How much price difference for high hours?

[wakebrdr]

I'm looking at an '03 SAN with the 330 Excalibur

I thought it had 400 hours on it, but upon inspection it has 615 hours.

In terms of dollars, how much do you think that should bring the value of the boat down by?

[flaudia402]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

Depends really. If you put a boat with 400 hrs on it and another with 615 hrs on it, with the same options, same specs, and each's interior and engine was identical as far as how well its been maintained, I would definitely knock a few grand off of the boat. Of course, thats never how it goes. I've seen boats with 800 hrs on them and they look beautiful, and I've seen boats with 300 hrs on them, and they look like they've been left out to rot.

If the boat looks good to you, has been well maintained, and you're getting a killer price, definitely haggle the price down a good bit since it has high(er) hours on it.

[KPNautique]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

Using easy to calculate numbers, if it cost $6,000 to overhaul the engine and transmission. That equates to $3.00 per hour if the engine/ transmission lasted 2000 hours. 215 hours at $3.00 per is $645.00 in lost value assuming the engine has been maintained to enable a 2000 hour life limit.

This is common way to put a value on hours used. I did not research current price for engine, transmission, or accessories

[Bullet]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

are the boats only good for 2k hours?

my truck has 6500 miles and over 200 hours----cant imagine a boat that has been maintained being "gone" at 2000 hours

i know they run 2x+ on rpms regularly, but still??

[bkhallpass]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

PCM says 2500 between rebuilds, though many get more than that.

615 hours, are not particularly high hours on a 2003 boat. This is it's sixth season of use, so it's been run just over 100 hours per year.

Interesting formula proposed by KP, and it makes some sense. However, in negotiating a deal, I'd try to knock it down in round numbers. 500, 1000, 1500, whatever. BKH

[Bullet]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

2500 sounds more like it---

i would trust my motor up until 2500----it is all of the stupid switches, pumps, gauges, valves, hinges and other BS that is the down fall to high hours

[xrichard]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

I don't know if it holds any more, but a rule of thumb that used to be around was 100 hours is roughly equivalent to 10,000 miles in terms of engine wear. So, 2000-2500 hours between rebuilds sounds about right.

[jonfo]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

Engine hours are important so high hours should reduce the cost a bit and it will hurt resale, but it is unlikely you will keep the boat long enough to see 2500hrs and a rebuild.

I agree its more about the "switches, pumps, gauges, valves, hinges and other BS". If i was looking to buy a used boat i would be more interested in how it was used by looking at condition of the interior, and where it was stored when not in use. The best scenario would be a boat that was trailered to the lake and stored in a garage because there would be very little moisture damage to interior, electrical, etc. The next best would be a boat stored on a covered boat lift out of the water. Then a boat lift with just the boat cover. The worst is a boat that is moored at a dock all year. When i used to moor my boat the boat always had moisture everywhere. If the boat is at a dealer it would be impossible to figure out where it was, but if it is a private party you could ask.

[DanielC]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

In my opinion, the difference between 400 and 600 hours is not worth worrying about. It is one of many things to consider when buying a used boat.
If you are not an expert, have a marine surveyer look at the boat. Was it two days ago that a person who bought a boat, and noticed gelcoat blisters below the water line after the sale, posted on this board?
I would suggest that high hours indicates a engine that was used often, and did not sit long periods of time between uses, and did not suffer as much wear from a dry startup, caused by oil having time to run off internal engine parts.
My boat has 2022 hours on it, and it is still running strong. I have heard of rental Ski Nautiques being used on Lake Shasta having over 8000 hours on them.
Was the boat stored on dry land, or moored in water between uses?
Storing in water could cause many more problems with the engine, and boat, it being a much more humid environment.

[Nautiqueman]

RE: How much price difference for high hours?

I think the engine will last longer than the interior. I bet 2000 hours of use on the seats and carpet would call for total replacement as well.