Max hp rating

[dianewhite1]

Re: Max hp rating

Guys-
I am not an expert here at all, but thought I'd add some info. My husband and I jsut spent a lot of money having our hull re-done on a 1977 crestliner and the man who did it even re-inforced the transom. The boat has a 115hp rating on the plate, but this guy assured us it could take a 150hp motor no porblem. Well, now the hull integrity is at risk, one month into the new boat and new work that has been done. It leaks, the skin cracks, and we are in a lawsuit wit this marina. Of course, he has a great defense- we put an engine on bigger than the nameplate. So just a warning that the nameplate can bite you in the behind. It certainly has killed us on this one.

 

[Rob1975]

Re: Max hp rating

125 hp to 140 hp it shall be! All i want to do is cruise around, have a little fun speeding around and pull a tube if i want to. I love the looks of the boat so i won't over power it. It just seems easier to find a 150 hp than anything between 125 and 140 around these parts, but, i guess, this way it will make me save up the money the motor i actually need/want.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Max hp rating

nsbcraig,the only nonsense answers on here are yours and the others who say "go ahead and do it".laws and regulations are not just there a suggestions.yes,he probably can do it.but,one,from say 135 to 150 you are going to notice VERY LITTLE performance gains.two,that would simply make you legal and no chance of getting a couple hundred dollar ticket from a dnr guy in a bad mood.

NO your not going to notice a performance gain because there is no difference between 145 and 150


and lastly it would keep you from getting plowed into and THEM recovering money from YOU on a technicality such as 5hp over max. capacity.

What is this based on nonsense?

so is it worth it,NO!are there idiots that do it and recommend to others,ABSOLUTELY!

Why are they idiots? nonsense? ( and calling me an idiot is against the rules of this forum but then why should you follow rules?)

youre probably the guy that drives 75 in a 65,tailgaiting and cussing good drivers and tthen tries to fight a speed ticket in court cause you were"keeping up w/flow of traffic".why do people not see laws as laws

Oh come on total nonsense! (total nonsense still breaking rules and flat out being a jerk)

NO ONE has EVER posted any relevant TRUTH about this situation on here just a bunch on nonsense about your insurance doing things they don't and you getting sued based on nonsense and your gonna get a ticket noone gets and your obviously a horrible idiot who endangers everybody around you all the time.

Seriously if he bought a brand new motor that was with in his capacity plate then due to the way they rate motors now he would be overpowered and his motor would weight way too much for his transom.

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Max hp rating

nsbcraig.i have no interest in debating whats right and your views.I didnt call'YOU"anything.But if the shoe fits?!bottom line,its illegal,potentially unsafe,and completely unnecessary performance wise.The only reason for someone to do it would simply be to"say they did it".no benefit and many possible bad outcomes.Actually,i would love to hear your"benefit"for breaking a known law.to the OP,you made the right decision.no worries,no potential downfalls,and just days of good boating ahead."Dont listen to everybody.just listen to the smart ones".

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Max hp rating

Yeah you did!

And then you did again by listen to the smart ones ( or is everybody too stupid to understand your incredible wit?)

This known law is a large grey area and all anybody has presented about it is a leaflet from another state that if you brought before a judge would **** him/her off as they tell you not to quote that cause it means nothing. (like the dmv book)

Besides that unenforced part of that leaflet (which is a huge grey area) there are no possible bad outcomes (not many just none).

Noone has been sued and lost because their motor is 5 hp bigger. (noone!)

Noone has had insurance deny their claim because of it (in fact insurance companies advertise how they cover parts you can install on your car/ bike/ boat that are against the law (think progressives ape hanger commercial first one on my mind))

What benefit well as the OP said he can get them a good price!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Max hp rating

Adding to my post about the repower situation-

If that same person who now has a fourstroke on his old boat gets in an accident and his boat suddenly sinks he is now at risk of being sued and every other thing because that new motor weighs more and his capacity plate is null and void.

But wait it said I could have 6 people on board?

NO it said in that days terms what size motor it was rated for and what extra weight you could carry plus passengers.

So your floatation isn't enough and you just put everyone on your boat at risk so now you are liable!


Smart people recognize these this just like if your truck is old enough you don't need seatbelts and all the laws that apply to tire size and height don't matter.

So remember kiddies just cause some says they are smart doesn't mean they aren't the opposite.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Max hp rating

youre probably the guy that drives 75 in a 65,tailgaiting and cussing good drivers and tthen tries to fight a speed ticket in court cause you were"keeping up w/flow of traffic"

What a smart statement of complete BS and nonsense.

 

[BuzzStPoint]

Re: Max hp rating

Not to add fuel to this fire.

I over powered because of cost.
I had an old 20 horse on my boat that severely underpowered my boat. During spring time and finishing up my boat, I couldn't find any 45 horse (boat is rated for 45) in my budget around my area. I found the 55 horse and put it on. I dont notice any ill effects from doing so.

