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#.