Coast Guard Ratings Plate- Canadian v. US; Inconsistencies.

[secretariatslew]

http://grandisland.craigslist.org/boa/2596281907.html

This CL ad is for a 16' Lund, not a deep v- and advertises with a 70hp motor. I emailed the seller who confirmed that the coast guard plate says that it allows 70hp. My boat is a 1995 18' Lund SV, a much larger boat than this one, and it has a Canadian coast guard plate rating it at 40hp max hp. This seems entirely inconsistent. I know that hp ratings are based on buoyancy and amount of foam in the benches. I have three benches filled with foam. Sob Sob. What is going on, and why does my boat have a weak rating?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Coast Guard Ratings Plate- Canadian v. US; Inconsistencies.

Is your boat a tiller and his a console steer? Makes a difference. (FWIW, I think he's fulla crap about a 70 being legal on that boat)

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: Coast Guard Ratings Plate- Canadian v. US; Inconsistencies.

Here in the U.S. foam has nothing to do with the horsepower equation. It is based on length, width, transom width and height, Hull style (flat, deepvee, round bottom etc), and whether or not the hull is tiller or console steering. (Generality) Foam floatation is required in sufficient quantity to have the boat float upright if submerged--but this may be an industry standard rather than a coast guard requirement--I'm not sure.

So: Just because your boat has foam filled seats, it doesn't mean it automatically should get a higher rating.