Just to make sure you have the correct boat, engines drives, etc that they are writing on and also if the survey said "x" was bad you better fix it. The insurance company has it in writing.

OP was flippin' through tons of boat ads today trying to find something irresistible (in my minds eye). At some point hours ago I came across a fountain listed with hot 1300hp, but 1400hp, kama drives and the whole "hot-roddin'" . That ad caused me pause and to wonder where does it end, when is enough, enough?

Now say this 2nd part again but imitating your spouse talking about your boat, "where does it end, when is enough, enough?"

...then I started practicing my response to that question

I did not bookmark that ad, but if I come across it again I'll post it.

A friend brought his 825hp 572s' to a poker run and drags this past weekend. He missed most of the drags mapping and re-mapping his efi while doing circles in my cove. I want to fly not wrench. Best of luck on your hunt. I'm envious!

Insurance tip: Decals! The difference between 525SC and 1450 is decals!

That would be nice but it is destined to not work out well when they take photos of your bilge, any identifying serial numbers, engines and drives and add them to your "file".

Until something happens and there is an audit done.
Lying about the insured boat is a great way to save a few bucks on your premium, and an even better way to nullify your coverage in the case of an accident

(I couldn't find a 'tongue in cheek' thingy)

Too much HP causes handling problems- most boat hulls are "tuned" to work in a range of HP and once you step outside handling problems can creep in.

Wether you use the performance or not your maintenance schedule is the higher HP schedule.
That means more top end and bottom end attention. and if you look at rebuild costs for 700HP and up engines the 500 hour price tag can be electrifying.
Lots of boaters here simply can't afford to properly maintain their rigs and run till something blows then patch it up and sell it.
These kinds of boats are lot like airplane in that the closer you get to overhaul they cheaper they are.

A good test of wether or not you should step in to find our what the rebuild is going to cost when its needed. Price out a top end job, and a full rebuild.
If you need to finance a rebuild- you're in over your head.

The other problem is high octane fuel- not paying for it. Thats the easy part.
Actually having it be available where you boat is the real problem.
If you actually go places here is the scenario Im talking about - if you are at the backend of a 100 mile lake and have 1/4 tank left and can only get 89 at a pump now what?
If you run around in circles and go nowhere it isn't a huge issue.

I'll second everything that UD said ^. Especially the part about maintaining like an airplane, if you periodically take the motor and drive apart and inspect the parts, its much much cheaper than waiting for something to fail, but most people don't want to do that. Buying a used boat, you better be ok with rebuilding the motor(s) and drive(s), because no compression check or water test is going to reveal everything and it may all break shortly after you take possession. If I were buying a used boat from someone I don't know, I would pull the motors and drives and have them rebuilt, Mercury power or not...but that's just me.

I don't mean to scare you out of a high hp boat, but just go in knowing that. Having a higher hp boat is nice because you can cruise around much faster without stressing out the motor. My boat with a 525 runs like 67mph WOT...I can cruise at 60-65 @ 4000rpm without stressing the motor at all...

Okay, now I get it. If I drop some ponies on the NT, my hull will get repaired faster.. Never put it together!!