Only in America
Only in America: Heavy seas
How the U.S. Coast Guard is dealing with America's obesity epidemic — and more in our collection of strange revelations about the nation
The U.S. Coast Guard has reduced the passenger capacity of U.S. commercial vessels to reflect the growing weight of the average American. A boat's capacity used to be based on an assumed average of 160 pounds per passenger, but that’s been raised to 185 pounds. Florida pleasure-boat passenger David Kushner said he approved of the change. "Oh, God, yeah," said Kushner. "I'm 251 with sandals."