Would a 25/18 Mec jet be legal on a 20 Hp restricted lake?

[lucescoflathead]

I was talking to a friend of mine about my idea for a build. He sugested I build a lighter boat and use the 25/18 Mercury, that way I could use it on 20 hp restricted lakes. Is this legal? If the engine was marked 18 hp I wouldn't see a problem. The DEP is pretty tough at some of the lakes I fish.

Anyone have any experience with this? I may just need a new decal made. Thanks Todd

 

[Johnny]

that question should be directed to the agency
that writes the tickets for unlawful boating.

what will you tell Mr. Green Jeans when he pulls you over ??
oh, but the guys on TinBoats said it should be okay ??
your boat - your call

and you said yourself: The DEP is pretty tough at some of the lakes I fish.

 

[overboard]

I had contacted the PFBC awhile back about the same thing. My question was: if the boat is rated for 40hp, would a 60/40 jet be legal since it's 40 hp at the jet?
Their answer was: they go by the power head, and it would be up to the discretion of the officer if he wanted to issue a citation.
I doubt if I would have had a problem, but I didn't like that answer!
CALL THE PFBC: they may have changed their stance on that since then.

 

[lucescoflathead]

I spoke to the DEP who patrol Pymatuming. They advised me they go off the power head rating. So a 25/18 Mercury would not be legal on a 20 HP restricted lake.

Guess that helps me with a decesion on which boat to build.

 

[turbotodd]

That's what I hated about some of the manufacturers putting two different horsepower ratings on the cowling. 25/18. 115/80, etc. Have rigged a few Yamaha jets, all of them 40 hp powerheads but they carry a 30 sticker on them, for jet use only. it's considered a 30hp by the wardens who check. But that don't help those who have converted their original prop foots to jet foots; they still consider them the horsepower that they were originally, so a 25/18 would be a 25. Or in the one case where I owned a jet briefly, 115/80 is considered a 115.

 

[lucescoflathead]

Yep. That messed up my plans. If Mercury had put a 18 HP sticker on that engine, I wouldn't need 2 motors.

 

[Lil' Blue Rude]

I've got a 2000 johnson 25 jet from the factory that has 20hp stickers on the hood. The sticker that has the model number and serial number on the trim bracket does have j25**J** or what ever it is saying it's a Johnson 25hp short shaft manual start with a jet. So I guess it could go either way depending if they looked at that sticker but you could always peel it off then you'll still have your serial numbers on your block.

Looked on google a little after posting and seems like mercury an Johnson both had 25hp jet models that have 20hp stickers on the hood and some of the johnsons even had 18hp stickers.

 

[momule]

The State here in Missouri looks at the hp at the jet, not the powerhead. But it is possible with a 40/30 with a weight over 200 lbs to overload the transom on a small hull. My boat is a 1448 with a Yamaha 40/30 and it's rated for 25hp max. I had the transom rebuilt and made way stronger than original and two state guys looked it over, commented and told me to have a good day. I think it helped to have had the work done at Troutt and Sons and their sticker is on the boat. Bottom line though is that the Ranger is the guy that makes the call and you break the rules at your own risk.