PDA

View Full Version : Hours on a boat... how much is too much?



diggler
07-08-2004, 05:41 AM
OK, I had this discussion with another boater friend of mine. We were trying to determine how many hours would be the equivalent of say 50,000miles on a car, and 100,000 miles on a car.
The type of engine we're talking about it a mildly built 502, 525, 575, etc. Anybody know? I'm actually kind of amazed I don't know, but I'll be buying another boat this fall, and I want to have a better handle on this. Thanks!

Nubbs
07-08-2004, 06:04 AM
IMHO, under 300 is low hours. For example, a car with 100,000 miles. Just say the average speed for all them miles was 60mph. That would be 1667 hours. 300 hours would be roughly 19000 miles. Just my thoughts.
Nubbs

dmontzsta
07-08-2004, 06:25 AM
Hours dont matter, it is all about how well everything was maintained. My boat is a 64' and I am sure it has a MILLION hours on it. I have two cars, one has 290+k and the other has 180+k and both run very well.

malibuken
07-08-2004, 06:43 AM
Originally posted by dmontzsta
My boat is a 64' and I am sure it has a MILLION hours on it.e
DANG, a 64 footer? That is one Grande Boat. :D :D j/k I know you meant '64, just feeling spunky this morning. :)

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 06:52 AM
Originally posted by diggler
OK, I had this discussion with another boater friend of mine. We were trying to determine how many hours would be the equivalent of say 50,000miles on a car, and 100,000 miles on a car.
The type of engine we're talking about it a mildly built 502, 525, 575, etc. Anybody know? I'm actually kind of amazed I don't know, but I'll be buying another boat this fall, and I want to have a better handle on this. Thanks!
My suburban has 1450 hours with 50K miles... the 2001+ models have an engine hour meter on them. Of course 1450 hours on a car might be like 800 hours on a boat... because most of the time you are at higher throttle settings in a boat.

SILVERWING
07-08-2004, 06:58 AM
Originally posted by diggler
OK, I had this discussion with another boater friend of mine. We were trying to determine how many hours would be the equivalent of say 50,000miles on a car, and 100,000 miles on a car.
The type of engine we're talking about it a mildly built 502, 525, 575, etc. Anybody know? I'm actually kind of amazed I don't know, but I'll be buying another boat this fall, and I want to have a better handle on this. Thanks!
ABOUT 1600 HOURS OF RUN TIME WOULD EQUAL 100,100 MILES JUST A ROUGH GUESS

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 07:28 AM
Originally posted by SILVERWING
ABOUT 1600 HOURS OF RUN TIME WOULD EQUAL 100,100 MILES JUST A ROUGH GUESS
Not according to my suburban's hourmeter.

superdave013
07-08-2004, 07:33 AM
it's hard to compare miles on a car to hours on a boat. How many times do you run your car at 3,500 RPM?? Not often and when you do it's only for a short burst.
Then you hop in your boat and don't think twice about blasting across the lake at 4,000 + rpm on a 100+ degree day (with a poorly vented engine hatch!).
Boat engines work MUCH harder if you ask me.

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 07:42 AM
Originally posted by superdave013
it's hard to compare miles on a car to hours on a boat. How many times do you run your car at 3,500 RPM?? Not often and when you do it's only for a short burst.
Then you hop in your boat and don't think twice about blasting across the lake at 4,000 + rpm on a 100+ degree day (with a poorly vented engine hatch!).
Boat engines work MUCH harder if you ask me.
Yes I wholeheartedly agree. That's why I said my 1500+ hours on the boat is probably equal to between 7 and 800 on a boat... due to the higher engine speeds and loads. That'd make 1500 hours like 100,000 miles on a car or so... (Is that what you were saying Silverwing... if so... I misunderstood you... sorry).

