loaded up really heavy before, could barely get out of the hole....with a 454 too. i appreciate my stuff more now than to do that again.

be careful, the boat will handle very differently.

 

[Thad]

Re: Over loaded Boat

I have and still will say WHOA! that is enough.
I judge what and how much will go on my boat. As should every operator.
It is your responsibility to ensure that your boat and passengers are safe.

I have been a bit uncomfortable with the amount, but have never been overloaded.
Bottom line, it is YOUR boat and YOU have the final say. Wether or not it makes someone mad. I would rather have a friend who is upset than dead.

Just my take on that subject.

 

[fabrimacator21]

Re: Over loaded Boat

your boat should have passenger and weight ratings... it'll either be on a tag somewhere on the boat or you should be able to look it up by make and model.

And yes... I've overloaded... took 1 minute to get on plain... not fun.

 

[ultrarunner]

Re: Over loaded Boat

your boat should have passenger and weight ratings... it'll either be on a tag somewhere on the boat or you should be able to look it up by make and model.

And yes... I've overloaded... took 1 minute to get on plain... not fun.

Probably... but I can't say for certain because the family ski boat has no weight/passenger rating or horsepower rating... just have to go with my best guess

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Over loaded Boat

Not me, but is this what you are talking about.

Whole group of people loading up a couple of 14' tinneys for a weekend trip. 1 of them had several coolers and a cord of fire wood up in the bow Pulling out of the marina the boat had about 6" of freeboard and couldn't plane. 1 wave would have sunk it...

 

[fishrdan]

Re: Over loaded Boat

double post...

 

[ScottinAZ]

Re: Over loaded Boat

Not me, but is this what you are talking about.

Whole group of people loading up a couple of 14' tinneys for a weekend trip. 1 of them had several coolers and a cord of fire wood up in the bow Pulling out of the marina the boat had about 6" of freeboard and couldn't plane. 1 wave would have sunk it...

Holey Smokes, that is a lot of weight. Almost a qualifier for Stupid Human Tricks

 

[fabrimacator21]

Re: Over loaded Boat

Probably... but I can't say for certain because the family ski boat has no weight/passenger rating or horsepower rating... just have to go with my best guess

Well... open up the engine box, and see if you have a 4 banger, v6, or v8, then look up hp ratings for your model and make of the boat. Google is your friend.

should be able to find the passenger/weight rating too.

 

[RickJ6956]

Re: Over loaded Boat

As a general rule the Federal Guidelines say a 20-foot boat with a single hull (not a pontoon, cat, or tri-hull) can carry 7 passengers at 150 pounds each or the equivalent weight. That's a total of 1050 pounds of passengers and gear.

That picture is painted with a very broad-stroke brush, though. At that weight any 20-footer will sit lower in the water and have sluggish response. Depending on the type of boat, it may not have enough freeboard to handle anything but the smoothest water. The wake may wash the transom when you come off plane (if you can get on plane!).

If you feel that your boat is overloaded, don't leave the dock.

 

[scipper77]

Re: Over loaded Boat

I once headed out in my 17' Chris Craft and realized immediately that there was too much weight on board. We were at the max for people and right around the max for weight (estimated peoples weight and added up). I think the real issue here was 2 things
1) my boat has a 6 cyl. engine, not the original 4 banger, that must be good for 100 lbs.
2) Wet foam. The boat is 25 years old, I'd bet if the foam has failed that there is at least 200 extra lbs.

I will never again use the plate to determine the maximum load as there are other factors to consider.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Over loaded Boat

Like all things boating, it's relative. I have loaded them down with lumber, appliances, equipment, gear to ferry stuff out to an island house, but I know the water and I know the boat. I may have also carried an extra person or two for transportation, but only if in calm shallow warm water and with PFDs. You just have to assess conditions and risk.

I once guessed wrong on an overloaded canoe in the wintertime (actually I relied on the more experienced owner of the canoe). Scratched off one of my nine lives that day.
The things to watch with a loaded boat are that it takes a long time to stop/slow down (and using reverse for a brake is never a good idea) and when you do slow down, your bow dips and you have a large stern wake to contend with. It's not for the inexperienced, nor is it ever a good idea if you are just pleasure boating.

 

[ultrarunner]

Re: Over loaded Boat

Well... open up the engine box, and see if you have a 4 banger, v6, or v8, then look up hp ratings for your model and make of the boat. Google is your friend.

should be able to find the passenger/weight rating too.

It's been a while since I did a search and everything that came up was stuff I posted...

I know every inch of this boat and no rating or tags on hull... my last Coast Guard Inspection Sticker is still on the Windshield dated 1960

I once had 8 people on board ... picked up 4 kids without life jackets from their sinking rubber raft off Emerald Bay in Lake Tahoe and they didn't have Life Jackets.

Boat... 1957-58 Fiberflite

Engine... original 1957-58 Evinrude Lark 35 with Electric Start

Length 15' 6"

Seating for 6