License yes, license no? Boaters’ odyssey continues with Evinrude’s 40hp E-Tec

Evinrude’s 40-horsepower E-Tec engine is back at the center of debates after the events of this summer(CLICK HERE). In January 2019, the decree law that allowed owners of this outboard to sail without a license expired, and the current legislation, the text of which we quote, is back in effect.

WHEN IS A DRIVER’S LICENSE REQUIRED?

“For navigation in inland waters and for navigation in maritime waters within six miles from the coast, when an engine of more than 750 cc is installed on board the unit if carbureted or fuel-injected two-stroke, or 1,000 cc if carbureted or fuel-injected four-stroke outboard, or 1,300 cc if carbureted or fuel-injected four-stroke inboard, or 2,000 cc if non-supercharged diesel cycle, or 1,300 cc if supercharged diesel cycle, however, with power output greater than 30 kW or 40.8 hp“.

In a nutshell, marine engines up to 40 horsepower generally do not need a license, except for one. Evinrude’s E-Tec is the only 40-horsepower engine that requires a license because it is a two-stroke injection with a displacement of 864 cc. However, the problem, which affects only one model, involves thousands of boaters in Italy-there are about 6,000 owners of this type of outboard who find themselves in a limbo in which they do not understand whether or not they can sail without a license. According to the law as of now they cannot sail without having a license, but it is hoped that in the coming days the issue will be resolved with an extension to this summer’s decree law pending a final solution to the issue.

If the extension is not extended, owners of this outboard, Evinrude’s E-Tec, would be the only ones who would have to get a boat license (with costs and time attached) to drive a 40-horsepower or, a more expensive solution still, change engines.