Posted on 01/15/2012 5:40:46 PM PST by Libloather
The Coast Guard Thinks You've Put on a Few Pounds
By Dashiell Bennett | The Atlantic Wire – Mon, Jan 2, 2012
The Coast Guard recently raised its "Assumed Average Weight Per Person" standard to 185 pounds, reflecting the growing waistlines of the American populace. The number — which is 25 pounds higher than the previous average — is used to the determine the safe operating capacity of passenger boats around the country. The change may force tour operators, ferry services, and other charter companies to adjust the capacity of their vessels or risk failing their next Coast Guard inspection.
(Excerpt) Read more at news.yahoo.com ...
185 lbs??? Really??
Come to Texas. With our Hispanic, Germanic and African American population mix, we are closer to 225 lbs for men!
Probably close to that for women too!!!
:) :)
When you book, have a line for weight.
Who’d admit they’re flirting with 300?
Oh, great. I’ve sailed and boated all of my life, and I don’t want to seem too critical, but about the only thing I’ve ever seen the Coast Guard do in Maine where we spend our summers is come around and give people fines for not having enough life preservers or for getting a little oil in the water from their outboards.
If you ever break down, however, forget calling the Coast Guard. They are very unlikely to come to your rescue. Call a friend, or call a lobsterman that you know and ask him to give you a tow.
So, now, with one announcement they’ve made tens of thousands of boats obsolete, because they no longer qualify to carry the number of passengers they were built for.
I’m sure Michelle, the Food Queen, loves this.
I’m a mere 105.6 pounds so the Coast Guard would have no problem with me.
Of course, it could help in booking if seating is assigned at the time, and arranged so that the boat is balanced port to starboard. Too many fatties on, say, the left side of the craft, and it could tip.
Why not allow the option to book by actual weight.
Bureaucratic inertia. Everything goes by the book.
I’ve been boating for more than 60 years. I’ve always kept a packet of emergency flares on board, because the Coast Guard requires it. I’ve never used them, and I don’t know anyone who ever used them. I would imagine that they are more of a danger than a help, since I’ve known kids to sometimes get hold of them and treat them like fireworks.
But I’ve religiously kept them on board, because I don’t want to be fined or deprived of the right to drive a boat.
I still maintain my high-school weight these umpty-mumble years later.
/johnny
I fly airplanes. For weight and balance calculations I figure 200# for adults over 21, 80# for kids under 14, and 160# for 14-21 years old. I’m usually not that far off.
The FAA still sticks with 170lbs per person per seat when figuring weight and balance.
On a boat, I believe you would be called 'chum'.
Probably.
Is this one of those ill-fated Chinese craft?
Chum seems like a real good thing if you’re trying to catch porpoises or sharks — but other fish? Especially the vegetarian varieties?
Makes sense.
People are taller on average than they used to be, too.
And stronger.
That was definitely true in San Antonio.
Now I’m in Kentucky, and the people are even bigger.
One of my cars has a 400 lb combined capacity and there are few men who can ride with me. In Kentucky, there are even fewer women who could jump in...
Flirting??? Heck we're like newlyweds!
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