The Code of Federal Regulations of the United States of America

(b) "Boat" means any vessel manufactured or used primarily for noncommercial use; leased, rented, or chartered to another for the latter's noncommercial use; or engaged in the carrying of six or fewer passengers.

(d) "Length" means the straight line horizontal measurement of the overall length from the foremost part of the boat to the aftermost part of the boat, measured from end to end over the deck excluding sheer, and measured parallel to the centerline. Bow sprits, bumpkins, rudders, outboard motor brackets, handles, and other similar fittings, attachments, and extensions are not included in the measurement.

(e) "Monohull boat" means a boat on which the line of intersection of the water surface and the boat at any operating draft forms a single closed curve. For example, a catamaran, trimaran, or a pontoon boat is not a monohull boat.

(f) "Remote steering" means any mechanical assist device which is rigidly attached to the boat and used in steering the vessel, including but not limited to mechanical, hydraulic, or electrical control systems.

(g) "Sailboat" means a boat designed or intended to use sails as the primary means of propulsion.

(h) "Sheer' means the topmost line in a boat's side. The sheer intersects the vertical centerline plane of the boat at the forward end and intersects the transom (stern) at the aft end. For the purposes of this definition, the topmost line in a boat's side is the line defined by a series of points of contact with the boat structure, by straight lines at 45 degree angles to the horizontal and contained in a vertical plane normal to the outside edge of the boat as seen from above and which are brought into contact with the outside of the horizontal boat. A boat is horizontal when it is transversely level and when the lowest points at 40 percent and 75 percent of the boat's length behind the most forward point of the boat are level.

(i) "Transom" means the surface at the stern of a boat projecting or facing

aft. The upper boundary of the transom is the line defined by a series of points of contact, with the boat structure, by straight lines at 45 degree angles to the horizontal and contained in a vertical longitudinal plane and which are brought into contact with the stern of the horizontal boat. A boat is horizontal when it is transversely level and when the lowest points at 40 percent and 75 percent of the boat's length behind the most forward point of the boat are level.

(j) "Vessel" includes every description of watercraft, other than a seaplane on the water, used or capable of being used as a means of transportation on the water.

(k) "Permanent appurtenances" means equimpent that is mounted or fastened, so that it is not removable without the use of tools. Seats, inboard engines, windshields, helm stations, or hardtops are permanent appurtenances. Outboard motors, controls, batteries, and portable fuel tanks are not permanent appurte

nances.

(49 CFR 1.46(n)(1))

[CGD 73-250, 40 FR 43856, Sept. 23, 1975, as amended by CGD 75-176, 42 FR 2681, Jan. 13, 1977]

Subpart B-Display of Capacity Information

§ 183.21 Applicability.

This subpart applies to monohull boats less than 20 feet in length, except sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable boats..

§ 183.23 Capacity marking required.

Each boat must be marked in the manner prescribed in §§ 183.25 and 183.27 with the maximum persons capacity in whole numbers of persons and in pounds, the maximum weight capacity in pounds, determined under §§ 183.33 through 183.43, and the maximum horsepower capacity determined under § 183.53 or the statement "This Boat Not Rated for Propulsion by Motor".

[CGD 78-034, 45 FR 2029, Jan. 10, 1980]

(1) The capacity information required in § 183.23 must be displayed within a yellow area that—

(i) Is at least 4 inches wide; and

(ii) Is high enough that each line of print is separated by at least 8 inch from each other and from the borders of the yellow area;

(2) The persons capacity in whole numbers must be black print with the following dimensions:

(i) The height must not be smaller than one-half inch;

(ii) The width of the numbers must be three-fifths of the height except for the number "4", which shall be one stroke width wider, and the number "1", which shall be one stroke in width;

(iii) The stroke width shall be onesixth of the height; and

(iv) The minimum space between the numbers shall be one stroke width.

(3) The words in the line "XX Persons or XXX Pounds" must be at least one-quarter inch in height but not larger than one-half the height of the persons capacity number and of a color contrasting with yellow. The number of pounds in this line must be at least one-eighth inch in height but no larger than one-half the height of the persons capacity number and of a color contrasting with yellow.

(4) All remaining words and numbers required to be within the yellow area required in paragraph (c)(1) must be at least one-eighth inch in height, but no larger than one-half the height of the persons capacity number.

(5) All other words and numbers on the displays must be located outside

the yellow area on a background color which contrasts with yellow.

(6) The words "Maximum Capaci ties" must be at least one-quarter inch in height and of color contrasting with its background.

(7) The words "U.S. Coast Guard" must be at least one-eighth inch in height and of color contrasting with its background.

[CGD 78-034, 45 FR 2029, Jan. 10, 1980]

§ 183.27 Construction of markings.

Each marking required by § 183.23 must be

(a) Capable of withstanding the combined effects of exposure to water, oil, salt spray, direct sunlight, heat, cold, and wear expected in normal operation of the boat, without loss of legibility; and

(b) Resistant to efforts to remove or alter the information without leaving some obvious sign of such efforts.

[CGD 78-034, 45 FR 2030, Jan. 10, 1980]

Subpart C-Safe Loading

§ 183.31 Applicability.

This subpart applies to monohull boats less than 20 feet in length except sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable boats.

§ 183.33 Maximum weight capacity: Inboard and inboard-outdrive boats.

(a) The maximum weight capacity (W) marked on a boat that has one or more inboard or inboard-outdrive units for propulsion must not exceed the greater value of W obtained from either of the following formulas:

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of this section

(1) "Maximum displacement" is the weight of the volume of water displaced by the boat at its maximum level immersion in calm water without water coming aboard. For the purpose of this paragraph, a boat is level when it is transversely level and when either of the two following conditions are met:

(i) The forward point where the sheer intersects the vertical centerline plane and the aft point where the sheer intersects the upper boundary of the transom (stern) are equidistant above the water surface or are equidistant below the water surface.

