boat hours

[docspenc]

How many hrs are considerd high, I'm looking at a boat that has 800 hrs on it, is that to high of hrs or not. The boat has been maintained well, and looks like a new boat ?

 

[coastalrichard]

Re: boat hours

Hours indicate the elapsed time the key is in the "on" position, not necessarily the hours of motor actually running and is used mostly as a guage for servicing various items. The condition of the boat is more important. It looks well-maintained? Post some pics or a link to your ad and I'm sure you'll get feedback!

 

[tpenfield]

Re: boat hours

You will get a gambit of opinions on this one . . . so here is mine:


800 hours is a little on the high side, but manageable, if the engine has been treated well.

So, as you buy a boat with 800 engine hours, you would want to know a lot about the engine . . . compression test and cylinder leak test.

Also, you might expect that as you got up towards, say 1200 hours, you would be pretty close to a rebuild or some other major maintenance.

 

[docspenc]

Re: boat hours

You will get a gambit of opinions on this one . . . so here is mine:


800 hours is a little on the high side, but manageable, if the engine has been treated well.

So, as you buy a boat with 800 engine hours, you would want to know a lot about the engine . . . compression test and cylinder leak test.

Also, you might expect that as you got up towards, say 1200 hours, you would be pretty close to a rebuild or some other major maintenance.

 

[DuckHunterJon]

Re: boat hours

It really depends. You have to look at maintenance, storage, and use to tell. Hourmeters are more for scheduling maintenance, than telling of condition.

 

[docspenc]

Re: boat hours

This the boat i'm looking at. What do yuo think?

$9,75000 89 CARVER Montego
Riverdale, UT 84405 | Mar 12, 2012
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26' x 9.6.
5.7 V-8 Alphaone Mercrusier..Metal Craft trailer w/side guides & spare..Digital Depth finder & additional Bottomline tournament fish finder..2 batteries..VHF Marine radio..SST Remote spotlight..Kenwood AMFM CD Stero..Swim Ladder..Trim Tabs..Two Bimini Tops w/complete enclosure windows..Travel Cover..Marine Head..Hot water heater..Rear power wash down..Pressure Water System..Anchor w/100' gold braid rope..Shower..Ski tow..AC/DC Refrigerator..2 Burner stove..Shore Power cord..Remote Trolling Bracket..Downrigger Swivel brackets..Sea hawk Halon Fire extinquisher system..Compass..

 

[docspenc]

Re: boat hours

1996 Bayliner 2855 Sunbridge


NEW CONDITION, One Owner, Perfect condition inside and out. Has been used for family reunions once a year since we purchased it new, ONLY 112 Hours, 7.4 (300HP) Mercruiser, LOADED with all options, tops, and full camping cover, Always stored inside. Trailer is in new condition. We don't use it enough to keep it. Must Sell, Sold storage warehouse. $9800 FIRM.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: boat hours

first, 800 hours is meaningless without age, too.

At least for outboartds, you'd rather have one that was run a lot.

Long hours trolling/idling is worse than hours running.

If a boat is underpropped and redlines at WOT, you can add an hour of life for every minute run like that.

Unless it was stored very carefully, I'd rather have a boat that has been used often.

OB owner's manuals refer to 100hours/1 year for service, which suggests they think 100 hours/year is about average.

 

[docspenc]

Re: boat hours

OK thanks for you're thoughts... I know there is a lot to find out when looking to buy a bout.. you guys are great thanks

 

[drrpm]

Re: boat hours

If the boat is maintained well then its better off being run regularly. The time of 800 hours could be achieved in a variety of ways, but at 10 hours a week for 20 weeks a year you would get to 800 hours in 4 years. That's pretty heavy use. I don't have an hour meter, but I have a pretty good idea of how much the boat gets used because I keep a record and its around 75 hours/year.
As another reference point, though I don't know how valid it is, a car with 100K miles driven at an average of 40 mph will have 2,500 hours.

 

[docspenc]

Re: boat hours

So should a well maintained boat be able to run 2500 hrs?

 

[tpenfield]

Re: boat hours

So should a well maintained boat be able to run 2500 hrs?

Generally, no, because a boat engine is working a lot harder throughout its life than a car or truck engine. So, the wear on internal parts will be higher. It is not an exact science, but a well maintained boat should go over 1200 hours.

