Where is the capacity plate on a 1996 Sweetwater?

[guy48065]

Not required? I just can't seem to find it.

[ralph]

Mine only has a decal/sticker on the fence by the helm chair

[guy48065]

Hmmm...I thought they were a little more permanent than that.

[JerEazy]

Hmmm...I thought they were a little more permanent than that.

It should be around the console. under the steering wheel or on the side.


Sadly they are not permanent. My last 2 boats had them half peeled off of missing all together. You can buy replacements from vendors online if you know your specs. Or direct from the manufacturer.

It's not likely, but if you get a FWC, Boat cop or Coastie in a bad mood or feeling overzealous, you can get ticketed for not having it.

[rancherlee]

How long is the pontoon? Coast guard required Under 20'0" and many states closely follow that rule but it can vary by quite a bit from what I've seen. In Minnesota it's 20'0' and under so a 20' toon needs one visable from the operators station but The Coast Guard wouldn't require it on a 20'. Best bet is to call the local Fish and Wildlife department in your state to play it safe.

[guy48065]

It's an 18 so maybe I won't bother.
There's a shiny spot about 4" square on the right side of the console--that must have been it at one time.

[ralph]

"There's a shiny spot about 4" square on the right side of the console--that must have been it at one time."

That's got to be where it was. Why don't you contact Godfrey and ask to see if they can send you one? If they don't have your exact model/year maybe they can send you one from a similar size boat. Better than nothing.

Godfrey Marine
4500 Middlebury Street
PO Box 1158
Elkhart, IN 46516
Phone 574.522.8381
Fax 574.522.5120
customerservice@godfreymarine.com

[sunedog]

It's an 18 so maybe I won't bother.

I think you may have it bass akwards. You are required to have the sticker if your boat is under 20', not over 20'. So you need one.

[Jake_Daddy]

For what it's worth I have an 01 Sweetwater 20'. I can't remember the weight capacity off the top of my head but I know the max is 8 people and my sticker is on the fuse box cover.

[BoatCop]

It's an 18 so maybe I won't bother.

I think you may have it bass akwards. You are required to have the sticker if your boat is under 20', not over 20'. So you need one.

Even under 20' pontoons don't require them. The capacity laws apply only to MONO-HULL boats less than 20'. Mono-hull means only one hull. Pontoons, tri-toons and other multi-hull vessels aren't required to have capacity information displayed.

However, many (read almost all) boat manufacturers put them on these days. While early on they didn't, due to the costs of testing and engineering, now days there are computer programs that do it all for them. Insurance requirements on the manufacturer and liability protection makes them put capacity information on pretty much everything, legally required or not.

[BoatCop]

For what it's worth I have an 01 Sweetwater 20'. I can't remember the weight capacity off the top of my head but I know the max is 8 people and my sticker is on the fuse box cover.

When boat manufacturers do put capacity plates on, they are required to be visible and easily seen from the helm (operator's seat).

Having it on the fuse box cover is no good and technically illegal, since the cover can be removed or replaced, and is probably under the console, or otherwise out of sight of the operator.

It's not one of those things that an owner can be cited for, it's a manufacturing standard placed on the boat maker.

[Jake_Daddy]

Here is my fuse box cover with the sticker. Illegal or not here ya go. I was off in the max people, not sure why I was thinking 8.

[Capt Sully]

A Capacity plate is required by Federal Law on motorized Mono-Hull boats less than 20 feet in length.
Plates or stickers are placed on the vessel by the Manufacture or Dealer. They should be seen easily and are mostly in the cockpit or console areas. If you need to know about yours call your dealer, he should be able to get you one.

Boat Safe , Wear your PFD