Here is a conversation from the Shout Box on overpowering your boat above the manufactures recommendations on the HP Rating tag



Mike Rabb: 10 ft jon boat rated for 3 hp motor but want to use my 4 hp--is it OK. River is fast.

TMD: Can't tell you to break the law, sorry Mike

Paul_Moir: It depends where you are if it's the law. Canada some states no, some states yeah.

Kal: Is it the law? or recommendation! do boat companys have that kind of power to make laws?

Bax: there is a calculation, length/width/depth/type of ocnstruction, etc.. manufacturers are required to do that and tag it

Bax: DNR is the ones who enforce the regulation

TMD: Pretty sure its the law in Canada

Bax: law here too, just enforced by DNR

Merc_Nut: Under 10hp the boat wouldn;t require a capacity label or registration in Canada. For a 3 or 4 hp motor nobody would ever look.

Merc_Nut: That said, they do have laws for operating a boat carelessly and that would apply. Common sense prevails.

Merc_Nut: The operator however does require a licene to operate it, based on length and power capacity.

Kal: Lenght has nothing to do with it now in Canada anything with a motor needs a licenced operator and test is becoming harder in March

TMD: Harder, you mean more questions to help generate money for the govt?

Kal: The Government is stanardizing the test but they don't make much money from it but they will from the FINES LOL

TMD: So then the private guys make the money off the tests?

Paul_Moir: TMD: Definitely not illegal in Canada. There might be a provincial law in SK or AB since they have jurisdiction over lakes (Fed takes navigable waters in the BNA act). No such law in NS.

Paul_Moir: See if I can find a link (rather than read the entire regs and see it's not in there.)

Paul_Moir: Ah no luck. But I did a quick survey of the shipping act, the small vessel regulations and the small boat construction regs to be sure.

Paul_Moir: Even checked the restriction regs on the off chance.

TMD: Marine techs can be held accountable for overpowering or allowing over powering of boats if there is an accident.








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