T&R Bulletin R-37: Fishing Vessel Limits Study (1990)

The safety of a ship or boat from wind and wave forces is largely a function of size. Properly designed and loaded ships and boats resist the heeling forces of wind and waves, and this resistance, or righting capacity, can be calculated. The righting capacity of a large undamaged ship can exceed the overturning forces of wind and waves of hurricane force.  As size diminishes, there comes a point where wind and wave forces CM eve-helm even a well designed, properly loaded, and capably operated boat. This survey was undertaken to benchmark the safety limits for small fishing vessels.