Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

[DirtyOldBoat]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

You're welcome ..... since you added the last part there, you may not realize it but, you will NOT be within the confines of the law if you choose to overpower by ANY amount at all. Good luck
SOTW

Not true. Overpowering is only "illegal" in one state, even there I find it hard to believe because I haven't studied the law.

In Washington, where the OP is from, it is DEFINITELY not illegal.

 

[roscoe]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

I hate taking side in confrontations like this, but the OP's original question had nothing to do with boat insurance but questioned if the extra weight would be a problem. I'm very sure that everybody has their own ideas as to what amount of insurance they deem adequate while others would seem it too low for a serious accident. So we could debate insurance issues to the cows come home and nothing would be solved. So let's just answer his original question and let the other issues for another thread... We all have our own opinions about how much insurance it enough and I bet others would certainly question your coverage anyway... 5 hp over the specified spec is not a show stopper in MY OPINION... He still has to make his decision based on what he thinks is correct... Isn’t America a great country...?

He is going to do what he wants anyway, so why does he ask the question?

 

[DirtyOldBoat]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

He is going to do what he wants anyway, so why does he ask the question?

Is that your reply every time somebody disagrees with you? :facepalm:

 

[erikpn]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

Because I want information to make an educated decision as to if it's safe in a practical standpoint as far as handling/safety of the boat. I am making my own decisions within the law, but I want to hear from other experienced boaters if the idea if they think the boat will handle safely with slightly beyond rated HP. Why post in the thread to derail it with arguments about something unrelated?

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

Not true. Overpowering is only "illegal" in one state, even there I find it hard to believe because I haven't studied the law.

In Washington, where the OP is from, it is DEFINITELY not illegal.

Just because there may or may not be a statute specifically prohibiting higher than rated hp does not GUARANTEE that it is not illegal... there are numerous laws governing powerboats in many states that prohibit "unsafe acts" or similar wording and most of those laws are fuzzy enough basically cover anything out of the ordinary....... I am NOT against the O/P for an 6% increase in power but just warning that to guarantee being "within the confines of the law" probably also means following the hp ratings on the boat...

 

[matt167]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

It also becomes vague as to what is illegal or unapproved with many of the older boats. Case in point is my 1961 Custom Craft Sea Ray. Through some searching on Fiberglassics, I determined that it was rated for 50hp by using an original brochure, but it is listed as " Recommended Maximum Horsepower " so that in itself is pretty vague. The boat has no tag on it beyond a serial number tag. Originally came with a 35hp when my grandfather picked it up new. My grandfather had a Mercury 650 installed in 1964 at the dealership the boat came from and it has been with the boat ever since, so +15hp overpowered and it was installed over 40 years ago, never hurt anyone and I don't think my grandfather ever carried insurance on it ( tho I will ).. Sure if I did something stupid with the boat and ran some people down, lawyers could do a quick web search and find my boat overpowered by the original HP recommendation, but if I ran some people down in any boat, I'm in trouble anyway.

 

[littlerayray]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

i dont know why people post these types of questions when they already know that they are gonna do it regardless what the general populace says
we all know he is going to mount the motor and 95% chance nothing will happen
so just let us know how it works out for ya

 

[DirtyOldBoat]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

It also becomes vague as to what is illegal or unapproved with many of the older boats.

There is also the fact that they changed outboard HP ratings from the crankshaft to the prop in the 80s. They never changed the HP rating on older boats, nor did they change the way they come up with rated HP. That 80hp is more like 70hp at the prop. Also, I think a new 4 stroke 75hp would weigh a lot more than that old 2 stroke, and have more power, yet still be within the HP limit.

This is exactly why a hull should be rated for a maximum engine weight, not horsepower.

Question: If maximum outboard horsepower rating is so terribly important...why don't inboard boats have any horsepower ratings?

 

[erikpn]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

Just because there may or may not be a statute specifically prohibiting higher than rated hp does not GUARANTEE that it is not illegal... there are numerous laws governing powerboats in many states that prohibit "unsafe acts" or similar wording and most of those laws are fuzzy enough basically cover anything out of the ordinary....... I am NOT against the O/P for an 6% increase in power but just warning that to guarantee being "within the confines of the law" probably also means following the hp ratings on the boat...

Then nothing is GUARANTEED not to be illegal, if you are counting on the fuzziness of the law. Not having 2 hands on the steering wheel at all times, looking at the landscape instead of at the water in front of you, etc because these are not GUARANTEED not to be construed as whatever fuzzy "unsafe act" you might want to take it as. Do you avoid doing any and all of those things?

Of course not, because that's not reasonable. So we understand things as being within the law, as anything that is not expressly prohibited by the letter of the law. You've got no leg to stand on in trying to argue this is illegal.

