Available Courses
E Learning Courses - Load Capacity and Flotation
For small boats, boats under 20 feet (6m) in length, the amount of load they can carry becomes an important factor in the safety of the boat. Overloading a small boat can result in capsizing, swamping, and if the boat is not equipped with flotation, sinking. Standards have been developed to determine the maximum capacities, and they are posted on the boat so a boat operator will know how much they can carry. In the United States, Canada, and in European countries that follow the Recreational Craft Directive (RCD), some of these standards are written into the law. These were taken directly from the American Boat and Yacht Council (ABYC) standards, developed many years ago. They are revised and updated every five years. Generally they apply to monohull rowboats, outboard boats, sterndrive boats, and inboards. Additionally, ABYC has developed safe loading standards for various other types of boats, such as canoes, kayaks, pontoon boats, and inflatable boats and similar standards have been developed by the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) and are incorporated in the RCD. The course will cover rules and standards for maximum weight capacity of small boats; calculating displacement weight and maximum weight capacity; testing a boat for displacement and maximum weight; rules, calculations, and installation procedures for flotation; and USCG and ABYC regulations.
