Hours? How?!

[Yorkie3621]

I’m so confused with how many hours on a boat. Not because I don’t know what that means but because it doesn’t seem right that you could put so few hours on a boat. A lot of boats I’m looking at are 20 years old and have 400 hours on average (Sea Ray 240 for example) at an average of 400 hours over 20 years, that means the boat was used less than 1 hour per weekend?! I just can’t fathom (no pun intended) the lack of use and wonder if the hours are relative to load versus time?

I know these boats aren’t used during colder months but still, that means they only get used 2 hours per weekend on average. Just doesn’t make sense

 

[GA_Boater]

Welcome aboard.
Unless the hourmeter is busted, you are correct. Many boats are used three weekends a year, Memorial Day, 4th of July and Labor Day weekends.

Hours are recorded when the key is on or motor run time on some newer boats.

You would think low hours is a good thing, but it's not. A boat deteriorates more while sitting unused and the rubber parts go bad faster while sitting.

 

[Scott Danforth]

and most of those boats get 30 hours the first year, 25 hours the second year, then 15 hours the third year....... then sit for years.

 

[Yorkie3621]

Thanks.

 

[BWR1953]

Another point of view is that the "big" motor isn't being used much even though the boat may be out on the water, in use, a lot. Especially for fishing boats which spend "some" time getting to a fishing spot, then drifting, anchoring or using a trolling motor (electric or gas) to move around while fishing.

And there are plenty of pleasure boaters who go to a spot and raft up with friends, then spend the whole day swimming and visiting, etc.

Boats can be used a lot without running the engine. I remember when I lived up north that I'd go fishing every weekend and not use up a whole 6 gallon tank of fuel for all the trips combined. Launch, head upriver for 10-20 minutes, then drift back or use the electric trolling motor to head several miles downriver while fishing the whole way.

I have a friend who owns a 54' Bluewater and he goes out every weekend and sometimes during the week in summertime. He's only driving a couple miles to "the flats" where he anchors and spends the entire day frollicking in the water and in the boat with friends and family.

Different strokes...

 

[Texasmark]

And yet another is that you go out and float or anchor and have lunch and visit, enjoying being out on the water, then enjoy water sports, or vise versa. 2 hours of water sports is a lot of tubing, or skiing. Or you cruise around on a Sunday afternoon and run up the hour meter.

I think Scott nailed it. New wears off, kids graduat HS and leave the nest....things aren't the same without the family, Mom and pop age and don't have the vigor they had when the kids were younger.