How many hours do you put on your boat in a year?

[Hifirush]

Now that the season is winding down for many of us, I’m taking stock of my boat and many of the projects I want to do over the winter. I was going through the paperwork on the boat and found my survey, and found myself looking right at the hours recorded. 709.1/707.4. Now I have 777/772 (and change) on the clocks. More uneven do to a broken thermistat housing, well away from the marina, but I am suprised at how many hours I racked up in 6 months! Of course, this is what I bought it for, to run to my favorite and newly discovered places and enjoy the lake.

How about you? How many hours do you put on in a year?

Matt

 

[BryanOnTheBay]

First trip was on 6/20 with 384.1 hours. We had some deferred maintenance items from the PO, such as replacing the entire exhaust system, that delayed the start of our season. As of Saturday, we had 418.0 even for 33.9 engine hours. Hoping for one more trip out, but not holding my breath. We also spent 106.25 hours on the boat total. We spent a lot of time anchored by a sand bar or rafted with friends. Next year we are planning to start the season with some short trips starting mid April with some longer trips through the season now that the bugs are worked out.

Bryan

 

[HUMPH]

We are running about 75 hours per year in the Sea Ray and about the same in the Caribe. We spend between 70 and 80 nights a year on board I would say whether in the slip, at another marina or on the hook. Since Labor Day (including Labor Day weekend) we have run around 20 hours and over 20 nights on her.

 

[Bob & Sue]

May of 2011 we had 384hrs on the meter as of last week 1355hrs (+ or - a few) that's about 277hrs a year, we use it 12 months a year.

 

[Hampton]

75 - 100 depending on whether or not we cruise south for the winter.

The dinghy gets almost that per month (exaggeration). The generator gets about 600/year.

 

[IanBat]

100 Plus, bearing in mind most of our anchors are only 15-20mins from the Marina

 

[1990-270-da-lover]

This season about 50, but had some other issues that kept us away from the water. Usually 100 engine hours give or take normally. over night a lot and spend a lot of time on the hook.

 

[MarkCrusei]

107 on engines and 155 on the genset as of our physical year ending Sept 17th.

 

[jpl2407]

While I am hoping to get more time next year, the weather has been a factor in the fact that I only put 7hrs on mine this year, I spent more time cleaning it than I did using it

 

[LTD.330]

About 35 hours for the 5-6 months the boat is in the water. We boat on Lake Erie in the Islands area. Nearly all of our destinations are within 15 miles from our home port. Speaking of our home port, we can be on the lake and throttling up about 5 minutes after shoving off.

 

[RollerCoastr]

We boat on Lake Erie in the Islands area. Nearly all of our destinations are within 15 miles from our home port.

Same here, so I recorded record-low hours this season: 24 hours on the 40, and .5 on the 280. (still a project)

It's a far cry from my previous averages of 110-125 hours each summer, but no regrets. I took a 17 day boat trip with friends, sharing fuel on their 480DB, and didn't miss a wkd on the boat all season.

I hope next year to be as low or lower on the 40, because I want to log at least 50 on the 280. Here's hoping...

 

[PeteL]

We put about 73 hours on the boat since April. Season is not over yet.

 

[JimG]

We about 40 hours per season, based on 5 month season. We spend about 50 nights aboard, most of which are on the hook rafted up with friends.

Back when gas was cheaper, I would put about 300 hours on the 270 in the same 5 month season.

I put about 80 hours a season on the dinghy.

 

[rmlsll]

About 50 hrs on the 300 in lake mi. and about 125 hrs on the 240 in and around cape coral fl

 

[kevin27]

I did 134 hours this year(Nov to Nov). The gen I don't know but way more than the mains.

 

[Gary Hill]

I have averaged 100 hours for many many years here on Lake Michigan.

 

[BritLady]

We've only done about 20 this year, laid up with major repairs and a bad bilge leak for quite some time-

 

[Sous]

I used to do about 65-75 a season on the 260, now that I burn 3X the gas I expect that may drop a bit. We've been in the 330 since mid Aug and we put 12 hours on her, but to be fair we were also on vacation for 2 weeks and had to scrap one trip due to weather so I'd think that we'd be at more like 18-20 hours had that not been the case; so averaged out that would put me at 50-60 hours over the 6 month season.

 

[Gofirstclass]

Last year we put 260 hours on the clocks but that included a trip down the Columbia to Portland and back. This year we put in a swimming pool so not so much time on the boat. We probably only have about 50-60.

We bought a Boston Whaler last spring and this summer we probably put 80 hours on it including one 65 mile round trip.

 

[Hifirush]

Wow! There seems to be a quite a bit of difference on usage! I understand, everyone is at a different stage/part of thier life or circumstances allow for more time on the water or less.

I find that having kids getting ready to enter college has put a damper on our travels. Been traveling looking at schools and get my oldest ready for all this, or I should say he is getting us ready! But it takes time, and while it may not be on the boat, I have enjoyed doing this and have spent a lot of quality time with him!

But also, frankly, fuel costs hold my travels back as well. If I could fill up each weekend, I’d be headed out much farther then we are now. I’d like to be in a position to do so, but finances just don’t allow for that at the moment. I’m not complaining, just stating a fact, at least for my household.

Fortunately, there are several coves and beaches within 1/2 hour from the outlet that we and many of our friends head to. That helps keeping costs down. And we certainly have great weekends, which is what I feel it is all about.

I have read with envy threads discussing trips down rivers, inter coastal waterway, etc. I hope someday I am in a position and live in the area that this would be possible. But for now, I’m landlocked in a good size lake, with plenty to venture out to!

Matt