HCS
07-08-2004, 08:03 AM
I have a couple freinds that ski competition. Both of their boats
have 1200+ hrs on them.
Thier boats are less than 5 years old.
Their boats are in great shape because they maintain them.
That's the most important thing is how well the boat has been
maintained.
300 hrs in nothing. My boat is appoaching 300 hrs. And I figure
it's just broken in. The motor is just loosening up.
:rolleyes:

dimarcobros
07-08-2004, 08:25 AM
There is also the fact that if you leave the key at the on position the hour meter is running.
DMB

Evo22
07-08-2004, 08:57 AM
i rebuild every 200 hrs

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 10:20 AM
Originally posted by HARDCORE-SKI
I have a couple freinds that ski competition. Both of their boats
have 1200+ hrs on them.
Thier boats are less than 5 years old.
Their boats are in great shape because they maintain them.
That's the most important thing is how well the boat has been
maintained.
300 hrs in nothing. My boat is appoaching 300 hrs. And I figure
it's just broken in. The motor is just loosening up.
:rolleyes:
I always figured that 100 hours was a good break in for a boat... but 300 is nothing. On my first daycruiser I had 340 hours on it the first season.

fourspeednup
07-08-2004, 10:25 AM
Originally posted by Evo22
i rebuild every 200 hrs What type of boat do you have? Engine?

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 10:30 AM
Originally posted by fourspeednup
What type of boat do you have? Engine?
Even aircraft don't rebuild that often........ LOL......

Nubbs
07-08-2004, 11:10 AM
Originally posted by Dr. Eagle
Yes I wholeheartedly agree. That's why I said my 1500+ hours on the boat is probably equal to between 7 and 800 on a boat...
I'm a little confused.:confused: :confused: :D

Jrocket
07-08-2004, 11:13 AM
Originally posted by Nubbs
I'm a little confused.:confused: :confused: :D
We know but thats ok with us.:D

dmontzsta
07-08-2004, 11:21 AM
Originally posted by malibuken
DANG, a 64 footer? That is one Grande Boat. :D :D j/k I know you meant '64, just feeling spunky this morning. :)
no, I meant 64'r...
j/k 1964 yo!

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 11:25 AM
Originally posted by Nubbs
I'm a little confused.:confused: :confused: :D
sorry substitute "truck" for the first "boat"

schlepy
07-08-2004, 01:25 PM
when the rod is hanging out of the block.

HCS
07-08-2004, 01:53 PM
Originally posted by Dr. Eagle
sorry substitute "truck" for the first "boat"
If your 1500 hrs on your boat are = to 800 hrs on your boat.
You must drive the piss out of it.:D

mirvin
07-08-2004, 02:16 PM
Maybe I should put one of those "hour meters" on my boat......
mirvin;)

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 02:32 PM
Originally posted by HARDCORE-SKI
If your 1500 hrs on your boat are = to 800 hrs on your boat.
You must drive the piss out of it.:D
What I meant was that 1500 hours on my truck should roughly equate to 800 hours on the boat.... just a guess...

HCS
07-08-2004, 02:40 PM
Originally posted by Dr. Eagle
What I meant was that 1500 hours on my truck should roughly equate to 800 hours on the boat.... just a guess...
Never herd of a truck having an hour meter. Was that from the
factory?
Why does it have it, so you can compare it to your boat?:D

1stepcloser
07-08-2004, 02:46 PM
Originally posted by diggler
How many hours on a boat is too much?
I would have to say 400.
Yep. 400 hours is too much.:cool:

HCS
07-08-2004, 02:52 PM
Originally posted by 1stepcloser
I would have to say 400.
Yep. 400 hours is too much.:cool:
I would say that's probably right. That's when the value should
start to drop anyways.

