I am currently looking for a new boat and have been monitoring craigslist, boattrader, boats.com, etc... looking for a deal on a used center console. Everything I have looked at has been 19-20' in length with similar transom width but the maximum capacity on the coast guard capacity plate has varied significantly. I have done research online about how they calculate this number and best I can tell they use a calculation to get to a weight and then divide that by 150lbs to determine maximum people.

So my dumb question is if I have kids that weigh less can I go over the maximum person rating? One of the boats I am looking at says maximum 5 people or 787 lbs. Can I take my fishing partner, both of our wives, and my 2 sons (4&6 years old) out on that boat (6 people total)? We would be under the weight capacity but over the person capacity. Also safety is my primary concern but would I also be at risk of getting a ticket? My research says some states have laws against going over the coast guard plate and some don't but couldn't confirm for Texas.

Thanks in advance for any feedback you can give.

One of the online resources I found but have read a few and other forums but couldn't find much local info:
http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/content/general/3_7.htm

Game warden counts heads. If it�s more than the plate you will get fined.

Thanks. Looks like I need a bigger boat

I have personally talked to a Game Warden about this and was told that CoastGuard plate is a recommendation. He said common sense should tell people when they get enough people on a boat, I said when did they start giving that out. His exact words were: If they have an approved PFD for each person on board they are good. Only thing is the boat owner can be ticketed for unsafe operation of a boat. I was pointing out a 20ft pontoon with 14 women on board at the time. If in doubt contact your local Game Warden.

Pretty women aboard increase a boats load capability... This only applies may to July tho...

Thanks this is what I read online in a forum in North Carolina. They said Coast Guard does not enforce the minimum in any way and also any boat over 20' is not even required to have the plate. But some states have laws that enforce the minimum on those plates for boats 20' and under. It said no law exists in North Carolina but couldn't get info on Texas. I am going to try to find a boat with minimum 6 capacity since that would be the max I would ever take out anyway though.

That all is probably true but if the crew that works out of Seadrift/Port O�Conner stop you and count more heads than the plate says you�re guaranteed to get a ticket.

I drive them nuts since it�s a homemade hull.

My 22' Champ bay states 5 but my 18' Ranger said 6. Only reason for 5 on Champ is there are 5 seats. Baitwell counts as 1 but fits 2. Sticker reads different than Ranger and just says recommended not limits. Both for HP and passengers. I have seen smaller bays that state 6 people because the front live well seat is wider. Rod lockers are not designated seating areas but someone could sit there. I thought the 20' Skeeters have 6 on the plate. I know my Champ can easily handle more than Ranger. I would not worry about it. For insurance reasons I would not exceed HP rating. OK was a stickler had one time for HP. I researched once when looking at an over powered boat.

It�s not illegal to run whatever motor on whatever hull.
There are plenty of insurance companies that will cover whatever you have.

I am sure there are but I found some that would not. Not sure if the law is even enforced or ever was in Ok but it was there at one time.

Progressive , USAA just ask how fast it goes and where you're going to use it.