passenger rating

[GaryHGnade]

I just bought a Com-Pac 16, 1999 and in my state of Iowa you have to put a rated passenger number on the stern of the boat. Does anyone know the official number of passengers for this boat?

Thanks,

Gary

[edbuchanan]

Hi Gary,

For some reason sailboats do not specify the passenger capacity.  Chapman's book "Piloting Seamanship and Small Boat Handling" (1983, page 108) shows this equation for an estimate of capacity:

(L x B) / 15 = Number of persons. 

L is the overall length in feet and B is maximum width in feet.  So, using numbers from the web, length is 16' and beam is 6', so (16' x 6') / 15 = 6.4.  You can assume the boat can carry up to 6 people.

The same page shows the weight carrying capacity:

7.5 x L x B x De = Allowable weight in pounds.

"De" is the minimum effective depth in feet (empty boat?).  Using 1.33' as the draft, a Com-pac 16 then has a weight capacity of  about 950 pounds.

Use these numbers with some caution, as they are only simple estimates.


Ernie (Molly, 23/II 1984)

[GaryHGnade]

I figured that might be right. But I kept seeing a reference to a mandatory plate that is to be on the boat stating the passenger limit. Could not find that plate anywhere.

Perfect, thanks a lot.

Gary

[skip1930]

" mandatory plate " Not required on a sailboat.

skip. The formula is the excepted one.

[Geargrip]

Yep, Skip is right - not required on a sailboat.  Usually just leave it blank on the registration forms.  I live on a private lake and went round and round with them becasue they did not want to issue me a permit because the boat did not have one and the "officer" did not know that.

'99 16, eh?  Must be a good one!   ;-)

[HideAway]

using that formula my 23 could carry 12.26 people. The most we ever have is six and that is with the stipulation they must at least be boaters.    I cannot imagine where I would put 12.26 people on HideAway and still be able to sail.   M

[skip1930]

" using that formula my 23 could carry 12.26 people " nice to know you can pick-up survivors from the HMS Titanic.

The real and actual amount of people that can be comfortably carried on board ought to be limited by the size of the cockpit, and the capacity of the head, and the volume of drinks and snacks that can be kept on board during that famous "Three Hour Cruse". Life jackets for everybody, if not worn at least in stowage.

On my boat all crew is instructed and given a turn at the tiller and sheets, the radio procedure, lights, starting the O/B engine, and emergency signal equipment just in case Captain skippy vaporlocks...at least the riders get home. Under the hatch settees are the rules of navigation sticker with pictures and circles showing you know...red-right-returning, give-way boat, and a chart, the ship's first aid kit and the manual bilge pump handle is parked in a quick grab spring steel clip and crew is shown how to install and pump. Just in case I need to plug a hole in the hull. Additionally nice warm wool blanks are down below in case we don't make it back before sunset, or we run through a squall and the temperature plummets. Like happens all the time on the bay of Green Bay or Lake Michigan up around Death's Door in Door County.

skip. I have never sailed my CP-19 with more then 5 adults, or three adults and two kids counting me.