SAFETY STANDARDS FOR BACKYARD BOAT …

1 Department of TransportationUnited States Coast GuardSAFETYSTANDARDSFORBACKYARDBOAT BUILDERSCOMDTPUB DepartmentCommandantWashington, DC 20593-0001Of TransportationUnited States Coast GuardStaff Symbol: (G-NAB-6)Phone (2021) 267-0981 United StatesCoast GuardFOREWORDThis pamphlet, SAFETY STANDARDS FOR BACKYARD boat BUILDERS, (COMTDPUB ), is a simplified explanation of Federal recreational boatconstruction requirements and is intended for the use of the non-professional,individual builder. The primary objective of these requirements is to avoid certainsafety hazards which have been found to be the cause of boating pamphlet is routinely sent to new manufacturers of recreational boats for thepurposes of sale, because it gives a good explanation of how to go about complyingwith certain portions of the Federal SAFETY STANDARDS and regulations.

2 However, boatmanufacturers are reminded that this pamphlet should not be used as a substitutereference for the applicable portions of the Code of Federal Regulations with whichthey are ultimately responsible for STANDARDS and regulations explained in this pamphlet were issued under theprovisions of Chapter II of Title 46 of the United States Code and appear inSubchapter S (Boating SAFETY ) of Chapter 1, Title 33 (Coast Guard, Department ofTransportation) of the Code of Federal previous edition of this pamphlet, COMDTPUB , dated August 24,1988 is J. EckerRear Admiral, Coast GuardChief, Office of Navigation Safetyand Waterway Services2 CONTENTSSAFE POWERING 2 SAFE LOADING 6 BASIC FLOTATION16 LEVEL FLOTATION16 LOCATION OF FLOTATION MATERIAL26 LEVEL FLOTATION RETROFIT29 VENTILATION30 GASOLINE FUEL SYSTEMS34 ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS35 CAPACITY LABEL36 HULL IDENTIFICATION NUMBER37 CERTIFICATION LABEL38 FLOTATION MATERIALS39 SURVIVAL HANDLES43 STATE ISSUING AUTHORITIES46 COAST GUARD DISTRICTS50 NOTEREAD THIS ENTIRE PAMPHLET BEFORE YOU BEGIN ANY OF THECALCULATIONS IN A PARTICULAR accidents cause property damage, often result in injuries and may even resultin deaths.

3 The best way to avoid a serious boating accident is to know safe boatingpractices, use sound judgement while boating and build SAFETY features into your will not only reduce your chances of ever having a boating accident, but also giveyou a better chance of surviving if you do have Coast Guard has published this pamphlet to explain Coast Guard required safetystandards to people who intend to build their own Coast Guard SAFETY STANDARDS and the boats to which they apply are outlinedbelow:Less than 20 feet in lengthGreater than or Equal to 20feet in lengthRowboatsO/B I/B & I/OO/BI/B & O/BSAFE LOADINGXXXSAFE POWERINGXFLOTATIONXXXFUEL (GAS)X XELECTRICAL (GAS)X XVENTILATIONX*XX* XCAPACITY LABELXXXCERTIFICATION LABEL XXXX* XHINALL BOATS MUST BEAR TWO HULL IDENTIFICATION NUMBERSNOTESAILBOATS WITH GASOLINE POWERED INBOARD AUXILIARY ENGINES ANDALL BOATS WITH PERMANENTLY INSTALLED GASOLINE GENERATORS MUSTMEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR FUEL SYSTEMS, ELECTRICAL SYSTEMS,VENTILATION SYSTEMS AND A CERTIFCATION boat WITH A COMPARTMENT CONTAINING A GASOLINE FUEL TANKMUST MEET THE REQUIREMENTS FOR (EXCEPT INBOARD AUXILIARIES)

4 , CANOES, KAYAKS,INFLATABLES, SUBMERSIBLES, RACEBOATS, SURFACE EFFECT VESSELSAND AMPHIBIOUS VEHICLES ARE EXCEPTED FROM ALL REQUIREMENTSEXCEPT FOR THE HULL IDENTIFICATION 19932 This pamphlet shows how to calculate your boat s safe horsepower capacity (if it willbe powered by an outboard) and its safe load capacity (both in pounds and thenumbers of people). This pamphlet also explains how to determine how much flotationmaterial you need to keep your boat afloat if it is swamped, and where to install theflotation. Also, if your boat will carry a gasoline powered inboard or inboard/outdriveengine, we ll explain the Electrical System, Fuel System and Ventilation Systemregulations and tell you how to get additional information which describes therequirements in greater detail.

