Does anyone know what the capacity of the H23 (1987) is? How many people can I legally carry? I have family coming in and plan to sail and do not want a citation. Thanks Joe
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How many you can LEGALLY carry and how many
you can COMFORTABLY carry are two different issues. How many can be aboard at the same time and get any enjoyment from the experience? Or more importantly, how many can be aboard and still allow you to sail the boat without interference? Legally, you may be able to carry 10...but where will you put 'em all? How will a mob that size affect how the boat responds when you tack or come about. Those are the important issues, not how many you can legally carry. If it's a mob, consider finding a launch ramp that has nice picnic areas, maybe a beach, and a dock that will let you take some of them at a time for an hour at a time.
you can COMFORTABLY carry are two different issues. How many can be aboard at the same time and get any enjoyment from the experience? Or more importantly, how many can be aboard and still allow you to sail the boat without interference? Legally, you may be able to carry 10...but where will you put 'em all? How will a mob that size affect how the boat responds when you tack or come about. Those are the important issues, not how many you can legally carry. If it's a mob, consider finding a launch ramp that has nice picnic areas, maybe a beach, and a dock that will let you take some of them at a time for an hour at a time.
10-11 Sounds Right
There is a formula that is used it seems that 10-12 was the number I figured for my 23.5. But remember you must have a vest of the appropriate size for each person aboard, but you were going to do that anyway I am sure. If I can find the formula I'll post it here. The most I have had on my boat was 10 but four were under three feet tall. Don't know were you would put that many for a very long trip ours was just motoring a few hundred yards to watch the fireworks and the Christmas boat parade.
There is a formula that is used it seems that 10-12 was the number I figured for my 23.5. But remember you must have a vest of the appropriate size for each person aboard, but you were going to do that anyway I am sure. If I can find the formula I'll post it here. The most I have had on my boat was 10 but four were under three feet tall. Don't know were you would put that many for a very long trip ours was just motoring a few hundred yards to watch the fireworks and the Christmas boat parade.
6 people
Peggy had a good suggestion, which I have done in the past. We now have a Hunter 240 and have carried 6 people with no problem at all. It has a quite large cockpit. But we once went out with 6 on a J-22 and it was a bit much. One had to stand in the companion way because all 6 couldn't sit in the cockpit at one time and still have room for the tiller to swing. Good luck.
Peggy had a good suggestion, which I have done in the past. We now have a Hunter 240 and have carried 6 people with no problem at all. It has a quite large cockpit. But we once went out with 6 on a J-22 and it was a bit much. One had to stand in the companion way because all 6 couldn't sit in the cockpit at one time and still have room for the tiller to swing. Good luck.
Weight??
I recall on some of my old outboard power boats from a long time ago seeing a manufacturer's plate that listed maximum load carrying by weight. I'm not aware of any rules or mfg. plates on sailboats restricting number of passengers for pleasure boats but an H-23 with a big crowd is sure to attract the CG's attention. Just use common sense and good judgment as to how many you can safely carry; after all, safety for yourself and crew is always the primary consideration. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
I recall on some of my old outboard power boats from a long time ago seeing a manufacturer's plate that listed maximum load carrying by weight. I'm not aware of any rules or mfg. plates on sailboats restricting number of passengers for pleasure boats but an H-23 with a big crowd is sure to attract the CG's attention. Just use common sense and good judgment as to how many you can safely carry; after all, safety for yourself and crew is always the primary consideration. Dick Vance H-25.5 "Honey Bear"
"Rule of Thumb"
Our rule (regardless of the size of the boat!) is: Sail 6 Feed 4 Sleep 2 Don't think the CG has memorialized that rule, though.... Michael O'
Our rule (regardless of the size of the boat!) is: Sail 6 Feed 4 Sleep 2 Don't think the CG has memorialized that rule, though.... Michael O'
Powerboaters rule of thumb
It's a ratio: 1 person per foot / LOA over 1 case of beer per foot / beam.
It's a ratio: 1 person per foot / LOA over 1 case of beer per foot / beam.
capacity
There is a formula, I have seen it , have looked thru lots of material the last two days and so far cant seem to find it, it is basically loa and beam and a factor, I will continue to try to find it for you , good luck , hope u do find it, Mike
There is a formula, I have seen it , have looked thru lots of material the last two days and so far cant seem to find it, it is basically loa and beam and a factor, I will continue to try to find it for you , good luck , hope u do find it, Mike
I found it
I checked my Vessel Safety Check manual for the Coast Guard Auxiliary and it says: "on a boat without a capacity plate, use the formula (people = L X W divided by 15) to determine the number of persons that the boat can carry in good weather conditions" On a 23 that would be 23.25 X 8 / 15 = 12.4. Of course you probably do not want to sail with that many aboard but at least you should not have to worry about that citation.
