Posts: 32886
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Not true. Manufacturers have nothing to say about it.
It's not legal to exceed the USCG formula HP rating on any tiller, and there is no rating altered for power tiller steering...yet. An 18' tiller boat will not legally rate higher because of hydraulic steering, for a couple reasons according to the USCG. The tiller operator is in a position where good vision past passengers is a problem; tillers can be more dangerous to run at high speed because of the faster left/right steering response, the steering test required is tougher/near impossible to pass, etc.
The formula for console steering isn't the same as the formula for tiller, obviously. One can find the math on the USCG Backyard boat builder website, it's in there somewhere. It takes a compliance specialist to rate a boat legally, however, and it's somewhat complicated.
The USCG doesn't enforce a rating for boats over 20', tiller or console. That's why you see 300 HP motors on 21' boats and 250 Racing engines on 20'1" models. Technically speaking, a 20' plus boat is considered a 'ship'. |
