I would guess that is a 5 person max

 

Not saying they were safe or not....none of my business I wasn't the captain or a passenger but legally they are only limited on that craft to how many life jackets they can carry. One life jacket per passenger is only capacity rule. You can take as many as you have life jackets for.

I saw about 20 young folks partying in the little bay party cove near key allegro on a 23? Shoal water? cat. (That's what it looked like...

Game warden pulled up....each kid holds up a jacket in hand ... game warden goes on to the next.

 

are you sure? my boat says 8 people or so many pounds and every boat ive owned said the same per the size of the boat
as for the boat in question, it's say 4 people or so many lbs???

 

That's right....^^^^^ data plate says so....

 

You should have introduced yourself as a Jr. Game Warden and checked their USCG capacity plate.

 

Capacity plates are only required on boats less than 20' in length.

 

That plate is a manufacturers suggestion to cover the manufacturers liability. It's has no legal bearing and therefore unenforceable in anyway by any legal authority. The coast guard can however escort you back for unsafe operation at their discretion.

You can put as many people on your boat as you have life jackets for until it is sitting on the bottom. You can also put any horsepower you want on any boat until your transom twists off.

 

says USCG max capacity. is that not enforced by the uscg?

 

Nothing legal on that tag. Not enforceable at all.

It is a USCG mathematical formula that manufacturers adhere to. It is to cover the manufacturers liability. You exceed it and it's on you. Otherwise.....the limits are as described above.

 

yep, my bad

Boat Capacities Loading and Capacity Plates
The terms loading and capacity relate to the weight of people, fuel and gear that can be safely carried. The safe load of a boat in terms of people depends on a number of characteristics, including hull volume and dimension, the weight of the engine and, if an outboard, how is it mounted. The number of seats in a boat is not an indication of the number of people it can safely carry. Capacity plates can generally be found on the inside transom, or next to the helm station.

Capacity plates should never be removed, altered, or tampered with. While it is not a Federal violation for a boat owner to exceed the listed capacities, many states do have statutes prohibiting the carriage of people and gear in excess of the stated capacity, or the installation
of a motor that exceeds the recommended horse power

limit. Also, you may void your insurance policy if you are found to have exceeded the limits stated on your capacity plate.

Under the U.S. Coast Guard Federal Boat Safety Act of 1971, boats less than 20 feet powered with an inboard, outboard, or stern drive engine manufactured after November 1, 1972, must display a capacity plate defining the safe load limits. This plate must be mounted where you can see it when preparing to get underway. Sailboats, canoes, kayaks and inflatable boats are exempt from this standard states do have statutes prohibiting the carriage of people and gear in excess of the stated capacity, or the installation of a motor that exceeds the recommended horse power limit. Also, you may void your insurance policy if you are found to have exceeded the limits stated on your capacity plate.

 

Very good information to know. Thanks.

 

Even though it is legal to overload a boat, doesn't mean it's smart. Some people just don't have much common sense. That being said, I have done a lot of stupid things in my life. Hope they all returned safely.

 

Even though it is legal to overload a boat, doesn't mean it's smart..

Bears repeating.

 

my 20 ft bay boat holds 8 people according to the plate. Ive had 7 people on one time but we were just soaking bait and having a drinking party and we wernt that far from the launch. Obviously i have all the necessary safety gear.

 

I've been guilty of loading a boat up beyond capacity a few times running people back and forth to a beach area on a lake. Just use your head, the boat ain't gonna sink because of a few hundred extra lbs.

 

I have been guilty of this one. 7 guys, 16dz decoys, gear dog on one 18x8 fiberglass airboat. Direct drive 500 Cadillac. lololol

 

All that and yall could only knock down 8 ducks? Come awn bro! Do better! 5 guys...cheap old school 20ft bay boat. 2 dozen mallard decoys that are 40 years old with paint all messed up. Big bolts amd nails on kite strings for rig weights. 130 etec.

Jk....cool set up

 

If you can get one person to post a picture of an overpowered hull ticket I will believe it. With all the boaters put there someone must have first hand experience....my guess is not. There is no legal basis (in Texas).
Some private waters have HP restrictions maybe. Otherwise it is as I have described.

You can hang whatever you want one whatever you have. There is no power limit laws in Texas. And yes insurance will cover it no problem. Gross negligence will come up should you ever have an at fault accident.

Please someone show me a ticket.

 

If you can get one person to post a picture of an overpowered hull ticket I will believe it. With all the boaters put there someone must have first hand experience....my guess is not. There is no legal basis (in Texas).
Some private waters have HP restrictions maybe. Otherwise it is as I have described.

You can hang whatever you want one whatever you have. There is no power limit laws in Texas. And yes insurance will cover it no problem. Gross negligence will come up should you ever have an at fault accident.

Please someone show me a ticket.

I'd like to see proof myself. Most bay boats don't go over what's on the tag, but there are many a go-fast boat on the lakes that are way over powered. I owned a Glastron back in the day that had a 200, tag said up to 140, GW never had a problem, never even asked.

 

That looks like a Blue Wave hull. I can't tell how big it is in the pic, but my 19' is rated for 7 people on the USCG tag. I think 5 is the most I've actually carried.

 

I was guessing an 18 ft Kenner, the windshield isn't Blue Wave style. Probably rated for 5-6.