Legal requirements for putting ski motor in Jon.

onthewater102 · Mar 26, 2015

my label doesn't specify outboard, i wonder if others do...that might be another way you could get around a law like the ones in CT if you're dealing with the same situation

Ranchero50 · Mar 26, 2015

onthewater102 said:
my label doesn't specify outboard, i wonder if others do...that might be another way you could get around a law like the ones in CT if you're dealing with the same situation

As said above, the label only reflects how the hull was originally intended to be sold and certified by the manufacturer. This really doesn't have to become a pissing contest.

CedarRiverScooter · Mar 26, 2015

I got the registration on mine changed to be 'inboard' 80HP. I asked them to label it 'homemade' but the lady didn't want to do that (which was fine with me).

Again, I talked directly with US Coast Guard & Iowa DNR. What we are building is just fine with them.

The insurance company didn't balk at my boat at all. I sent pictures & told them about the repower. By the way, the ins was only $24 per year (I have an other boat too).

amk · Mar 26, 2015

Hp rating do vary it can change if you go from tiller to console. Sure am glad I don't live in ct or ny or any of the retard states mentioned with bogus laws. As I said before if airboats are legal in your state you are just fine. And if you live in a tiny liberal state a trolling motor is all you need anyway.

PSG-1 · Mar 27, 2015

As far as your insurance PSG-1, did you register the boat as home-made? If you did I'd be much more comfortable agreeing with your conclusion that you're ok based on their underwriting, or perhaps you don't live in the Socialist Republic of Connectistan where his majesty the dingbat Dannel Malloy tries to interfere and direct your every move, and your state has provisions for you to follow to make these changes... Otherwise beware, all the insurance company really cares about up front is signing you up with a policy and collecting your money. Somewhere in their litany of policies and paperwork will be provisions to protect them, either a disclaimer regarding modifications or some sort of assertive statement on your part that you agree to abide by the laws regs etc. that apply to the usage of the boat in your state.

In the event of a major claim their bloodsuckers (lawyers) will find that you heavily modified the boat and at best (unless you actually read through all that legal CYA paperwork they threw your way when you signed up) you'll be without coverage until you fight it out in court with them, more likely you'll be denied.

My DNR registration still lists my boat as 'outboard propulsion' even though I filled out the form as an inboard jet. HP is not specified, as they do not ask for that info. However, on my insurance forms, it is listed as a 160HP inboard jet. Because it is a modified boat, I had to get a marine survey, complete with pictures of everything, before they would insure it.

Although the Coast Guard has never stopped me and inspected my boat, DNR has seen it plenty of times....they've even ridden on board. Only thing they've said is that they wish the department had a jet boat for doing shellfish patrols, due to its ability to access those areas that are off-limits to outboards at low tide.

As for the event of a major claim...well, I hope it never comes to that, because win or lose, it's still a major inconvenience. If we have to battle it out in court, I've saved every piece of paperwork pertaining to the insurance, and have a good lawyer who will take them to the mat.

onthewater102 · Mar 27, 2015

If they went to the length of surveying your boat with pictures I'd bet you're safe.

I'm an accountant, and the only time I ever have to help someone with an insurance claim issue is when they've been dicked over by the insurance company and they have a huge loss they're having to take on their return. Usually the back story involves the claim getting denied for some technicality buried in the paperwork after the fact where they haven't heard from the adjuster for a while and finally they're told they didn't have the proper coverage or they were missing a rider on the policy or something.