rivercrazy
07-08-2004, 02:54 PM
Originally posted by 1stepcloser
I would have to say 400.
Yep. 400 hours is too much.:cool:
400 hours ain't too much unless your really run the crap out of your boat or have capacitors that place high loads on the alternator and make the engine work hard....LOL! :D

mickeyfinn
07-08-2004, 03:15 PM
Last time I had the Hondo running (about 4 years ago, almost got it back together now) I put about 250 hours/year on it. The last rebuild lasted 6 or 7 seasons. My baja ski boat is a 1986 model and reads almost 600 hours on it and it rolled over twice at 999.99. It still runs strong. Never done anything to the engine but change oil, plugs and antifreeze. It is a 470 4 banger that gets run hard when it runs since top speed is around 42. The Hondo was run under a lot of different conditions a lot of idling and cruising speeds 2500 to 3500 rpms with 10 to 15 minute bursts of 5000 to 5500. Guess it all depends on how well it is put together and how well you baby it when you get it home.

1stepcloser
07-08-2004, 03:15 PM
There have been numerous test's performed (scientific one's) proving that capacitors can help increase the life of your boat engine. (for some unknown reason, it doesnt work with car engines:confused: )
The extra energy stored in the capacitor's actually make more power available for those quick bursts of acceleration, easing the burden on the engine, as well as increasing fuel mileage.
They can even eliminate that annoying bog felt when you slam the stick down from a dead idle.;)
Really.

HCS
07-08-2004, 03:22 PM
If I were to shop for a used boat I would want one with less than
500 hrs on it.
Of course unless it was something really custom with a fresh motor. Or I personally knew it wasn't hammered.
Only then, it might not matter as much.

eliminatedsprinter
07-08-2004, 03:56 PM
One reason you can't compare boat to car miles and or hours is, boats can't coast. It's always uphill for a boat motor.

Nubbs
07-08-2004, 04:21 PM
What's this deal with the capacitors? Not to be a dick, but I'm calling B.S. :D Unless, someone wants to correct me here.

1stepcloser
07-08-2004, 04:24 PM
Well, to answer the question directly, 50,000 miles would equate to approx. 1,428.57 hours. Based on an average speed of 35 mph.
100,000 miles would naturally be 2,857.14 hours, based on the same average of 35 mph.
As has already been said though, that would be like driving uphill for the entire time, as boats dont get the opportunity to "coast", they are always under a load.

ChumpChange
07-08-2004, 05:22 PM
FYI: If you have a newer model Chevy, push and hold the tripometer while your vehicle is off. It will display your miles driven and the hours it has been on.

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 05:52 PM
You know I had 1500 hours on my old daycruiser when I sold it... and it ran just like it did the day I bought it. Compression was great, it was well maintained... I don't know the answer.
I think I'd start thinking about doing something to the engine when it reached 2000 hours or began to use too much oil or something... Otherwise... get in and turn the key!

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 05:53 PM
Originally posted by ChumpChange
FYI: If you have a newer model Chevy, push and hold the tripometer while your vehicle is off. It will display your miles driven and the hours it has been on.
I think I said that earlier... the odometer doubles as an engine hour meter... pretty cool feature if you ask me!

Dr. Eagle
07-08-2004, 05:54 PM
Originally posted by HARDCORE-SKI
Never herd of a truck having an hour meter. Was that from the
factory?
Why does it have it, so you can compare it to your boat?:D
On the newer chevys you push the trip odometer button and hold it down. It will show you the engine hours. (as posted above)....;)

mtndewdrops
07-08-2004, 10:56 PM
Originally posted by Dr. Eagle
On the newer chevys you push the trip odometer button and hold it down. It will show you the engine hours. (as posted above)....;)
Thanks DR Eagle, I didn't know that trick. I have a 01 Yukon...I'll have to try it tomorrow.
Also, you can't ASSUME the hour meter is correct. It is too easy to disconnect it or replace it after 200 hours and LIE about it. Not that I would do such a thing.
The only way to go is to check the COMPRESSION with a "Leak Down" test. Or perhaps putting an infrared borescope through the spark plug hole. You need to see what is going on in those cylinder walls....