How much use is too much?

[Theturtle7023]

I bought a 2018 AR190 about a month ago and already have 46 hours on it. If I keep this up, I'll be around 200 by the end of the season. Am I going to end up killing this thing too soon? How many hours can these engines take without major issues?

 

[captras]

I bought a 2018 AR190 about a month ago and already have 46 hours on it. If I keep this up, I'll be around 200 by the end of the season. Am I going to end up killing this thing too soon? How many hours can these engines take without major issues?

OMG.....take care of your boat, dont abuse it (but you dont have to baby it either), perform the recommended maintenance and have fun. Yamaha makes some of the best marine engines made!

 

[DieselCamel]

I bought a 2018 AR190 about a month ago and already have 46 hours on it. If I keep this up, I'll be around 200 by the end of the season. Am I going to end up killing this thing too soon? How many hours can these engines take without major issues?

I need your job. I’m lucky to do a 100 a year.

 

[Theturtle7023]

I need your job. I’m lucky to do a 100 a year.

I live 10 minutes from the Chesapeake Bay, so it's really easy to go out after work, or every weekend.

 

[Betik]

Word on the street is that those engines can do 2,000 hours without a rebuild. At this rate you will probably have a new boat by then.

If you are so much into putting hours on your boat; have you considered the bimini trips ?

 

[Theturtle7023]

Word on the street is that those engines can do 2,000 hours without a rebuild. At this rate you will probably have a new boat by then.

If you are so much into putting hours on your boat; have you considered the bimini trips ?

Thanks for a useful reply. I live in Virginia, so as fun as that trip sounds, the 15 hour drive does not.

 

[Betik]

Maybe @Majorsmackdown can chime in if Bimini is worth a long drive ....

 

[swatski]

I bought a 2018 AR190 about a month ago and already have 46 hours on it. If I keep this up, I'll be around 200 by the end of the season. Am I going to end up killing this thing too soon? How many hours can these engines take without major issues?

These are solid marine purpose built engines designed for "continuous duty". Run a lot with proper maintenance there is little concern for longevity - a couple thousand hours should be no problem. Problems usually arise with prolonged storage/sitting around and/or lack of maintenance.

--

 

[Beachbummer]

As far as I am aware, for Marine engines, more use is just fine and better than little use. As a kid my dad had a very old Johnson engine that was a pain to start..probably 15 years old by the time we got it... Used every weekend, seldomly had problems. Folks with new outboards would go out one every month or every two, had issues every time. Run it like you stole, maintain it, and it will last a LONG time. I'm not a fan of WOT because I think it stresses the engine, and it drinks fuel like a maniac....but I keep hearing WOT is just fine for these engines and I hear of people running for hours at WOT without issue...so I think the more use the better.

 

[Jgorm]

Too much use is filling the tanks 3x per day. You didn't buy a boat to look at it in your driveway. Have as much fun as possible!

 

[Jetswu87]

I live 10 minutes from the Chesapeake Bay, so it's really easy to go out after work, or every weekend.

I'm in the same area, launch out of Ptown city park or Northwest river if going the other direction.

How do you like the 19ft in the Bay? I go to smithfield sometimes or bennetts creek...but I have to pick my days. My 192 doesn't have the range.

 

[Theturtle7023]

I'm in the same area, launch out of Ptown city park or Northwest river if going the other direction.

How do you like the 19ft in the Bay? I go to smithfield sometimes or bennetts creek...but I have to pick my days. My 192 doesn't have the range.

I've put in over by waterside a few times and tried to get out to the bay from there, but the what feels like 20 mile no wake zone sucks. Also, the current and chop between the two tunnels is much stronger than at the mouth of the bay.
I pick my days to go in the bay, but the past two weekends putting in at the Lesner Bridge has been nice and calm. I went from the bay down to Rudees inlet this sunday cruising at 35mph without any issues.

I've been wakeboarding in Broad Bay, but the jellyfish have taken over, so looks like i'll have to head back to the ICW for wakeboarding for now on.

