Post your passenger limits

tommays · Jul 8, 2012

8 is a BIG crowd on the Cal 29 which is kind of funny because is huge compared to the J24 on which the normal race crew would be 5

The 8 has far more to do with being able to keep NON-SAILORS in safe places and nothing to do with the boats stability

Scott T-Bird · Jul 8, 2012

I think that monohull sailboats with fixed keels, the space limitation comes into play long before capacity from an over-turning standpoint. The link I posted in the other thread gives us a little more understanding. It stated that on many recreational boats (think about power boats with multiple levels) the space can far exceed the safe capacity. There is a big diffence between our sailboats and power boats that have a lot more space than they should be rated for. I think that capacity plates should be mandatory on recreational boats.

Ross · Jul 8, 2012

I think that holding tank capacity can be a good measure of what should be the limit on passengers. On racing boats meat ballast is often used with good effect but were is used negatively it could capsize the boat. As They said in a movie," a man has to know his capabilities".

zeehag · Jul 8, 2012

my passenger capacity is zero (0). i am not licensed cpt nor do i take on passengers. everyone on board works. no passengers.

catsailor · Jul 8, 2012

Ross said:
I think that holding tank capacity can be a good measure of what should be the limit on passengers. On racing boats meat ballast is often used with good effect but were is used negatively it could capsize the boat. As They said in a movie," a man has to know his capabilities".

Magnum Force

Harry Callahan (Dirty Harry)

A man's got to know his limitations.

Stu Jackson · Jul 8, 2012

Zaphro said:
34' Catalina, beam 11'. Comfortably holds me, the Admiral, two deck hands, and a Yorkshire terrier. Anymore than that feels like a crowd.

Yup.

Scott's right, too. If anyone "gets in the way..." it's questionable. Comfort, comfort, comfort...

If the boat tilts when people run to one side or the other, then you have too many people.

WAAAAAAAAAAAAY too many.

Doesn't take a plaque or a MANUAL to tell you that.

Gary_H · Jul 9, 2012

Cal 25. loa 25' 3", beam 9', displacement 4500 lbs, ballast 2000 lbs, draft 4' 6" Capacity: max 5. realistically 4, most comfortable 3.

oldiesrocker2001 · Jul 9, 2012

Venture 21; displacement about 1800; beam about 7'. small cockpit comfortable up to 3 a bit crowded but ok with 4. Most I've had on it was 5 adults and one child in biscayne bay. My old Oday 17 carried 4 adults and 3 good-sized children once but it was a calm day.
Been caught out in heavy winds with both boats but never with a full load of people. We rarely go out if winds are expected to 20mph and beyond..

sinnettc · Jul 9, 2012

Capri 22, fin keel, tall rig
24'loa, 8' 2" width
2200 lb

The formula, mentioned in prior post, says 11! I don't think so!

Sailing, max of 5 and a couple better be lightweights or kids (I'm neither anymore) and only in light (< 10kts) winds. My preference is for 2 - 3, though we often sail with 4 (including me).

The most we've had aboard, motoring, was 4 adults and 3 kids. That was to anchor out for fireworks and we were fine. I wouldn't raise the sails with that many aboard though.

We sail on a 3mi x 7mi lake in the Willamette Valley in Oregon; extreme weather is unusual, though it does happen occasionally.

Ross · Jul 9, 2012

I just ain't that sociable!

Tim R. · Jul 10, 2012

1997 Caliber 40LRC. Displacement about 25k. I will have only 6 aboard. Preferably 4 if overnight.

At the slip we have had as many as 20.

bffatcat · Jul 10, 2012

How many?

my p26 weekender disp 5200 beam 8.8 has a large cockpit sleeps 4 adults which is maximum for me. I usually sail with just my wife and sometimes one more friend

kpgraci · Jul 10, 2012

Oday 22 - max 4 adults, marketed for 2 adults and 2 kids, most I ever had...2, theoretical max 6 but that would be nuts - I may go with 5 but they would have to be good swimmers and wearing bikinis.

