"Fred" wrote in message
news:382591_26e17175a3e33d6e988a18820f6e549c@boati ngforumz.com...
Hello,

I'm new to boating and I've recently purchased a 1976 15ft
Thundercraft with a 50 H.P Merc outboard. It runs well with two
people but any more than that and the motor starts to strain. The
plaque on the back of the boat says that the vessel is rated to a
maximum of 70 horsepower. My question is whether or not it's ok to
exceed this amount.

I'm considering switching my motor to an 85 H.P Merc that I've found
for a really good price but I'm not sure if it is safe to do so.

Any feedback would be greatly appreciated.

Thanks,

Fred

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There's going to be a safety margin in the rating. Compare the weight of
the engines. Ultimately it will be up to you to be considerate of how you
operate the boat with a larger engine. If you're concerned about liability
remove the plate and claim ignorance if anyone asks about it. The boat is
30+ years old so who knows when it was taken off.