Carrying capacity for oday 192

[Norge]

Hi there. My 1985 ODay 192 does not have a carrying capacity plate on the stern or in cockpit. To calculate my people carrying capacity I used the following formula: #People = length x width / 15. With that I got an 8-person maximum (18' 7" x 7' 1" / 15 = 8.7).
1 - Any thoughts why my boat doesn't have a capacity plate?
2 - Any thoughts on that calculation?
Thanks. Norge

 

[Sunbird22358]

Powerboats over 20' and basically all sailboats are not required to have a Capacity Plate (USCG regs). Common sense should rule, but then common sense seems to be no longer "common" (although most sailors seem to have more than most power boaters). ABYC requires the Capacity Plate on all power boats under 26' (American Boat & Yacht Council)
That formula that you use was really designed for small power boats and row boats (under about 16') and really doesn't give a true answer for larger boats. I think 8 would be bit crowded on a 19' sailboat, 6 might be better to plan on, except maybe in real calm conditions. Four adults and 4 children might be doable, but still crowded. Just make sure that if you have 8 people aboard, you also have 8 correct-sized life jackets for them and any kids under 13 need to be wearing their life jacket unless in the cabin (and even then it is still recommended that they wear them.)

 

[Brian S]

Sailing with 4 people in the cockpit is tight to me. One would have to get used to sailing from the low side (which I do from time to time anyway out of laziness...) but you can't see over the boat when sitting on the low side, which makes me nervous. You could probably have a 5th adult standing in the companionway, again, it's crowded. I've had maybe 6 people on board at anchor during raft ups.

 

[shemandr]

On a 19' boat three to four is enough. Maybe there is room for more, but after two people each are in each other's way. When it gets windy that minor crowding becomes unmanageable. 8 people is not reasonable for this size boat, in my opinion.

 

[jepomer]

I have had 8 people (two were little children) on my O'Day 19 on a calm evening to watch the fireworks.

Otherwise when sailing, four adults is plenty although a fifth can stand in the companionway.
Just remember that the O'Day 19 has a larger cockpit than the O'Day 192.