My first boat! '85 sea ray 270

[wade777]

Hello everyone, just purchased my first boat and cant wait to try it out :smt038 It's in a covered slip at a marina where I'll keep it after purchase as well. Although it's a little late to ask, I was wondering if anyone had experience with the engines on it - twin mercruiser 4.3L FWC 185 hp. I can't seem to find any information on that exact type so far. They have quite a few hours on them (1400) and am curious if taken care of just how long I can expect them to run. Here's a link to the yachtworld.com listing of it and recent work done:

http://www.yachtworld.com/core/list...lleymarinayachts&&ywo=napavalleymarinayachts&

I've taken it on a sea trial and everything on it worked. It was surveyed about 2 yrs ago with a clean bill of health and the owner has 2 other boats at the marina as well as being a certified marine mechanic who's been very friendly/helpful through all my questions.

I'll try to get some of my own pics of it soon and get a signature up when I figure out how:smt001 Just thought I'd say hello and look forward to asking you all lots of questions in the future! :grin:

 

[wade777]

Ok testing the signature

 

[J Levine]

Nice looking boat! The 4.3 V6 is basically a chevy 350 with the last two cylinders removed and shares many parts with the 350. At 1400 hours I would say that you are pushing the end of service life, though you will find folks with small blocks that have much more time then these. Keeping the exhaust system serviced is key to preventing damage to the motors.

 

[wade777]

Thanks for the reply J. Yeah hopefully keeping up on the general maintenance will keep them running awhile longer for me. Otherwise this so called "hole in the water I throw money into" will get a bit bigger sooner rather than later

 

[chuck1]

Welcome aboard.

 

[KRB64]

Welcome!

At 1400 hours I would say that you are pushing the end of service life, though you will find folks with small blocks that have much more time then these. Keeping the exhaust system serviced is key to preventing damage to the motors.

So is your estimate a worse case scenario or a rough average? Is this because marine engines are usually run at high RPMS? Comparing apples to oranges but a vehicle driving 1400 hours at 75 mph racks up only 105,000 miles. Not trying to dispute, just wanting to also understand the service life of a 70's era marine engine. I've wondered what the "average" lifespan was myself. Granted that engines of the 70's lasted nowhere near what they do today. Just curious.