View Full Version : Legal issues of overpowering boats.
You might find this interesting reading, if you have any thoughts about putting a motor on your boat - that has a greater hp, than what is on the max rating plate on the boat.
http://www.wisbar.org/wislawmag/2000/06/boat.html
Take care
REW
beetle
03-28-2002, 04:37 AM
Rew, My puter won't open the page you provided, but I'm assuming the dnr is ticketing those who overpower their boats now. They have been doing that in Iowa here for several years now. But can you elaborate some on what the article has to say about it?
thanks
Jim Ordway
03-28-2002, 09:01 AM
Running into a pier is a boat operater error, unless it was floating in a submerged state in the lake. This is similar to a person being 10% liable for and accident when their car is legally parked. There seems to be a huge problem with personnal responsibility in the world we live in, and it is propagated by the legal community.
My 2.5 cents,
AquaMan
03-28-2002, 09:29 AM
Although this was an interesting read, after scanning the 2 page report, I saw no reference to overpowered boats. This was a study of a particular incident in which a lawyer explained the methods in determining fault.
I did not click on all the foot notes and supporting document links, but was there something I missed specifically? It had more to do with traffic, boat handling and safety equipment issues then overpower issues. Please help this lazy reader find that link. :-) What did I miss?
Thanks
AquaMan~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
Crawfish...not just for bait anymore!
I spoke with a member of the Coast Guard on the subject of hp ratings on boats. He told me that the rating plate is for total hp. If your boat is rated for 200hp and you have a 9.9 kicker and a 200hp motor on it, legally you are 9.9hp over the rating and could be fined. He said it does not matter that only 1 motor is running. He personally would not give a ticket for this and feels the kicker is added safety in case your main motor quits. But he said if you make the wrong guy mad, you could get a ticket. I am not sure if this is 100% fact or fiction but he should know if he is in the Coast Gaurd.
Wow, if that's true I would imagine that even a transom mounted electric would push a boat that is maxed out over the limit...
Best Regards,
FJH