Making Your Own Capacity Plate and Altering the Maximum Power

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Author Topic:   Making Your Own Capacity Plate and Altering the Maximum Power

Marsh posted 04-21-2014 05:17 PM ET (US)
Sure would be nice to have a capacity plate that listed maximum power as 115-HP instead of 90-HP for my 170 Montauk. I wonder how much artistic and editorial license there is if one seeks a replacement capacity plate? Who has final say on the wording for a replacement plate?
EJO posted 04-21-2014 07:02 PM ET (US)
[I deleted this reply because I thouhgt it was only intended to be provocative rather than informative.--jimh]
jimh posted 04-22-2014 09:49 AM ET (US)
I think you can put any capacity plate you want on your boat, but it would be fraudulent to make one that included the boat manufacturer's name on the made-up plate.
AaronMN posted 04-22-2014 10:03 AM ET (US)
I concur with Jim's opinion.
I only have anecdotal evidence of this being done, but I have heard of others who have restored and modified their boat enough to qualify as a "custom" boat. This has enabled them to change the capacity and HP ratings of the boat.
I cannot verify the accuracy of this, but it may be worth looking into.
2manyboats posted 04-22-2014 10:46 AM ET (US)
If the new plate is just to put a larger motor on your boat, then you could just do it. However most outboard motor dealers will not install motor that goes over the stated hp capacity, so you might have to do the swap yourself. If it is to get insurance, some insurance companies will insure a slightly overpowered boat so check with your agent. Some folks on this site have said local water law enforcement check for hp, so in that case you could just ask the local enforcement agencies about their policies.
Over the years I have had a few overpowered boats and I always did the install myself, never tried to get insurance and was never questioned by law enforcement. So i might not be the best one to give advice.
Teak Oil posted 04-22-2014 11:09 AM ET (US)
My Whaler is overpowered. It is frustrating because Whaler used such conservative figures for their capacity plates. I am sure it costs them in sales on the new models under 20 feet in length.
The 170 is at a competitive disadvantage when for thousands less a competing boat can be purchased with a 115 or more and actually deliver decent performance. Many owners have put 115s on the 170 hull and guess what, none have sank to my knowledge or flipped over backwards.
I made sure my insurance company knew about the new motor and there was no problem.
I would remove the plate, but forging a false one may cause you some issues. I highly doubt a cop doing a check on a Sunday afternoon is going to send you home for a missing capacity plate if the rest of your boat is in good order
Binkster posted 04-22-2014 01:17 PM ET (US)
Capasity plates were mandated in 1971. Another reason to own an antique.
rich
blacksmithdog posted 04-23-2014 08:10 AM ET (US)
Teak Oil:
I'd love to replace my 90hp Merc with one of the new, lighter 115hp Yamahas when the time is right. Did you have any issues with the dealer hanging it on the stern from a liability stand point? I had a 1976 Montauk with a 115 Merc tower of power on it. When the Merc finally quit I went to the dealer to buy a new engine, and he refused to put another 115 on it, and I had to get a 90.
EJO posted 04-23-2014 12:44 PM ET (US)
Yes, it was a provoking comment, and sorry. Thanks for removing it.
Teak Oil posted 04-23-2014 07:40 PM ET (US)
The dealer that did my installation had no issues with hanging the motor on the boat. He has worked on several Whaler repowers in the past (including JimH and Buckda) and felt confident that the hull could handle the power.
One dealer in my hometown said he would not do it, but I was not really interested in having them do it anyways since they only sell small fishing boats and do not deal with the big motors very often.
Search around and you should be able to find one. I would have hung the motor myself if I had to, I have a hoist in my barn that can handle the weight of a motor without a problem.

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Author	Topic: Making Your Own Capacity Plate and Altering the Maximum Power
Marsh	posted 04-21-2014 05:17 PM ET (US) Sure would be nice to have a capacity plate that listed maximum power as 115-HP instead of 90-HP for my 170 Montauk. I wonder how much artistic and editorial license there is if one seeks a replacement capacity plate? Who has final say on the wording for a replacement plate?
EJO	posted 04-21-2014 07:02 PM ET (US) [I deleted this reply because I thouhgt it was only intended to be provocative rather than informative.--jimh]
jimh	posted 04-22-2014 09:49 AM ET (US) I think you can put any capacity plate you want on your boat, but it would be fraudulent to make one that included the boat manufacturer's name on the made-up plate.
AaronMN	posted 04-22-2014 10:03 AM ET (US) I concur with Jim's opinion. I only have anecdotal evidence of this being done, but I have heard of others who have restored and modified their boat enough to qualify as a "custom" boat. This has enabled them to change the capacity and HP ratings of the boat. I cannot verify the accuracy of this, but it may be worth looking into.
2manyboats	posted 04-22-2014 10:46 AM ET (US) If the new plate is just to put a larger motor on your boat, then you could just do it. However most outboard motor dealers will not install motor that goes over the stated hp capacity, so you might have to do the swap yourself. If it is to get insurance, some insurance companies will insure a slightly overpowered boat so check with your agent. Some folks on this site have said local water law enforcement check for hp, so in that case you could just ask the local enforcement agencies about their policies. Over the years I have had a few overpowered boats and I always did the install myself, never tried to get insurance and was never questioned by law enforcement. So i might not be the best one to give advice.
Teak Oil	posted 04-22-2014 11:09 AM ET (US) My Whaler is overpowered. It is frustrating because Whaler used such conservative figures for their capacity plates. I am sure it costs them in sales on the new models under 20 feet in length. The 170 is at a competitive disadvantage when for thousands less a competing boat can be purchased with a 115 or more and actually deliver decent performance. Many owners have put 115s on the 170 hull and guess what, none have sank to my knowledge or flipped over backwards. I made sure my insurance company knew about the new motor and there was no problem. I would remove the plate, but forging a false one may cause you some issues. I highly doubt a cop doing a check on a Sunday afternoon is going to send you home for a missing capacity plate if the rest of your boat is in good order
Binkster	posted 04-22-2014 01:17 PM ET (US) Capasity plates were mandated in 1971. Another reason to own an antique. rich
blacksmithdog	posted 04-23-2014 08:10 AM ET (US) Teak Oil: I'd love to replace my 90hp Merc with one of the new, lighter 115hp Yamahas when the time is right. Did you have any issues with the dealer hanging it on the stern from a liability stand point? I had a 1976 Montauk with a 115 Merc tower of power on it. When the Merc finally quit I went to the dealer to buy a new engine, and he refused to put another 115 on it, and I had to get a 90.
EJO	posted 04-23-2014 12:44 PM ET (US) Yes, it was a provoking comment, and sorry. Thanks for removing it.
Teak Oil	posted 04-23-2014 07:40 PM ET (US) The dealer that did my installation had no issues with hanging the motor on the boat. He has worked on several Whaler repowers in the past (including JimH and Buckda) and felt confident that the hull could handle the power. One dealer in my hometown said he would not do it, but I was not really interested in having them do it anyways since they only sell small fishing boats and do not deal with the big motors very often. Search around and you should be able to find one. I would have hung the motor myself if I had to, I have a hoist in my barn that can handle the weight of a motor without a problem.