Small Craft - Big Engines

[cajucito]

Have a look around any marina. You will see smaller and smaller monohull craft (excluding Ribs) with bigger and bigger engines. When is there going to be regulation on this?. In Dublin Bay recently a 19 ft boat with a big engine capsized and 6 crew had a very lucky escape. The modern 4 stroke engine is very heavy and when fitted to a small narrow high sided monohull craft such as Warriors presents a lethal capsize danger. The weight of the engine is high up on the boat and these small craft are widely used for leisure fishing where the fishermen have to stand up to fish. A broadside wave will cause all the standing fisherman to stumble to one side. Combined with the large weight of the oversized 4 stroke engine which now has swing momentum capsizes the boat. I have seen at 18 ft Warrior with a 100Hp outboard capsize on its mooring after taking on water. Engine sellers should be forced to get a stability cert after fitting new outboard engines where the weight to hull length or beam is outside certain parameters.

[jgbrown]

It tells you on the plate what the boat is rated for weight and horsepower?
Surely beyond that set of parameters an owner should use a little caution.

If you are required to get a certification for each boat engine pair, it will not be inexpensive.

[ranger58sb]

Here, the certification plate (for boats that have 'em) now specifies both max horsepower and max engine weight.

-Chris

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by cajucito

er. Engine sellers should be forced to get a stability cert after fitting new outboard engines where the weight to hull length or beam is outside certain parameters.

Jesus we have enough red tape with letting Brussels at that one. Boaters don't neccessarily by boats and engines as pairs anyway. An engine seller has no responsibility for what you do with his engine, no more then the boat manufacturer has control over what you put on the transom.

Perhaps banning fishermen from standing up might be better
Dave

[valhalla360]

Only 100hp on an 18'er?

Here in the states (I know we are horrible abusers of the environment) an 18'er will start arond 150hp and most are in the 200-250hp range.

The motor size by itself doesn't tell us much about sea worthyness.

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by cajucito

Have a look around any marina. You will see smaller and smaller monohull craft (excluding Ribs) with bigger and bigger engines. When is there going to be regulation on this?. In Dublin Bay recently a 19 ft boat with a big engine capsized and 6 crew had a very lucky escape. The modern 4 stroke engine is very heavy and when fitted to a small narrow high sided monohull craft such as Warriors presents a lethal capsize danger. The weight of the engine is high up on the boat and these small craft are widely used for leisure fishing where the fishermen have to stand up to fish. A broadside wave will cause all the standing fisherman to stumble to one side. Combined with the large weight of the oversized 4 stroke engine which now has swing momentum capsizes the boat. I have seen at 18 ft Warrior with a 100Hp outboard capsize on its mooring after taking on water. Engine sellers should be forced to get a stability cert after fitting new outboard engines where the weight to hull length or beam is outside certain parameters.

Warriors are rated for upto 150 hp , and plated as such , what's your problem

Dave

[atoll]

Originally Posted by cajucito

Have a look around any marina. You will see smaller and smaller monohull craft (excluding Ribs) with bigger and bigger engines. When is there going to be regulation on this?. In Dublin Bay recently a 19 ft boat with a big engine capsized and 6 crew had a very lucky escape. The modern 4 stroke engine is very heavy and when fitted to a small narrow high sided monohull craft such as Warriors presents a lethal capsize danger. The weight of the engine is high up on the boat and these small craft are widely used for leisure fishing where the fishermen have to stand up to fish. A broadside wave will cause all the standing fisherman to stumble to one side. Combined with the large weight of the oversized 4 stroke engine which now has swing momentum capsizes the boat. I have seen at 18 ft Warrior with a 100Hp outboard capsize on its mooring after taking on water. Engine sellers should be forced to get a stability cert after fitting new outboard engines where the weight to hull length or beam is outside certain parameters.

+1 darwin awards should govern engine size,not brussels!
too many people on the planet anyway

[goboatingnow]

Originally Posted by atoll

+1 darwin awards should govern engine size,not brussels!
too many people on the planet anyway

trouble is the pests seem to always get saved…..

dave

[cajucito]

Thanks for all the comments. Having thought about it Regulation just adds cost paperwork and complexity usually without having any desired effect. The truth is that some unsuspecting boaters are going to sea in very unstable craft. Some small craft such as 18 footers have good wide beam hulls and can take a large engine but many are totally unsuitable for anything over 50HP

[ausaviator]

I have an 18.5ft Zodiac. It would barely plane with only a 50 on it! It's rated for 130hp.