LEAVE THE WEIGHT LIMIT ALONE>>>> PLEASE 880 lb IS IDEAL!..

:: As an ergonomist, I get to paid to watch how peoples
:: anthropometrics affect their physical job performance.
:: Despite emphasis and support on healthy lifestyles,
:: there a number of factors that can weigh them down,
:: e.g., personal/social habits, genetics, and/or age. As
:: Americans and other Countries develop, their average
:: weight goes up too. So do we put a foot down or
:: accommodate?
::
:: Personally, I can tolerate or live with the 880 lbs, but
:: that's me. I would like to hear about the pros and cons
:: on bumping up the weight limit a tad - 900 lbs. I would
:: still be motivated to lose 20 lbs to help get heavier
:: crew on the rail.
::
:: Joe B.
::
:: :: I don't really know the history of the weight limit, but
:: :: the current 880 limit is just slightly below 5x the
:: :: median weight of an adult male (and probably was at the
:: :: median when it was enacted). Wherever you set the limit,
:: :: most boats are going to have to look around a little to
:: :: find that 5th person that gets them in the right range.
:: ::
:: :: I prefer the lower limit because:
:: ::
:: :: a) 6 people on an Express 27 is a crowd
::
:: :: b) 1000 pounds on the rail will put more strain on the
:: :: boat (imagine regularly carrying the #1 up to 17 or 18
:: :: knots)
:: ::
:: :: That said, I think that small drivers do have a bit of
:: :: an advantage and can feel Larry's pain. However, driver
:: :: weight is an even bigger factor in many other small
:: :: light keelboat classes (and virtually every dinghy
:: :: class). I'm not sure that's its worth complicating
:: :: things significantly in order to try balance out the
:: :: advantage.
:: ::
:: ::
:: :: :: Please correct me if I am in error, but wasn't the
:: :: :: original crew weight 1000#? And was this not designated
:: :: :: by the designer himself? Is it is too simple to go back
:: :: :: to the original weight limit before other interests were
:: :: :: involved and caused it to change to 880#? I have been
:: :: :: told by more than one person that the change to 880# was
:: :: :: due to the complaints that smaller crew were not able to
:: :: :: get on crews. If, in fact, true that would mean it was a
:: :: :: political change and not mechanically nor structurally
:: :: :: motivated or, perhaps, even needed.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: I agree with Larry and Mike that it is very difficult to
:: :: :: find the balance at the current weight limit. I had to
:: :: :: eliminate one of my crew to make weight this last
:: :: :: Nationals and boy did we pay for it.
:: :: ::
:: :: :: I stayed out of the discussion as you were all doing
:: :: :: such a wonderful job of covering the points, but when
:: :: :: someone said that there were only a few concerned
:: :: :: (complaining) I had to chime in. I am for a change back
:: :: :: to the original weight limit of 1000#.