Loading Requirements; Loading The Boat (Boats With A Capacity Plate) - Mercury MerCruiser Service Manual

Important Information
Available Risers
Model
Sterndrive
TowSport
Inboard

Loading Requirements

1. Fill the fuel tanks, fresh water tanks or holding tanks, ballast tanks, and heater tanks to simulate fully loaded condition.
2. Weights can be used to simulate these load conditions if desired. Place weights in the corresponding area for which the
load is being replaced. Refer to the following conversions.
• 1 U.S. gallon of water = 8.3 lb
• 1 liter of water = 1 kg
• 1 U.S. gallon of gasoline = 6 lb
• 1 liter of gasoline = 0.72 kg
3. For the purpose of MerCruiser waterline height measurements:
• One person is equivalent to 74.84 kg (165 lb)
• Cargo per person is equivalent to 11.34 kg (25 lb)
4. Add weight for any additional boat options: extra battery, battery charger, tower, arch, generator, ballast tanks, ballast
sacks, television, carpet, anchor, stereo/entertainment equipment, washer/dryer, safe, etc.
5. If a swim platform is an option, the swim platform must be installed for the waterline height measurement. Use the following
guide to determine the correct swim platform load:
a. Boats less than 8.84 m (29 ft) long, not including boats that are 8.84 m (29 ft) long, must add the maximum rated
swim platform weight capacity to the swim platform.
b. Boats less than 8.84 m (29 ft) long, not including boats that are 8.84 m (29 ft) long, that do not have a maximum rated
swim platform weight capacity, must add 181.45 kg (400 lb) to the swim platform.
c. Boats 8.84 m (29 ft) long and greater than 8.84 m (29 ft) long, must add the maximum rated swim platform weight
capacity to the swim platform.
d. Boats 8.84 m (29 ft) long and greater than 8.84 m (29 ft) long, that do not have a maximum rated swim platform
weight capacity, must add 226.80 kg (500 lb) to the swim platform.

Loading the Boat (Boats with a Capacity Plate)

For boats with a capacity plate, use the maximum load for persons and gear as listed on the capacity plate to determine the
number of persons to place onto the boat for exhaust elbow waterline height measurements.
IMPORTANT: Use 20 in. for an average passenger seat width when measuring bench seating. Round up or down at 0.5 to
obtain a whole person. See the examples listed below.
• 48 in. (bench seat length) ÷ 20 in. (seat width) = 2.4 persons. 2.4 persons rounded down = 2 persons.
• 55 in. (bench seat length) ÷ 20 in. (seat width) = 2.75 persons. 2.75 persons rounded up = 3 persons.
1. Take the maximum capacity weight as listed on the capacity plate (XXXX lbs, persons, gear) and subtract the swim
platform load, if applicable.
2. Next divide the weight by 74.84 kg (165 lb) per person. This gives the whole number and remainder of 74.84 kg (165 lb)
persons to load onto the boat.
3. Put the remainder of a person in the next available seat. See the boat loading diagram.
CE capacity plate
Page 7A-4
Low
51 mm (2.0 in.)
Not available
Not available
24860
© 2016 Mercury Marine
Medium
102 mm (4.0 in.)
Not available
102 mm (4.0 in.)
24861
USCG capacity plate
90-8M0099748 eng DECEMBER 2015
High
152 mm (6.0 in.)
Not available
152 mm (6.0 in.)