CG Regulations - max HP

JWB · #1 10-18-2005, 06:16 PM

Anyone know if there is a problem with a used boat having an engine over the max rated HP for that boat?

Finster · #2 10-18-2005, 06:30 PM

Most insurance companies won't cover you. It's not illegal or anything, you see boats that exceed the HP rating all the time.

sailcat · #3 10-18-2005, 09:41 PM

JWB, I never had a problem, and I have insurance. Only had to tell one little fib. My boat only does 45.. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

BA17 · #4 10-18-2005, 11:29 PM

JWB,

The main problem that may come up is that if something were to happen the insurance could possibly refuse to pay the claim. If you insured a boat as if it had a motor that was less than the Max and it actually has an engine that is larger than the max HP then policy was written without full disclosure given to the insurance company.

BA

Finster · #5 10-19-2005, 12:22 AM

And the other thing is, if there ever was incident and the Coast Guards inquiry reports that it was caused due to excessive speed or HP then you've just opened your self up for a hell of lawsuit and potential criminal charges, especially if there were injury's.

Not to rain on your parade or anything. I find nothing wrong with a little HP now and then. [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

ob1jeeper · #6 11-24-2005, 01:14 AM

Quote:

Anyone know if there is a problem with a used boat having an engine over the max rated HP for that boat?

JWB...
The Coast Guard & the NMMA are NOT interested in the HP alone, but instead are focussed on the weight that needs to be supported, should a vessel become swamped.

What they are trying to accomplish, is making it possible for survivors to have something to cling to, until help arrives, rather than having a swamped vessel, sink out of sight.

To that end, they set up a "standard weights" table, for the various OB's in use at the time the table was published. They did this by obtaining a range of weights for various size motors, and discovered it was easier to rate them based on HP, because it was something EVERYONE could readily see & relate to, without resorting to having the motors weighed...

With this informaiton in hand, Boat manufacturers knew how to properly rate thier vessel offerings in "HP ratings", to meet the CG's "swamped vessel" floation requirements.

Here's a link to the USCG Boatbuilders handbook "weight table for outboards", for use on craft OVER 20 ft in length... Those 20 ft & under have to play by different rules, (and those rules are... at least in my mind... WAY screwy...)

http://www.uscgboating.org/safety/bo...able4_pg61.htm

Hope this helps... It's a tad confusing at first, but after a while, you get used to "government speak", and then it finaly begins to make sense... (OMG... [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img] Somebody PLEASE tell me I did NOT just admit to understanding "government speak" ... [img]/images/graemlins/blush.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/crazy.gif[/img])

Good Luck, OB1

NoBones · #7 11-24-2005, 01:25 AM

All the years on the water, and being checked for safety equipment, fish, lobster, etc. never once did Smokey the Bear on water ski's ask me if my boat had to many ponnies
on the back. Insurance wise though, it is frowned upon.
It all boils down too, knowing what you and your boat are capable of handling.
See ya, Ken

#8 11-24-2005, 03:20 PM

completely destroyed my '97 17.5' challenger bass boat after replaceing the original 115 with a 175 split the port chine 4ft and ripped a 2 by 4 sheet of gelcoat/fiberglass off the bottom of the boat, totaled, nearly lost it.