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

[erikpn]

So... I've got a 16' starcraft nassau I use for crabbing and fishing. As I understand, it's rated for a 75hp. I was looking at a late 80's 80hp mercury. The thing is so big compared to the underpowered little 35hp I have on there now, I'm worried about how it affects balance of the boat. With the 35 and the 4hp kicker, plus with me standing atn the back of the boat, occasionally small waves will make into the splashwell. From my research, the motor weighs 265. My current motor weighs around half of that. Think this will work? Good idea or not?

 

[crabby captain john]

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

The boat builder puts a max HP on for a reason but 5 HP may be less of a problem then weight. It will set the stern even lower and if taking SMALL waves into the splashwell it will only get worse with double motor weight. You will need to redistribute weight at the very least. What will the added weight do to the total weight capacity rating? Time for an 18' or larger boat?

 

[erikpn]

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

It's easily within the weight capacity rating by many hundreds of pounds. When I'm sitting on back working the little tiller powered kicker motor, small waves occasionally make it in through the drains in the splashwell. I think I will have to redistribute the weight. The battery, 2 motors, and fuel are all in the back. There is very little up front under the closed bow. It looks like others on here have put 65 mercs on there, and starflite 75's, which weigh between 225-250. This 265 motor should be fine? I'd like a larger boat of course, but I just bought a new car. Don't have the cash yet and summer is on it's way.

 

[jestor68]

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

A 75 Optimax weighs 375 lbs. A 115 and a 90 weighs 375 lbs. All motors of that size weigh virtually the same.

75 to 80 hp is not a problem. The "late 80's" Mercury actually weighs a little less than the current Optimax motors of like HP.

 

[airshot]

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

In the event of an accident even not your fault being over on HP may well be a problem with your DNR, sherrif, or insurance company

Airshot

 

[erikpn]

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

Not concerned about accidents. This is just a little tinny. Its not worth much and i have no insurance for the boat. Its from the 60s and there is no hin or weight or max hp plate on it, i learned of the model and hp rating through this forum. Im concerned about safety of the vessel and thats all. It sounds like it will be fine. Thanks all.

 

[rogerwa]

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

If you can move the gas and batteries to the front, you would probably be fine. Depending on the size of tank, that can be quite a bit of weight. The two batteries could be anywhere from 50-80lbs alone.

If you have a 80hp on the back you will need a bigger tank anyway..

 

[roscoe]

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

Not concerned about accidents. This is just a little tinny. Its not worth much and i have no insurance for the boat. Its from the 60s and there is no hin or weight or max hp plate on it, i learned of the model and hp rating through this forum. Im concerned about safety of the vessel and thats all. It sounds like it will be fine. Thanks all.

I'm so glad you take the welfare of others so seriously.
You must be one of the Bill Gates types, that can pay cash out of pocket if they hurt someone.

Do you have insurance on your tow vehicle?

Anyway, I have a 1965 Nassau, rated for 75 hp.

Its only a 450# boat, it flies with a 50 on it. 80 hp is gonna be overkill.

So, can your boat handle it? Don't know. Can't see your transom or hull, and have
not test your transom for internal rot.

 

[JB]

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

Is it okay to drive 75 where the posted limit is 70? If you stay out of trouble, yes. Otherwise no. The same probably applies to a boat.

Is it okay to operate a powered boat without insurance? No. Never.

 

[tazrig]

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

Wouldn't worry about the 5 extra HP. At 25+ years old it's unlikely the motor is producing the full 80 HP anyway.

 

[DirtyOldBoat]

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

The weight of that 4 cylinder 80hp is going to be about the same as a 4 cylinder 50-60-65 hp Mercury. Well within the safety limits of a boat rated for 75.

If you're worried about anything ever happening, put 75 hp or less decals on it.

Is it okay to operate a powered boat without insurance? No. Never.

It's not a car. Boat insurance is not required in most (all?) states.

 

[erikpn]

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

I'm so glad you take the welfare of others so seriously.
You must be one of the Bill Gates types, that can pay cash out of pocket if they hurt someone.

Do you have insurance on your tow vehicle?

Anyway, I have a 1965 Nassau, rated for 75 hp.

Its only a 450# boat, it flies with a 50 on it. 80 hp is gonna be overkill.

