Capacity labels
Overloading is dangerous and one of the easiest ways to capsize your boat. The more weight in the boat, the lower the freeboard. Freeboard is the minimum vertical distance from the surface of the water to the gunwale or deck. The gunwale is the upper edge of an open boat. Overloading compromises the safety of everyone on board and increases the chance of swamping or capsizing.
When preparing for a trip, the boat operator is responsible for assessing the load on board, both people and objects. For example:
- heavy items should be stowed in a low and central place where they cannot move around
- weight, including passengers, should be distributed evenly through the boat
- the weight of extra fuel and water should be taken into account.
By applying a capacity label you will have a constant reminder of how many people can be safely on board your boat in smooth waters and good conditions.
All registrable recreational boats, with the exception of sailing ships, must have one or more capacity labels attached. Capacity labels should be placed near the boat's control area/s where they can be seen by the operator at all times. A penalty could apply if a capacity label is not attached, unreadable or located in the wrong position on the boat.
There are three different capacity labels available:
- powered boats under six metres
- powered boats six metres and over
- powered boats with a flybridge.
The operator must keep in mind that the label indicates the number of people the boat can safely carry in good conditions and smooth waters. When using the boat in partially smooth or open waters or in rough conditions the operator should consider reducing the number of people taken on the trip.
Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centres can provide a free capacity label when registering or transferring the registration of a boat.
Determining your boat's capacity
Australian Builder's Plate or manufacturer's plate
Take the capacity information from the Australian Builder's Plate or the manufacturer's plate if fitted to your boat. If your boat doesn't have one of these plates, you should contact the manufacturer for details.
From 1 July 2006, all new recreational boats manufactured in Australia will show an Australian Builder's Plate. Capacity labels are not required if your boat has either a manufacturer's plate or an Australian Builder's Plate, but only if these are clearly visible from each steering position on the boat. You should still consider placing a capacity label on your boat if it provides a more visible reminder of the boat's safe capacity.
Capacity assessment tables
To calculate a boat's capacity, measure the length and beam (width) and match these dimensions in the tables below. These tables are also shown on the back of each capacity label.
Powered boats under six metres
| Length (metres) | Recommended maximum number of persons | Maximum permissable weight (kilograms) |
|---|
| up to 3 m |
2 |
180 |
| 3 m to 3.49 m |
3 |
270 |
| 3.5 m to 4.49 m |
4 |
360 |
| 4.5 m to 4.99 m |
5 |
450 |
| 5 m to 5.49 m |
6 |
540 |
| 5.5 m to 5.99 m |
7 |
630 |
Powered boats six metres and over
Length
(metres) | Beam (metres) |
|---|
| 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 |
|---|
| 6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
| 7 |
8 |
9 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
11 |
| 8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
| 9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
| 10 |
11 |
12 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
16 |
| 11 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
| 12 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
| 13 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
21 |
| 14 |
16 |
18 |
19 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
| 15 |
17 |
19 |
21 |
22 |
23 |
25 |
Powered boats with a flybridge
Length
(metres) | Beam (metres) |
|---|
| 2 | 2.5 | 3 | 3.5 | 4 | 4.5 | 5 |
|---|
| 5 |
4 |
4 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
- |
| 6 |
5 |
5 |
6 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
| 7 |
5 |
6 |
7 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
| 8 |
6 |
7 |
8 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
| 9 |
7 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
| 10 |
8 |
9 |
10 |
11 |
12 |
12 |
13 |
| 11 |
- |
10 |
11 |
13 |
13 |
14 |
14 |
| 12 |
- |
11 |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
15 |
| 13 |
- |
12 |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
| 14 |
- |
13 |
14 |
15 |
16 |
17 |
18 |
| 15 |
- |
14 |
15 |
16 |
18 |
19 |
20 |
If your boat is six metres and over or its dimensions are outside those indicated, you can use an assessment process provided in a recognised technical standard such as Australian Standard 1799.1.
See also: Technical information sheet – stability testing of powered recreational boats (PDF, 72 KB).
Capacity is assessed at 80 kg per person (with an additional allowance of 10 kg per person for personal gear).
Children up to one year should not be counted for loading purposes. Children between one and 12 years can be counted as ½ of an adult.
Boats with a flybridge
For boats with a flybridge or upper deck with a second steering control, a capacity label should be placed at each steering position so it can be seen by the operator at all times.
Only one quarter of the boat's total permitted number of people may be on the flybridge at any one time. For example, if total capacity of the boat is 12 people, a maximum of three people would be allowed on the flybridge at one time.
When putting capacity labels on a boat with a flybridge, ensure the label on the main deck shows only the main deck capacity and the label on the flybridge shows only the flybridge capacity. For example if the total capacity of the boat is 12, the capacity label should show three on the flybridge section and nine on the main deck section.
When no one is on the flybridge, the total capacity may be carried on the main deck.
Obtaining a capacity label
Capacity labels and brochures are available at Department of Transport and Main Roads customer service centres or by contacting a Maritime Safety Queensland regional office. They can also be ordered online using the Capacity labels and brochure order form.
