Question about used boats and hours.

[texas xtreme]

I found a 2003 Mastercraft 20' with 700 hours is that alot? Here is a link to the add http://austin.craigslist.org/boa/1755777799.html

 

[JZammetti]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

This article suggests recreational boater use their boats 30 to 40 hours per season http://www.eboatloans.com/loan.php. This article suggests 60 hours per year http://ezinearticles.com/?To-Buy-a-New-or-Used-Boat?&id=558092. Finally this one suggests 100 hours per season http://www.boatdesign.net/forums/inboards/how-many-hours-too-many-13179.html So your boat you are looking at is a 7 years old @ 700 hours. So this one falls in article suggestion of 100 hours per season, so it is possible it has normal wear and tear. I'd look more at the maintenance history.

Good Luck!

 

[dwco5051]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

There are two boats similar to that one that use my home lake. The owners of both are serious skiers and estimating from how many days a month I see them out they probably put on about 125 to 150 hrs a year up here where are season is only about 4 months long. It seems to me that this boat has not been used a lot down south with the chance for a much longer season. The main queston in buying a used boat is how well it has been maintened. Ask the owner if they have the service records or a list of what has been done to it.

 

[QC]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

Commercial gasoline engines can exceed 2500 hours easily before overhaul. It is not hours that kills pleasure craft engines, it's infrequent use and spotty maintenance.

Another way to think about it is 100 MPH and 2000 hours is 200,000 miles in a car. 100 MPH is not unlike a marine engine's use. But then you need to consider idle time etc. which is not necessarily low wear, but does eat time. Despite an effort to simplify this, it is a complicated discussion.

 

[stubbsboogie]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

Maintenence maintenence maintence. It is a high hour boat but if it has been maintained properly it will be fine. I would hire a marine surveyer to go over everything.

We have had our current boat since September and have already put 65 hours on it and will easily top 100 before we have had it a year. But everymaintence item will be done and so I expect to have a million hours before anything major

 

[texas xtreme]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

I currently own a boat it just doesnt have an hour meter and I would imagine I run 100 hours a summer easy it never comes off my truck and here we are at the lake from may to late september. I just wanted alitte understanding as to how it calculates out and it seems alot but, if i had it new it would have that on it easly. I have yet to even see it because it is an hour from my house.

 

[180shabah]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

8 years old and $25000 - NADA disagrees, but we can't see it.

 

[DJ]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

Commercial gasoline engines can exceed 2500 hours easily before overhaul. It is not hours that kills pleasure craft engines, it's infrequent use and spotty maintenance.

Another way to think about it is 100 MPH and 2000 hours is 200,000 miles in a car. 100 MPH is not unlike a marine engine's use. But then you need to consider idle time etc. which is not necessarily low wear, but does eat time. Despite an effort to simplify this, it is a complicated discussion.

QC is SPOT ON.

I've seen some gas jobs with 4000.

 

[texas xtreme]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

8 years old and $25000 - NADA disagrees, but we can't see it.

yeah i am going to offer $20000 and see how that goes because it is comming up in that range

 

[DJ]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

The GUIDE is just that-a guide.

I have ALWAYS gotten well over guide for my sale boats. Why? They are PRISTINE. I've never had more than ONE looker at any boat I've ever sold. Every one was sold, on the spot, first looker-for asking price. The same goes for my vehicles. Condition, condition, condition.

Condition is relative. Pristine is worth over guide. Average is just that-guide.

Look at the boat before you offer. If it is perfect, $20K may be an insult. If not, float your bid.

 

[texas xtreme]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

I was thinking that but an offer is an offer is all he can say is no lol. I have never bought one just inherated the one I have (very neglected) and it is getting to the point were the money I will spend making it perfect is close to a down payment on the loan for a new one. Thank You all for your input.

 

[DJ]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

Understood. Be careful. If the boat is beautiful, you will insult the seller.

I've been insulted, by phone. Never by a looker.

 

[45Auto]

Re: Question about used boats and hours.

Understood. Be careful. If the boat is beautiful, you will insult the seller.

I've been insulted, by phone. Never by a looker.

Never understood the whole "being insulted" by an offer thing. Anybody offers me a lot less than I'm asking I just laugh and tell them good luck, I think I'll keep it. It's not an insult, they're just trying to keep as much of their money as they can. Nothing wrong with them thinking my stuff is worth less than I do, could be that they are right! Or maybe their offer is all they have available and they are hoping to get lucky and get something nicer than they expect. Doesn't mean I have to sell it to them.

I've seen people get some amazing deals with offers so low that I would never have considered making them. Nothing wrong with a low offer, if it "insults" the seller, too bad, let his blood pressure rise, let him keep his junk, and go on to whatever is next that you're looking at! My experience in over 40 years of buying and selling cars, boats, and planes is that there is always something nicer and cheaper coming up if you keep looking.