 

[JoLin]

Re: boat hours

The '89 with 800 hours may be in great shape. That isn't a ton of hours for a boat that's 23 years old. However, it is IMO overpriced. Not because there's anything wrong with it, but because it's 23 years old.

I'd be more careful of the Bayliner, and I'd want to see evidence (receipts) that it's been serviced annually. My concern would be that a boat used so seldom might not be serviced on a regular basis.

I'm not entirely sure, but I think some of the mechanics that hang out here have stated that a well-maintained gasoline motor can easily last 2000 hours before it gets tired.

 

[docspenc]

Re: boat hours

Ok, thank's I think I have better idea of boat hrs

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: boat hours

To put it in perspective.

A Truck with 800 hours, run 100% of the time at 60 miles per hour, would have 48,000 miles on it.
Now, you could consider that a Trucks average speed is more like 30mph so that 800 hours is more like 24,000 Truck miles.

And if you grant that the boat boat engine worked harder for the 800 hours if it spent most of the time at WOT.
So 800 boat hours is more like 36,000(x1.5) to 72,000(x3) Truck miles.
Lets call it (x2) and we're back to the 48,000 Truck miles again.

Would you consider a 23 year old Truck with less than 100,000 miles on it a High Mileage Truck?

Your conversion factor will vary.

 

[JoLin]

Re: boat hours

I really hesitate to compare a boat engine's use to a car engine's use. Boat engines take longer to warm up, and warm to lower temps than cars. Depending on where you boat they can spend spend a high percentage of their running time at idle. When you want to accelerate to cruising speed in a car, you don't usually 'floor it' to get to 60 mph. You do that on a boat every single time, to push it out of the water and get it on plane. When you do get to cruise speed, you're turning a lot more rpm's in the boat than you do in a modern car.

Finally, in a boat, engine failures are VERY often for reasons other than age. From what I've seen more engines fail due to a bad winterizing job, or a leaking intake or exhaust manifold/gasket, than 'wear out.'

My .02

 

[dingbat]

Re: boat hours

Generally, no, because a boat engine is working a lot harder throughout its life than a car or truck engine. So, the wear on internal parts will be higher. It is not an exact science, but a well maintained boat should go over 1200 hours.

If that was the case, why do the commerical guys get 3-4K hours out of a motor?

The fact is that most boat motors die a premature death from not being run regularly and or bad fuel maintenance. Very few if any are actally worn out.

I put over 2000 hours on my last three motors. The motor I replaced last Spring had 2260 hours on it. I know two people with close to 3000 hours on Yamaha F225s.

 

[cribber]

Re: boat hours

If that was the case, why do the commerical guys get 3-4K hours out of a motor?

The fact is that most boat motors die a premature death from not being run regularly and or bad fuel maintenance. Very few if any are actally worn out.

I put over 2000 hours on my last three motors. The motor I replaced last Spring had 2260 hours on it. I know two people with close to 3000 hours on Yamaha F225s.

Its all about the maintenance... regular fluid changes and fix every little thing as they pop up will keep you out on the water longer.

 

[southkogs]

Re: boat hours

A Truck with 800 hours, run 100% of the time at 60 miles per hour, would have 48,000 miles on it.
Now, you could consider that a Trucks average speed is more like 30mph so that 800 hours is more like 24,000 Truck miles.

And if you grant that the boat boat engine worked harder for the 800 hours if it spent most of the time at WOT.
So 800 boat hours is more like 36,000(x1.5) to 72,000(x3) Truck miles.
Lets call it (x2) and we're back to the 48,000 Truck miles again.

Whoa, Uncle Willie ... is that a European Truck, or an African Truck?

Just playin' with ya'

 

[UncleWillie]

Re: boat hours

Whoa, Uncle Willie ... is that a European Truck, or an African Truck?

In 800 hours, European and African trucks would have 40,000 Kilometers on them!

On the serious side, I agree with others. Maintenance and Use are the major factors.
The hours are only a broad Indication of condition.
But it is all we have to go on at this point.
Converting Boat Hours to Car Miles is like computing in Dog Years! :facepalm:
It only gives you a very broad "Ball Park" number to consider.

Which is why I said, "Your Conversion Factor WILL Vary!"