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Boat Capacity Plate

Boat builders must comply with Federal law by putting a Capacity Plate in sight of the helm (steering area) on motorized boats less than 20 feet in length. This plate displays three important items: the maximum weight of persons on board in pounds, the maximum carrying weight of the vessel in pounds and the maximum horsepower recommended for the boat.

Should you own a boat which was built prior to the Federal law mandating capacity plates or have a homemade boat, the following formulas can be used to determine safe loading capacity.

Always check the capacity plate to make sure you are not overloading or over-powering the vessel. A motor larger than recommended will make the stern too heavy and can cause the boat to flip. The transom will ride too low in the water and you could be swamped by your own wake or a passing boat's wake. Your boat will not sit properly in the water and will be difficult to handle.

Too many people (and/or gear) will also cause the boat to become unstable. Always balance the load so that your vessel maintains proper trim. Too much weight to one side or the other will cause the boat to list and increase the chance of taking on water. Too much weight in the bow causes the vessel to plow through the water and too much weight in the stern will create a large wake. All of these situations make the vessel difficult to handle and susceptible to swamping.

Remember that the capacity plate limits are suitable for normal operating conditions. In rough seas, bad weather or when operating in congested areas you will want to carry a lighter load.

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