More hp then rated for

[Ajshep]

I have a 12' riveted boat rated for 18hp i mostly run a 15hp but after this
winter i cant get it running. I also have
a 25hp that i run once in a while. It
gets me home faster then the 15
when the weather changes and Im
way out on the river. What will the law
say and can they do anything about
exceeding the max hp. They seem to
always be doing safety checks around
here, and I dont want any hassle. So my question is is the max hp rating the law or is it just a suggestion like the posted speed limit on the highway

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: More hp then rated for

Here in Philly, stop lights seem to be just a "suggestion" also and that is why we have red light cameras. Speed limits are not just a suggestion either, never were, and were instituted almost at the invention of automobiles. (incidentally, in riding areas of parks, there is a speed limit on horses).

The rated horsepower for a hull is not a "suggestion" either, although Coast Guard (which develops them from a formula) does not have a regulation covering this.. Different states and provinces have different rules about exceeding rated horsepower but again, here in Pennsylvania it is illegal to do so.

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: More hp then rated for

Welcome to the forums,

Will depend entirely where are you located, probably checking accordance between what's stated on boat's tech plate and engine placed on transom. Why can't you get your 18 running, a 18 is faster than a 15.

Happy Boating

 

[Ajshep]

Re: More hp then rated for

I dont have an 18 thats what the boats rated for. I have a 15 and a 25 dont know why the 15 wont start it has always started 3-4pulls even sitting 3-5 months. Its getting gas and spark pulled the fuel pump, filter,and carb off (had some spendy work done on it a couple years ago from bad gas)it all looks clean and new there still. It coughed a couple times like it wanted to start but wont. Kinda bums me out i like throwing it into the water where there no ramps and the 15 is not to bad for dragging off and on the trailer. The 25 is to heavy for that though

 

[JB]

Re: More hp then rated for

Fix your 15 and use that. Overpowering offers risks, more or less depending on where you are, but it is never safe.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: More hp then rated for

agreed, fix or replace the 15 with a 15-18.

This discussion comes up all the time. From the legality standpoint, you have to know the law in YOUR jurisdiction--and remember, there are state laws but on some bodies of water other laws may apply.

But no matter where you are, it is illegal to operate a boat in an unsafe manner. An officer can easily decide that an "overpowered" boat is unsafe no matter how you run it. In some places, being over the rating plate is proof of unsafe; in others the officer uses it as a guideline.
Either way you are inviting a ticket if you are higher than the plate.

Also in some places it's illegal to paint over the HP on the cowl (so people won't run a 15 in a 9.9 lake--and it's illegal to switch cowls) but this can catch a duck hunter who paints a "legal" motor for camo.

I suggest you start a new thread, describing precisely what your motor is doing. Use paragraph breaks.

 

[gm280]

Re: More hp then rated for

I have a 12' riveted boat rated for 18hp i mostly run a 15hp but after this
winter i cant get it running. I also have
a 25hp that i run once in a while. It
gets me home faster then the 15
when the weather changes and Im
way out on the river. What will the law
say and can they do anything about
exceeding the max hp. They seem to
always be doing safety checks around
here, and I dont want any hassle. So my question is is the max hp rating the law or is it just a suggestion like the posted speed limit on the highway

Again I see this same question cropping up more and more as the spring boating season takes hold. And again I see the same answers as too legal or not decisions. I realize there are boating spec plates that are the rule of thumb for such HP ratings. But I have to ask, what happens when a person builds their own boat and installs an engine on it? There would be no spec plate to guide the legality. So what would be considered okay or not? So many issue that I see with a simple plate being the sole guiding issue for legal or not. Some 14 foot boats can handle 40, 50, or even 60 HP engines safely too while some can't handle but 20 HP. So there has to be some better legality limits then a simple spec plate... I have an old Tom Boy boat that had a faded out spec plate that was so bad that I had to get a 10X monocular to try and read the specs. The boat came from the dealer/manufacturer with a Johnson 40 HP on it for its? entire life, and this boat is 37 years old now. But after reading the faded out spec plate it stated 35 HP. So I had a new plate made that states 40 HP as its max HP and it is ready to install. So I don?t see how that plate can determine what is legal or not. Anybody can have an old spec plate remade to whatever they want being how a lot of old boat manufacturers are decades out of business now... JMHO!

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: More hp then rated for

not only do you have people building their own boats, you have people running hydroplanes and similar racers (or building them, too) and they have way more motor than a 12' boat should. And ratings change in the same hull based on whether there's a console or tiller.

So except for some jurisdictions that take the easy way out and say plate=legal, most are just guidelines for what's safe, which then puts it in the officer's discretion.

it wouldn't surprise me though to find some states' laws requiring plates and that they are legible--which presents problems in many cases as you point out.

 

[Ajshep]

Re: More hp then rated for

Just because there's 25 horses there don't mean I'm using them all. I can adjust the hp by more or less twisting of the tiller. I'm not some crazed kid out there being stupid. One time just me in boat I went WOT maybe for about 30 seconds pinched a hole in my seat and decided that was enough of that

 

[JB]

Re: More hp then rated for

It appears that you are in search of permission, not advice. Do as you please, but don't blame any consequences on iboats.

