CAPACITY

Since 1972, all single-hulled recreational boats less than 20 feet in length have a placard, in sight of the operator, stating the “capacity” of that boat. A capacity plate states the maximum number of people, weight* and horsepower. Operators should never exceed the rated capacity as doing so can cause the boat to capsize.The capacity of a boat is generally predetermined by the manufacturer. If your boat is exempt from having a capacity plate, such as personal watercraft, you should reference the owners’ manual and state laws.

NOTE: The Coast Guard Capacity Information label is required only on monohull boats less than 20' in length. The label is not required on multi-hull boats, pontoon boats (catamarans), or on any sailboats, canoes, kayaks, or inflatable boats, regardless of length.

Personal Watercraft do not have capacity plates, but will sometimes have a small plate attached to the hull indicating the maximum number of persons allowed on the PWC. If there is no plate, refer to the manufacturer’s owner's manual and state laws.

If you have a homemade boat, or one that was manufactured prior to 1972, it will not have a boat builder’s capacity plate. In this case, a rule of thumb for determining the number of people is:

• Length x Width divided by 15 = approximate number of people (ex. 12’ length x 4’ width = 48 divided by 15 = 3.2). Round down to just 3 people being allowed on board.

* The average weight of a person is considered to be 185 pounds.