15 Passenger Vans And Rowing Shells Don’t Mix Well
June 29, 2009 by
Filed under Safety, Transportation
Dick recently submitted this question and seemed like a great one to open to discussion:
I read in my copy of “Nuts and Bolts Guide to Rigging” that one should never use a 15 passenger van to carry a boat. Our club has been using a 15 passenger van for some years to carry a 4+ about 75 miles to a regatta, and there have been no issues. What’s the problem, overhang?
The overhang Dick mentions is certainly an issue (Overhang is the length an object extends past the end of a vehicle). Some states only allow 3 feet of overhang, and although it has been a while since I’ve seen (or measured) the overhang of a four on a 15p van, I would bet that it would be upwards of 10 feet or more.
However, the real critical issue here is roll-over. Fifteen passenger vans are notorious for their roll over problems, contributing to many accidents and deaths. Many institutes no longer use the vans, and those that do usually limit them to only 9 passengers (to keep the center of gravity lower).
Locally I know that if I were to transport shells on a 15p van that I would void the insurance.
My suggestion would be to check with the local authorities to see what they say about your suggestion, and then check with your insurance company.
I would also suggest that you do a quick Google search on these terms, “roll over 15 passenger van.” I think you will find the results quite sobering.
That’s my advice to Dick. What do you think?
