BOAT REPOWER

[NEBS]

HI, I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW WHAT THE LEGAL IMPLICATIONS OF OVER POWERING MY BOAT MIGHT BE. THE TAG ON THE BOAT HAS A 100HP MAX. WHAT COULD HAPPEN WITH SAY A 115-125HP ENGINE. I DON'T HAVE INSURANCE ON THE BOAT AT THIS TIME, BUT MIGHT FUTURE. THANKS

 

[Big Red]

The tag is their for a safety reason. I would put the biggest thing on the back your wallet can handle. Over powering is dangerous, but if you have the need for speed and common sense on when to back off the throttle when things get to hairy I would go for it.

The costguard can look at your boat tags and make you park the vessel if you have it overpowered. But they usually go by what the engine cover says most of them can't tell the difference between a 115 or 200 . If you get hassled just change the stickers.

The last outboard boat I had was rated for a 115 and since new it had a 200 on it and never had a problem and still going. The boat is a 1979 model

 

[happy]

here it is in a nutshell us terms.. any mechanic that overpowers your boat becomes responisble for the any actions that may occure, you however can put whatever hp you want to in your boat, as far as my shop goes, we dont do it unless your atty and our atty make an agreement. and then the boat goes out for estimates for proper structural upgrades estimate, by that time you have spent enough money to buy the boat built for the rated hp..

 

[Chris E]

the mechanics at any place i worked at refused to do the work period.

 

[Eaglenva]

here in virginia it is a strong recommendation but there is no law against overpowering a boat. if you are involved in an accident or driving in a manner that would cause concern or is against the law then it becomes an issue.

 

[INXS]

Try to find someone to modify a motor, it's very hard to do. As stated most want you to put in writiing that your 225 looper that you want to crank up to 300 hp will not go on a boat rated for less HP. Then if you do and there's a accident the insurance guy goes right into the motor to see if it's stocked or not. If it's modified and you didn't have that fact on your insurance policey you're sunk!!!

 

[Eaglenva]

Something i wondered about, if my 72 is rated for 140 hp and at that time it was measured at the crank and i get a newer motor that is rated at the prop instead am i overpowering the boat? 140 at the prop is likely 165? at the crank?

 

[Craig]

more power

craig is a perfect example of why all you checkmate heads are nuts. You guys put those great big motors on those little biddy boats. You guys are not right.

 

[Craig]

Sorry about that last post. Chris you can delete that….That is what happens when you leave your computer unattended at work with a boat website on the screen!!!

-Craig

 

[rowdy1]

I consider that post a compliment!

 

[Big Red]

Put the biggest thing on the back that you can find. As long as the boat don't sink you will be fine.

If it does not scare the crap out of you wide open what fun is it.