My boat says 8 people or 2000 pounds. Does that mean I can have lets say 10 people in boat if I don't go over the 2000 pounds? I know this may sound a bit silly.

Though I know I have exceed boat limits before (Surely, children being so small, it takes 2 of them to equate to 1 adult), and you probably would have any problem.

What you must think about though is that it could make you isurance void if something were to happen, and could be issued with a fine by the water ways police if the found out.

When they put on how many people you can have on your boat they always uderestimate. You could have more people on your boat, and provided they are not all built like rugby players, you should be alright.

Must agree with Roxy though. If you incurred a problem while you had the large number of people you wouldn't be able to claim for it.

I agree. Manufacturers always put limitations on their product as a disclaimer or 'get out' clause. If the customer exceeds their recommendations and something goes wrong then they are in the clear. Best to stick to the rules unless you are absolutely sure - or sure as you can be - that nothing can go wrong. (famous last words!)

To add to my last message. They give you two limits: eight adults OR 2000 pounds, this means that 2000pounds is your absolute limit be it six adults of ten.

Harry the fountain of knoledge as always.

Hi Sophie, The weight subject is well stated by Harry, but probably the most important thing that you need to be complying with is safety. Ensure that you have enough life jackets and dependant on the size of the yacht liferaft to carry all. This could certainly effect your insurance and may lead to prosecution if checked, I believe!

Well said Peter. We tend to assume that people have the ordinary common sense to be carrying the required numbers of lifejackets etc. but sadly, that is not always the case.

Peter is right about the safety aspect, prehaps the question shouldn't be how many will fit in the boat, but rather how many will fit in the life raft?

That all depends on how desperate the situation is!

a emergancy I would imagine!

Alright clever clogs! But the question was 'how many will fit in the life raft' so an emergency makes the question superfluous...as many as you can safely get in in an emergency.

I would assume you would be assumiong to get every one in so you would need to know the maximum figure.

Exactly, so the only way to find out would be to do a dummy run with an inflated liferaft...if someone would lend you one, or use your own when you are about to send it off for servicing.

they say on them as standard.... don't they?

Yes, but a real emergency is something else. You may have unexpected extras on board, I expect Sophie is looking for a bit of extra clarification.

so what is the stated maximum number on the life raft?

If is says 'an 8man liferaft or 4man liferaft' that means it is manufactured, fitted out and tested to accomodate that number of persons. Any extra and it is deemed to be overloaded although it could still save lives, dependant on weather conditions and length of time the occupants are in it.

So then the answer sure must be never exceed 8 one would assume

Yes, one would assume that, but try telling that to the 9th person trying to get off the sinking yacht!!