Hours on Boat Motor Question

Chromaflage · 01-30-2004, 09:39 PM

Naturally, when a used boat is offered for sale, mileage is not applicable. Therefore, the next best measure to use to indicate wear and useage is obviously the number of hours. I realize that without a chronometer, it's virtually impossible to "know" how many hours are on a motor.

My question here: How many hours is too many? Typically, with used cars, if the car has over 100,000 miles on it...the soundness of the vehicle is likely in question. I've seen boats advertised, with lets say 300 hours. Roughly, if the average operation speed of that boat is 30 miles per hour. Is it accurate to say that the amount of use on this motor is equivalent to 9000 miles on a car? At what point, in number hours, would you consider to be excessive, causing you to not consider a purchase?

Thanks,

ORS

[ 01-30-2004, 10:40 PM: Message edited by: OregonRedside ]

Silver Hilton · 01-30-2004, 09:56 PM

I saw a number like 1500 hours as being the useful life of a large two stroke motor. I took it to mean the equivalent of 150,000 miles on a car, the age at which you can expect a lot of stuff to start happening.

Lepper · 01-30-2004, 10:21 PM

Remember with cars it varies greatly on brans!!

Have had 2 toyotaas.. both of the early 80's vintage.. one we sold off at 290,000k with NO major breakdowns. Still running solid..

Another I have a truck that has 240,000k still going solid..

I'd imagine outboards probably are similar.. depending on what kind you get and the care.. is how long it will last.

Chromaflage · 01-30-2004, 10:32 PM

I was just using the cars as an example. Generally speaking, the resale value tends to significantly decrease at 100,000 miles, regardless of make. I'm looking for what would be the equivalent for boats. I realize outboards will be different than inboards, stern drives, etc.

ORS

Silver Hilton · 01-30-2004, 11:25 PM

500 hours would be my point.

FishinMission · 01-31-2004, 05:30 AM

I think the care and maintenance is a primary concern versus hours...Works for anything mechanical. Low hours won't mean squat if it's not maintained properly. Look for service records.

Mark

Smj · 01-31-2004, 08:01 AM

I don't think the hours on the motor are as important as the "condition" of the motor. If your looking to buy a motor and the hour meter says 1000 hours, I would have the motor tested.

A compression/comparison check and a check of the lower end gears (fairly easy for a home mech. to do), worn carbs (throttle plates)does it idle smoothly, pull the heads and check for excesive carbon/piston movement/corrosion and a compression leakdown test. Another issue would be the sound of the moter as it covers the RPM spectrum (nuts and bolts in a coffee can sound or not).

If the motor could pass these tests, even though it had 1000 hours on it, I would consider that this motor would go for another 1000 hours, with proper care.

Ask the Boat Doc!

Smj

Chromaflage · 01-31-2004, 08:34 AM

I just notice that usually when a boat or motor is for sale, one of the first questions asked is "how many hours are on it?" I guess this would be a starting point. My uncle has a '59 Evenrude 35 HP - who knows how many hours on that thing - it purrs like a kitten.

thanks all for input.

ORS

Day Late · 01-31-2004, 11:16 PM

Just look for the one that was only used by a little old lady on Saturdays during the summer in freshwater for still fishing only! Ton of them out there! :grin:

Day Late

Thumper · 01-31-2004, 11:40 PM

It's uphill all the way with a boat motor. But then again, I sold my old '86 Merc 200 after many years of use and no problems, but that motor never went over 4500 RPM either. How the motor is used is the question.

Chrome Bumper · 02-02-2004, 08:35 AM

We run each of our boats 5000 hours a year and they are 20 years old. We will repower in three years. Depends on service conditions and maintenance. 500- 1000 hours for sportboats with good maintenance, inside storage and not a lot of salt is a good number. Of course you can destroy an engine in a heartbeat. Probably your average IO or outboard would be getting shakey after 2000 hours no matter how good the routine maintenence. Merc makes a diesel that might go a little longer.

Rip'N'Lips · 02-02-2004, 12:06 PM

Chrome-

You may want to check your math unless you are running your boat engine 14 hours a day...

I figure that a guide like Johnson will put over 750 hours on their boat a year, but much of that is kicker time.

I would take 250 hours as my starting point for a "used" engine. The thing with boats is, if you look long enough you will always find one that someone bought and never used. That's the one you want...

Rip'N'Lips

TundraIII · 02-02-2004, 01:02 PM

Geez, I guess my boats ready for **** heep. I knew I shoulda traded it in before I hit 250 hrs. :grin: . I average less than 60 hrs per year on my big motor and I make sure it gets flushed and tune ups every spring and I'm supposed to believe that my 5 yr old boat with under 300 hrs is ripe for mechanical problems and not worthy of consideration? We're all better off leaving the boat in the driveway
rather than risk that kind of depreciation and future marketablility. I think the boat has to be considered in its entirety. Hows the hull look? Has the boat been abused in any way? What options are included in the boat? Does the boat fit my needs and are the hours reasonable for the year of the boat.

CAPT KUJO · 02-02-2004, 07:16 PM

If you're looking at a newer Merc Motor (1999-to present) They have a built in computer and If you have the "module" and "chip" for that year you can tell the hours as well as the hours at each RPM range. ONly thing is you can also clear and reset the history.

CAPT KUJO