Capacity Plate Please Help

[qhawkt]

Hello everybody,

I am a new boater and bought a 1957 Texas Maid 14 foot boat. I can not find a capacity plate for it. I talked to the local parks and wildlife department where i registered the boat, and they told me to contact the USCG. When trying to find contact info at the USCG site, all it says it "Effective October 1, 2006, the Coast Guard Infoline telephone service will no longer be offered." I have tried custommarinelabels.com and the email given, but the site is down, and the e-mails come back "undeliverable". I need a capacity plate to be legal, an I do not know how to get one or the ratings for the boat. Please help.

Thomas Hawkins

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

yep the formula is is there. ^^^^ if it is a runabout, it was probably rated 35-40 hp, and the 50 did not come out until 1958.

 

[qhawkt]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

That PDF does talk about how to figure it out, but you have to just about sink the boat to do it. Is there not a database somewhere for boats that were manufactured. Also, does the plate have to come from the USCG or can it be made at home and just have to adhere to certain requirements. I did fine an old ad for the boat. It is a Texas Maid Fleet 14 foot Osprey. The specs are:
Length 14 feet, Beam 64 inches, Depth 27 inches, Transom 54 inches. It can handle upto a 50 HP motor.

Thomas Hawkins

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

tye this one. http://edocket.access.gpo.gov/cfr_2002/julqtr/pdf/33cfr183.43.pdf

yes once calculated, you can have one printed and attached.

 

[BWR1953]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

I have a question... rather than sinking your boat or doing a bunch measurements and calculations, wouldn't it be much simpler to just find a boat like yours for sale on the 'net and call the owner to get the info?

I'm planning on doing that with my big boat project. I can't see filling my hull with a couple thousand gallons of water.

-BWR

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

use reasonable dilligence. if it is 14 open v little fisherman 3 people.

 

[Bondo]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

I need a capacity plate to be legal,

Ayuh,...

I've heard that repeatedly on the forums,...
But,..
In all my life, as many times as I've been inspected by as many authorities, as has happened,...
I've Never once been asked to see that plate,... Never,.. Ever....

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

I do not believe that it is a requirement in Texas to have a capacity plate on pre-1972 hulls. Some states have a requirement to have an state assigned Hull ID# affixed somewhere on the older hulls.

 

[qhawkt]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

I was told by the Texas Park and Wildlife Department, that this is a federal requirement, regardless of the age.

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Capacity Plate Please Help

It is quite possible the Texas Parks and Wildlife person lied to you. The capacity plate was not required prior to 1972. Now you may be forced to get a hull ID # (HID) , which is just a serial number for the boat. It is not the same as the registration number (the TX 9999 AA on the outside of the boat)