New Coast Guard Rule on Passenger Weight The Coast Guard has announced a voluntary interim measure increasing the assumed passenger weight from 140 or 160 pounds per person to 185 pounds per person when calculating stability and capacity.  Because of recent accidents, they are particularly concerned with pontoon style boats and are taking immediate corrective actions to protect the safety of passengers and crew on pontoon style boats.  Drastic reductions of capacity have occurred at the renewal of the COI.  New rules will be in place for all in the Fall.  The link below connects you to a Coast Guard article on the subject. http://a257.g.akamaitech.net/7/257/2422/01jan20061800/edocket.access.gpo.gov/2006/06-3926. htm Effect on Beachcats All current production is analysed using a dead weight survey and computer analysis as is currently required.  Because of the computerized analysis, it will be relatively simple to re-analyze existing boats,  and most are expected to have little or no loss of capacity.  We will continue to supply hulls in the 20+2 to 49+2 passenger range.   Although it will be necessary to look at each application, it will be possible for the existing owner of a pontoon style boat, that had been approved for 49 passengers, who has been downgraded to, say, 30 passengers at the last renewal of it's COI, to move the furniture, top and motors to a Beachcat hull of comparable length and regain it's capacity.  This has already been done on two ocasions in the last three months.