Considering a used 44 Hunter 2004 with 160 hours on engine, is that too many hours for a year old boat?
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No, It's Nice It's Been Used
That means it probably has all (most of) the new-boat issues delt with. It is trivial hours in the due course of things (I have 1600 hours on my Yanmar and the boat is ten years old.) It would be good to see that the initial warranty service has been performed. Rick D.
That means it probably has all (most of) the new-boat issues delt with. It is trivial hours in the due course of things (I have 1600 hours on my Yanmar and the boat is ten years old.) It would be good to see that the initial warranty service has been performed. Rick D.
Consider location
Agree with prev post, that is minimal hours. Take into consideration where the boat was kept (very long motoring distance from sailing area) or how the previous owner used the boat. Maybe it was delivered and motored. I would be more concerned about 160 hours and it never left port! Too much idle time! If you are really really concerned, have the surveyor do an oil analysis on the engine.
Agree with prev post, that is minimal hours. Take into consideration where the boat was kept (very long motoring distance from sailing area) or how the previous owner used the boat. Maybe it was delivered and motored. I would be more concerned about 160 hours and it never left port! Too much idle time! If you are really really concerned, have the surveyor do an oil analysis on the engine.
I assume the 2004 boat in question is just nearing the end of its second season? If so, 80 hrs per season seems pretty normal and ordinary to me (I put on about 100 hrs per season in my boat and that involves about 60 days per season sailing). Another factor is how the engine hours were calculated. If the PO told you he recorded 160 hrs I would trust those numbers. If the numbers come from reading the hour meter on the panel, all bets are off as the hour meter may keep running when the engine is off and the ignition is on...meaning the actual engine hours are really lower. In any event, 160 hrs on a two yr old boat seems quite minimal to me. As others stated, the real key is what maintenance was done and how the engine was used. To me, this is a nearly new engine....
If there's a problem it's because the engine isn't
broken in yet. That's only half the hours to the first oil change. And a 44 footer is a cruiser, not a day sailor. That means HOURS. And the more in a short time, the better. Down the ICW or up to Alaska from the northwest is good for 500 hours a season. No sweat for a diesel.
broken in yet. That's only half the hours to the first oil change. And a 44 footer is a cruiser, not a day sailor. That means HOURS. And the more in a short time, the better. Down the ICW or up to Alaska from the northwest is good for 500 hours a season. No sweat for a diesel.
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