So, can your boat handle it? Don't know. Can't see your transom or hull, and have
not test your transom for internal rot.

I am not legally required to have insurance to operate a boat where I live. Of course I have insurance on the tow vehicle. I operate that year round close proximity to other vehicles and pedestrians, it's expensive, and it is also state law to have insurance on the automobile. This is a small, lightweight, inexpensive aluminum boat. I fish/crab in saltwater 20x per year, maybe 200 miles total distance annually, it's cold year round and there are no swimmers, and I am rarely within 50 yards of another vessel.

What level of personal injury or liability insurance do you have on your tow vehicle? State minimums? Are you aware that medical costs after an accident can exceed 1 million?

I don't butt into your business with these things, because I respect that you are also a grown man and can make your own decisions with your own judgement. You wouldn't need to justify that to me, just like I don't need to justify my decisions to you. Get off your soapbox.

 

[jestor68]

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

Come on people; consider the monster 75 hp motors from the 60's compared to the relatively small/lighter 4 cylinder Merc 80 of the eighties.

Any boat rated to carry one the 60's monsters can without a doubt handle a little 4 cylinder Merc that weighs about 250 pounds.

Any time someone talks about ONERPOWERING a boat by 5 hp, the chicken little dance starts. :faint2:

 

[crabby captain john]

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

Most would agree if he were not taking small waves into the splashwell already.

Come on people; consider the monster 75 hp motors from the 60's compared to the relatively small/lighter 4 cylinder Merc 80 of the eighties.

Any boat rated to carry one the 60's monsters can without a doubt handle a little 4 cylinder Merc that weighs about 250 pounds.

Any time someone talks about ONERPOWERING a boat by 5 hp, the chicken little dance starts. :faint2:

 

[jestor68]

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

Most would agree if he were not taking small waves into the splashwell already.

I won't argue with anyone who calls himself "crabby". I would lead nowhere. :facepalm:

 

[smokeonthewater]

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

Plain and simple the only "correct" answer is no it is not "okay" ... that said MANY people do so and don't have issues.... The chances of another 5 hp hurting anyone are FAR smaller than the chances of a captain using poor judgement hurting someone.

If you own equity in a home or other valuable item then you DO have liability insurance for a victim but not for yourself.......

No the sky won't automatically fall on you but it wasn't at all unreasonable for others to warn you that if an accident were to occur that 5 hp would be damming in court.... IMHO your boat would be best with about 80% of rated hp as the last 20 hp will gain you very little speed but running lighter on the stern would be an advantage.

Taking small waves into the splashwell is NOT an issue.... that's what it's there for

 

[erikpn]

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

Plain and simple the only "correct" answer is no it is not "okay" ... that said MANY people do so and don't have issues.... The chances of another 5 hp hurting anyone are FAR smaller than the chances of a captain using poor judgement hurting someone.

If you own equity in a home or other valuable item then you DO have liability insurance for a victim but not for yourself.......

No the sky won't automatically fall on you but it wasn't at all unreasonable for others to warn you that if an accident were to occur that 5 hp would be damming in court.... IMHO your boat would be best with about 80% of rated hp as the last 20 hp will gain you very little speed but running lighter on the stern would be an advantage.

Taking small waves into the splashwell is NOT an issue.... that's what it's there for

Sounds like it will be a working deal, thanks for the advice. I was originally looking for something in the 50-70hp range, but this deal looked like a good one.

And, I had no issue with people mentioning that being overpowered by any amount will look bad in court. I said that's fine and I will accept that level of risk on my own. I am a grown man operating the vessel I own, and I am the only one to decide what level of risk I find acceptable as long as I am within the confines of the law.

 

[Home Cookin']

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

if you want to go to a big engine around the max size, get rid of the kicker. If you have to have one for all day trolling, bow-mount a trolling motor.
If you won't do that, don't tiller steer back there. rig up companion steering or steer with the main.

I, too, have an opinion about your insurance plan but since you aren't a threat to me, and it's off topic, I won't weigh in. Start a new thread "should I get liability insurance for a 16' boat with an 85 (overpowered by 5)" and see what hits the bait. But first, go learn the difference between property and liability coverage.

 

[gm280]

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...?

 

[smokeonthewater]

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

Sounds like it will be a working deal, thanks for the advice.............................as long as I am within the confines of the law.

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