Maximum Horsepower Calculation: Boat length x boat width = boat square footageįirst, find out the square footage of your boat by multiplying its length by the width of the transom. If you don't have a capacity plate on your boat-which may be the case if you're operating a small, flat-bottomed boat-you can calculate the largest safe engine size in the following way. You can calculate the number of people you can safely take onboard using the following equation. If your boat doesn't have a Capacity Plate, Including people, equipment, stores, fuel, engine assembly and steering controls. The Maximum Gross Load is the total weight your boat can handle, The next time you're around a boat, look for its Capacity Plate it should be permanently fastened near the steering area, or the helm.īefore any boat trip, you'll want to make sure that you are not taking more people onboard than is indicated by the Maximum Person number,Īnd that you don't have more total weight than is indicated by the Maximum Gross Load. Not only is this an important safety concern, it's also the law.įederal Law mandates that all powerboats less than twenty feet in length need to carry this information in the form of a Capacity Plate.Įach Capacity Plate includes the maximum number of adult persons, the maximum gross load, and the maximum size of engine, in horsepower, that your boat can legally carry. One of the most important things you need to know before setting out on the water is the maximum number of people and maximum amount of weight that your boat can safely handle.

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