Nate:
"TITLE 33--NAVIGATION AND NAVIGABLE WATERS
CHAPTER I--COAST GUARD, DEPARTMENT OF HOMELAND SECURITY
PART 183_BOATS AND ASSOCIATED EQUIPMENT--Table of Contents
Subpart B_Display of Capacity Information
Sec. 183.21 Applicability.
This subpart applies to monohull boats less than 20 feet in length,
except sailboats, canoes, kayaks, and inflatable boats.
Sec. 183.23 Capacity marking required.
Each boat must be marked in the manner prescribed in Sec. Sec.
183.25 and 183.27 with the maximum persons capacity in whole numbers of
persons and in pounds, the maximum weight capacity in pounds, determined
under Sec. Sec. 183.33 through 183.43, and the maximum horsepower
capacity determined under Sec. 183.53 "
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http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/boatbuilder/safeloading/subc-1-183-31.htm Joe H--
That's interesting. Ohio uses an example of a Coast Guard capacity plate on their website
http://www.dnr.ohio.gov/watercraft/opsguide/ohoplaws.htm I wonder if "capacity plate" is a defined term.
http://www.dnr.ohio.gov/watercraft/opsguide/ohoplaws.htm Edit: I found the actual text of the statute. They are referring to the CG plate:
"
§ 1547.39. Capacity plate required.
(A) No person, after January 1, 1977, shall manufacture, sell, or offer for sale any watercraft propelled by machinery as its principal source of power, or watercraft designed to be manually propelled, less than twenty feet in length, and designed to carry two or more persons, manufactured after that date, unless a capacity plate containing the correct information, as prescribed by regulations adopted by the United States coast guard, is firmly attached to the watercraft. The capacity plate shall be attached in such a location that it is clearly legible from the position designed or intended to be occupied by the operator when the watercraft is underway.
(B) No person shall operate or permit to be operated on the waters in this state watercraft for which a capacity plate is required under this section unless the capacity plate is attached.
(C) No person shall alter, remove, or deface any information contained on the capacity plate unless the manufacturer has altered the watercraft in such a way that would require a change in the information contained on the capacity plate.
(D) As used in this section, "manufacture" means to construct or assemble a watercraft, or to alter a watercraft in such a manner as to affect or change its weight capacity or occupant capacity. "
(Message edited by bobthomas on August 23, 2006)