I've not purchased the motor yet, but looked at a 75 mariner of the same vintage. Same weight, it may even be the same motor. I'll let everyone know how it goes. I'll water test the motors and go with whichever seems more reliable and smooth running.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

Below are a few examples that I found before I got tired of looking... there ARE more and I HIGHLY recommend contacting state and local agency's before overpowering a boat. I did not contact each governing agency to verify or look up statutes in the books but this info was found on the following website.. http://www.boatingbasicsonline.com/course/boating/10_0.php

I would not consider their data to be all inclusive or guaranteed accurate but it at least should serve to point out that I do indeed "have a leg to stand on"

Arkansas - Speed Limits and Reckless Operation:

.............Vessels are not permitted to exceed the maximum horsepower or carrying capacity rating as specified by the manufacturer............

FLORIDA - Maximum Loading and Horsepower

No person may operate a monohull boat of less than 20 feet in length while exceeding the maximum weight, persons, or horsepower capacity as displayed on the manufacturer’s capacity plate.

Georgia - Dangerous and Reckless Operation

It is unlawful to operate a vessel, PWC, water skis or similar devices in a reckless or negligent manner. You are guilty of reckless operation if you operate in a manner that endangers, or is likely to endanger, the life, limb or property of any person.

Examples of reckless operation include:

Overloading your vessel beyond the capacity plate limits or overpowering a boat with a motor that exceeds the maximum safe horsepower on the capacity plate.

Kansas - Speed Limits and Reckless Operation:

It is illegal to operate a vessel carrying passengers, cargo or equipment beyond its safe carrying capacity. It is also illegal to operate a boat with more power than its safe power capacity.


Utah - Capacity Plates:

No person shall permit a vessel to be loaded with passengers or cargo beyond the maximum allowable weight capacity of such vessel, nor beyond its safe carrying capacity, taking into consideration weather and other operating conditions. In Utah, it is illegal to exceed a boat's maximum load or horsepower rating.

 

[DirtyOldBoat]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

I would not consider their data to be all inclusive or guaranteed accurate but it at least should serve to point out that I do indeed "have a leg to stand on"

No, he's right. Nobody here lives in any of those states. The OP is from Washington. It is NOT illegal there to overpower your boat.

Also, without reading the full statutes, I find many of those very hard to believe. Especially Florida. What about race boats? Are you telling me it's illegal 100% of the time to outfit a boat beyond the MFG rating, even during a race? BS! High performance speed boats are very popular in Florida. If you think they aren't overpowered you don't know much about speed boats.

 

[64osby]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

This is exactly why a hull should be rated for a maximum engine weight, not horsepower.

I think the weight of the motor issue is addressed by the weight capacity of the boat.

Hulls are designed with limitations. Manufactures test the hull designs to see how they perform at different speeds. The HP maximum if adhered to will limit the top end speed of the boat, plus or minus X percent based on load and condition of the boat. By setting a max hp they limit the safe operating range of the hull based on their test information.

The other part of limiting the hp is that the forces exerted on the transom / hull can be calculated and the hull can be designed to withstand those forces.

My.02 or .05 if you're north of the border

 

[crabby captain john]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

Stick with Oregon. The hulls on the race boats are NOT production hulls. They are engineered for the load and HP. There are production hulls built rated much higher- I've seen a capacity plate reading 1200 HP. If you think they buy a boat and slap all that power on and nothing bad happens? Weight is distributed differently, gas tanks moved, additional structure and stress points relieved. Do you believe your Toyota is ready for NASCAR?

No, he's right. Nobody here lives in any of those states. The OP is from Washington. It is NOT illegal there to overpower your boat.

Also, without reading the full statutes, I find many of those very hard to believe. Especially Florida. What about race boats? Are you telling me it's illegal 100% of the time to outfit a boat beyond the MFG rating, even during a race? BS! High performance speed boats are very popular in Florida. If you think they aren't overpowered you don't know much about speed boats.

 

[smokeonthewater]

Re: Is it safe to slightly overpower my boat by 5hp? How about weight?

No, he's right. Nobody here lives in any of those states. The OP is from Washington. It is NOT illegal there to overpower your boat.

Also, without reading the full statutes, I find many of those very hard to believe. Especially Florida. What about race boats? Are you telling me it's illegal 100% of the time to outfit a boat beyond the MFG rating, even during a race? BS! High performance speed boats are very popular in Florida. If you think they aren't overpowered you don't know much about speed boats.

I'm starting to wonder what your native language is... I am NOT telling him that it is illegal... I am suggesting that he would be wise to research the laws where he lives...... just because I haven't seen a law against it in his state doesn't guarantee that there isn't one.....there are apparently laws against it in several states even with all of the 'lawyers' on here proclaiming that there aren't and it is better to know before than after.

As for race boats there are exemptions for sanctioned race events on marked courses with permits issued for the event.