One of the places I boat has a restriction of 15HP. What is the biggest engine that a warden not familiar with mud motors would believe is actually a 15 if it is rebadged as such?

Game Warden's use these thing everywhere.They did not get there badges for being stupid.

Small block vtwin vanguards were made down to 14hp. Different block, heads, guts, etc but as far as I know it has the exact same engine cover with a different sticker...

Shoot, I had a warden (conservation police officer in VA) tell another warden at the ramp that I had a Navy SEAL motor that was surplus. Didn't know SEAL 6 was running PD's. Watched a USFWS agent look for the pull rope on a remote 90 Yammie for 5 minutes.

I had a state GW put me in cuffs because I had 5 boxes of hevi-shot that he swore was lead because they wernt red.Shoulda seen the look on his face when his superior had to come and get him stratght.

If your from Texas, all boat motors have to be titled with Texas Parks and Wildlife. The game wardens could call in the TX registration numbers to see what the computer has the motor rated at. If your State doesn't require titled or registered motors, then I don't think they can actually tell the motor is a 15hp or 20hp. If decals are taken off the motor, it might raise suspicion. If the motor looks bigger than normal, it'll raise suspicion. They might interrogate if there is suspicion. Running a 16hp+ is probably a misdeameanor anyway.

Get you a 13hp Honda or a 14HP Van an EVT it.

I didn't know you was 'spose too regerster yore engine with the State of Texas I never have !! Gots to git the BoatHull ever two years fo 20 dollas ...... but I ain't never done the engine !!!


I mites be an outlaw !!!! "Outlaws Jessy Brooks"

Sounds good !!!!

in Texas, any motor that hangs on the back of a boat that runs on gasoline/diesel has to be titled. When you do a number lookup, it doesnt say what hp is on the boat.

Your kidding about a felony right? Are you from TX. If so then this might help you, and I'm just trying to help you out so don't take it the wrong way. If the warden wants to be a real jackass he'll get you for not having a title on your motor (By looking up the serial number on your motor, guaranteed). Now, for 8yrs I've never been asked whether my motor has been titled or not (But, where I go there's no hp rating restrictions). If they don't like what they see, since the hp rating should be less than 16hp in your area and the motor might look a bit oversized then they'll make it hard for you and issue a citation. Always plead the innocent 'sh*t I didn't know there was a hp restriction, and I didn't know the motor had to be titled.' I assume you go to the same area so usually it's the same 2-3 wardens patrolling an area. If caught you will not be able to use that motor ever again till it's titled and the more you get caught by the warden the higher the penalty since you already been caught and they knew you were aware of the restrictions. Maybe from a Class C misdeameanor to a Class B, and then if caught again, a class A, and so on. The reason for this is because now you've had a history and you hadn't learned your lesson yet, so the fine goes up. Kinda like 3 strikes and your out type of deal.

NOW, say you do have a Title now and you have a motor above 15hp. On my outboard title it shows a 115hp rating followed by the manufacturer, year, and so on. I would think that if the warden gets the serial number off your mud motor and sends it too the chick behind the computer at the TPWD office it will show the hp rating of the motor. If he finds that it's above 15hp he'll issue you a citation on the spot and everytime your caught after that, you'll have a history and misdeameanors C, B, A......ect will take place depending how many times you get caught after that (Aside from all this you might get lucky and may never get caught, but I think if there's a restriction they're gonna be tight wads about it). Now it's hard, because if you risk all this you've just spent $$$ for something that you can't use. I would be safe and just get the 15hp. By the way I don't have a title on my mud motor and never have been asked by the wardens, but there's no reason for them to ask since there isn't a hp restriction; however, if they do ask then I'll be getting a citation (I called TPWD to check the serial number on my mud motor to see if it had been stolen one time, so this is how I know about Tx outboard titles). I personally think they don't check much because there's many people that don't have outboards titled.

Just remember one last thing, they have a hp restriction there for a reason. If it wasn't a big deal you wouldn't be asking. Those wardens are not that dumb. Even if they don't know about those motors they will run the serial number on it (not the boat registration tx numbers). If they can't locate a name to that serial number it's not titled and your risking a citation. All mud motors should have a serial number on it. I believe a homemade outboard motor will also have a serial number issued to it by TPWD.

Now if your not from Tx all this that I just said absolutely means nothing. But I hope all you Tx boys enjoyed this write up.

Also keep this in mind --

If you are running the "only mud motor that they have ever seen," then you will be drawing a LOT of attention to yourself. Other hunters and wardens will want to see the new-fangled device for no other reason than curiosity. Much more so than every other Joe Hunter running Pappy's ol' 9.9 Johnson...

Plus, they aren't the stealthiest of propulsion devices either...

The regulations are set there for a reason and apply to everyone. Obama may be the President, but that doesn't mean that the rules don't apply to you.

i know for a fact, that on the coast closer to LA, serial numbers on motors get checked alot more than people think these days.. I know more than a few got popped last year on stolen outboards..