Question on boat hours

[TightlineT]

I've been thinking about getting me another boat. Looking at ads, they will list the number of hours on the motor. At how many hours would you want to stay away from one? I know it depends on how it was driven, but just as a general rule of thumb??? Thanks for any help....Jim

 

[TOMMY 20RXD]

500

 

[Fastwin]

500? You can't be serious. That's only 21 days worth of engine time. Surely engines are built better than that. Mine is 54 years old and runs like a champ.

 

[TightlineT]

TOMMY 20RXD - 3/23/2011 4:49 PM

500

Thanks for the reply....Jim

 

[TightlineT]

Any suggestions??? All advice is appreciated.....Jim

 

[SethColeman]

I researched some sites and blogs on line and everyone pretty much said it depends on how the motor was maintained. A lot say 500 hrs as stated above. I'll post a generic link about hours on marine engines and it may or may not help. Wish I could help more.

http://www.boatsafe.com/nauticalknowhow/enginelife.htm

 

[wrechin2]

The link above is for a 4 stroke marine inboard engine and a outboard will usually be less due to the fact that on a 4 stroke the piston rings are allowed to rotate and will keep a lot of the carbon at bay in the ring grooves. On a 2 stroke there are locator pins that prevent the rotation of the piston rings (so the ring gap doesn't move to a port and hang) . This will allow the carbon to build up a lot more easily due to the ring is pretty much stationary. That is why you need to run chemicals in your fuel that removes carbon build up. Think of it like driving a car in the snow. Snow doesn't build up much on a driving car as it does on a parked car. For a outboard, there are a lot of factors to consider. A mercury HP 280 will only last around 100 hours before needing rebuild because of the rings that are used. I find that some of the OMC sleeves don't have the "HARDNESS" that some of the mercury sleeves have and will wear a lot quicker than a mercury even though the rings have lest tensile (spring) on a OMC. A outboard will last a very long time if taken care of. But for the most part, most people don't have a clue how to take care of them. A leakage test will tell you if a engine has a lot of carbon build up on the rings, wear, if the cylinder is egg shaped, or if it has a damaged cylinder. A leakage test is a very good check for the health of a engine. I highly suggest them prior to buying a boat. Here is a explaination of them. Just my .02 on the subject.

http://www.chattanoogafishingforum.com/forums/thread-view.asp?tid=50110&posts=10&start=1

 

[loc doc]

What kind of chemicals do you recommend?

 

[fish4life]

ive heard seafoam is good for carbon build up.im running it in my yami when we get the water pump fixed.they have seafoam at mostly any autopartstore.

 

[loc doc]

Thanks for the info.

 

[wrechin2]

Seafoam or Berryman's B-12

 

[loc doc]

Thanks James