[Fr. Frank]

Some states require a capacity plate on any boat before it may be legally sold. The USCG says that a capacity plate must state three things:
1)maximum weight capacity in lbs. of persons or maximum number of persons @ 150 lbs per person;
2)if an outboard hull, the maximum weight capacity of combined persons, motor, & gear; and
3)maximum recommended horsepower.

Many also state the model of the boat, the LOA, the hull weight, etcetera, but they don't have to state these things.

Please note, #3 is maximum recommended horsepower. There is no legal maximum horsepower rating. I have my 20' Seafari insured through State Farm. My original serial plate beneath the helm gave the serial # 2469, the "Maximum capacity 1480 lbs, persons, motor, gear", and "Maximum O/B Horsepower: 240"

I had never heard of a Seafari being rated for 240 horspower, as all the ones I had ever seen were rated for either 140hp or 175hp. When I asked Carl Moesley about it last year, he said that "several 20 footers got that sticker so's they could race them with twin 115's, back before the V6 motors came out"

The point being that there is a precedent for a 20' SeaCraft being rated for over 200 hp. Go make your sticker/plate to say 200, or even 225.