My boat gets up on plane, it goes forward and reverse. DNR has stopped for Safety checks and yet I'm still here not regretting putting on the 55.

If the 5-10 HP motor is cheaper, Buy it, put it on and don't worry about it. From what I am told, (even from retired DNR) the only people that get checked on the motor, are the ones that are being unsafe and causing hazards around the water. And of course the ones that are obvious that are severely overpowering the boat.. Those are usually noticed by the top of the transom almost touching the surface of the water.

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Max hp rating

Maybe no one "you know"but there have been tickets for over horspower boats.and there have been lawsuits of the same(not many).If your telling anyone its worth the risk of getting a ticket for a 10hp increase,youre just wrong.And if your saying a 115hp-125hp wouldnt push that boat just fine,youre just wrong again.and lastly,if youre saying theres a "grey area"and it makes it fine to break a known law,well,just flat wrong again.Many,many people think the way you do.But,does that make it right?nope.Just because people do it,does not make it RIGHT or LEGAL.Nuff said,cant reach some people anyway.Again,OP,youre doing the smart thing.Enjoy.

 

[overkill]

Re: Max hp rating

actually i would have to agree that it is a gray area legally.
MN law says
"It?s against the law:
To operate a watercraft:equipped
with a motor or other propulsion machinery
beyond its safe power capacity"

it doesn't say "rated safe power capacity" which makes it officer discretion whether the HP of the engine can "safely" propel the boat.

 

[briguy2817]

Re: Max hp rating

Well after reading the answers here, this is my take on it. I can't imagine their is a HUGE difference in horsepower/torque between a 140 and 150. You may feel it take off a little quicker but it's not like your going to a 250 or something. If it was me, and I'm not suggesting you to do this, I would get the weights of both motors and if they are within 20 or 30 pounds, I'd go bigger.

How do you get away with it? It's called decals! Order up a set of "140" decals and put those babies on. I know of 6 people that have done this with their "9.9" motors. They put a 15 horse on back of their Jon boats so they can take them into the local clubs. All they did was simply changed the hood or put some 9.9 decals on and it's all of a sudden legal!

Think about it this way. You can put a 350 Chevy into a Chevy S-10 which is one heck of a difference in horsepower from the 4 cylinder. Is it right, no, but it sure makes one fun truck, and it's still street legal.

Again, this is just my opinion if I was in your shoes. I just wouldn't have told anybody about it though. Am I wrong, maybe, I haven't been wrong in years so I could be due any day now...

Brian

 

[Sixmark]

Re: Max hp rating

The simple answer is, yes you can do it.

The answer with full disclosure is...... in some states it IS ILLEGAL also , in most states the insurance company can refuse coverage on your policy for doing it. Some of the policies out there include something similar to this in the fine print:

coverage void if vehicle is operated while comitting a crime, operator is under the influence of a controlled substance, vehicle is altered to exceed manufacturers safety specifications, etc., etc.

Another thing that can void coverage is if you tell them you have an 85hp and then switch to a higher hp and do not notify them, they can drop you on the technicality of misrepresentation.

Now is any of this going to happen? who knows. But thought I would throw it out there.

 

[ovrrdrive]

Re: Max hp rating

Well after reading the answers here, this is my take on it. I can't imagine their is a HUGE difference in horsepower/torque between a 140 and 150. You may feel it take off a little quicker but it's not like your going to a 250 or something. If it was me, and I'm not suggesting you to do this, I would get the weights of both motors and if they are within 20 or 30 pounds, I'd go bigger.

How do you get away with it? It's called decals! Order up a set of "140" decals and put those babies on. I know of 6 people that have done this with their "9.9" motors. They put a 15 horse on back of their Jon boats so they can take them into the local clubs. All they did was simply changed the hood or put some 9.9 decals on and it's all of a sudden legal!

Think about it this way. You can put a 350 Chevy into a Chevy S-10 which is one heck of a difference in horsepower from the 4 cylinder. Is it right, no, but it sure makes one fun truck, and it's still street legal.

Again, this is just my opinion if I was in your shoes. I just wouldn't have told anybody about it though. Am I wrong, maybe, I haven't been wrong in years so I could be due any day now...

Brian

Great point. My last sportbike weighed 550lbs and had a 135hp motor in it and somehow I survived it. The speed of the vehicle is always up to the operator. I hate it when threads turn into this. One person comes in and wants to argue and starts stabbing at other members and then its game on. What ever happened to stating ones own opinion and then backing off?

Opinions are like buttholes. Everyone has one and some of them really stink.

I grew up driving a boat rated for 125 that had a 135 on it rigged by the dealer when it was new in '72. Dad would let me drive the boat alone when I was 12. Once again, I survived it. We never got ticketed, arrested or killed. Imagine that.

