# of hours before the boat value plummets?

[Miljack]

Hi all,
any rough estimates on the hours a CC can have on it, and still hold it's market value? It seems as though once a boat goes through the 400 hour mark, the boat becomes a little more difficult to sell.

Anyone who sells their boat on a regular basis have a comment? What hour count before one needs to hold onto the boat until it sinks?

thanks,
Jack

[laddski]

RE: # of hours before the boat value plummets?

I think the 400 mark is a little low. I would not be deterred on a boat below about 600-700 hours. Assuming it was well take care of during that time. However, I am speaking from personal view and not experience.

[Mikeski]

RE: # of hours before the boat value plummets?

I think most people see 1,000 hours as the bewitching mark, kind of like when a car hit 100k.

[Grant_West]

I think it all depend's. Example I have 512 hrs on my boat. I bet more than 1/2 of the Hrs are spent below 5-mph. And I always keep up on my maint oil and filter changes. I dont run extra balast becides the stereo, LOL and keep great care of the boat. I have seen lots of boats with 200 Hrs on them that are beat down. I would take a boat that has been looked after with more hrs on it than a boat with Low hrs and has been hammerd.

I think the key is to keep good care of the boat instead of looking at Hrs, this comes from a person than has never had to sell a used boat so I might be way off base, But If I was in the market for a used boat I would try and find the most kept after boat and choose it off of how well its kept and how it looks. Price and hrs would be a second and 3rd deciding factor

[jthooker]

My 1992 196 SN had 436 hours when I traded it in on my 1997.
My 1997 196 SN had 430 hours when I traded it in on my 2004.
Neither boat had any mechanical problems and were not showing any indications that any were about to occur. I wouldn’t have had any concerns about performance and reliability of these boats if I had chosen to keep them up through 700 or 800 hours. However, the cosmetic issues from normal usage and exposure were taking more and more maintenance time to keep up with. The dealer told me that appearances were especially important to get top resale value over 400 hours so I really detailed them beyond my usual picky standards. I think that most prospective buyers understand that 400 hours on a well-cared-for Nautique are not that much, but the visual details need to support the “well-cared-for” testimony. Also, I would not buy a used Nautique (or any ski boat) that didn’t include maintenance records and permission to contact the previous owner.

[EchoLodge]

Hours

I was excited about hitting the mark!

[Rhode]

Sound Illusions makes prescient points about hours, cleanliness and ballast. Heathen wakeboarders who regularly drown their swim platforms would be wise to keep their boats spotless and hide their sacks when trying to sell. Just stating the obvious...

On a more serious note, though, there are a lot of things that you can do to keep your boat looking clean. For example, I have found that keeping a fresh coat of CRC 6-56 or WD-40 on my engine wards off corrosion in a big way. I learned this the hard way on my first boat. Perhaps, others can share their tips that are less obvious that putting a thin layer of oil on your engine.

[Hollywood]

I'd use silicon spray before WD-40 (which has water in it).

[Proud2BeCC]

I agree with Mikeski. I've always heard the rule that every 100 hours is comparable to 10,000 miles of equivalent miles on a car engine. Nicely maintained, I would not have a problem going slightly above 500-600 hours on a used boat.

[SprintCar39]

One thing that was not mentioned was the year of boat/hours. For example a 2005 with 300 hours will take a hit if you want to sell it compared to one with 45 hours. We have only had the hours be a concern to the buyer on a very few deals. Maintence records can help to make a boat worth more and I would encourage everyone to keep one. It is amazing how many people ask if there is one with the boat.

[surroundsound64]

I'd use silicon spray before WD-40 (which has water in it).

Are you sure WD-40 was water in it? After all, it does stand for water displacement 40th attempt.

I agree with you, I'd use silicon spray first, but not b/c WD-40 might have water in it.

I'm not doubting you... I'm just kinda confused and interested.

[usedski]

# of hours before the boat value plummets?

I agree with Rhode about applying protective coatings especially in salt or brackish water. In San Diego we use a product called Corrosion Block. It can be found on the Internet and it comes in spray or pump bottles with green and blue lettering. It must be good stuff because the people at Mission Bay Aquatic Center recommended it to me and their boats live in salt water, but look great. Anything that pays off with higher value is worth the effort. :mrgreen:

[Separator]

Re: # of hours before the boat value plummets?

In San Diego we use a product called Corrosion Block

.

Usedski, Where do you ski or board in the San Diego area.

I get down that way quite a few times a year and would like to find someone to ski with. :grin:

[Rhode]

Usedski,

Thanks for the tip about Corrosion Block. It's surely superior to the hardware store stuff I'm using. It's like you knew I wakeboard mostly
on brackish water here in MD, but we have never met, or have we? Uncanny!

I am going to take an equally wild guess that you don't actually ski in Mission Bay, which is very salty and choppy, and instead run the course in that fresh water pond located in the Big Horn Sheep exhibit at the San
Diego Zoo's Wild Animal Park. It must be reassuring to have such a protected place to enjoy your Nautique. I understand that Big Horn Sheep are native to Southern California, but there are only 300 living in the desert there today. Please confirm any of this.

Rhode

[usedski]

Separator and Rhode

Wow I guess I’m just lucky. After checking out some of the other topics here on PN, I get the bash brothers responding to my post. One thinks he’s a psychic and one’s looking for a ski buddy. Great! You guys are both too far out for me with your over zealous attacks and sarcasm. I tried PN because I thought they would be better at monitoring guys like you, but they are obviously not so count me out. :shock:

Usedski gone.