RobertLangdirect · Jul 10, 2012

TYPE ------------------------------- LIMIT

Skipper while underway --------- Abstenance
Working Crew --------------------- No Alcohol for two hours before watch
Off Crew --------------------------- Party Hardy
Adult Passenger ------------------ Self limiting
Minor Passenger ----------------- See your mom or dad

jviss · Jul 10, 2012

Scott T-Bird said:
I think that monohull sailboats with fixed keels, the space limitation comes into play long before capacity from an over-turning standpoint. The link I posted in the other thread gives us a little more understanding. It stated that on many recreational boats (think about power boats with multiple levels) the space can far exceed the safe capacity. There is a big diffence between our sailboats and power boats that have a lot more space than they should be rated for. I think that capacity plates should be mandatory on recreational boats.

Scott, I don't want or need any more regulation or 'help' from the government, thanks anyway.

I will bet a paycheck that in that recent case a capacity plate would have been overlooked or overtly ignored by that "captain," based on his other actions. What then, should the government do? Would you require skippers to file float plans with the USCG for each trip, file a manifest, verbal or written acknowledgement crew and passenger requirements and limits, etc., etc.?

A capacity number, in isolation, is meaningless. Safety and comfort are two different things, and conditions and waters, and the experience of the skipper, the length of the voyage, and so forth, will influence this number dramatically.

Cherie320 · Jul 10, 2012

For a sailboat, the passenger limits seem to be limited to the number of people who can comfortably sit in and around the cockpit. For us, six is the natural number, but the boat could carry several more with no problem. The reference to cord wood is not a bad at all.

Power boats, however, have lots of interesting and often comfortable places for people to sit and participate. Unfortunately many of these are in locations that do not improve stability. We had the opportunity to observe the December lighted Boat Parade from a power boat this year. The owners were quite nice and very good hosts. Friends, family, adults, children all came aboard to join in the fun. The boat never left the dock and there was no sign of any instability, but when I thought about it in the context of the Silverton, it placed the event in a completely different light. We'll take our boat next year.

The other concern that deserves consideration is the number of folks who come aboard for drinks and snacks at the dock or in a raft up. That load can grow considerably. Additionally, sometimes we see cruise or fleet pictures with everyone who came for the fun bunched up on one boat. Maybe the dock would be a better location for the picture. Pat

Rick · Jul 10, 2012

Yes no need to make this a "tax" for more government.

Just be prudent. If you are moving side to side on the helm just to launch your vessel then you are on the edge. If you are going to encounter anything more than a ripple, or you are going more than three miles out, you need to think about splitting up the party. And the reference to alchohol, again I dont prescribe to that. It is natural when peeps are having a good time. Kinda prudish, IMHO, to cut people off from fun that can be monitored and proportioned before hand at the slip.

Boating is recreation, not a checkride or somekind of right of passage.

Just be careful. My particular policy is always to pour the first round when we have made the bouy and doused the sails. But truley that is not a hard and fast rule. It depends.

oh yeah and Ross, a good man knows his limitations. You set yourself up for that! "I havent had to pull my flare gun out once Callahan... and I am proud of that"

Scott T-Bird · Jul 10, 2012

Nope to float plans and such ...

If that is what I think is necessary, I would have wrote it. I think a capacity plate on the boat is fine. A passenger may have read the capacity plate and decided to pass on the trip ... and kept their child from becoming a victim. (Why do you think that capacity signs are posted in public buildings?)

You're right, it is very unlikely that the operator (the so-called captain) would have heeded a recommendation in an owner's manual ... especially since the operator wasn't even the owner. So do you really want or expect the operator (without any requirement to be trained) to be the sole bearer of all responsibility? I basically think that manufacturers have to accept a greater role in disclosing capacity if they are going to sell their boats to people who are typically untrained and have very little experience.

I don't think the government has to get involved in taxing ... but I will acknowledge that the testing necessary to produce a capacity rating may add to the cost of the boat.

I don't think it is unreasonable for manufacturers to produce evidence (in the form of a capacity rating) regarding the stability of the boats they produce. A recommendation carries no weight ... it's essentially useless.

Does everybody object to the capacity rating that is required to be posted on power boats that are less than 20'? If not, then why not a 34' boat?

kenn · Jul 10, 2012

zeehag said:
my passenger capacity is zero (0). i am not licensed cpt nor do i take on passengers. everyone on board works. no passengers.

I was gonna say "no passengers, only friends" but yours is better.