(A) The horsepower capacity of an outboard watercraft, excepting canoes or pontoon craft, shall be determined by either of the following methods.
(1) (a) The horsepower capacity of an outboard watercraft, other than a canoe, and except one dependent solely upon the buoyancy of pontoons or similar flotation devices, shall not exceed the value given by the boat horsepower table in Figure 1.
(b) The horsepower capacity of an outboard watercraft, other than a canoe, and dependent solely upon the buoyancy of pontoons or similar flotation devices shall not exceed the value given by multiplying the cubic feet of flotation in the pontoons by the pontoon length in feet and dividing by the pontoon diameter in inches.
(c) If the pontoons are not circular in cross-section, the diameter of the largest circle that can be inscribed in the pontoon shall be used.
(2) By reference to a manufacturer’s capacity plate installed in a watercraft, if manufactured or offered for original sale in the state on or after 1-1-1968, or in accordance with standards approved by the state’s Waterways Commission or its successor, or the horsepower capacity recommended by the livery operator, whichever is the lesser.
FIGURE 1 Boat Horsepower Table | ||
Multiply overall length ________ (decimal ft.) × stern width ________ (decimal ft.) = Factor ________ (nearest whole number) | ||
Remote steering and 20” or equivalent | No remote steering or transom less than 20” or equivalent | |
Factor is under 40, 40-45, 46- 49, 50-53, 54-57 | Over 57 | Over 57 |
H.P. Cap is 5, 10, 15, 20, 25 | (2 × Factor) - 90 | (3/4 Factor) - 20 |
H.P. Cap = ________ (raise to even 5 h.p. increment) | ||
(Prior Code, § 21.5-166)
(B) The horsepower capacity for canoes shall be determined by the following table, or by the horsepower capacity recommended by the livery operator, whichever is the lesser.
For canoes under 15 feet in length | 4 horsepower |
For canoes under 15 to 18 feet in length | 5 horsepower |
For canoes over 18 feet in length | 8 horsepower |
(Prior Code, § 21.5-167)
(Ord. 1048, passed 5-18-1998)