What determines how much weight a boat can hold?

Question

Also, what design should a sail be, and where should it be placed for maximum efficiency?

Answer 1

It is displacement, That is the amount of water which is displaced when a vessel is immersed in water with its cargao and settles at the desired waterline. Samuel plimsole devised a line for a vessel to imerse to in different parts of the world it is called the plimsole line. The weight which a vessel (boat) can hold is determined by its displacement, but this is not the only calculation, we need to know the shape of the boat (length breadth depth) then the type of weight (cargo) it will carry. This is not a subject which is easy to answer in one Email it is a topic for a term at the appropriate college

Answer 2

The water line does

Answer 3

Fairly broad question. The idea is flotation by displacement.

Every boat or vessel manufactured in the US has that information on the bulkhead, or starboard side ,,somewhere.

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/hin....

That is the HIN site, if you know nothing about vessels, learn about those.

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/sing...

That may also help.

http://boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/safe...

http://boatsafe.com/kids/021598kidsques....

That one shows Displacement. It is pretty old science, still baffles many.

The Bahamian Sloop is perhaps the most popular configuration as it is time tested and proven to be effective.

Center Main Mast, Jib Forward.

The Dow or some other Cat Rigged vessels are nice.

12'-14' Sunfish is a Cat Rigged Sail.

Lasers have proven to be one of the most effective racers, but it depends on the person at the helm.

Cat Rigged boats usually is forward of center, dispelling the Jib while some add a Jib.

Answer 4

The Lawn Gnome is a little off base...I think he meant to refer to the Burmudian or Burmuda Sloop. As Sloops were developing they had a Gaff or Gunter Rig to support the top of the Mainsail. They had running backstays on each side. Later the Gaff was dispensed with and a triangular sail came into favour as well as an aft-centered backstay...which could be adjustable or not. This is also known as the Marconi Rig.

For Sail...the barest element of your question is MAXIMUM EFFICIENCY.....

1. Centered over the center of Gravity of the boat

2. Rotating...Rigid...Vertical wing section with adjustable trailing edge.

For a conventional soft sail...I recommend MYLAR/Carbon composite. The reasoning is that it will hold it's shape longer and will not stretch or deform under load.

HOW MUCH WEIGHT a boat can hold does not relate to displacement....

It's load carrying capacity is a function of it's bouyancy...how well it floats. Makes sense doesn't it?  A skinny boat doesn't have as much bouyancy as a fat or Beamier boat.  The boat with greater beam has what is called Reserve Bouyancy.  Bouyancy takes into account the Curve of the bildge and the weight of the boat and it's ballast as well as the waterline length.

I'm sure you can find formulas if you search ( "Sailboat" + "Bouyancy" ) .

Hope this helps.

dm

Answer 5

It is usually posted on a tag on the boat telling you in passengers or total weight in pounds, NEMMA determines the information.