Capacity Plates

[wlaur]

I just picked up a 1970 Larson Tri Hull. The capacity plate says 4 person capacity with 35hp max. There is a 85hp Johnson V4 motor on it. Serial number reveals motor is a 1979. The boat runs fine. 85hp is perfect for it. Someone told me insurance is void if I run it, since capacity plate says 35hp is max. What's up with all of this..Why did the previous owners put an 85hp if they were not allowed to?? Coast Guard checked it out..no problem with them. A little confused with conflicting info

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Capacity Plates

is this a real small boat?pictures?are you positive its not 135hp max ?

 

[d.boat]

Re: Capacity Plates

is this a real small boat?pictures?are you positive its not 135hp max ?

or 85 with the "8" looking like a "3"?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Capacity Plates

There is nothing wrong "theoretically" in many states with overpowering a boat. The issue involves personal "liability" should you be involved in an incident involving personal injury or property damage. The attorneys have a well known response to this scenario and it goes like this: "The operator had knowledge or should have known that operating this overpowered boat could cause an accident." Then there is the issue of does your insurance company know you have an overpowered boat. If not, they will likely deny a claim or refuse coverage. If you don't have a lot of personal possesions then go ahead and run the boat as is. If someone sues you they can't get blood from a turnip. If you do happen to be mainstream America with a house, cars, cash, stocks, bonds, and other valuable stuff, you are one incident away from having it belong to someone else. You weigh the risk.

 

[JB]

Re: Capacity Plates

The maker of the boat determined that it would be unsafe with more than the rated HP. A 4 person capacity seems small for a boat rated for any more than 35HP.

You need to verify the actual rating and then make any changes needed to comply.

Running a small boat with over twice the rated HP is asking for an early grave.. . .if they recover your body.

 

[Hawk Eyes]

Re: Capacity Plates

The maker of the boat determined that it would be unsafe with more than the rated HP. A 4 person capacity seems small for a boat rated for any more than 35HP.

You need to verify the actual rating and then make any changes needed to comply.

Running a small boat with over twice the rated HP is asking for an early grave.. . .if they recover your body.

I can't agree more. There's a reason its marked for 35HP.

 

[wlaur]

Re: Capacity Plates

Thank you to all for the replies to my original thread. I don't have pictures yet, but will get some soon. Just picked the boat up not too long ago. Anyway, the boat is a 15' Larson Tri Hull. If I am not mistaken, the boat originally came with a 50hp motor brand new then the owner put the 85hp on it. They ran it like this for over 30 years. Therefore, even the original 50hp motor that the dealer sold seems to be in conflict with the plate on the front. I have seen other boats like this with even bigger motors (90hp , etc) I am just somewhat suspect about the plate. I am wondering if the front interior was replaced from another boat. I checked the plate again and and it says 30 OBC where it says HP. What does the OBC mean?

It is a boat capable of handling the 85hp. It is a boat with good integrity. I have even seen some boats on here of a similar model with the same or higher hp on their boats. Just very puzzled about the capacity plate. I really appreciated the legal point that Silvertip made. Just wish I had more info to go on

 

[tx1961whaler]

Re: Capacity Plates

A 15 foot Larson trihull should be rated higher than that. I've had similar 15 footers rated at least 50 HP and none were less. Heck, my little Whaler is rated for 40, at least the newer ones that were rated were rated 40.

 

[d.boat]

Re: Capacity Plates

go out and take photos of the boat, and a clear photo of the capacity plate and post them here.

 

[wlaur]

Re: Capacity Plates





Here is a picture of my boat with a close up of the capacity plate..as you can see it shows 30 OBC Max HP..I did some research and found a formula to calculate maximum horsepower for Outboard. Length of boat times maximum width at widest point of the stern. I took 15' x 6' the total of 90 matches up to max hp of 80 on the OBC horsepower chart. Makes me feel alot better about having this 85hp Johnson on it.

 

[JB]

Re: Capacity Plates

Well, you have been led to water. It is up to you to drink or not.

 

[cougar1985]

Re: Capacity Plates

doesnt look kosher to me .i had a boat almost exactly the same and it was rated 75 hp!are you sure that plate isnt a add on for some odd reason?how about contacting larson?still in bussiness?

 

[ezmobee]

Re: Capacity Plates

In my opinion, that capacity plate is completely incorrect for that boat. If not the HP rating, the only 4 person rating is a dead giveaway. That boat should be rated for 85/90 I would think.

 

[wlaur]

Re: Capacity Plates

Thanks for the replies. Cougar, I tried contacting Larson. They are still in business, but they are not much help for the older vintage boats. Thanks also for the reply to ezmobee..i agree that this plate doesnt make sense. I recently learned that you can apply for a new capacity plate..i may do just that. Again, thanks to all for sharing your opionions and helping me trying to figure out this bizarre capacity plate.

Happy boating!!

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Capacity Plates

Thanks for the replies. Cougar, I tried contacting Larson. They are still in business, but they are not much help for the older vintage boats. Thanks also for the reply to ezmobee..i agree that this plate doesnt make sense. I recently learned that you can apply for a new capacity plate..i may do just that. Again, thanks to all for sharing your opionions and helping me trying to figure out this bizarre capacity plate.

Happy boating!!

My daughter had a similar problem back in the 70's with a Crestliner about the same size as yours. The hp was in the ballpark but was only plated for 4 persons. She applied and received a new plate which allowed 6 persons. The form you need (PFBC 702 5/10) can be downloaded from the Pennsylvania Fish & Boat Commission website. That model number on your present capacity plate may be wrong also. For a good percentage of the older boat models they already have the correct information on file. If not you will be issued a new plate under the calculation method.

 

[wlaur]

Re: Capacity Plates

dwco...thank you for the reference of the form to use. I am definetly going to apply for a more realistic plate. Thanks again

 

[d.boat]

Re: Capacity Plates

dwco...thank you for the reference of the form to use. I am definetly going to apply for a more realistic plate. Thanks again

Please post back with details after you work through the process. I'm sure I'm not the only one who (a) thinks that capacity plate is odd and (b) would like to know if the application worked out and how exactly you did it.

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Capacity Plates

dwco...thank you for the reference of the form to use. I am definetly going to apply for a more realistic plate. Thanks again

Here is the site for that form. May save you some time looking for it.

http://fishandboat.com/images/pages/forms/pfbc702capacity.pdf

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: Capacity Plates

In this case I suspect the plate is from another boat, as others said.

However I have a 17' Key West DC that my dad bought new--it is rated for 4 people. Meanwhile my 19' Carolina Skiff is rated for 10'--does that mean I can get the 6 extra people in the 2 extra feet?
The KW is a flats boat with low freeboard, so that's why. I don't recall the max HP but it has a 70 that is within the limits.

 

[wlaur]

Re: Capacity Plates

Application sent in...will post when I get a reply (and hopefully new plate) from the State of PA. We'll see how long they take..stay tuned