5.7 MerCruiser...480hrs
- Thread starter Gaz0la
- Start date
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
Where was the boat used (fresh/salt water)? What's the location FL, where it was used 12months a year?
Where was the boat used (fresh/salt water)? What's the location FL, where it was used 12months a year?
Ok...Used and kept in Salt water..In Australia...Used in Sydney..I have the service records...It has had regular work on it in 2006-2007..(enine oil-gear oil.anodes..etc etc ..Nothing in 2008..$3,600.00 aus dollars spent on overhaul in jan 2009...as for usage regularity...do not know..!!
Ok...Used and kept in Salt water..In Australia...Used in Sydney..I have the service records...It has had regular work on it in 2006-2007..(enine oil-gear oil.anodes..etc etc ..Nothing in 2008..$3,600.00 aus dollars spent on overhaul in jan 2009...as for usage regularity...do not know..!!
Larry
Well-Known Member
- Oct 19, 2006
- 1,284
- Boat Info
- 2004 42 Sundancer
Hydraulic platform
Cockpit air
KVH M3
- Engines
- 450hp Cummins
I would say if it is priced according to the hours it would not be out of the question. Usage is not necesarily a bad thing, I would asume this to be raw water cooled. Some of the concerns you should have is the condition of exhausts and I have seen raw water cooled small block motors have head gasket failures around 750 hrs. Some of the coolers that are for the power steering and fuel I have seen fail from heavy salt water usage around 400 -500 hrs. Some of these components fail even earlier if the boat goes not used for extended periods of time as well.
Good luck!
Good luck!
Alex F
Well-Known Member
- Nov 14, 2006
- 9,166
- Boat Info
- 2005 420DB with AB 11 DLX Tender, Raymarine Electronics (2x12" MFDs) with Vesper AIS
- Engines
- Cummins 450Cs, 9KW Onan Generator, 40HP Yamaha for tender.
If the boat was always in the salt water I would worry about outdrive more than the engine. I think it's critical to know how was the boat used. Was it in a slip all the time or was it trainlered to a ramp and taken out after each use, engine and drive flushed with fresh water, etc.
With the asumption that it was used out of slip I would say outdrive, manifolds and risers are the major items to be checked.
In the end, if the price is right and the condition of the boat is very good I would consider this boat. As Larry said, since the engine was used a bit more, it's not a bad thing, as long us it was cared for properly.
As I recall, properly maintained engine can run in the range 2,000-3,000hrs.
Last edited:
As others have said, it really all comes down to how it was used and cared for.
At a bare minimum, do a compression test.
I bought the boat I currently have with 480 hours on it. I wasn't worried about it. One thing I didn't account for was that the oil pan had started to rust out. The only way to change an oil pan in these boats is to pull the engine. I would suggest you find a "mirror on a stick".
At a bare minimum, do a compression test.
I bought the boat I currently have with 480 hours on it. I wasn't worried about it. One thing I didn't account for was that the oil pan had started to rust out. The only way to change an oil pan in these boats is to pull the engine. I would suggest you find a "mirror on a stick".
Larry
Well-Known Member
- Oct 19, 2006
- 1,284
- Boat Info
- 2004 42 Sundancer
Hydraulic platform
Cockpit air
KVH M3
- Engines
- 450hp Cummins
This is going to come down to how well it was maintained, 480hrs. is not that bad to have done in 4 years. I would rather have a 4 year old boat with 480hrs. on it then a 10 year old boat with 200 hrs. on it. If this boat was trailerd, it did not spend much time on it!
magster65
New Member
480 hours isn't much unless it's a Merc racing engine... and it isn't. I had a 26' Tollycraft sedan bridge with a merc 5.7 (4v) and it had over 2900 hours on it with only having the heads done once. It now has over 3400 hours on it and the new owners have decided to replace it because it's starting to use oil... finally! It still runs great!
35 express
New Member
Hi i want you to know thati have a 1990 searay 35 express and i have over 1100 hours on it and it is perfect as long as you take of it and keep it serviced i hope to get another 1000 hours on it hope this will help
- Oct 12, 2006
- 1,974
- Boat Info
- "On Vacation"
2006 40 Sundancer
Raymarine E125 & HD Radar + Garmin 5208
- Engines
- QSB5.9 380 Cummins
OK, my answer would be 'it depends'. If the price was right, I would not walk away from the boat because of the hours. Hers' what I would do:
1) assess the overall condition of the engine and do a compression test. Test drive the engine, make sure it gets to WOT and sounds good getting there. Look for any noise or hesitations with throttle response. (Already I assume manifolds and other items will need to be replaced and costs are incorporated into the deal.) "Is there life left in this engine or is visibly shot."
2) Check the maintenance records of previous owner. If there aren't any or if they are incomplete, I would be suspicious. "Was this thing cared for and maintained properly?"
3) I would get my rinda scanner and take a look at how many hours were run within various RPM ranges. I bet this thing ran 400 hours at idle speed, ie less than 1000 RPMs. "Did this owner run the thing like a banchee at high RPMs to get his rocks off?"
$10K to replace the engine, worst case scenario...
1) assess the overall condition of the engine and do a compression test. Test drive the engine, make sure it gets to WOT and sounds good getting there. Look for any noise or hesitations with throttle response. (Already I assume manifolds and other items will need to be replaced and costs are incorporated into the deal.) "Is there life left in this engine or is visibly shot."
2) Check the maintenance records of previous owner. If there aren't any or if they are incomplete, I would be suspicious. "Was this thing cared for and maintained properly?"
3) I would get my rinda scanner and take a look at how many hours were run within various RPM ranges. I bet this thing ran 400 hours at idle speed, ie less than 1000 RPMs. "Did this owner run the thing like a banchee at high RPMs to get his rocks off?"
$10K to replace the engine, worst case scenario...
