[C320-list] engine hours

[Larry Frank]

Jim,

You have already received some good advice.  If a potential owner is worried
about the engine hours, suggest they make an offer contingent on an engine
survey.

Larry
WindSwept
C320 #246

-----Original Message-----
From: c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com
[mailto:c320-list-bounces at lists.catalina320.com] On Behalf Of james_delong
Sent: Tuesday, January 26, 2010 10:15 AM
To: c320-list at lists.catalina320.com
Subject: [C320-list] engine hours

Guys,

My Catalina 320, hull number 453, is 'softly' on the market.  By softly I
mean it is not a full fledged marketing campaign.  It is listed only on the
320 web page and on Sailboat Listings.

Since October I have only received 6 calls and one visit scheduled for this
Thursday.

A couple of other potentials have fallen through because the they thought
the engine hours were too high.  Folks seem to be looking for a 13 year old
boat with less than 500 hours!

This is a Yanmar 3GM30 Japanese version engine with 1680 hours.

I've read you should run these often and hard. In fact this months Sail
Magazine recommends at least 4 hours at full operating temperature at hull
speed every month. Just doing that I would have accumulated over 600 hours.

The question is:  What argument can be made for high vs. low hours?  Is low
always better, or do low hours present a different set of problems vs. high
hours in an engine that has been well maintained?

How much 'value' is lost do the high hours or is this just a perception
issue?

Thanks!  Jim #453