New York Safe Boating - 2020 - 27

SAFE LOADING AND POWERING

6

Other Factors to Consider

Most fatal boating accidents occur when someone ends up
in the water unexpectedly. All too often, these accidents
occur because operators try to carry more passengers and
gear than their boat can safely handle. Boats will become
unstable, and the risk of an accident will increase, if you fail
to follow some simple safety precautions when boarding,
loading, or powering. It is especially important to follow safe
loading and powering practices when handling small boats.

A capacity plate provides the maximum limits for loading
and powering a boat. But these are the limits under normal
conditions; you must consider other factors that affect the
capacity and stability of a boat in order to make a prudent
decision about your boat's capacity for the prevailing
conditions. They include:

	State of the sea:

If the weather or water conditions
are rough, you should carry less weight. This allows
the boat to ride higher in the water, thus reducing the
chances of water entering the boat.

The safe loading regulations were developed to provide
guidance to boat operators about their boats' safe loading
capacities. These regulations address two different load
capacities of your boat: 1) its maximum person capacity
(expressed in both the pounds and the number of persons);
and 2) its maximum weight capacity.

	Activity planned:

If you plan an activity that requires
equipment and movement in the boat, like fishing
or water-skiing, you need to balance the number of
passengers with the amount of equipment. If there
is a lot of equipment and a lot of passengers, you run
the risk that someone may trip and be injured.

The Capacity Plate

Federal law requires manufacturers to
install a capacity plate on all single hull
motorboats less than 20 feet in length.

	Other Gear: If you are carrying gear of any substantial
weight, you will not be able to carry as many people
safely. Consider the total pounds capacity, including
persons, gear, supplies, etc. As a general rule you
should remove one person from the boat's rated
capacity for each 150 lbs. you carry.

Safe Loading
All of the gear, equipment and passengers that are aboard
your boat count toward its capacity and affect the way the boat
handles. If heavy objects aren't stowed properly, they may

The capacity plate must be located where it is visible to the
operator and should provide the following information:
Maximum number of persons and total passenger weight, or

shift and that movement can affect your boat's handling, as
well as, stability. In addition, moving objects on your boat can
cause injury. To be sure that your boat handles properly when
loaded, follow four simple rules:

Maximum weight capacity of people, gear, and motor, and
Maximum engine horsepower on boats designed for
outboard motors.

1)1)
2)2)
3)3)
4)4)

Manufacturers of sailboats, canoes, kayaks, PWC, and
inflatable boats are not required to attach a capacity plate,
but many do. If your small boat does not have a capacity
plate, you should consult your owner's manual, contact
the boat manufacturer or visit the USCG Boating Safety
Resource Center website at www.uscgboating.org.

Distribute the load evenly
Keep weight low, especially heavy objects
Don't exceed the limits on the capacity plate
Secure objects from shifting, especially larger items
like a full cooler

Failure to observe these rules may cause your boat to capsize,
swamp or sink.
27
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New York Safe Boating - 2020

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