Know Your Boat’s Capacity

U.S. Department of Homeland Security

  

Date: 03 June 2010

Contact: Kirk Scarborough

CG Auxiliary Public Affairs Dept.

Email: Captkirk55@aol.com

www.auxpa.org

 Press Release

Know Your Boat’s Capacity

Los Angeles, Calif. …. A boat operator should never take a boat on the water with too many people or too much gear on board. Boats loaded beyond their capacity will swamp or capsize more easily and will be more difficult to control.  Although federal law requires capacity plates on boats fewer than 20 feet in length, the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) requires a capacity plate on all boats fewer than 26 feet in order to be certified by NMMA.

Look for a capacity plate near the operator’s position or on the transom of the boat. This plate indicates the maximum weight capacity and/or the maximum number of people that the boat can carry safely in good weather.

A few things to remember:

·        Do not exceed either the stated maximum weight capacity or number of people

·        Maximum weight is the combined weight of passengers, gear & motor.

·        In many states it is a violation to exceed weight capacity

·        Always follow the recommended capacity in the owner’s manual

·        Never exceed capacity recommendations.

·        For additional information go to: www.auxpa.org.

    

The United States Coast Guard Auxiliary is the uniformed volunteer Component of the United States Coast Guard created by an Act of Congress in 1939. The Auxiliary, America’s Volunteer Guardians, supports the Coast Guard in nearly all of the service’s missions.

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