Does the rating of a boat for max hp differ for mud motors vs. outboard motors.

Does the weight and length of the motor matter also?

Thanks
Twig

Not in the eyes a the law if that's where yer goin with this.

No im just wondering cause it seems to me that some boats have bigger motors than they are rated for and my dad says our 14 foot jon boat is only rated for like a 5 hp and I don't believe that for one bit.

I believe it my old 1977 14-36 was rated for a 5hp motor.The tag fell off and i put an 18hp surface on it never had them say anything.

Last boat I had I called the manufacturer and had a different plate shipped with higher hp rating.

Those ratings are more like a recommendation, not a law. I've never heard of anyone getting a ticket for going over, it's more of a liability if you hurt someone. Most companies will sell a larger motor but won't mount and hook it up for you. I have been wrong before, so feel free to correct me if I'm wrong again.

Here in Texas the game warden will write you a ticket if they see it over the rating!!!

Sent from my C771 using Tapatalk

Mine doesn't have one of those silly stickers.

So, can you also get a ticket if you are over their recommended max persons or weight? Because that is listed on the same little tag.

I never seen a gw give anyone a hard time about either around here.

If that was the case in LA, the GW could stay busy all day long!

There have been other threads about this that you can search for more info, but...

According to a boat manufacturer that I knew, the "Coast Guard" plate that you are speaking of is something that the Coast Guard requires any "non-commercial" or recreational manufacturer to place on every boat they sell. The plate is not binding on the owner of the boat and can be removed by the owner anytime they see fit.

It is simply a requirement of the manufacturer so that the owner can know what the boat was tested/rated for and what the Coast Guard is saying it will handle (both load and motor). He can not sell a boat without it, but that is where the requirement ends.

I am sure that you can and will get different information from others (as with all things) including GW's who may not know exactly what they are talking about. Would not be the first time one of them gave someone bad info.

There are many boats on the water with no visible plate due to several things including it was on the bench seat that was removed, it was covered up as the owner added a extended deck, rebuilt the deck due to damage or something, or the rivets/adhesive method loosened and it just fell off.

He may have misinformed me, but that is what I was told. I was thinking he would probably know and understand what the requirements were. He was a fairly big manufacturer (not a dealer but the actual manufacturer-I was standing in his plant) so I was pretty confident he did know.

In all the times I have been stopped by a GW, they have never even looked at or asked about the plate-been stopped in FL, TX, and GA.

And as eveyone knows all the guys like me who run a custom boat don't even have a plate at all. The GW had to inspect my boat to issue the Hull ID number, and he obviously knew that I did not have a Coast Guard plate.

Not sure if that helps or not, but good luck.

http://dnr.wi.gov/org/es/enforcement/do ... ngregs.pdf

Here ya go. Page 16 in the pdf. Over powering and over capacity regulations in Wisconsin according to the vessels capacity plate.

WOW!!!!

From the Louisiana Department of Wildlife and Fisheries Boating Reg's:

OVERLOADING:
No watercraft shall be loaded with passengers or cargo beyond its safe carrying capacity taking into consideration weather and other existing operating conditions.

OVERPOWERING:
No watercraft shall be equipped with any motor or other propulsion machinery beyond its safe power capacity taking into consideration the type and construction of such watercraft and other existing operating conditions.

THANKS HELPS ME OUT ALOT. DON'T WANT TO GET IN TROUBLE THATS FOR SURE. HOW WOULD I FIND OUT THE SIZE LIMIT IF I DONT HAVE A PLATE ON THE BOAT

No plate - no limit

If you have some time on your hands, here is how the max hp is calculated by the CG.

http://files.dnr.state.mn.us/education_ ... ilders.pdf

read down, it is page 5 on I think.

i live in northern WI. never had or heard of anyone round here having a problem with the game wardens on this issue.

Give Horicon a try. Ya get checked at the landings quite a bit. I'm originally from northern wi too. Hardly ever get checked there.