300 hours in 20 years?

G

Golfman25

Well-Known Member
Sep 12, 2009
7,648
IL
Boat Info
1998 370 Sundancer
Engines
7.4 MPI
I know we talk about engine hours a lot. Searched and read many older posts. But looking for your specific take. 20 year old boat. Twin 7.4 Horizons. Located in a short season area (great lakes) -- basically late April to Early Oct (5 months at most). Has just under 300 hours which equates to about 13-15 hrs. per year. Doesn't seem like a lot, but that's like 2 or 3 shorter cruises per season, or several local weekend trips. Given the number of good days we have, plus life getting in the way, I can see how this could be a decent amount of use. Not hard core, which would be closer to 25+ hrs. So what say you? Be weary, not enough hours to even break them in? Or that's an unbelievable low hour setup? Thanks in advance.
 
Not terribly surprising. I see dozens of boats in our marina which never go anywhere. Many folks are happy to use them as floating condos. I bought my 2002 310DA in 2018 and it had only 270 hours on it. The interior carpet, on the other hand had clearly been used...and used....and used. I'm guessing it was the PO's man-cave.
 
Like I said on another post low hours doesn't always mean your better off if things like hoses belts aren't taken caring do to old age.
 
I have 112 hours on my 2004. It gets lots of new parts just because I like spending money on it.
 
we picked up our 1998 215 ec in march 2019.............the boat had 377 hours on it............i was a little leery, but had it checked out prior to purchase..............no real issues except had to had carb rebuild (last year before fuel injection i was told)..........routine maintenance (oil, fluids, new batteries) is about the extent of service work performed................
 
I bought my 99' 400 in 2016 with 390 hours on the 7.4 Horizons. My generator had 90 hours on it. All I have done is routine maintenance on them since. I think low hours in the Great Lakes area is pretty common for reasons you stated. I have close to 600 hours on them now. We pretty much take the boat out every weekend and are averaging about 50 hours per season. Which I would say is probably above average for this area. Every season I've had this boat except for the last one we've been in the water more that out, but only by a day or two. I usually freeze my butt off during launch and haulout just to be able to say that though :D:D:D. I would not be worried about the low hours at all, but I would be prepared to replace some of the rubber items that may be dry rotted from lack of use (impellers, duckbills, toilet seals, belts, hoses, etc.).
 
We put about 100 hours on the boat every year and due to our busy schedules only get out 5-6 times a year. Every year I feel bad that we don’t get out on the boat enough but I guess we’re getting more use then most.
 
Mine is 19 years old with 500 hours from the Deep South. Since the boating season is twice as long (pretty much year round), it is pretty consistent with yours.
 
I would not be afraid of a low hour boat like the OP is considering but at the same time recognize certain parts will need replacing just due to age. The low hours however is not a valid reason to pay a huge premium for the boat.

I find it interesting that people will buy a boat worth a lot of money that will depreciate thousands of dollars a year and then balk at using a couple a thousand dollars of fuel a year. In my mind the cost of fuel is one of the least expensive aspects of owning a boat.
 
hottoddie said:
I would not be afraid of a low hour boat like the OP is considering but at the same time recognize certain parts will need replacing just due to age. The low hours however is not a valid reason to pay a huge premium for the boat.

I find it interesting that people will buy a boat worth a lot of money that will depreciate thousands of dollars a year and then balk at using a couple a thousand dollars of fuel a year. In my mind the cost of fuel is one of the least expensive aspects of owning a boat.
Click to expand...

There's a parallel with smart phones. People buy a $1000 iPhone, then balk at paying a couple bucks for an app.

The depreciation is a soft cost though. It's not coming directly out of your bank account like a multi-thousand dollar fuel bill. It's possible to still enjoy a boat and not burn a ton of fuel. I'll be frank and say I do enjoy being able to cruise a 16,000 lb boat at 28 mph and only burn 17-18 gph.
 
Back to the topic, it's clear that at 300 hours the boat got some use over its life. Hard to say if it was consistent hours every season, or was grouped in a couple years. It doesn't raise particular alarms for me. The hours are just one element of the overall condition of a 20 year old boat. Look at the big picture of the boat's condition and decide on that. Like others have said assume that some parts will need to be replaced based on age alone, assuming the have not already been replaced.

As a comparison I looked at a boat that was 6 years old and had ~500 hours. The owner was a dolt that didn't take care of it and it was in overall rough shape. Dirty, areas of neglect, leaking shaft, grumbly transmission, overheated engine. I'd take a boat that's older but been obviously well-cared over a newer boat that's been neglected.
 
What kind of boat are we talking?

Wet slipped boat or trailered?

Speed boat or cruiser?

Owner have any documented maintenance records?

There's quite a number of factors.
 
Little Ducky said:
What kind of boat are we talking?

Wet slipped boat or trailered?

Speed boat or cruiser?

Owner have any documented maintenance records?

There's quite a number of factors.
Click to expand...
34 foot cruiser
wet slipped (5 months) and hauled/stored every winter (7 months)
Current owner did all his own basic maintenance, not documented.
A few maintenance items contracted out to marina service.
 
I’m on my 3rd boat with unusually low hours for their age.

It happens around here where the season is short and folks pop in for weekends only. They may or may not take a short sunset scoot and back in the boat house it goes.

It worries me far less than tons of hours once the odds and ends are replaced initially.
 
I would agree with others since we are talking a gasser. Have engine surveyed. Replace belts, hoses, filters and fluids. Make sure the rest of the boat is in normal wear for its age. If it was a diesel, this would be a different conversation.
 
Golfman25 said:
I know we talk about engine hours a lot. Searched and read many older posts. But looking for your specific take. 20 year old boat. Twin 7.4 Horizons. Located in a short season area (great lakes) -- basically late April to Early Oct (5 months at most). Has just under 300 hours which equates to about 13-15 hrs. per year. Doesn't seem like a lot, but that's like 2 or 3 shorter cruises per season, or several local weekend trips. Given the number of good days we have, plus life getting in the way, I can see how this could be a decent amount of use. Not hard core, which would be closer to 25+ hrs. So what say you? Be weary, not enough hours to even break them in? Or that's an unbelievable low hour setup? Thanks in advance.
Click to expand...
My 2005 Monterey 302, which I bought Fall of 2018, had 61 hours on it, yes, 61 hours. The genny had 9. I was excited, but cautious as engines like to run, not sit. First owner bought the boat then stored in when he went to Iraq. 2nd owner kept it at the dock, dock queen, 3rd owner bought it and used it once and then needed the cash to get out of it quick, which is when I made a low low low offer he accepted. He had everything from the fuel tanks to the engines fuel wise replaced, which made me feel better about the purchase. I used it for one season, never had a mechanical/engine issue.
 
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