Person Capacity vs. Pounds

[whazupgolf]

If plate says 5 people or 750 lbs, does that mean we can have more than 5 people if we don't go over 750 lbs with people, and coolers, stuff etc? Bench seat can hold four children, and then there are two captains chairs and a cuddy. Clearly have room for more than 5 people. By the calculation method it comes out at 7 ppl.

 

[skydiveD30571]

"5 people or 750lbs" means 5 people or 750lbs. You legally can't have more of either one.

 

[UncleWillie]

Unlike Coolers. People tend to be taller and more around spontaneously.
That raises the Center of Gravity and makes the boat roll badly when some says "Look what's in the Water", and everyone moves to one side to get a peek.

The coolers and Fuels tanks just remain in place Low, and on the Deck.

 

[ssobol]

You should note that the CG uses the weight of 150# for the average person. Most adults way more than this so you can get to the limit (750# in this case) with a lot less people than the boat sticker says. Also, the available seating, size of exits (for enclosed boats or cabins), etc. can affect the number of people allowed on board even if they are under the weight limit. I had a RIB that could carry a lot more weight than just the max. number of people x 150#.

 

[Stumpalump]

I used to overload my boat all the time with my buddy's. We would capsize or swamp it all the time but we were good strong young guys and I carried the tools to clean the water out of the engine. If your younger kids are handy with tools and you don't mind loosing a few I say go for it. Kidding aside.. For some reason boat capacity does not like to be stetched. In fact even at or near capacity is often too much to be safe. Safe is 2/3 max. Anything above that and you need to be extra carfull and stick to calm waters. Once those kids move around to get away from a spider or to look over the side your gonna be in the drink.

 

[H20Rat]

So nobody answered the question and jumped to conclusions... The answer is it depends entirely on the law enforcement person who stops you. I have a couple game warden friends, and have posed this question: My boat is rated for 6 people. I can very easily fit 4 adults in back, and 3 kids in the bow. I am still under the weight capacity sticker, and the boat is absolutely stable. Is this legal?

2 of the 3 game wardens said they would have absolutely no problem with that, its obvious I'm under the weight limit, and as long as the boat doesn't look overloaded and the kids have life jackets on, they would wave at me and say have a nice day. The 3rd was the youngest guy, and rules are rules. Common sense doesn't apply.

Ironically, in the states that don't require capacity tickets, I would be LEGAL by removing the sticker and having 7 people on board. Technically my boat came with a couple different engine options, so the largest I/O option would be more weight than an additional kid, but the capacity sticker was common across all models.

 

[skydiveD30571]

So if the number of persons does not matter, only weight, why include a person limitation at all? Is this a rule imposed on manufacturers by someone like the Coast Guard? Or do manufacturers see a real problem with over-crowded but underweight boats?

 

[Outsider]

The USCG requirement is for the manufacturer to afix the plate/decal (to boats of a certain length), numbers are arrived at by formula. It's a rating for the boat, not an operational limit. WTS, what states have on the books is another matter all together. And it's the opinion of the LEO on scene that counts as far as receiving paper is concerned, not the operator ...

 

[JimS123]

Another one of those "How hard is it to understand?" questions. If its rated for 6, 8 skinny people don't count. If its rated for 700 pounds, 4 300 pounders don't count. Forget what the local police will or will not do, use common sense because when you capsize there may not be a good samaritan around willing to risk his own safety by pulling you aboard.