5 Also included in Appendix D is a design guideline forinstalling survival handles which are recommended for boats equipped with help you through the calculations covering Safe Powering and Safe Loadingpresented in this pamphlet, we have included on page 11 completely worked outexamples for a foot outboard runabout equipped with remote steering and foot dinghy with manual steering. Those of you who are building inboards andinboard/outdrives will have steps in addition to and different from those given in theexample, but they should give you no POWERINGHOW MUCH HORSEPOWER CAN YOU SAFELY PLACE ON YOUR OUTBAORDPOWERED boat ? (There is no limitation on the horsepower of inboards andinboard-outdrives.)

6 First measure the length of your boat and the width of its transom. Then you multiplythese numbers to get a third number, called a factor. You then use this factor to findyour safe horsepower your measurements in feet and hundredths of a foot. Here are some inches andtheir approximate hundredths to help you:InchesHundredths1= for a boat 19 feet, 7 inches long, your measurement would read rails can be included in your measurement of transom width if the rails act aspart of the planing Measure boat length: boat length in feet is 2. Measure width of transom:Transom width in feet is3. Now multiply length times widthto get your factor (that is, your answer).4. Round off your factor to the nearestwhole number. For .5 or above round offto the next higher whole is LENGTHLENGTHLENGTHLENGTHBOAT LENGTHTRANSOM WIDTHCONVENTIONALSOFT CHINECONVENTIONALHARD CHINEFLAT BOTTOMHARD CHINECONVENTIONALROUND BILGEHARD CHINE WITHTUMBLEHOME4 FOR FACTORS BETWEEN 0 AND 52If your factor number is between 0 and 52, your safe outboard horsepower capacity isas shown below:Factor is:Horsepower is:0 35336 39540 451046 5215 BUT If your boat is flat-bottomed and has a hard chine, your horsepower is less than thatindicated by your factor number.

7 Your safe horsepower capacity will be the next lowerhorsepower example, if your factor indicates you should use 5 HP, your SAFE capacity with aflat bottomed, hard chine boat is only 3 HP. Hard and soft chines are illustrated Because with a hard chine and a flat bottom you must turn more slowly tomaintain FACTORS ABOVE :If your factor number is larger than , your safe outboard horsepower capacity isfigured according to the type of steering you have and the height of your boat HEIGHTCONVENTIONALSOFT CHINECONVENTIONALROUND BILGECONVENTIONALHARD CHINEHARD CHINE WITHTUMBLEHOME51. First measure transom height:Transom height isinches (This is usually either 15 or 20 .)FOR OUTBOARDS WITH REMOTE STEERING AND A TRANSOM HEIGHT OF ATLEAST 20 INCHES:1.

8 Multiply your factor by 2 X 22. Subtract 90 - 903. Raise answer to nearest multiple of 5 Maximum safe horsepower in calm water is FOR OUTBOARDS THAT DO NOT HAVE REMOTE STEERING OR TRANSOMHEIGHT IS LESS THAN 20 INCHES ( 19 inches) ---1. Multiply factor by X 8 2. Subtract 25 - 25 3. Raise answer to nearest multiple of 5 HOW TO RAISE ANSWER TO NEAREST MULTIPLE OF 5If the second numeral in your answer is a 5 or a 0, DO NOTCHANGE YOUR the second numeral in your answer is 1, 2, 3 or 4, change it to5.

9 For example, 21, 22, 23 or 24 would all be changed to the second numeral in your answer is 6, 7, 8 or 9, change it toa 0 and raise the first numeral by 1. For example, 26, 27, 28 or29 would all be changed to safe horsepower is FOR FLAT-BOTTOMED, HARD-CHINE OUTBOARDS THAT DO NOT HAVEREMOTE STEERING OR TRANSOM HEIGHT IS LESS THAN 20 INCHES ( 19inches) - -1. Multiply your factor by X 2. Subtract 15 - 15 3. Raise answer to nearest multiple of 5(See box previous page) Maximum safe horsepower is SAFE LOADINGD rownings are one of the most frequent causes of fatalities in recreational often they are caused by people who try to carry more passengers and gear thantheir boat can safely carry.

10 The Safe Loading regulations were developed to give boatoperators a guide to their boats safe loading Safe Loading regulations address two different load capacities of your boat , itsmaximum persons capacity (expressed in both the number of pounds and the numberof persons) and its maximum weight capacity. These load capacities must becalculated separately because the maximum persons capacity is a live load, whereas,the maximum weight capacity includes your live load and fixed loads. The live loadcapacity is the weight which moves about your boat affecting its stability. Your boat smaximum weight capacity includes the live load capacity (people), the weight of themotor (if your boat is outboard powered), and the weight of the portable gear you cansafely carry in calm IN: To find out how much total portable weight your boat can safely carryyou need to know two weights:1.