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 Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums
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 Estimating hours on an outboard - maintenance
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5235 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/08/2020 :  19:29:52  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I’ve been running the Honda 8 since 2006 whilst replacing impellers, water pump housing, thermostat, bottom unit grease and do oil changes. I grease the grease fittings occasionally and lubricate the engine mount.

I have no idea how many hours are on the motor now since I never recorded each trip out and back into the bay, day trips to the next harbor over, overnight trips and long weekend trips.

I worry about the crank bearings, the long shaft bearings and the bottom unit bearings. The engine exhibits a fair amount of vibration, but it hasn’t changed appreciably over the life of the engine.

I guess I could just take the engine apart and check the slack in the bearings.

Anybody know how I can estimate the engine hours?

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 04/08/2020 19:32:55

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9015 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2020 :  06:09:46  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
The motor was new in the beginning of 2002, and I'm very roughly guessing I put 40-60 hours on it between then and selling Passage in 2006. (Are you sure your first year wasn't 2007, after buying her from Bill _______?)

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge
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islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3994 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2020 :  12:44:04  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Best you could do to get a rough estimate would be to come up with a guess as to how many hours per week you do. For instance if you use the boat say 2 times per week and use the engine say 1 hour per trip then its 2 hours per week. Multiply that times say 24 weeks (6months) and you are averaging 48 hrs per season/year. Obviously change the numbers to fit your boating style but its just an estimate.
quote:
I worry about the crank bearings, the long shaft bearings and the bottom unit bearings

I hope this isn't keeping you up at night
If it isn't burning oil or making strange knocking noises and the fluids all look normal and it starts up good then it doesn't sound like its ready for the junk pile just yet. There's worse things in life to worry about. If man made it then eventually it will break. Unfortunately we don't have a crystal ball that tells us in advance when that will happen.

Scott-"IMPULSE"87'C25/SR/WK/Din.#5688
Sailing out of Glen Cove,L.I Sound


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glivs
Admiral

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USA
822 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2020 :  17:26:59  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
I do not hesitate to do the normal maintenance tasks but am a firm believer in having a qualified professional service my outboard every few years. They can see things I don't know enough to even look for which, for me, makes the investment worthwhile.

Gerry & Leslie; Malletts Bay, VT
"Great Escape" 1989 C-25 SR/WK #5972
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Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9015 Posts

Response Posted - 04/09/2020 :  21:37:01  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
If by chance your little 25" Honda has a mid-shaft bushing as my 25" Honda 225 does, that could be due. I have mine changed about every three years--it's a potential trouble spot. (But it's a rather different machine.) Your main (crankshaft) bearings should last for several thousand hours if the lubrication is sound, and the lower unit bearings should be fine as long as the lower unit oil isn't contaminated by too much salt water. (Always replace the seals on the fill and vent caps.) The motor will shake a little at idle speed in neutral--it's just a 2-cylinder 4-cycle, so half the bangs per revolution of an old 2-cylinder "smoker". When a little throttle smooths it out, it's a good sign. (I, on the other hand, have to be careful not to inadvertently leave my V6 Honda idling when I leave the boat. )

Dave Bristle
Association "Port Captain" for Mystic/Stonington CT
PO of 1985 C-25 SR/FK #5032 Passage, USCG "sixpack" (expired),
Now on Eastern 27 $+!nkp*+ Sarge

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 04/09/2020 22:05:19
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5235 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2020 :  05:45:20  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Luckily a very smart man purchased the Honda technical manuals for my engine way back in the day. This one does have a mid-shaft bearing.
The last time I dropped the bottom unit I checked for play in the shaft, wiggling and working the shaft several different directions. It was quite tight then.
As Scott suggests, there are lots of other things to worry about. And when the grim reaper comes for the Honda,well it’s GAME OVER - call TowBoatUS.
As Gerry advises, it might not be a bad time to get a professional checkup. Twin Hull Boats in Bridgeport are a Honda Parts & Service shop. Hitchcock Marine in Stratford are good too. I might check their Yelp ratings...

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 04/10/2020 05:46:47
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Voyager
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
5235 Posts

Response Posted - 04/10/2020 :  05:56:57  Show Profile  Reply with Quote
Thanks Scott for your hours estimate.
Normal weeks I might do three trips out to the harbor and it might be more like 1.5 hours so 4.5 hours per week or about 100 hours for that.
I’ll take maybe 10 day sails a season and run the engine about 3 hours against tide or wind so another 30 there.
And I may do 2-3 overnights and could run the engine another 6 hours for each so maybe 20 more.
So 150 per season times 13 years or about 2000 hours.
That definitely makes sense.

Bruce Ross
Passage ~ SR-FK ~ C25 #5032

Port Captain — Milford, CT

Edited by - Voyager on 04/10/2020 05:59:03
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