engine hours

[chrisumts]

Hi Everyone,

Can anyone give a 'rule of thumb' guide regarding engine hours on second hand boats please..? For example, I am looking at a Bayliner, (1995) which has 400 hrs engine use. (price EUR 26,000 ). Due to my inexperience, is this about normal for a boat of this age, and would this be a fair price ?

Many thanks in advance,

Chris.

 

[jhr]

As a very rough rule of thumb, I'd say somewhere between 30 - 50 hours use per year will cover quite a large proportion of moboers.

So 400 hours on a 12 year old boat is there or thereabouts.
At that age, condition, engine service record etc. will have quite a bearing on value. Bayliners of a certain age have a bit of a repuitation for dodgy build quality though this is not an issue with newer models. I think 1995 may be after the "wilderness years" but it's worth trying to find out.

As with any boat purchase, getting a proper survey done is essential. It will cost you a bit, but may save you being sold a pup.

Good luck

 

[clivew05]

I bought my boat last year and she is 1996, and had 485 egine hours whic hI was told was quite good ... but when you think about it and as in an earlier post about 50 hours a year is average ... so 10 years = 500 hours so about the right ball park figure .... also as already stated - make sure you know the service history, and also make sure that they have been serviced in the last year ....

Good Luck

 

[Its_Only_Money]

[ QUOTE ]
Bayliners of a certain age have a bit of a repuitation for dodgy build quality

[/ QUOTE ]

Hmmm - ask Solitaire, his entire galley unit broke free from the hull once - only in the Solent /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif /forums/images/graemlins/shocked.gif

 

[Overdraught]

In MBM last month there was an article on engine hours, saying that comparing a boat with 500 hours with 50 hours is like comparing a car with 50 or 500 miles on it! The 'mystery broker' was suggesting that higher hours can be a good thing due to more frequent use and (probably) more regualr maintenance etc.

When I looked I saw boats with less than 100 hours that were in shocking state. Mine had 280 on a 2001 boat and now has 350 a season later. I wouldn't worry if boat in good order with service history.

If it helps my car has done 4500 and clocked up 90 hours doing so.....

 

[Chris_d]

The best rule is to ignore the hours, go on condition and service history.
With a boat engine it should be serviced every year regardless of hours run, most boat engines never wear out, but they die through lack of attention and corrosion from the inside out.

400hrs means nothing on a boat of that age, think of it like a 10+ year old car with 4000miles that only been used once or twice a year then left outside on the beach in all weathers.

 

[ari]

Unless you are arguing financial armageddon due to the loss of "red diesel" of course, in which case all boats do 200 hours a year absolute minimum! /forums/images/graemlins/grin.gif

I'd agree with the above, 50ish hours a year seems about normal.

 

[alt]

I have a 2001 and I have 475 hours on her. 100 of those hours were put up by me in the past 4 months! I would not let hours judge my decision. High'ish hours mean lots of use which IMO is good on a boat (Nothing worse than an idle boat/engine)

As said above, check for service receipts and boat condition

 

[hlb]

To put it into perspective. My boats done 1700 hours with no sign of wear to the engines.

 

[PCUK]

My Cummins is 10 years old and has done 1100 hours. Just run-in at this stage I reckon!
Think of a truck engine doing 200,000 miles before needing anything major.
Average of (say) 50mph = 4000 hours.