Is there such a thing as using your boat too much?

Yup.

I will buy a well maintained high hours boat before I buy a low hours spider trap.

But let me say. . I will buy a well maintained low hours boat before I buy a high hours spider trap. :)

Having said that. . I intent to try to get either boat for 50% of its value, regardless.


Therefore. . .use your boat to the hilt. Your future buyers are not going to reward you for not using the boat.
 
tobnpr said:
If you go to sell your 8 year old boat with nearly 1000 hours on the gas engines, and there's an identical one that has 450- all other things being equal- it doesn't take a rocket scientist to know which one will sell first. Particularly when you get near the 1000 hour mark as that's when many people will begin to severely devalue the engines as being close to rebuild time.
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You have a good point there. Most potential buyers feel probably more or less intimidated by the idea of buying a gasser with over 1000 hours on it. Yet, I have never heard a boat engine to fail for excessive running hours given that it has been properly used and maintained. Have you? I think in most cases it's time, corrosion and lack of maintenance that kills these things.
 
I bought a 2001 this year with only 55 hours on it. It took many hours to really clean it up since while the previous owner never used it, it also wasn't kept clean. Then, about the third time out, it overheated and had to be towed. Turns out if you do not use it, the fresh water impeller dries out. Then, after a bit of usage, it disintegrates! In my case, no usage also meant no maintenance!

I have also noticed more bad scrapes and dents than I first realised were there. I suppose that no usage also meant no experience at piloting it!
 
All of these are very valid points, and it verifies my thoughts about the usage and proper preventive maintained along the way. It would seem that not using it and neglect often go hand in hand. The neglect portion seems to do more harm than usage.

Thanks to all for your input, it makes me feel better. Now I am off to use the boat some more.
 
I wish we could use ours every day, and to heck with what the hours end up being! Run it and enjoy it.

Im only at 135 hrs after a summer and half now, but the lack of hours now is also because everyone I know owns a boat and we take turns for wakeboarding/cruising.

But if we didnt have that benefit, rest assured every hour would be on our boat and I wouldnt think a minute about the hours on it other than to use as a reminder for the next maintenance:smt001
 
If I didn't use my boat every single chance I get, I wouldn't own it.

Some people in my marina think I'm crazy because I have 650 Hours on my boat built in 1994. Lots of dock queens here!
 
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:smt043I hear if you PLAY WITH IT you could go blind???better have sunglasses on. Keep it clean,and aim straight!:wow:
 
I was thinking the same thing as Bill, as we've racked up 74 hrs on our '09 280 that we only purchased on 5/31/09. I had the 20 hr service done only 3 weeks after picking her up and at this rate, I'll have to have the 100 hr done in the next few! We've been fortunate with a great summer this year in Seattle which has allowed us to be out on the boat 4-5 times a week, definitely weekends and after work.
 
150 hours a season and loving every one of them... that's why we have these right?

Now to convince the admiral to sell the house, upgrade the boat, and spend the rest of our life on it...
 
:smt038
hack4alivin said:
That was my thoughts behind this post. I see others at my marina with boats that sit, and they seem to have many problems. We on the other hand (knock on wood) have had a great season. So….. Is it better to use it??? Seems it can be.
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Well with that hull color, how could you not 'show it off'???
It's the best thing for your boat....... Our mech's say if it's not over 500 hrs, it's not broke in.. In some situations we have to run our factory boats as much as 50 hours before the dealer receives them ( diesels mostly).. Kinda like a good pair of shoes/jeans...... Not as good unless broke in.
 
No!!! Loved and cared For is what you have and she loves you back with the true soul of a friend!

You will miss her someday thank her today!!!
 
K-9 said:
No!!! Loved and cared For is what you have and she loves you back with the true soul of a friend!

You will miss her someday thank her today!!!
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Are we still speaking of an inanimate object? You know it is a boat, right? I hear less reverence for wives and girlfriends on this board :lol: :grin:
 
We bought ours with 94 hours. That was in Dec '07. We now have 325 or so. I believe that if the hours are higher and the boat appears well taken care of and documents show it's been well maintained it's one of the ones you would want. I wouldn't worry too much about it Bill. I intend on continuing using ours as often as we can get out and maintain it along the way.
 
billandamy said:
Are we still speaking of an inanimate object? You know it is a boat, right? I hear less reverence for wives and girlfriends on this board :lol: :grin:
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Boats don't complain unless something is really wrong, or go out and spend a ton of money without asking first. What's not to love? :lol:
 
skibum said:
Boats don't complain unless something is really wrong, or go out and spend a ton of money without asking first. What's not to love? :lol:
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:grin: Thats when they become EX wives
 
I wish I had your problem Bill. With this other new hip the summer has been a bust. The WAR DEPARTMET is ready to sail without me. I hope to be on the water in about a month but will never catch up to those boating hours this season. I did however walk the 34 steps down to our dock today. That's a start. Not bad for 4 weeks since surgery.
Take care all,
George





 
Bodkin Creek George said:
I wish I had your problem Bill. With this other new hip the summer has been a bust. The WAR DEPARTMET is ready to sail without me. I hope to be on the water in about a month but will never catch up to those boating hours this season. I did however walk the 34 steps down to our dock today. That's a start. Not bad for 4 weeks since surgery.
Take care all,
George
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That’s great news George, glad to see things are progressing well. Here’s to being back on the water. I make sure we stop by for a visit our next trip down to Pleasure Cove.
 
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