 

[haknslash]

Imagine if every Yamaha rental PWC could talk.....

My point being, stop stressing about hours (except to do maintenance checks/work) and enjoy the boat! These boats never see the amount off abuse the they would see if they were in a PWC and look at how many hours those things tack up!

 

[Jetswu87]

I've put in over by waterside a few times and tried to get out to the bay from there, but the what feels like 20 mile no wake zone sucks. Also, the current and chop between the two tunnels is much stronger than at the mouth of the bay.
I pick my days to go in the bay, but the past two weekends putting in at the Lesner Bridge has been nice and calm. I went from the bay down to Rudees inlet this sunday cruising at 35mph without any issues.

I've been wakeboarding in Broad Bay, but the jellyfish have taken over, so looks like i'll have to head back to the ICW for wakeboarding for now on.

Nice, I like the Lesner area for hanging out, but between the No wakes and Jelly's it's not much fun for anything else.

I agree, the roughest is where the 664 tunnel is, once you're on the other side it smooths back out heading towards the James River Bridge. Lots of places to go in this area, only cost gas

Another option just a bit further is the Granby street bridge ramp, it's nice and usually not too busy. You come out well beyond the no wake area's. The no wake area's make me drive to Chesapeake to put in if I want to go to the ICW. It's nearly 40-45min's from "hospital point" to the jordan bridge...crazy.

https://www.google.com/maps/place/Boat+Ramp/@36.8840074,-76.2860325,922m/data=!3m2!1e3!4b1!4m5!3m4!1s0x89ba99cd6c12ccb1:0x59a8608af70abc0!8m2!3d36.8840074!4d-76.2838438

 

[Theturtle7023]

Imagine if every Yamaha rental PWC could talk.....

My point being, stop stressing about hours (except to do maintenance checks/work) and enjoy the boat! These boats never see the amount off abuse the they would see if they were in a PWC and look at how many hours those things tack up!

I just see all these boats for sale with under 100 hours that are a few years old, or talk to other people in Marina's that say, "I get a lot of use out of mine. I put 28 hours on it last season."

Just seems like a large populous put low hours on boats, and didn't know if there was any reason behind it besides just not using the thing.

 

[Jetswu87]

Depends on what you're using it for...since you do water sports you're going to see a lot more. I find myself shallow water anchoring after a 30min cruise and hanging out for most of the day and riding back.

Out for 6-7 hours, but only a hour of run time.

 

[haknslash]

Yea it all depends on how someone uses their boat. Some people may wet slip so it's more convenient for them to get out on the water and use their boats versus someone who may have to trailer several miles. Or it could be someone likes to sit in a cove and chill out where the batteries and stereo get more use than the motors. Or any other combination. My boat has 70 hours on it yet I feel I've had far more time on it in 3 seasons. Last year I didn't get to be on the water as much as I normally like to. I'm hoping to make up for it this year.

46 hours for your 2018 just means you seem to be enjoying your boat and using it . Might as well since you're making payments on it

 

[2kwik4u]

4 boats on our street. I polled the Audience to see about usage.

2017 Yamaha AR190 - 49hrs
2016 Centurion 24ft - 135hrs
2017 Berkshire Tritoon 24ft - 23hrs
1998 Chaparral 18ft - 425hrs

They all float, run and drive perfectly fine. The pontoon gets less water sports and more anchoring, the Centurion gets more waters ports and less anchoring l. The Yamaha and Chaparral get good mixed use. Granted 3 are relatively new, they all see standard maintenance and are watched closely for problems.

I don't watch the hour meter unless I'm trying to figure out if it's time for an oil change or not. Didn't buy it to look at it or preserve resale.

 

[robert843]

With the newer Yamaha engine you should be good. That being said my friend with 2015 AR240 just blew an engine 4 weeks ago he has 325 hours. He has a warranty so it is being replaced under warranty thankfully.

 

[Rob9550]

Thanks for a useful reply. I live in Virginia, so as fun as that trip sounds, the 15 hour drive does not.

Its worth the drive, trust me.