I know everyone fishes differently but I'm looking at buying a used bass boat (2009 model) and I'm going to get a printout of the motor hours. Should I expect around 50 hrs a year? This boat has a small Merc Optimax.

Thanks for your input.

Your answers will be all over the board. If it was a tourney fisherman, it may be 200 or more hours a year. A guy like me that goes 2-3 times a week from October til June, but doesn't run far, 50-75 hours per year. Most weekend warriors, 20-30. No telling.

I would look at how many hours is on the motor and compare it to what the next major maintenance schedule would be and determine the cost of that maintenance. Every 300 hours or 3 years its recommended to change the water pump. Which is a pretty costly job if taken to a shop. You can easily DIY and save a pile of money. There are a pile of videos on youtube on how to do them yourself.

http://www.powersourcemarine.com/mercury_maintenance_schedule.html

I have 325 on my 2 1/2 yr old motor

I put between 25-30 hours on my motor crappie fishing this year but I do have a smaller little cut down boat I use some also so I would guess around 40-50 hours per year for me max.

Like said above, it just depends. Those motors are good for a long time. I wouldn't care if one had 1000 hours on it as long as it checks out. I can tell you for sure that around 500 hours, they get harder to sell. Around 700, you have to get cheap. I resale and I pass on motors over 600. Not scared if them, but many people are.

I bought a 2015 boat a few months ago with 53 hours on it I dont usually put many on mine either because i can get to my spots in 10 minutes then i mainly use the trolling motor. ive always heard about 50 hours a year is about normal use though

Dang...had my boat 3mths and I've put 20 on it already

What kind of hours is much more important than total hours. Fuel injected motors can be checked on the ECU, and it will break down the engine hours within each rpm range.

Lots of motors out there that may have a lot of hours, but when you look at the rpm breakdown, more than half the hours are at idle.

What kind of hours is much more important than total hours. Fuel injected motors can be checked on the ECU, and it will break down the engine hours within each rpm range.

Lots of motors out there that may have a lot of hours, but when you look at the rpm breakdown, more than half the hours are at idle, and very few are in the upper rpm ranges..

I average 3-4 hours, twice a month so about 84 hours. But, I have a 45 minute idle to and from the marina every damn trip.