My buddy just bought a new '05 Sanger V-215 and I asked the salesman why doesn't this boat have a coast guard plate with the allowed number of people or weight? He answered with that since the wakeboarding industry has taken over, they did away with that requirement and now you just need to have a coast quard approved vest for each person. So now, there are no more weight restrictions. I can't believe this.Can it be true? My 1975 boat doesn't have a plate, so who knows.

Stupid.

Fact: <BR> <BR>Having a plate showing maximum weight/persons has never been a CQ requirement on boats 20' and over. <BR> <BR>The salesdrone's answer is correct, but his reasoning is incorrect.

It's not a requirement for boats over 20', but some companies go the extra distance and certify the boat anyway. <BR> <BR>Both my last Supra and current Malibu are over 20', and both have USCG plates. So did my '92 Mastercraft, and it was over 20'.

FWIW, the "extra distance" simply means that the company self-certifies and slaps a plate on the boat. The manufacturer isn't even required to know what the standards require. <BR> <BR>The CG doesn't certify, or verify, recreational boats. <BR> <BR>Strange huh? <BR>

So, last year I heard of people getting tickets, on the delta, for over-loading their boats (putting in lead a ballast past the stated plate weight)? So was that just a bunch of BS?

yeah im confused, Just last week I saw some guys get a ticket on my lake for haveing an overloaded boat (12+ people), so waht that wrong?

I have a 1982 19foot correct craft and it doesnt have a plate I dont think.

I've been stopped with 7 people in the boat (capacity 8) twice. Both times we had two fat sacks filled. They just wanted to see the vests and find out if the driver was drinking. I always wondered why they never checked that-considering we were well over weight.

it is is commercial boats that do not have to be rated.

"it is is commercial boats that do not have to be rated." <BR> <BR>Recreational boats 20' and over do not have to be rated. <BR> <BR>"Part 1—Regulations and Other Information <BR> <BR>CODE OF FEDERAL REGULATIONS – TITLE 33 – NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS <BR> <BR>PART 183—BOATS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT <BR> <BR>Subpart B—Display of Capacity Information <BR> <BR>Sec. 183.21—Applicability <BR> <BR>This subpart applies to monohull boats less than 20 feet in length, except sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable boats." <BR> <BR> <BR>

They're always going to look at boats with a lot of people in them because they figure the odds are pretty good you don't have enough life jackets on board.

Man, every once in a while, when I read posts like this, I sit back and think "THANK GOD I live on a private lake and don't have to deal with this crap." No authority figures to speak of, in fact most boats on our lake don't have registration numbers on them.