Thats a lot

[Xboatboyx]

death by drowning and cold water shock? putting on my don't be so stupid RNLI head. some of the kids aren't wearing lifejackets, as you'll know currents around weirs can (and regularly do) kill people. driver isn't wearing a kill cord, one slip and over goes a kid, one reach for a beer can and the throttle falls forward, - kid under the boat and then what? Minced Chav?

We had a Lab fly off the front (actually pushed by the other Lab running forward to bark at a Swan at the bow), fun though it was it was only me tugging sharply on the kill cord stopped him being minced, He surfaced just within reach of prop. All hypothetical but you get the idea why not be so stupid.

I agree and its certainly not a good idea to overload your boat. You certainly see a lot of people messing about on the river over the summer like people jumping into the water from moving boats!

[shibbs]

I don't think the numbers are so much an issue as long as the boat is being driven with that in mind!
I would certainly expect to see a few more life jackets though, at least on the kids if no one else.

You'd be wrong on the numbers count. Should an accident happen there would be a manslaughter prosecution for overloading above the boat's plated capacity not withstanding 12 is the legal max before codifying, commercial etc anyway.

So with that in mind,
Your boat will no doubt be certified to carry many more than 12, (mines only 25ft and is certified for 9) so do you contact the local MCA office every time you go out as a "passenger vessel" if you had 12 personnel onboard?
I'm sure charges would follow if something was to go wrong but that is the decision and assessment the owner makes, I'd imagine based on where and what you are doing.
If I was having a gentle trundle up a river in decent weather on a quiet day etc etc etc, and I had enough life saving equipment for all onboard, I would most definitely go over the 9 people, especially when half of them, as in that picture, are kids. I'm sure the personnel count is backed up by an equivalent weight limit, which would also be taken into account.
Rightly said earlier though, life jackets are lacking in the said picture but no one knows the full extent of that scenario so it's a difficult one to fully comment on. Yes we could all quote rules from here there and everywhere but do we all follow the rules all the time??

[BruceK]

You need the boat coded annually or so, not every time. You would not be able to code your boat for more than the plated nine so it's irrelevant to you;
and regardless of what you think of the weight the law says a passenger is anyone over 1 year old. Trust me if you had an accident with injury or fatality with just 10 people on board you would be standing in front of the dock.

The fact that boats are not like cars having to face speed cops and law enforcement every second mile does not absolve or lessen the impact that when you fuck up, you will be investigated my MAIB and the rozzers. The CPS will prosecute if you broke the relevant laws. Just because it's fun and a hobby doesn't make it a free for all.