(ii) The most forward point of the boat is level with or above the lowest point of water ingress.

(2) "Boat weight" is the combination of:

(i) Hull weight;

(ii) Deck and superstructure weight; (iii) Weight of permanent appurtenances; and

(iv) Weight of full permanent fuel tanks.

(3) “Machinery weight" is the combined weight of installed engines or motors, control equipment, drive units, and batteries.

(49 CFR 1.46(n)(1))

[CGD 72-61R, 37 FR 15782, Aug. 4, 1972]

NOTE: For amendments to § 183.33, see the List of CFR Sections Affected in the Finding Aids section in the back of this volume.

§ 183.35 Maximum weight capacity: Outboard boats.

(a) The maximum weight capacity marked on a boat that is designed or intended to use one or more outboard motors for propulsion must be a number that does not exceed one-fifth of the difference between its maximum displacement and boat weight.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of this section

(1) "Maximum displacement" is the weight of the volume of water displayed by the boat at its maximum level immersion in calm water without water coming aboard except for water coming through one opening in the motor well with its greatest dimension not over 3 inches for outboard motor controls or fuel lines. For the purpose

of this paragraph, a boat is level when it is transversely level and when either of the two following conditions are met:

(ii) The most forward point of the boat is level with or above the lowest point of water ingress.

(2) "Boat weight" is the combination of:

(i) Hull weight;

(ii) Deck and superstructure weight; (iii) Weight of permanent appurtenances; and

(iv) Weight of full permanent fuel tanks.

(49 CFR 1.46(n)(1))

[CGD 72-61, 37 FR 15782, Aug. 4, 1972, as amended by CGD 73-250, 40 FR 43857, Sept. 23, 1975; CGD 75-176, 42 FR 2681, Jan. 13, 1977]

§ 183.37 Maximum weight capacity: Boats rated for manual propulsion and boats rated for motors of two horsepower or less.

(a) The maximum weight capacity marked on a boat that is rated for manual propulsion or for motors of two horsepower or less must not exceed 3/10 of the difference between the boat's maximum displacement and the boat's weight in pounds.

(b) For the purposes of paragraph (a) of this section

(ii) The most forward point of the boat is level with or above the lowest point of water ingress.

(2) "Boat weight" is the combination of:

(i) Hull weight;

(ii) Deck and superstructure weight; and

(iii) Weight of permanent appurte

nances.

(49 CFR 1.49(n)(1))

[CGD 72-61R, 37 FR 15782, Aug. 4, 1972]

NOTE: For amendments to § 183.37, see the List of CFR Sections Affected in the Finding Aids section in the back of this volume.

§ 183.39 Persons capacity: Inboard and inboard-outdrive boats.

(a) The persons capacity in pounds marked on a boat that is designed or intended to use one or more inboard engines or inboard-outdrive units must not exceed the lesser of

(1) The maximum weight capacity determined under § 183.33 for the boat; or

(2) The maximum persons capacity in pounds determined in the following

manner:

(i) Float the boat in calm water with all its permanent appurtenances, including installed engines, full fuel system and tanks, control equipment, drive units and batteries.

(ii) Gradually add weights along one outboard extremity of each passenger carrying area, at the height of the seat nearest the center of that area, but no higher than the height of the gunwale and distributed equally forward and aft of that center in a plane parallel to the floorboards, until the boat assumes the maximum list or trim or both, without water coming aboard.

(iii) Compute the persons capacity in pounds in the following formula: Persons capacity - A/0.6 where A is the total of the weights added in paragraph (a)(2)(ii) of this section.

(b) The maximum persons capacity in whole numbers of persons marked on a boat that is designed or intended to use one or more inboard engines or inboard-outboard units must not exceed the value obtained by adding 32 pounds to the value determined in paragraph (a)(2)(iii), dividing the sum by 141 and rounding off the result to the nearest whole number. If the frac

tion is less than one-half, round down to the next whole integer and if the fraction is equal to or greater than one-half, round up to the next higher whole integer.

[CGD 78-034, 45 FR 2030, Jan. 10, 1980]

§ 183.41 Persons capacity: Outboard boats.

(a) The persons capacity in pounds marked on a boat that is designed or intended to use one or more outboard motors for propulsion must not exceed the lesser of

(1) The maximum weight capacity determined under § 183.35 for the boat minus the motor and control weight, battery weight (dry), and full portable fuel tank weight from Table 4 of Subpart H of this part; or

(2) The maximum persons capacity in pounds determined by the following test in calm water:

(i) Float the boat with all its permanent appurtenances.

(ii) Add, in normal operating positions, the dry motor and control weight, battery weight, and full portable fuel tank weight, if any, shown in Table 4 of Subpart H of this part for the maximum horsepower capacity marked on the boat. Permanently installed fuel tanks shall be full of fuel.

(iii) Gradually add weights along one outboard extremity of each passenger carrying area, at the height of the seat nearest the center of that area, but no higher than the height of the gunwale, and distributed equally forward and aft of that center in a plane parallel to the floorboards until the boat assumes the maximum list or trim, or both without water coming aboard.

(iv) Compute the persons capacity in pounds using the following formula: Persons capacity=A/0.6 where A is the total of the weights added in paragraph (a)(2)(iii) of this section.

(b) The maximum persons capacity in whole numbers of persons marked on a boat designed or intended to use one or more outboard motors for propulsion must not exceed the value obtained by adding 32 pounds to the lesser of the values determined in paragraph (a)(1) or (a)(2)(iv), dividing the sum by 141, and rounding off the result to the nearest whole number. If

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