Design of Yamaha Outboard Motors Intended For 4,000-Hour Useful Life

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Author Topic:   Design of Yamaha Outboard Motors Intended For 4,000-Hour Useful Life

contender posted 05-23-2007 09:57 PM ET (US)
I was looking for another boat, and found one, When I question the owner about the hours on the engines he stated 800 hours (2001 225 Yamahas in salt water). I told him that was to many hours on the engines (I then made a low ball offer on the boat)and they would probably have to be replaced in a year two at the most. He then stated that Yamaha states their engines are designed to go 4000 hours. My question is has anyone ever heard this before?
jimh posted 05-23-2007 11:35 PM ET (US)
I have never heard that the design of a Yamaha outboard motor was done with the goal of achieving 4,000 hours of useful life, but it does make a helluva good story to tell to a prospective buyer if you happen to own some engines that have 800 hours on them.
contender posted 05-23-2007 11:42 PM ET (US)
Thanks, I offered him alot less for the boat, with the intention of replacing the engines, he would not bite. Gave him my phone and email we will see, thanks again
Lil Whaler Lover posted 05-24-2007 06:30 AM ET (US)
It probably does not matter very much what the design life of an engine is if it has not been properly broken in and maintained. Thee design life is no better than the life provided by proper maintenance.
I have seen a Force (remember them?) with over 2,000 trouble free hours that was fed good oil and properly maintained.
I have also seen engines from every major manufacturer with major powerhead problems with way less than 100 hours on them, some as little as two hours. Here I am only talking about engines with computer readouts available to tell the tale of customer abuse, or running out of oil, or putting the wrong oil in them etc. etc. etc..
While my first choice would not be to start out with engines having 800 hours on them, I would a least want to see the maintenance records before making a final decision if the boat met my desires otherwise.
handn posted 05-24-2007 09:04 AM ET (US)
I have YamaMerc efi 4-strokes with 860 hours on them. They run perfectly. I expect them to last a long time. 4,000 hours seems like a stretch because boat motors run uphill all the time but I am certain I will at least double the hours on my motors.
As a boat buyer, I am less concerned with the number of hours on the engines than I am the care that they have received. Also the whole boat has 800 hours on it and things other than the engines wear out in time.
My engines are due for major maintence at 1000 hours (timing belts, timing chains, chain guides) with a cost of almost 1,000 per engine in parts alone.
The best thing to buy obviously is a year old boat with 100 hours but if you are looking at 5-6 year old boats I would rather have one with 800 hours that has been meticulously maintained than one with 200 hours which has been neglected.
filthypit posted 05-24-2007 09:39 AM ET (US)
(for what it's worth) I have been told by friends in the Coast Guard that they usually get several thousand hrs off of their [u]Hondas[/u] before they have to be replaced.
We're looking @ Yamaha's right now - but, I don't think that's common (4000hrs life expectancy) w/ them. I just like the way they look and don't really have $12k to spend on a Honda.
Tohsgib posted 05-24-2007 09:56 AM ET (US)
I know of a guy with over 5000 hours on a honda 50hp. My mechanic maintains his a well. 800 hours is not squat and LHG has close to 3000 hours on his 2 strokes with no rebuild yet so why does everyone think 4k is impossible? I will let you know in 3940 hours.
placerville posted 05-24-2007 01:52 PM ET (US)
I agree that 4000 hrs isn't all that unreasonable for that motor. I was in Baja fishing on a 22' panga with a Yamaha F100 4s and it had over 2000 hours on it. This motor sits on the boat in the water 365 days a year without ever getting flushed. I doubt they change the fluids every 100 hours if. It made a believer out of me.
If your motor has had regular service, I wouldn't hesitate at all.
Matt
pglein posted 05-24-2007 02:01 PM ET (US)
I do not think that 800 hours is an excessive number of hours for an engine, and I would never say that they would "need to be replaced in a year or two". But this, of course, assumes that they were properly maintained and are in good working condition.
People say the average American boat owner puts on about 50 hours per year. I average over 200 per year on just the Trawler. My Whaler is used much more than that boat so I would guess it sees more like 300-400 hours each year. I would be very upset if my engine only lasted 2 to 4 years.
If a marine engine is properly maintained, I don't see any problem with it lasting 4000 hours. The sad truth, of course, is that most people don't properly maintain their boats.
Tohsgib posted 05-24-2007 02:16 PM ET (US)
Outboards are like motorcycles to a buyer. Most think a motorcycle with 10k miles has a LOT of miles. 20k and she is ready for the scrapyard. I have seen Honda Goldwings with over 100k without being apart. My friend has Yamaha V-max with 60k+ and she runs & looks like new.
contender posted 05-24-2007 03:27 PM ET (US)
Thanks to everyone for the thoughts
fairdeal2u posted 05-24-2007 07:09 PM ET (US)
800 hours of what kind of use? wide open? mostly trolling?
4,000 is quite reasonable and definetly doable for 4 strokes.
2500 in general for the 2 strokers with good maintenance schedules and regular decarbing. Could be toast if it wasn't
taken care of. i.e. no decarbing, wide open all the time, cheap oil, sits around half the year without use, not winterized, etc. etc,...lots of ways to neglect and abuse the motors.
boatdryver posted 05-24-2007 08:15 PM ET (US)
Here's a current email from the seller of a boat with a Honda 200 with 2400 hours on it.

