Yacht engine hours

C

castoffandgone

Well-Known Member
Joined
29 Oct 2012
Messages
93
Location
West Coast of Scotland
Visit site
I looked over a 36' 6-year old boat the other day which was in excellent general condition, 3 previous owners and the engine has a full service record. What level of engine hours would you start to think was too high for a 6 year old? I should mention the engine was a 20hp Volvo sail-drive.
 
castoffandgone said:
I looked over a 36' 6-year old boat the other day which was in excellent general condition, 3 previous owners and the engine has a full service record. What level of engine hours would you start to think was too high for a 6 year old? I should mention the engine was a 20hp Volvo sail-drive.
Click to expand...

we historically do 100 hrs PA
 
I only fitted an hour meter 2 years ago but as a guide I did 100 hours last year and 80 this year. I don't think anything would be too high on a 6 year old boat. These engines can run all day every day in commercial situations.
 
Don't worry about it. The design life of the engine is 8000 hours which is more than 50 years of typical usage of a yacht auxiliary. If it starts, runs and there is a good record of regular (at least annual) oil and filter change then it will be fine. My similar 2030 has 3500 hours on it and runs as well as it did when new. Charter boat and regular servicing.
 
Our boat was 9 years old when we got her. The Yanmar had 2500 plus hours on it. It had not been in charter or had commercial use. Touching wood as I write this-the engine is fine. A charter skipper told me he was Skipper of a yacht with 19,000 hours on the origional engine, also a Yanmar.
 
Light use or lack of can be more of a problem.

My Perkins is approaching 6000 and has just had a clean bill of health from an engine surveyor, with the likelyhood it would do the same again.
 
jonic said:
Light use or lack of can be more of a problem.

My Perkins is approaching 6000 and has just had a clean bill of health from an engine surveyor, with the likelyhood it would do the same again.
Click to expand...
+1
If it's been used regularly then no matter what hours it's done, in a 6 year old it will be just about run in and no where near run out!
 
Volvo MD2030D, boat built in 2002.
When I bought the boat in November 2007 (ex charter) the engine had 1400 hours. November 2012 (now) has around 2200 hours. That's an average of 160 hours p.a for me or 220 hours p.a in total.

The engine (touch wood) sounds and works OK (I can't say the same for the reverse gear box; repaired once and eventually replaced just a few days ago).
 
697 hours, Yanmar 2GM20 on a 1997 boat, just put a bit of oil down the bores and turned it over by hand, will have not been used for two winters so hope it's OK. Little use as the boat was only in the water 3-4 months of each year! Spent most of her life in the yard.

Going to ask for first refusal on the previous owners new boat when he decides to sell!!
 
Last edited:
SAWDOC said:
Three previous owners for a six year old boat??
Click to expand...

I'm not put off by the number of previous owners so long as there is the appropriate paper trail and plausible reasons for short term ownership. I'd go so far as to say that in this instance, the boat looks as though it has had three enthusiastic and loving owners where neither had it long enough to get bored with it. Perhaps a woman's wishful thinking!
Either way, the 'boss' is not in the right frame of mind at the moment to think seriously about changing boats - he'll come around to it!!!!

Thanks for your opinions on engine hours, its reassuring to know that such high numbers have been experienced.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

Other threads that may be of interest

B
How does a tacho get RPM and engine-hours data, and how to fix faulty readings?
Replies
16
Views
439
Babylon
B

Share this page

Top