When a yacht is for HIRE it falls under specific Federal regulations issued by the US Coastguard
  1. Un-Inspected Passenger Vessel Can carry when for HIRE can carry no more then 6 passengers plus the crew
  2. Un-Inspected vessel over 100 gross tons
  3. Can carry up to 12 passengers plus crew
  4. Vessels holding a COI ( Certificate Of Inspection Can carry as many as the COI permits example of capacity 20-50-100-1000 what ever the COI permits