The builder's plate is the official limit on the load and number of people a boat can carry. It is a small metal or plastic plate, but it is one of the first things looked at by insurers, inspectors and after an accident.
What is on the plate?
- Builder
- The builder's name.
- CE mark
- Conformity with the directive.
- Design category
- A, B, C or D.
- Maximum load
- The maximum recommended load, including people, stores, fuel and water.
- Maximum persons
- The most people the boat is designed for.
On small boats the plate may also give the maximum engine power.
Why it matters
- Stability: the values come from the stability assessment; exceeding them changes how the boat behaves.
- Insurance: policy terms are often read against the builder's limits.
- Sale: a missing plate, or one that does not match the papers, raises questions for a buyer.
How it is checked on a survey
- Is the plate there? Usually near the helm, in plain view.
- Does it match the papers? Compared with the declaration of conformity and the owner's manual.
- Is the boat still the boat on the plate? Heavy added equipment, engine changes or structural changes are noted.
- Does the CIN match? The number on the transom must match the plate and the papers.
What the maximum load covers
The maximum load on the plate covers not just people but everything aboard: people, personal effects, food and drink, fuel, fresh water, liferaft and safety gear, tender and any equipment added later. Full tanks and a crowd of guests can bring a boat close to the limit quickly. On small boats in particular, this sum is a direct part of safety.
The number of persons is a limit, not advice
The maximum persons figure shows the most people the boat is designed for. Exceeding it can affect the boat's stability, the adequacy of life-saving gear and the insurance assessment after an accident. On charter and day trips the limit matters especially.
If the plate is missing or unreadable
On older boats the plate may have been removed, painted over or become unreadable. The builder can be asked for the information; the hull number and declaration of conformity are the way to confirm the plate values. Before a purchase, a missing plate is noted in the survey report and the buyer is guided on completing the paperwork.
After changes to the boat
An engine change, a heavy generator, an extra tank or a large solar installation changes the boat's weight and centre of gravity. After such changes, whether the plate values still hold is questioned; if needed, a designer's assessment is sought.
On chartered boats
If the boat is chartered out, the number of guests must stay within the plate limit and the life-saving equipment carried. The same rule applies to the charterer: how many people will be aboard is agreed at booking, and the skipper does not accept a departure over the limit. On day trips, a large group is the commonest reason the load approaches the limit quickly.
The plate values also appear in the owner's manual, which should be aboard and within the skipper's reach; it is among the first documents looked at in an inspection or after an accident.