Have you ever stopped to read the placard near the helm of your boat, the one that lists the vessel’s maximum capacities? It’s one of those things that’s easy to take for granted—just an afterthought—but overloading a boat comes with serious risks. One recent example comes to mind because it made national news.
“Boy, 7, and Woman Dead After Boat Capsizes in Hudson River,” read the headline in one of the major newspapers near my home in New Jersey. The U.S. Coast Guard believed overloading was a contributing factor in the tragedy. The boat, rated for 11 passengers but carrying 13 plus gear, was out for a day of sightseeing in the congested waters of New York Harbor, where conditions can be treacherous due to strong currents and large wakes created by the heavy volume of ferries, tugs and other large boats. There was even a video shot from a distance that seemed to show the boat swamping and people scrambling before the vessel finally capsized. It was reported that most of the passengers were wearing PFDs, including the woman and boy who died, but they were trapped beneath the overturned boat and drowned.
This was not an isolated incident. According to the USCG’s Recreational Boating Statistics Report for 2022, there were 115 accidents, 55 fatalities and 70 injuries related to overloading and improper loading of recreational boats. The total number of accidents without serious injuries is likely under reported.
When an overloaded boat meets with challenging operating conditions like those in New York Harbor, the result is a dangerous scenario. When a boat carries weight over the recommended maximum capacity, freeboard is reduced and stability and maneuverability are compromised. Even if a boat isn’t over its rated capacity, a heavily laden boat requires occupants and gear to be positioned so the weight is evenly distributed to maintain stability.
We’ve probably all seen boats with too many people crowded in the bow, plowing into a wave as the interior fills with water. A few years ago, a pontoon boat that was not technically overloaded but had too many large people seated forward was struck astern by a large wave and pitchpoled stern over bow while entering an inlet in New Jersey. The occupants were thrown into the dangerous, swirling waters of the inlet when the boat capsized. I came onto the scene after a day of fishing, as a Coast Guard Motor Lifeboat was on station and a helicopter was dropping a rescue diver to recover the unlucky passenger who drowned after being trapped beneath the overturned platform. Improper loading and poor seamanship were the cause.
Federal law requires recreational boats less than 20 feet to have a USCG-approved maximum capacity label or tag. The National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) offers capacity tags for boats less than 26 feet and yacht tags for boats over 26 feet—manufacturers of these vessels comply with the more stringent standards set by the American Boat & Yacht Council. The silver and gray tags are available on NMMA Certified vessels and can be found permanently fastened near the helm. About 85 percent of the new boats sold in the United States today are certified by the NMMA.
That said, the tags can be somewhat confusing in their simplicity. Each capacity tag includes the vessel’s maximum rated horsepower, the maximum number of persons (usually listed in number of people and total pounds), and the maximum gross weight of persons, motor and gear. Yes, the gross weight figure includes the weight of the vessel’s engine and the weight of the fuel onboard. Gasoline weighs about 6.1 pounds per gallon and diesel is 7 pounds per gallon.
However, there is an important caveat that is often overlooked. The maximum rating criteria applies specifically to vessel operation in calm to moderate weather and sea conditions. Load capacities should be reduced when operating under more challenging conditions because handling and stability are reduced as load approaches the maximum. Furthermore, the smaller the boat the greater the impact overloading can have on stability, greatly increasing the risk of swamping or capsizing. Thus, when heavily loading a boat, the operator must consider all of the variables and use a lot of common sense.
If your boat doesn’t have a capacity label you can determine the maximum number of people by using a formula provided by the USCG for small recreational vessels. It is: maximum number of people equals boat length multiplied by the beam and divided by 15.
Basic seamanship requires a boat owner to thoroughly understand and abide by the carrying capacity of the craft. Failing to do so can only add to the fatality statistics and nobody wants to be on that list.
This article was originally published in the November 2023 issue.