I checked my Vessel Safety Check manual for the Coast Guard Auxiliary and it says: "on a boat without a capacity plate, use the formula (people = L X W divided by 15) to determine the number of persons that the boat can carry in good weather conditions" On a 23 that would be 23.25 X 8 / 15 = 12.4. Of course you probably do not want to sail with that many aboard but at least you should not have to worry about that citation.
Many thanks
Well, I am grateful as always for the knowledge gained from this sight. I only have 6 life jackets, so six is the max I will carry (many thanks Peggy). If the winds are up, I'll make atleast 2 of them go below.... Joe
Well, I am grateful as always for the knowledge gained from this sight. I only have 6 life jackets, so six is the max I will carry (many thanks Peggy). If the winds are up, I'll make atleast 2 of them go below.... Joe
Rick, that formula only applies to powerboats
Powerboats don't heel (when they do, it's called listing--not good)...so as long as you can seat 'em all and keep all their body parts inside the gunwhales (and that includes inside any cabin) , it's safe to carry 'em...all you have to do is distribute 'em evenly to keep the boat from listing. So on a sailboat, as long as the sails are down and the boat's only ferrying people to an island picnic under power, your formula works. But on a sailboat, under sail, load distribution and the ability to shift that load as heeling requires makes it a whole different ballgame. The bigger the sailboat and the deeper the keel, the less a few hundred extra pounds on the lee side matters...but 700-800 extra pounds (6 more people than the boat can safely carry) who can't easily move the high side when a small sailboat tacks could capsize it. And the 12 people your formula says a 23' sailboat can carry couldn't get out of each other's way if their lives depended on it...which it does.
Powerboats don't heel (when they do, it's called listing--not good)...so as long as you can seat 'em all and keep all their body parts inside the gunwhales (and that includes inside any cabin) , it's safe to carry 'em...all you have to do is distribute 'em evenly to keep the boat from listing. So on a sailboat, as long as the sails are down and the boat's only ferrying people to an island picnic under power, your formula works. But on a sailboat, under sail, load distribution and the ability to shift that load as heeling requires makes it a whole different ballgame. The bigger the sailboat and the deeper the keel, the less a few hundred extra pounds on the lee side matters...but 700-800 extra pounds (6 more people than the boat can safely carry) who can't easily move the high side when a small sailboat tacks could capsize it. And the 12 people your formula says a 23' sailboat can carry couldn't get out of each other's way if their lives depended on it...which it does.
Skipper of SV Disaster
Peggie is correct. The formula is for power boats. Another factor is weight/dispacement that is not stationary ( you won't be lashing your guests down) and I have a few mmbers of my family that weigh more than 200 lbs. Let's see thats 12x200 = 2400 lbs or a ton and if they bring munchies and beer there's another ton that adds up to a massive liability for the skipper. My rule of thumb on my 25' = Sail 4 Sleep 2 and sail. IMHO
Peggie is correct. The formula is for power boats. Another factor is weight/dispacement that is not stationary ( you won't be lashing your guests down) and I have a few mmbers of my family that weigh more than 200 lbs. Let's see thats 12x200 = 2400 lbs or a ton and if they bring munchies and beer there's another ton that adds up to a massive liability for the skipper. My rule of thumb on my 25' = Sail 4 Sleep 2 and sail. IMHO
My Concern With the Formula
Is it does not take into concern the weight anything else that is on the boat. It is offered as a guideline and a maximum not to be exceeded for boats built before November 1972 or for sailboats which do not require capacity plates. Capacity plates typically are stated in "person or pounds". I personally would prefer a formula that gave you a maximum number for weight provided each person had a seat Vs strictly the number of butts a boat may carry.
Is it does not take into concern the weight anything else that is on the boat. It is offered as a guideline and a maximum not to be exceeded for boats built before November 1972 or for sailboats which do not require capacity plates. Capacity plates typically are stated in "person or pounds". I personally would prefer a formula that gave you a maximum number for weight provided each person had a seat Vs strictly the number of butts a boat may carry.
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