"Questionable" enigne hours on used boats

[toomuchuv]

So, we are thinking of pulling the trigger on a newer (2012-2013) 230 and are looking at one in particular locally that I am really worried about the "true" engine hours. Even on some other sales sites, I wonder "how a boat could be used so little"?

My questions are:

Is it possible to mess with the engine hours stored in Linc (if thats where they're stored)?
Can a dealer read the true hours or tell if something's been tampered with?
Would it be possible to tell visually if a well maintained boat has 50hrs or 300hrs?

Thanks in advance for your input.....

[NautiqueJeff]

I believe LINC just reads the hours from the ECU. Either way, a dealer with the DIACOM tool can read the hours directly from the ECU. The only way anyone would be able to change the number is if they replaced the ECU on the engine.

[scottb7]

That is what I was told from Faria as well. That the guage/display does not store - only reads - ecu. I am unaware if ecu can be tampered with.

[DougPhillips]

You will love the 230. We picked up a 2014 in July and have 40 hrs now. Where are you located? My dealer has a few used ones.

[obd666]

So, we are thinking of pulling the trigger on a newer (2012-2013) 230 and are looking at one in particular locally that I am really worried about the "true" engine hours.

hard to imagine anyone going to the trouble of tampering with the ECU on a boat that new. only a couple of years old, how many hours did you expect it to have?

[toomuchuv]

Thanks for the speedy replies.....It has less than 100 hours. Just seems too low. Maybe not. I just figured some quick math: 5 hours a day x 2 days a weekend (minimum)= 10 hours per weekend ... That's less than 10 weekends!

[Woody_tobius_jr]

I basically had 1 weekend on my boat this summer...so many projects on the go around the homestead. Maybe when they bought it, they thought they could devote more time to boating or they realized that they weren't boat people...when I bought my '04 in 2012 it only had 250 hours on it. I guess it depends on how long the season is where they're located at as well. Our season here is basically 2 1/2 months. Lots of variables.


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[HS]

(2012-2013) 230 with less than 100 hours -- in Canada?

If the boat was initially sold and registered and its first season was, say 2013, then its second season was 2014, 100 hours (more or less is pretty reasonable…as Woody (from Alberta) stated, "season here is basically 2 1/2 months". What i am saying is this: about 100 hours a season is "average" I hear, except in the northern latitudes we might get about half of that (I am in the Seattle area and have averaged 50 hours a year since 2008 -- less this season because we have other activities extending into early summer).

So, unless there is something sketchy in the appearance or gaps in maintenance, etc. those hours might be legit. Is it a 1 owner boat -- and are you in touch with the original owner?

To your question on 50 vs 300 hours, I'd look hard at the interior and the carpets and the gel…cosmetic stuff and wear and tear shows up with more frequent and long term use. Look closely at the seat vinyl -- open up everything and smell inside -- look at the edges of the opened seats and storage lockers for dirt. If its a 50 hour boat, it should be nearly "showroom" (just my opinion). Gel should be very clean and even some wax intact. Look at the swim step and where people would walk from there up onto the sun deck. Look for dirt and grime in the seams and on the gel under the seats where crumbs might collect.

[SkiTower]

"Questionable" enigne hours on used boats

my 2007 just tripped 200 hours. 5 engine hours a trip means you're on the lake 8-12 hours. And twice each weekend is someone who does nothing but boat. Between weather and conflicts and riding on friend's boats I'm doing good to get mine out an average of once a month

[Nordicron]

"Questionable" enigne hours on used boats

I ride all the time from april to November but I share rides between several other friends that have boats. We get in the water get our sets in and go. Can probably get 6 wakeboard sets in about 2.5 engine hours. We board right from the doc no needless cruising. With that said I'm usually about 75hrs a yr. I wouldn't be concerned in the least with a 2012 boat that only had 100hrs that would be normal use


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[dttheel]

This is our first summer owning a boat. We have put about 20 hours on it so far as our kids enjoy anchoring and swimming a great deal. If the owner of the boat doesn't live at the lake the low hours wouldn't surprise me at all.

[toomuchuv]

Thanks guys... your posts make sense. Just don't wanna get screwed if we're paying that much for a new rig!

Cheers

[SkiTower]

that being said, how he takes care of it is everything. There was a 220 next door to the cottage we rented that literally sat and rotted (someone with more money than sense). I'd buy 400hr cared for before a 50 hour neglected anyday


2007 SV211 SE

[SkiTower]

and if I'm not mistaken, prop rotation switched from 06-07. Mine pulls to the driver side, which is great for docking.


2007 SV211 SE

[Garrett Burke]

I ride a lot, I got 200 hrs in 1 year but I live on the water


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