Michigan Capacity Plate LAWS

[Mr. Buss]

and a sober ACTING driver

 

[Old Hickory]

Occupancy number is usually a farce any way since it is a calculation. My enchanter is rated for 8 people, but can onle seat 5 total without laying anyone down in the nose. Heres how these number are equated.

Outboard:

Displacement weight of boat (wgt of volume of water the boat displaces) + Machinery (outboard motor) -weight of boat all divided by 5

I/O and inboard:

Displacement weight of boat -weigth of boat divided by 5

Basically your occupancy is one 5th of what it would take in weight to sink the boat, since items will float only if they displace more weight in water than what their weight is.

Horsepower for out boards is similar, it to is based on a calculation of overall length x transome width in feet. This factor is then compared to a chart provided by USCG and may need adjustment with another factor if it is higher then 52.5.

Thanks for providing the algorithm; I knew capacity and hp max were based on a calculation but had no idea what it was. When I purchased my wareagle; max hp changed depending on whether I had my boat set up for console steering or tiller. I inquired about it w/ the mfg and their comment was similer in that they used calculations based on set up. That then determined the calcs for capacity and hp.

That dosn't negate the requirements and recommendations set by the USCG and NMMA. The USCG still requires mfg's capacities and hp max for boats under 20ft. And the NMMA recommends them on boats under 26ft. I agree that capacity may seem a bit of a farce but it is still there. Max HP is another matter; I think there far more that goes into it. If you purchase a performance boat from Allison for example; they tell you from the get go that their boats are engineered for specific hp; #cylinders; o/b wt. and not to exceed them. If you do, it is at your own risk. Wareagle dose the same.

Don't get me wrong; I'm not telling anyone what they should do when it comes to strapping power on to their transom; just keep in mind their is always a risk that the regulations may be enforced from time to time; regardless of where you are boating.

Hick