Yep, today they are restricted down to 5 W however older samples had 25 W what was actual in Europe some decades ago and still in the rank.
About the boat - my marine Cobra is also 5W but the local rules says handhelds if 5 W or less have yearly pay about 2 cents therefore inspectorate says - dont bother, we never will penalize because of unpaid 2 cents. Other thing is stationary radio where standard allows 25 W. And strange thing, I bought my marine stationary straight from USA, so.... how then it may have restricted power?? More probably that You have some kind of exemption for marine applications, maybe. The picture is Roja seaport, mine stays most at the right.

 

Are you sure it's not 5W max? I haven't bought any CB radios in recent years, but I believe all of my old ones were 5W. There are surely different rules for marine bands, but the handheld I use for my boat is 6W.

Yes, I am sure.

FCC Regulations per CFR Part 95, Subparagraph D
Citizens Brand Radio Service

§ 95.967 CBRS transmitter power limits.

Each CBRS transmitter type must be designed such that the transmitter power can not exceed the following limits:

(a) When transmitting amplitude modulated (AM) voice signals or frequency modulated (FM) voice signals, the mean carrier power must not exceed 4 Watts.
(b) When transmitting single sideband (SSB) voice signals, the peak envelope power must not exceed 12 Watts.

 

More probably that You have some kind of exemption for marine applications, maybe.

I understand him to mean in the VHF Marine Band, not the HF Citizens Band.

CFR Title 47, Subchapter D, Part 80, Subpart E, 80.215(e) limits ship stations in the VHF band marine channels to 25W.