Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

[gixxerjim]

I have a '88 Sea Ray 18ft I/O. Standard folddown seats and rear jumpers. I liked this length vs a 17ft because the bow cushions are pretty long and provide a roomier bow area seating.

I would like to take some family along on little tubing trips. The problem is I have 3 kids and along with me and my wife (160 and 120 lbs each) I we can only take one more passenger legally. My boys are ages 3,4,7, totalling only 135lbs....so our total human boat load is about 415lbs!

What's up with that? I am talking about a smallish lake with my sister and a couple kids, heck they all weigh a total of 250 lbs.

The law is 6 passengers or 1050lbs, whichever comes first right? I doubt anybody ever gets pulled over for have (4) 300 pounders in the boat so...

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

I think the person count is just a guide whereas the weight is the real limit.

 

[Rickairmedic]

Re: Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

Jim I would say with the weight you are looking at and the fact that 5 of the peaple onboard are kids you would be fine . I would make sure I had enough life jackets for everyone and act sensibly while out and I dont think the authorities would give you much hassle.


Rick

 

[ThePostMan]

Re: Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

I don't think you'd have any problems, provided:

1. You're not obviously overloaded (they can tell just by the way your boat sits in the water), and

2. You have a PFD on board for every passenger, and the kids are wearing theirs at all times.

 

[rrhodes]

Re: Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

I also agree that the weight is the real factor and not the number of people.

 

[Adamf24]

Re: Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

I've always heard that legally everyone on the boat must have an actual place to sit, so I think persons capacity is a combination of weight capacity and seating. But as others have said, weight capacity is the true limit.

 

[salty87]

Re: Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

i agree with these guys but i'll add that you'll want to keep the number of people reasonably close to the number of seats you have. not that every kido needs a seat to himself but everyone needs to be able to get their butt into a seat.

 

[salty87]

Re: Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

i took so long to type my post, adamf beat me to it

 

[gixxerjim]

Re: Why is my boat capacity only 6 persons?

Thanks guys, I will have to check with the WDNR; I have heard they strictly go by the number of people but I will look into it.


Thanks again!