Hours of Engine useage!!

[DERMYH]

Hi all. I am trying to decide on buying a Mercury Outboard engine which has been used in salt water with 350 hours of work done. Can anybody tell me if this is a lot of hours on an egine or not??

 

[05GlastronSX]

Re: Hours of Engine useage!!

350 hours for a freshwater engine is not a lot at all. normally a well maintained one will go for 1000++ hours without any major work...as for saltwater, id take more hours into consideration since salt corrodes everything.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: Hours of Engine useage!!

Check the compression. If it is good, then most likely the motor is in pretty good shape.

 

[MortenH]

Re: Hours of Engine useage!!

The corrotion from salt water varys with the temperature and the amount of salt in the water. I have seen 10 year old engines corroded into scrap, and I have seen my 1984 115 HP without any traces of corrosion. The question is probably wether the boat has been in the sea all season or if it has rested on a trailer when not in use. When the boat is in the sea all season, the engine is better off with more hours on it because it will corrode more when not running. Do as studlymandingo says, and also check the wiring visually for corroded wires and connectors. And of course - if the motor looks like scrap, the maintainance would probably be equal.<br /><br />-M-

 

[DERMYH]

Re: Hours of Engine useage!!

Thanks guys. The engine I am thinking of buying is a<br />1997 Mercury 60HP. It was used by the coast guard <br />so it was serviced reguarly and was out of the water when not in use. There was a pair of this engine on the one boat but they have upgraded to the one more powerfull engine. I have inspected the wireing etc and there appears to be little or no corrosion. <br />Should I buy???