www.iFourWinns.com

New here and looking to get into my first boat. I'm interested in a 1997 Horizon 220, but I'm concerned that it does not have an hour meter. The boat looks good and appears to be in great shape. Would a compression test be enough to see if the engine is worn out? Would you buy a boat without an hour meter?

Compression test can say a lot, but if still not sure take it to a certified marine mech. for a once over. I bought my current boat with the hour meter not working. I am installing an aftermarket one in the engine compartment this spring just to help keep track of maintenance items. My buddys brand new FW H180 didn't come with one from the factory which seemed odd to me for being a 2008, but we installed one on his boat as well in engine compartment.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

I don't have an hour meter either. Definitely have someone check it out with a test. If it tests out good and looks to be maintained well, you should be fine.

_________________
-Rob.


Current boat: 2011 Yamaha AR210
Previous boat: 1998 Horizon RX 4.3GL SX

What I don't understand at least on my buddys 2008 H180 is that for his warranty they said he had to bring it to a local dealer for a 20 HR. service and check to maintain his warranty which cost him like $300.00, but how do they know when they don't install an hour meter at the factory? Seems like not putting in an odometer in a car to me? Unheard of.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

Marine mechanic can plug into the motor and find out the exact hours. My current boat's hour meter says 330, but the actual engine hours is around 285. This is due to the previous owner leaving the key clicked to the right and not left to run the radio.

Don't think my buddys boat has that option either. It is a 3.0L carb motor with no onboard computer I have ever seen.

_________________
1998 Baja Boss 252 7.4L MPI Bravo 1 (SOLD)
2007 FW H200SS 5.0GXI (Sold)
2004 Chevy Silverado 2500 Crew 6.0L (tow vehicle)
1991 FW 170 Freedom 4.3L (SOLD)

The 2010 H190 has an hour meter but for some reason the sport dash on the H190SS doesn't have one.

_________________
2010 FW H190 SS

wouldn't worry about a hour meter, after you get so old hours don't mean much. If I found a 1977 with real low hours that would be a red flag to stay away. It's hard on a motor to not be used.

_________________
2000 268 Vista "Reely Nauti"
http://www.facebook.com/#!/rivercruiser

Many hour meters are so easy to unplug so someone can try to sell there "low hour" boat that looks good to someone whom does not know any better.

Hour meters to me really dont mean much. I only use them to know how many hours I put on per season for maint. reasons.

As for buying a boat without one, I would do it if the compression checks are in line.

I believe that most boats sold today, an hour meter is an option and not every dealer orders there inventory with every option.
My first 3 boats did not have hour meters, I still maintained boat on a schedule and enjoyed each boat.

_________________
2000 248 5.7L DP
'92, '94 SXI 750, '08 STX 15F, '12 Ultra LX 300
Videos

An hour meter can be useful but unless this is a Florida or southern boat really the most boats can be used in most of the northern half of the country is about 6 months...and if someone does more than 50 hrs a season that's a lot....what's more critical is regular maintenance...if a boat is not regularly maintained it does not matter how low the hours are you can have a LOT Of problems...and that is especially true of sterndrives (I/Os). Sterndrives need a lot of regular maintenance and if negelected they will cost you....a LOT....So I'd want to check this thing out structurally (deck..hull...transom...what you can see of the motor mounts)...and mechanically...compression...check for water leaks from the engine while its running (look at the sides of the block esp...cracks there can be a result of poor winterizing)...look for water in the engine oil (milky color...high oil level) and water in the drive oil (if water comes out first when the drive drain is pulled the drive needs to be resealed). Finally it has to be water tested as well to make sure it starts and runs right...does not overheat...the drive goes into gear and neutral right...and the boat will reach its specified max rpm and planes out well. All of these points are important and much more important than the total hrs on the power package....

And as cynical as I am I'd want to see the drive pulled off to make sure there is no water in the bellows...no rust on the ujoints and driveshaft and no oil leak from the input seal on the drive...these things could cost you over a grand all from neglecting to pull the drive each season to check the bellows and grease the gimble and ujoints...

_________________
88 Four Winns 200 Horizon
4.3 OMC Cobra-4bbl
2002 Walker Bay 10/2012 Suzuki 2.5
2008 Walker Bay 8

1998 Jeep Grand Cherokee 4.0/Selectrac
2007 Jeep Grand Cherokee 5.7 Hemi/Quadradrive II