How many hours is alot?

S

sfranklin

New Member
Mar 5, 2011
10
st joseph mo
Boat Info
boatless
Engines
boatless
I was wondering if 2200 hours on a generator is alot for a 1991 420. So confused on all this stuff, Really need some good advice, looking to buy a repo from a bank, they really dont have much info on the boat and Im feeling my way in the dark, boat looks great, but that really is a small part of the picture, any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated,Also going to need a survey done ,boat is at Lake of the Ozarks, any good people to talk to there?:smt101
 
sfranklin said:
I was wondering if 2200 hours on a generator is alot for a 1991 420. So confused on all this stuff, Really need some good advice, looking to buy a repo from a bank, they really dont have much info on the boat and Im feeling my way in the dark, boat looks great, but that really is a small part of the picture, any advice or comments would be greatly appreciated,Also going to need a survey done ,boat is at Lake of the Ozarks, any good people to talk to there?:smt101
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YES! ALOT OF HOURS I'D SAY..... if it's been maintained through the years it could be be OK .....Not sure...:huh:.

Someone with more knowledge will chime in i'm sure.

Good luck anyway....:thumbsup:
 
Give lots of details when you ask a question. Brand....model.....gas...diesel....saltwater use....freshwater use etc.
Just trying to help you get better responses.
 
I don't know if that is a lot and considered high time for that engine but it averages only a bit over 100 hrs a year of run time which doesn't seem like a lot if it spent much time anchored.
 
2200 hours on a generator whether gas or diesel over 20 or so years doesn't seem bad. The biggest question is how the gen was maintained in that amount of time. They are made to run and run at the same 1800 RPM or whatever so not as big of a concern. If oil and plugs have been changed regularly and everything has been maintained the hours are not so scary. If maintenance records are available then ask to see them. Definately get a survey. Ask the broker handling this for some names. You can also go online and look for surveyors in the area. I think you said Lake of the Ozarks there are surveyors all over the place for sure. You might even check with local dealers, marinas, etc. for some names. Good luck!
 
2200 hours on a diesel generator is nothing... Especially if maintained well (ie. Regular oil changes). Expect 5000-6000 hrs if maintained, before an overhaul is necessary.
 
Hours are not as important as maintenance in the longevity issue.

I've got a friend who runs a charter boat in Florida with a 10KW Westerbeke and 3208 Caterpillar engines. In Oct, 2010, he was at 18,700+ hours on the Cats and over 20,000 hours on the generator. However, he makes his living with his boat and spends every day he isn't on a charter on maintenance. So high time could be ok.........

However, anybody who has a boat repossessed has financial trouble and the first thing they stop spending $ on is maintenance.......get both a hull and a mechanical survey by a trained technician for the make engines you have.
 
ok here is some info on this boat I am looking at 1991 Searay Sundancer 420 or 440 according to the side of the boat.Its a bank repo, asking 59900. Looks great but the broker has no info on the boat, Gas engines,generator as I said gen has 2200 hrs, Im afraid that when I have the survey it will be a friend of the broker or bank and pencil push it. Also Im making Offers to bank blindly because I dont even know what equiptment it has,I think the engines say 7.4,The broker said that if they find something wrong with the boat during the survey the bank would prob fix it but Im not holding much faith in that. We have been going back and forth and are at my last offer at 44000.will hear Monday what they come back with. Hope I havent put to much info out there that I shouldnt have but I really need advice. any ideas where I can get an owners manual? tried on Searays web but didnt find one. Also how would I find the value of this boat so I know what offer is good?I have a male friend helping a little but he really doesnt know about this process either. The broker says he thinks the boat is in great shape but how would he know if he doesnt have info ???
 
That is a lot of hours on a gas genny. How many hours on the motors? Be careful here...
 
That is a cold, cold boat with gas engines. She is big and heavy and you will have a very hard time selling a 2000 hour 20,000 lb boat with 7.4L mercs for power. With gas headed for $4.00+ on the water, you will not like burning the 36 or so GPH the 420 will need.

Cheap doesn't necessarily make it a good buy.
 
fwebster said:
That is a cold, cold boat with gas engines. She is big and heavy and you will have a very hard time selling a 2000 hour 20,000 lb boat with 7.4L mercs for power. With gas headed for $4.00+ on the water, you will not like burning the 36 or so GPH the 420 will need.

Cheap doesn't necessarily make it a good buy.
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so I should be looking for diesel engines? Thank you for the input I really need it.Wasnt really buying the boat because it was cheap so much as the broker said it was a great boat for me,since I had never had a larger boat.All the advice is much appreciated
 
To each his own.............

However, you need to go into this decision with as much information as you can. We never like to think about it, but there may be a day when the boat you own needs to be sold for financial reasons or to allow you to move on to the next boat. While the 420/440 is a great boat, you will have a boat that is expensive to operate and that will have a very limited demand if you want to sell it.

In this sized boat, one with diesel power will be more economical to run and will have a following. However, diesels bring on a risk element that needs to be factored in. You must have an engine survey on diesels, unless you are familiar with them. Major repairs on a diesel is significantly more expensive than the same repair on a 7.4L gas motor.

Maybe the broker is being honest with you and thinks the boat is a fit in your situation, but maybe he thinks it is a great boat for you because he has it for sale.

Finally, get a ride on a gas and a diesel before making a decision.......you will get a lot of questions and concerns answered for you.
 
I own a 1992 440, and Frank is spot on. No comparison between the gasser and the diesel. From a diesel standpoint only, considering the age, I would not fear hours on the genny. They are much happier being run regularly than not.
 
My genny is a 1982 and has 2000 hours on it. Starts perfect every time. Takes the load of everything on the boat with no issues. It actually runs and starts better then my last genny with was a 4.5 Westerbeke with 120 hours on it! There is no oil filter on this Onan, so I change the oil every 40-50 hours. It alwats comes back out clean.
 
sfranklin said:
ok here is some info on this boat I am looking at 1991 Searay Sundancer 420 or 440 according to the side of the boat.Its a bank repo, asking 59900. Looks great but the broker has no info on the boat, Gas engines,generator as I said gen has 2200 hrs, Im afraid that when I have the survey it will be a friend of the broker or bank and pencil push it. Also Im making Offers to bank blindly because I dont even know what equiptment it has,I think the engines say 7.4,The broker said that if they find something wrong with the boat during the survey the bank would prob fix it but Im not holding much faith in that. We have been going back and forth and are at my last offer at 44000.will hear Monday what they come back with. Hope I havent put to much info out there that I shouldnt have but I really need advice. any ideas where I can get an owners manual? tried on Searays web but didnt find one. Also how would I find the value of this boat so I know what offer is good?I have a male friend helping a little but he really doesnt know about this process either. The broker says he thinks the boat is in great shape but how would he know if he doesnt have info ???
Click to expand...

It has gas engines, and they are 20 years old... What I would do is look at are the comparable boat prices, and consider the worst case of having to re-power and replace the gennerator... Get a total cost and see if your prepared to pay the the total cost... I would also compare the cost to re-power with diesels and compare to diesel boat... 42 DAs with gas engines are as popular has the diesel boats...
 
We had a gas 420 and loved it. The boat with solid engines and good props will cruise in the low 20s and top out just under 30. Only recomendation, is hire you own survey. I am a broker, some are honest and some are not.
 
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