How many people is safe?
- Thread starter tcrespo
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On a serious note ... 11 was too many in Vermont
On July 4th 2002 a borrowed 26 foot sailboat with an empty balast tank and a "loaded" skipper capsized with 11 people on board and 2 children drowned. They were both wearing PFDs, but were caught in the cabin. The skipper has already served 3 years in jail and still has 1 more to go. Life ain't a ride at Disneyland.
On July 4th 2002 a borrowed 26 foot sailboat with an empty balast tank and a "loaded" skipper capsized with 11 people on board and 2 children drowned. They were both wearing PFDs, but were caught in the cabin. The skipper has already served 3 years in jail and still has 1 more to go. Life ain't a ride at Disneyland.
Length time width divided by 15 = Rediculous.
I agree with Liam. I am not familiar with the ASA, but if this is a formula they use I have absolutely not respect for their standards. This formula may apply to a barge or a high power tour/scare boat where all seats are lined up like in a movie theatre. On a typical sailboat (If this formula is being applied correctly) it is rediculous. Ex: My boat is 39 X 13 = 507. Divided by 15 = 33.8 people , so we use 33. 1 person: stands up in the galley. 1 person: nav station 6 people: tightly seated in salon 1 person: never leaves the head - now thats a fun trip. 5 people: clustered in cockpit 1 person on bow hoping he dont get dumped while tacking. 6 people on coach roof also hoping not to get dumped while tacking 6 people on port rail 6 people stbd rail OK thats 33 people All jokes aside, does anyone really consider this safe? Not to mention comfortable. This situation would not be safe for anything more than a 2 hour tour and then the 9 people below would probably also be on the foredeck standing somewhere. And even this would have to be planned and contrived. Just moving about requires people stepping over and around eachother even on the low side. The coordination required for tacking would have to be extremely disciplined. Can it be done? Sure it can. Can it be done safely? I dont think so. IMHO Tony B
I agree with Liam. I am not familiar with the ASA, but if this is a formula they use I have absolutely not respect for their standards. This formula may apply to a barge or a high power tour/scare boat where all seats are lined up like in a movie theatre. On a typical sailboat (If this formula is being applied correctly) it is rediculous. Ex: My boat is 39 X 13 = 507. Divided by 15 = 33.8 people , so we use 33. 1 person: stands up in the galley. 1 person: nav station 6 people: tightly seated in salon 1 person: never leaves the head - now thats a fun trip. 5 people: clustered in cockpit 1 person on bow hoping he dont get dumped while tacking. 6 people on coach roof also hoping not to get dumped while tacking 6 people on port rail 6 people stbd rail OK thats 33 people All jokes aside, does anyone really consider this safe? Not to mention comfortable. This situation would not be safe for anything more than a 2 hour tour and then the 9 people below would probably also be on the foredeck standing somewhere. And even this would have to be planned and contrived. Just moving about requires people stepping over and around eachother even on the low side. The coordination required for tacking would have to be extremely disciplined. Can it be done? Sure it can. Can it be done safely? I dont think so. IMHO Tony B
Next time Higgs saves someone he now knows how many he can have on board safely
I'm not here to judge but some one asked. This formula is used by the USCG also....The Cubans violate this all the time. Thanks SAM Capacity Calculation Hi Tom, I have a capacity calculation for you. It is from Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobsen. This calculation estimates "the maximum number of persons who can safely ride in the boat on a calm day. Multiply the length (in feet)by the width (in feet) and divide this by 15 Round the result down to the nearest whole number. This formula assumes that the average weight of a person is 150 pounds." Take care,Sam
I'm not here to judge but some one asked. This formula is used by the USCG also....The Cubans violate this all the time. Thanks SAM Capacity Calculation Hi Tom, I have a capacity calculation for you. It is from Sailing Fundamentals by Gary Jobsen. This calculation estimates "the maximum number of persons who can safely ride in the boat on a calm day. Multiply the length (in feet)by the width (in feet) and divide this by 15 Round the result down to the nearest whole number. This formula assumes that the average weight of a person is 150 pounds." Take care,Sam
33 huh where to put em
5 in the salon 6 in the cockpit (could hold 7, but why push it) 3 on high side of the cockpit (still sitting down!) 12 on rail on high side ___ 26 sub total. 3 threesome going on in back cabin 2 twosome going on in front cabin 1 in front head puking 1 in rear head peeing --- 33 total. Still room for one in galley to pass out beer. Room for one to sleep on back settee (if they can stand the noise) room at pulpit for two or three. room on cabin top for a lot more. So the twenty I had on board at one time had lots of room. And we were fishing! That's only 10 per side or 3.7 feet per person.
5 in the salon 6 in the cockpit (could hold 7, but why push it) 3 on high side of the cockpit (still sitting down!) 12 on rail on high side ___ 26 sub total. 3 threesome going on in back cabin 2 twosome going on in front cabin 1 in front head puking 1 in rear head peeing --- 33 total. Still room for one in galley to pass out beer. Room for one to sleep on back settee (if they can stand the noise) room at pulpit for two or three. room on cabin top for a lot more. So the twenty I had on board at one time had lots of room. And we were fishing! That's only 10 per side or 3.7 feet per person.
The only way I will ever have more than a half dozen people on my boat is if the
disaster and there are dozens of people in the water. I will rescue as many as I can and will be screaming into the radio for help. I have 8 pfd's and four floatation cushions just in case. God forbid I should ever need them.
disaster and there are dozens of people in the water. I will rescue as many as I can and will be screaming into the radio for help. I have 8 pfd's and four floatation cushions just in case. God forbid I should ever need them.
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