[JoeyWelch]

What would be considered an extreme amount of time on fourstroke engines?
What is the most hours you know of being put on one?
I know it is all relative to the servicing and premaint schedule but lets say 1100hrs. on a yamaha 4stroke. Would it be fair to say that 1/2 the life is over?? 3/4??

I see a lot of them with 1300hrs but I'm wondering how high that number might go.

What'cha think?? Thanks.

 

[fisheye48]

ive heard some of the capts out of LA have around 3-4K on some

 

[Brad King]

I have 1500hrs on my 2010 Yamaha F250. Still purrs like a kitten!

 

[Chet88]

Just now broken in.

 

[whome]

Yeah Joey I'd say 1100 is really just broken in for a 4s.. Like you said, regular routine maint and you should be able to get 3-4k easily... The rule on the 2 strokes was 10 years or 1000 hours

 

[JoshH]

I always kind of looked at it like 100k miles on a car/truck. Nothing to be afraid of, its a yamaha.

 

[Quietgenialboy]

It really isn't a question of how much time is left in the engine...but what is the cost to maintain the engine vs. buying a new one.

Every single part of the engine can be replaced over time...at what point is it no longer worth it for you to upkeep the motor? If you aren't wanting to pay money to replace rods and pistons and such...that is the life of the engine. If you aren't willing to replace gaskets and fuel lines...that would be the life of the engine.

Get an idea of the engine you want...price it...see how close your upkeep bill comes to the cost of your new engine. Assume the new engine will not need major upkeep for a few years...if 3xupkeep = close to new engine...just buy the new engine and sell the old one for cheap.

Manipulate the math until the equation is something that you can sell your significant other on...

 

[Matt Mcleod]

I put about 4000 hours on a 150 yamaha four stroke. When I sold the boat I still had complete confidence in the motor.

 

[whome]

I put about 4000 hours on a 150 yamaha four stroke. When I sold the boat I still had complete confidence in the motor.

Also evidence that using a boat on a regular basis is better for it rather than using it twice a year...

 

[MULLET HUNTER]

Yeah Joey I'd say 1100 is really just broken in for a 4s.. Like you said, regular routine maint and you should be able to get 3-4k easily... The rule on the 2 strokes was 10 years or 1000 hours

What do you know you neglected yours after 40hrs.....:whistling: Just forgot about ole girl....

 

[SHO-NUFF]

It depends on how many hours you would actually put on the engine each year after purchase. There are plenty of 30 year plus outboards still on the water running great without a major overhaul.

Are you buying a used Boat/Engine or just the Engine itself? There are plenty of good 2 strokes on the market available from upgrades to 4 strokes.

I would look hard at buying a used 4 stroke. Being there is really no reason to re power unless someone is looking for more horsepower, or has the money to replace an engine that is almost out of warranty.
A tournament fishing friend once told me a Yamaha 4 stroke was the best engine he had ever owned... But, had re-powered the boat close to the end of the factory warranty running out.
Most of us don't enjoy that option, and I would get plenty of documented history of why the person was selling such a great engine. Really, its a crap-shoot. Old or new, any of them can puke a rod at anytime. If it is a fantastic deal, go for it after a sea trial if it possible. Many engines that sound great out of the water run like crap under load.

 

[JoeyWelch]

Thanks guy's. I have found a couple boats and they both have over 1000hrs. on them. I just really didn't know what I was looking at as for the engine time.

Good news. Thanks.

 

[whome]

Thanks guy's. I have found a couple boats and they both have over 1000hrs. on them. I just really didn't know what I was looking at as for the engine time.

Good news. Thanks.

Once you find one you really like I would have a mechanic look it over really well... David at Davlor Marine is mobile and list this service on his website for less than $100. That in my opinion would be the best $100 spent :thumbup:

 

[SHO-NUFF]

As Capt. Jon said,
Have a Mechanic look at, evaluate the condition, and go over the on board diagnostics. Also demand proof of at least the Factory recommend maintenance as far as oil changes etc. A responsible owner should have some sort of documentation of normal maintenance.
You have to approach a used outboard like a new Girlfriend. They might look great on the outside, but the inside has some serious problems!
Good Luck!

 

[DOUBLE "D" & LV]

Thanks for the bump Jon. When I worked at a dealer, we had a commercial guy that had over 3000 hrs on his engine not too long after a year of owning the thing. Think of a four stroke like a car engine (except on steroids). If you maintain them AND use them, they will last for a looooooooooooong time. And if you never change the oil in them, they will be short lived.

 

[Bean Counter]

Not sure about the hours, but about several years ago in Belize was when I got sold on the 4 stroke Yamaha's. Took a trip from Ambergris Caye to the mainland. The captain was full throttle on the way there with twin 250s, 30-40 mile run. On the way back same thing. Asked him how the engines held up with that kind of use as I never ran full throttle for that long in my boats. He said those engines had been on the boat for 3 years and other than the stormy days he had made that round trip at least twice a day since they were new. No problems, just regular maintenance since new. I guess hours don't matter as long as you keep them up.

 

[JoeyWelch]

Once you find one you really like I would have a mechanic look it over really well... David at Davlor Marine is mobile and list this service on his website for less than $100. That in my opinion would be the best $100 spent :thumbup:

Capt. I wish this was an option. The one I like is 400 miles away.

 

[dockmaster]

Not to derail the thread, but there is a real good article in this months Boat US magazine, about 2000-2004 Yamaha F225 models and corrosion problems. It concerns engines in that year group and normally between 500-700 hours. The exhaust gasses appear to corrode the exhaust tube and sometimes the engines oil pan, which is in the same area. Yamaha repaired the engines that were under warranty but for the ones that weren't......big repair bill. Everyone involved in the report agreed the Ethanol was NOT a factor!!
http://www.boatus.com/magazine/2012/october/Yamaha-F225-Corrosion-Complaints.asp

Just some info.

Billd

 

[smann316]

I had a captain in Venice, La tell me he uses his 4 strokes for 5000 hours then replaces them. There is nothing wrong with his motors, that's just what he does.

 

[boatman]

I've have seen over 9000 hrs " documented" on a 4 stroke Yamaha (200hp)