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Max hp rating

Maybe no one "you know"but there have been tickets for over horspower boats.and there have been lawsuits of the same(not many).If your telling anyone its worth the risk of getting a ticket for a 10hp increase,youre just wrong.And if your saying a 115hp-125hp wouldnt push that boat just fine,youre just wrong again.and lastly,if youre saying theres a "grey area"and it makes it fine to break a known law,well,just flat wrong again.Many,many people think the way you do.But,does that make it right?nope.Just because people do it,does not make it RIGHT or LEGAL.Nuff said,cant reach some people anyway.Again,OP,youre doing the smart thing.Enjoy.

Your right you just can't reach some people!

Still no posts about all these made up horrible things that could happen to you being true. Why? Cause nobody knows of it ever happening it's nonsense.

But as to the point BuzzStPoint's made - maybe you (starcraft) do know of these things happening because you generally look like you know nothing about boating or operate your boat in a manner that is a hazard to everyone and we all thank the officers for busting you!

NOBODY said a 115-125hp wouldn't push his boat.
(he said it was rated for 145 but he could fined 150's easier)

Also me being wrong about the 10 hp increase is just silly cause the way they taught me math 150 - 145 = 5. ( Remember kids-"Dont listen to everybody.just listen to the smart ones".)

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Max hp rating

My bassboat is rated for 175hp.It has a 150hp merc. on it.fine for me.AND LEGAL.I have never,ever been even stopped for anything,let alone ticketed or "busted"why?because i know laws,what they mean and why theyre important.thats my duty as a good boater.And youre questioning my boating(for whatever reason)and youre the one telling a fellow boater to break the law because you ll probably not get caught?!real nice.Just shows your level of (?)!So keep talking if you want.I have laws and common sense on my side.

 

[NYBo]

Re: Max hp rating

All they did was simply changed the hood or put some 9.9 decals on and it's all of a sudden legal!

Still "illegal" with fraud thrown in.

Think about it this way. You can put a 350 Chevy into a Chevy S-10 which is one heck of a difference in horsepower from the 4 cylinder. Is it right, no, but it sure makes one fun truck, and it's still street legal.

Irrelevant. This doesn't apply to boats with capacity ratings.

 

[Sharp Shooter]

Re: Max hp rating

Some of the threads I read here in iboat make me feel like I'm from another planet.


I've never even seen one of these hp rating tags.

 

[starcraft1982]

Re: Max hp rating

sharp shooter,while im not sure about inboards(never owned one)all boats capable of having an outboard are required by law to have a capacity sticker/plate on them.this states maximum hp capacity,maximum weight capacity and maximum persons capacity. Everyone else.while this has been fun and comical,its run its course(for me).the law is the law,insurance companies will jump at the chance to deny a claim for such an infraction,if its found(thats how they make money,finding reasons not to pay claims) and its simply not a good idea.Can you do it?Sure!have many people done it? Sure!is it right,legal,or performance wise,worth the risk?ABSOLUTELY NOT! Im out.to many people to help on here to waste anymore time on nonsense.happy boating all!

 

[overkill]

Re: Max hp rating

sharp shooter,while im not sure about inboards(never owned one)all boats capable of having an outboard are required by law to have a capacity sticker/plate on them.this states maximum hp capacity,maximum weight capacity and maximum persons capacity. Everyone else.while this has been fun and comical,its run its course(for me).the law is the law,insurance companies will jump at the chance to deny a claim for such an infraction,if its found(thats how they make money,finding reasons not to pay claims) and its simply not a good idea.Can you do it?Sure!have many people done it? Sure!is it right,legal,or performance wise,worth the risk?ABSOLUTELY NOT! Im out.to many people to help on here to waste anymore time on nonsense.happy boating all!

Captain Information AWAAYYYYYYYYY!


sorry, couldnt help it

 

[45Auto]

Re: Max hp rating

If you're going to overpower your boat, just be aware of the consequences and make sure you have a big bank account. Some of you may find this Louisiana case interesting. Notice what the prosecutor's based their lawsuit on:

October 2000 Michael Davis, age 36, was struck by the propeller of a Skeeter boat at Red River (Louisiana) and has since been a quadriplegic. A trial that ended in early Sept 2003 awarded him over $7 million in compensatory damages.

The prosecution appears to have focused attention on the possibility of the boat being overpowered and unsafe.

Michael Davis' attorneys, Chris Roy Sr. and John Bennett suggested the engine (200HP) was too large for the 20 foot boat. They said the transom wedges dig into the water, making the bow go down, creating sudden turns. An additional passenger was ejected with Michael Davis. Michael Davis was struck in the head and neck by the propeller and remains totally paralyzed. Various accounts differ on when and where he was struck. One report has him struck in the arm, another in the head and neck. One report has him struck "when the boat came back around", another has him struck when he entered the water.