Looking at a 2000 model boat (330 hp MPI Indmar) with 690 hrs. on it. Boat is in great shape and the owner serviced it very regulary and took care of it right. It equates out to about 115 hrs. a season. Is this about average use?

Yes. Every 100 hrs is equal to about 10,000 miles

Stop telling people that, it's not true! Boat engines run at optimal temperatures and at pretty constant speeds compared to a car in traffic. It all depends on how it was maintained!

Okay, so it was maintained meticulously, how long do marine engines typically last?

Depends on maintanence. I have seen nautiques with over 5000 hours and still counting and a three year old boat with less than 300 hours fall apart. <BR> <BR>If you are concerned, as you should be, do a compression and leak down test or have someone do it for you. You should do both, if the person doing it doesn't know how to do a leak down find someone else who does! <BR> <BR>JUST MY OPINION!

What does a leak test do, and how do you do it?

it's a "leak down" test. <BR> <BR><a href="http://www.dsmgrrrl.com/FAQs/leakdown.htm" target="_blank">http://www.dsmgrrrl.com/FAQs/leakdown.htm</a> <BR> <BR>You can find descriptions all over with google. <BR> <BR>It basically tells you the condition of the entire cylinder to piston (ring seal) condition throughout it's course of travel. It will also tell you the condition of the valve seats. I have seen engines with really good compression have tons of blow by and a leak down test will almost always show you this.

Most boat shops will say the same thing. You are turnig about 3000 rpm to go thirty mph and 2000 pounds of balast plus the weight of the boat. Comparing a boat to a car in traffic that's funny!!

I went to a wakeboarding camp in miami about a year ago and they just replaced the engine on their 210 this year with about 15,000 hours.

I have a friend with a 05 Nautique pushing 500 Hr. strong as ever.

540 on my 99 and runs like new.

I had 830 hrs on my '03 MB when I traded it in yesterday!

Making me feel better dudes.

i have a '93 MC with 1300 hrs, compression test last year and it is top notch...pic in profile.. <BR>

Listen to Bocephus. Leak Down test and Vacuum test are the best way to tell how healthy an engine is!

FIFTEEN THOUSAND HOURS. HAHAHA.

15000 hours x 1 day/24 hours = 625 days <BR> <BR>Now run it only in the daylight = 1250 days running 12 hours a day. <BR> <BR>1250 days x 1 year/365 days = 3.42 years running every day of the year for 12 hours.... <BR> <BR>Cool!

My trucks hour meter at 32,000 miles read 1010 hours. Can't really compare a boat to a vehicle though. I put about 250 hours a year on my boats. I'll have a 1000 hours in no time.

I just talked to the dealership...they are going to do a compression and leak down test.

Stan <BR> I have heard other people use the hour gauge in trucks to compare mileage. No one seems to realize you turn twice the rpm's in a boat verse a car/truck. <BR> Darryl Moores Marine in Spring ,TX <BR> (Mastercraft/Malibu) said every 100 hrs is about 15,000 miles. I have heard more people say that 100 hrs is = 10,000

You change your oil every 50 hours so that is equal to 3000 miles. Who came up wit 10,000 miles for every 100. Just curious. <BR> <BR>Anyway, I have a 2002 SANTE with almost 700 on it. Runs like a champ.

I change mine every 25 to 30. You can never change oil to often. Several shops in Houston will tell you that. Read my previous post.

well i only change my oil every 15000 miles in my car so my 50 hours on my boat = 15000 miles. <BR> <BR>quit argueing about something that isn't a exact science and isn't really comparable. <BR> <BR>it all depends on how the engine is used and maintained. <BR> <BR>lets say someone leaves their car engine on all day. it gets no miles at all but if you leave your boat running all day the hours rack up. <BR>there is somehting for you to think about

It's a stupid comparision, just because the two have the same engines in them it doesn't mean you can compare them or that it will be a good comparison. I have an air compressor that runs off a 302 ford with over 30,000 hours on it. I don't compare my boat motor time to the time my bomber class Chevy is run at the truck, or the time my demo derby car is ran. <BR> <BR>Boat motors run at twice the RPM which doesn't necessarily mean anything. They also run at optimium temperatures at all times and generally don't go through stop and go running like a car. They also don't go through near the start up cycles that a car goes through which does the greatest damage. <BR> <BR>The end of the story is do a leak down and compression test and then take care of your stuff.

Bocephus <BR> I agree with a leak down test. That is the best thing you could do. Most of my old hot rods temp never went over 180. So temp is not a fare comparison either. I look at it in general weight and a steady high rpm. Atleast we agree on one thig.

I just want to caution people on the fact that the hours on a boat only tell part of the story. How well the boat was taken care of is the most important. <BR> <BR>I once bought a boat from a guy who had a new tach in box ready for the boat. The tach in the boat was fine. I asked why he had it and he said he was having trouble selling the boat and was going to "reset" the hours if it didn't sell.

Salt water vs. fresh is something to consider. Routine maintenance is also a factor. Something that I like to tell NEW buyers is to look in places that are difficult to keep clean. The bilge, under seats, and the corrosion to wiring in the dash pod. Everyone who is looking to sell a boat can clean the common areas, but a meticulous boat owner goes above and beyond. That's the guy you want to buy your first boat from. Alot of hours is great for boats that run in salt water. It shows that the boat is being used and lubricated. When the boat sits it tends to run into problems (remember this is for salt water application). If the boat has been used in fresh water you can check the water strainer for mildew or mold on upholstry. Hours on a fresh water boat varies on the care of the owner. Either way, be prepared to put money into occuring problems.