On Tue, 03 Aug 2004 15:51:42 -0400, Harry Krause wrote:

Lloyd Sumpter wrote:
On Sun, 01 Aug 2004 16:44:41 -0400, mijoy wrote:

If you are insinuating that 900 hours is a lot, you must be one of those 50
hours a year people.


I was thinking that. If 900hrs is a lot for an outboard, I'm glad I have
a (diesel) inboard! The last one had 4000hrs on it, and was still pretty
good (I replaced it mainly because it was underpowered). I was told gas
inboards should last 2500hrs or so between overhauls. 900hrs? Barely
broken in!

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36


I don't want to overgeneralize, but most pleasureboat outboards are
operated a bit differently than most pleasureboat diesels.

True, but opposite to the way you're suggesting.

Further,
Lloyd, your former sailboat diesel probably had less stress on it in use
than my little diesel lawn tractor engine. And less horsepower, possibly.

I won't argue the horsepower, but that's exactly the point. My "little
diesel" was run 90-100% throttle for most of it's life. Whereas an
overpowered outboard is often run at idle (trolling), very low rpm
(no-wake zones) or maybe 70% for cruising.

And since a planing outboard boat goes so much faster (and less
comfortable!), it rarely runs at that for more than a few hours. OTOH, my
little diesel often ran 90% for 8-10 hrs, chugging along at 5 knots.

Then again, since diesels are BUILT for full-power use, maybe you're right
about the stress...

All I'm hearing from this is that outboards aren't built for constant
high-power use. Is that what you're trying to say, Harry?

Lloyd Sumpter
"Far Cove" Catalina 36