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: More hp then rated for

Gentlemen: In my state, ALL powered boats must have a capacity plate. A home built hull is no exception and still must have a capacity plate. The builder fills a form and the Fish and Game/boating commission figures the capacity based on dimensions you give on the form. They tend to me more conservative than the coast guard ratings. No capacity plate? you will be issued a citation if inspected.

Hydroplanes are specialty purpose race vehicles and are exempt from capacity plate requirements WHEN USED FOR RACING IN A SANCTIONED EVENT. If used on public waters for pleasure, they must also have a capacity plate--and I am certain it will be less than the hull carries for racing.

While I do take issue with capacity plate requirements, I also work around them since I believe they are a bit regressive to those "Hot-Rodders" who wish to "soup -up" their hulls just as automotive enthusiasts would their cars.

 

[Ajshep]

Re: More hp then rated for

Not askin for permission and I'm not gonna make my decisions when it comes to the law and fines on purely what I hear from people I dont know online. What I been hearing on hear is about what I was thinking. Maybe I'll be ok maybe I wont. If I'm out there with it I don't figure on racing around being stupid and giving them any excuses to mess with me

 

[gm280]

Re: More hp then rated for

It appears that you are in search of permission, not advice. Do as you please, but don't blame any consequences on iboats.

Jb, it seems you are taking this to heart and your post basically surmises that. I don't think anybody is looking for permission or going to place liability on iboats (that was merely a silly statement) either. And I have yet to see one person ask if it was okay to put a 100 HP OB on a 12' Jon boat as well. Every time I see this question crop up it is a person asking if a few HP over the spec rating is something to worry about being safe...nothing more... No liability can be transferred to iboats or any of it’s’ members legally even if someone tried.... With the number of legal challenges I hear on here about over powered engines (of a few HP) on a boat and having an accident, the courts must be filled to the rafters with such lawsuits if you believe all those statements... Common sense is not very common these days... Of course this is all JMHO (my disclaimer)... :lol:

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: More hp then rated for

Just because there's 25 horses there don't mean I'm using them all. I can adjust the hp by more or less twisting of the tiller. I'm not some crazed kid out there being stupid. One time just me in boat I went WOT maybe for about 30 seconds pinched a hole in my seat and decided that was enough of that

Easy, soldier. Your question was about legality ("What will the law say and can they do anything about exceeding the max hp.") and that is what was answered. No one's talking about how you operate. And neither will the cop who stops you at any speed, checks your boat and sees that you are over powered. What you fail to understand is that the LAW considers some things unsafe, and therefore illegal, even though they may not be IN FACT unsafe. Like carrying one child over the passenger limit even when you are way under the weight limit.

But you asked a LEGAL question. As I told you, you have to know the LAW of your state and your body of water. That's how it works. Either give us your state and someone might know, or go look it up, or pay a lawyer to do it for you. This discussion has nothing to do with you and how you drive; it's all about how you rig your boat and the law.

 

[coolbri70]

Re: More hp then rated for

i went to the dmv and they gave me a booklet, on boating rules and regulations, in West Virginia, overpowering a boat is illegal. not sure where you are but, there are places where its the law and places where its a recomendation. depends on where you boat

 

[dwco5051]

Re: More hp then rated for

That was true up till this year. As of Jan 1, 2013 Pennsylvania does not require a capacity plate. Also the Fish and Boat Commission no longer issues capacity plates for home builts or to replace lost or unreadable plates.

See; http://fishandboat.com/images/pages/forms/capacity_plate_instructions.pdf

EDIT- This was meant to answer the post from Frank A. and only applies to Pennsylvania

 

[Ajshep]

Re: More hp then rated for

Some ppl sure get defensive. Wasn't looking for legal advice and if I was I wouldn't be here askin for it

 

[coolbri70]

Re: More hp then rated for

I dont want any hassle. So my question is is the max hp rating the law or is it just a suggestion like the posted speed limit on the highway

depends on your local laws, dont know where you are:noidea:

 

[Frank Acampora]

Re: More hp then rated for

Interesting that the law in PA has changed as of 01/01/2013 regarding capacity plates.

In reading it though, this applies only to a capacity plate. The intent still seems to be that a hull must not be overpowered. Note that specific instructions are given to figure maximum horsepower on a hard chine, flat bottom hull.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: More hp then rated for

Interesting that the law in PA has changed as of 01/01/2013 regarding capacity plates.

In reading it though, this applies only to a capacity plate. The intent still seems to be that a hull must not be overpowered. Note that specific instructions are given to figure maximum horsepower on a hard chine, flat bottom hull.

Those instruction are if you would volunteer (not required) to make your own capacity plate. Not having a capacity plate or an illegible one is no longer illegal.

However Section 5501(d) of the 30 PA Code is still in effect.

It reads as follows;
(d) Exceeding capacity prima facie evidence of negligence.--
Exceeding the loading and horsepower limits for a boat as
provided on the capacity plate issued for the boat is prima
facie evidence of negligent operation of the boat.

In that case if you have a hull that originally was sold with a plate but it is now missing research would have to be done to find the horsepower limit the mfg. put on the plate to make a case of overpowering.

Now if you were to construct a boat as a homebuilt no capacity plate would be required and thus a person could put any motor on it that was light enough to not sink the boat at anchor. The most important element of the law is now missing, overpowering the boat "as provided on the capacity plate issued for the boat"