"Yes, it really has 2400 hours. These Honda 4 Stroke 200hp are rated to
> go at least 6000 hours, the U.S. Coast Guard is getting 8000 hours out
> of them. The boat needs no repairs.
> Please call me if you would like to see it.
> 619-787-7075
> John"
JimL

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Author	Topic: Design of Yamaha Outboard Motors Intended For 4,000-Hour Useful Life
contender	posted 05-23-2007 09:57 PM ET (US) I was looking for another boat, and found one, When I question the owner about the hours on the engines he stated 800 hours (2001 225 Yamahas in salt water). I told him that was to many hours on the engines (I then made a low ball offer on the boat)and they would probably have to be replaced in a year two at the most. He then stated that Yamaha states their engines are designed to go 4000 hours. My question is has anyone ever heard this before?
jimh	posted 05-23-2007 11:35 PM ET (US) I have never heard that the design of a Yamaha outboard motor was done with the goal of achieving 4,000 hours of useful life, but it does make a helluva good story to tell to a prospective buyer if you happen to own some engines that have 800 hours on them.
contender	posted 05-23-2007 11:42 PM ET (US) Thanks, I offered him alot less for the boat, with the intention of replacing the engines, he would not bite. Gave him my phone and email we will see, thanks again
Lil Whaler Lover	posted 05-24-2007 06:30 AM ET (US) It probably does not matter very much what the design life of an engine is if it has not been properly broken in and maintained. Thee design life is no better than the life provided by proper maintenance. I have seen a Force (remember them?) with over 2,000 trouble free hours that was fed good oil and properly maintained. I have also seen engines from every major manufacturer with major powerhead problems with way less than 100 hours on them, some as little as two hours. Here I am only talking about engines with computer readouts available to tell the tale of customer abuse, or running out of oil, or putting the wrong oil in them etc. etc. etc.. While my first choice would not be to start out with engines having 800 hours on them, I would a least want to see the maintenance records before making a final decision if the boat met my desires otherwise.
handn	posted 05-24-2007 09:04 AM ET (US) I have YamaMerc efi 4-strokes with 860 hours on them. They run perfectly. I expect them to last a long time. 4,000 hours seems like a stretch because boat motors run uphill all the time but I am certain I will at least double the hours on my motors. As a boat buyer, I am less concerned with the number of hours on the engines than I am the care that they have received. Also the whole boat has 800 hours on it and things other than the engines wear out in time. My engines are due for major maintence at 1000 hours (timing belts, timing chains, chain guides) with a cost of almost 1,000 per engine in parts alone. The best thing to buy obviously is a year old boat with 100 hours but if you are looking at 5-6 year old boats I would rather have one with 800 hours that has been meticulously maintained than one with 200 hours which has been neglected.
filthypit	posted 05-24-2007 09:39 AM ET (US) (for what it's worth) I have been told by friends in the Coast Guard that they usually get several thousand hrs off of their [u]Hondas[/u] before they have to be replaced. We're looking @ Yamaha's right now - but, I don't think that's common (4000hrs life expectancy) w/ them. I just like the way they look and don't really have $12k to spend on a Honda.
Tohsgib	posted 05-24-2007 09:56 AM ET (US) I know of a guy with over 5000 hours on a honda 50hp. My mechanic maintains his a well. 800 hours is not squat and LHG has close to 3000 hours on his 2 strokes with no rebuild yet so why does everyone think 4k is impossible? I will let you know in 3940 hours.
placerville	posted 05-24-2007 01:52 PM ET (US) I agree that 4000 hrs isn't all that unreasonable for that motor. I was in Baja fishing on a 22' panga with a Yamaha F100 4s and it had over 2000 hours on it. This motor sits on the boat in the water 365 days a year without ever getting flushed. I doubt they change the fluids every 100 hours if. It made a believer out of me. If your motor has had regular service, I wouldn't hesitate at all. Matt
pglein	posted 05-24-2007 02:01 PM ET (US) I do not think that 800 hours is an excessive number of hours for an engine, and I would never say that they would "need to be replaced in a year or two". But this, of course, assumes that they were properly maintained and are in good working condition. People say the average American boat owner puts on about 50 hours per year. I average over 200 per year on just the Trawler. My Whaler is used much more than that boat so I would guess it sees more like 300-400 hours each year. I would be very upset if my engine only lasted 2 to 4 years. If a marine engine is properly maintained, I don't see any problem with it lasting 4000 hours. The sad truth, of course, is that most people don't properly maintain their boats.
Tohsgib	posted 05-24-2007 02:16 PM ET (US) Outboards are like motorcycles to a buyer. Most think a motorcycle with 10k miles has a LOT of miles. 20k and she is ready for the scrapyard. I have seen Honda Goldwings with over 100k without being apart. My friend has Yamaha V-max with 60k+ and she runs & looks like new.
contender	posted 05-24-2007 03:27 PM ET (US) Thanks to everyone for the thoughts
fairdeal2u	posted 05-24-2007 07:09 PM ET (US) 800 hours of what kind of use? wide open? mostly trolling? 4,000 is quite reasonable and definetly doable for 4 strokes. 2500 in general for the 2 strokers with good maintenance schedules and regular decarbing. Could be toast if it wasn't taken care of. i.e. no decarbing, wide open all the time, cheap oil, sits around half the year without use, not winterized, etc. etc,...lots of ways to neglect and abuse the motors.
boatdryver	posted 05-24-2007 08:15 PM ET (US) Here's a current email from the seller of a boat with a Honda 200 with 2400 hours on it. "Yes, it really has 2400 hours. These Honda 4 Stroke 200hp are rated to > go at least 6000 hours, the U.S. Coast Guard is getting 8000 hours out > of them. The boat needs no repairs. > Please call me if you would like to see it. > 619-787-7075 > John" JimL