Engine Hours

[wellswa]

I've noticed on a lot of boats (I've been shopping for a little over a year now) that there always seems to be a difference in engine hours between port and starboard. I bought a 1997 330 DA about 2 months ago and there is a difference of about 30 hours between the motors. Any ideas why this is seen on so many boats?

 

[skolbe]

Could be the owner starts one motor over the other more often.

 

[Alex F]

If there was just few hours difference that could indicate a possible break down and limp home on one engine. But, 30hrs sounds like another story. Maybe a rebuilt engine?

 

[mwph]

Are they the originals? If so I guess it could be a half dozen reasons. If not, maybe they were repelced 6 months apart. Either the P.O. or maybe even the marina where it was kept could provide specifics.

 

[ardeprint]

I belive a combination of several things are to be considered.
1- You are looking at a 14 year old boat. IMHO 30 hour difference is not too bad for 14 years
2- Prev. owners' Habits of running one engine longer
3- Over 14 years single engine "limp homes" could cause a noticeable difference. I once took three hours to get home on one engine what would normally take 40 minutes.
4- A malfunctioning hour meter

 

[jason78]

On some pre-ECM555 (and/or Smartcraft Gauge equipped) Sea Rays, the Genny is somehow tied in to the hour meter on one engine or the other. I don't know why or how but I know it was done. I have friends with 2003 down Sea Rays that have one engine reading way over the other in hours because of the Genny.

 

[l-skynyrd]

Maybe the previous owner did a lot of trolling-fishing. Running both engines was
probably to fast, therefore would run just one engine. Probably the one that
runs the power steering.

Len

 

[Someday Lady II]

Maybe the previous owner did a lot of trolling-fishing. Running both engines was
probably to fast, therefore would run just one engine. Probably the one that
runs the power steering.

Len

Exactly correct. My 20 year old boat was owned by an avid fisherman and I have a 300 hour difference on the meters. The one with power steering is the one with more hours.

 

[fwebster]

On that year boat, my guess is that the original owner had a problem with the tachs and one was replaced at 30 hours. But, the causes could be additive as well.......any number of the reasons mentioned above could also be at play here. My view is that it is more of a curiosity than ac ause for concern. If there were 3300 hours difference, then that begs some probing. I'd say move on and to check your risers and manifolds. They bother me more than the 30 hour engine time differential.

 

[Nauti 97]

My 370 Sundancer has a difference in hrs as well.
When I travel from My Marina to Lake Michigan, it is about 45 minutes of no wake speed.
So I run on 1 engine only to save on fuel usage. I try to alternate between the engines when I go no wake,
But sometimes forget which one I ran Last. In a 14 yr old boat that could have been what was done. that only equtes to
2 Hrs a yr difference. I had my engines checked on the E.C.M. and they were different by what the Hr. meters read. I was about 6 Hrs difference
between my engines when I bought mine Last yr. So I dont think I would worry about the difference. The previous owner may have ran 1 engine when at no wake speed.

 

[rcknecht]

Mine are off by a about 2 hours from limping home on one engine as Alex mentioned... 30 hours is too much with out a reason... I would ask why... Engine are typically an hour or two off just from how you you start your engines...