Outboard hours ?

[Madduck98]

Hey Guys, I'm looking to buy a boat soon. Just wondering how many hours an outboard can handle? Whats considerd too many hours and such? Thanks in advance for the help :)

[ESOX]

Hours mean very little compared to HOW the hours were accumulated. Run a compression test. Run it through it's paces forward and reverse. Modern outboards are like cars, they go a long, long time compared to the ones from a few decades ago.

[DANIEL MARK ZAPOLSKI]

As Said Before, Run The Engine Test And Request To See A Dated P.m. Log. Any Person Who Takes Any Type Of Care Of Their Car Would Do The Same With A Boat And Its Engine Or Engines. I Keep A Maintanence Log On My Mercury 4 Stroke 15 Hp Big Foot I.e. Hours / Oil / Oil Filter / Lube / Lower End Etc.
No Log Usually Means Bad Maintanence = Bad Luck =you'll
Pay Big$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$$ For Repairs

[TONGA]

On a 2 stroke ? Hours? A zillion hours then a checkup,, oh wait maybe that was 2 zillion

[john warren]

ok typicaly an inboard runs about 50 hours to an oil change=3000 miles on a car.
outboards have fresh oil at all times assuming you didn't screw up. so its harder to say.
most fishing boats run acrossed a lake they shut off and fish. maybe running a electric trolling motor. then run back to the dock or boat ramp.
thats why motors from the 50's 60's and 70's are still running just fine.
my 33 horse 1965 evenrude is doing great.
now some are used hard and wear out. but most only run an hour or two on one or two days a week .
now heres the dirty little secret about boats and motors......
everyone that finaly can afford a boat runs out and buys a new boat.
then they want a bigger one and go buy a new boat....
used boats can be a buyers market and many fantastic deals are out there.
you can buy a nicer used boat for less money then you can a new one.
just do some homework and learn a little about them.

[Madduck98]

Thanks for the info guys :)

[UP_ROKTOY]

A leak down test is your friend, as is a compression test.

Hours vary CONSIDERABLY.

Take a high strung Race application 2.5 liter merc 260 or 280....Needs rings every 100-200 Hours.

Normal Outboards can see 600+ hours easily.

4 Strokes have other maintenance issues I am not familiar with.

Give a make or model and your answers can be much better. Every make and model has their bad apple.