hours

[oodlehead]

is 133 hours on a 3 year old motor alot of hours?

 

[smokintoad]

Re: hours

Above average depending on where you live. Not a problem at all if the engine was maintained properly.

 

[shrew]

Re: hours

If the boating season was late May to late Sept. That would give you approximately 16 weeks of boating for the season. 16 weeks x 3 years would be 48 weeks of boating. 133 hrs divided by 48 weeks = 2.7 hrs per week of engine use.

If the boat is further south, then the boating season is longer and the number of hours per week of use would be LESS. I would not call this a heavily used motor by any stretch.

 

[Home Cookin']

Re: hours

remember, hours on an OB motor are good, until you get up to commercial ranges.

In addition to maintenance (which is more important than hours) it's good to know how those hours were spent. A lot of slow trolling is not good--but also not a reason not to buy it.

Also if the motor isn't propped correctly, the hours can be deceiving. A mechanic told me that every minute you run at 1000 rpm higher than the recommended max, you add an hour to the engine's age. So when you test drive, see what the top end does, or ask your seller if you can, what's top speed and rpm's.

On an newer motor like this one, hours can be a helpful piece of information; on an old motor, it's meaningless except in the extreme ranges. Also, hour meters can be worse than odometers for reliability, excpet perhaps the built-in ones on the computer.

I added an hour meter when I bought my used boat so it says 150 hours for a 2003. But I put those hours on it in the last 14.5 months, with very little use for 3 of those months.

 

[oodlehead]

Re: hours

thanks everyone...you have been quite helpful

 

[Fireman431]

Re: hours

I always read/thought that 100 hours per year was "average" for a recreational boater. 133 hours over 3 years? That's almost neglect for that poor motor.

 

[ufm82]

Re: hours

Hours can be deceiving. I have owned my current boat for 4 years now and while I do not have an hourmeter on my boat, my typical run time during a 6 hour fishing trip may only be 1/2 an hour. If I fish 10 times a year on average, that's only 5 hours of run time. However, if I go tubing for a weekend I may put 6 hours on the boat in a single day. (Or more even)
It all depends on usage and maintenance as noted. I've seen low hour engines in horrible condition and high hour engine that were in fabulous condition. I owned a 1958 Merc Mk25 that had been used in a lumber mill for years before I got it. This thing ran pretty much all day for years on end. When I bought it for $60 it was dirty but in great shape. After typical "old motor healing" was done, it ran for another two years for me before it was relegated to Canada duty where it still powers an 18' Lyman wooden boat at speeds up to 25mph. Hours??? Even if it only ran for a normal work week that's 40 hours and it was there for 10 year. You tell me...

UFM82

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: hours

I always read/thought that 100 hours per year was "average" for a recreational boater. 133 hours over 3 years? That's almost neglect for that poor motor.

I'm up North in Canada, and I'd love to put a 100 hours on my boat each season, but unfortunately Mother Nature doesn't support my habit very well.

I believe that the 100 hour mark is when routine maintenance is necessary. Once per season, or every 100 hours, which ever comes first. (In my case, once a season )

That typically includes new plugs, fuel filter (air filter if you have a compressor on your OB). Some other intervals I believe are every 50 hours like lower unit oil change and water/fuel separator filter, etc.

I'm referencing my 2 stroke OB and not referencing maint on I/O or 4 strokes, etc as I don't know the intervals.

However, to the OP, 133 hours on a boat would be a higher than avg up here (as we'd average 30 or so) but if well maintained, isn't a problem.

 

[Fireman431]

Re: hours

However, to the OP, 133 hours on a boat would be a higher than avg up here (as we'd average 30 or so) but if well maintained, isn't a problem.

30 hours of use per season? You simply need to move.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: hours

30 hours of use per season? You simply need to move.

Tell me about it but moving isn't an option . The good news is we had an early spring, got a new boat and have already hit the 30 hour mark. Aiming for 50+ for the season.....

Come on Global Warming.

 

[dingbat]

Re: hours

I put 106 hours on my outboard during Spring Striper season (April 17 thru May 3) this year alone. A person who only put 133 hours on a motor is 3 years should be arrested for neglect and abandonment.

The routine maintenance hours are based upon the manufacturer?s expectation of a season. They have no bearing on the actual needs of the motor. If I followed the 100-hour maintenance routine, I would be on my second fuel filter of the year and would have changed my lower unit oil twice.

In reality, my fuel filter has maybe 250 hours on it and is still is within operating spec. (Monitored via a vacuum gauge on the filter.)

The lower unit oil is now pushing 200 hours since it was last changed. The oil is still nice and clear (full synthetic) with no indication of water contamination. Probably will not get changed until I do my winter season prep in November.