Problem is with a horsepower regulation is proving horsepower. You can't use the advertised howsepower rating of an engine because a highly modified version would look exactly like the stock version. And testing horsepower ratings requires the use of an engine dyno to prove or disprove any given horsepower figure. i.e. the GFB with the highly modified 596 with balancing, blueprinting, internal engine work and dyno tested at 650+ howsepower will visually look the same as the 496 or 502 that is in a 26' cuddy or a 28' Express Cruiser. If its the noise factor, change the law to read "all exhaust must exit vessel below water surface".Face it, water is a damn good natural muffler. And if you look you will find there
are states that don't allow above water exhaust exits. NH has a law that exhaust can exit above
or below through the prop, but switchable exhaust (Captain's Choice, Quiet Call etc) is illegal. Yet several years ago at a
local boat show, a
local dealer had a beautiful 21' Bowrider
on display with exhaust cutouts factory installed. The salesman explained to me that because "it was factory installed" it was legal in NH. Knowing the law, I confronted the manager, and after much discussion, was
then told that a number of their inventory is sold outside of NH. Nothing like backpedaling. Kinda tough explainin to MP why theres no water and exhaust coming from your thru-transoms. And very expensive to change after the fact. Caveat Emptor.
