How to Check Boat Engine Hours: A Comprehensive Guide

If you are the owner of a boat, then you know that proper servicing of your boat is crucial to how long the boat will last and how well it will work and one of the ways is ‘how to check boat engine hours’. Engine hours on a boat are important for monitoring maintenance periods, evaluating the state of the boat, and even for resale purposes. In this guide, you will be getting to know how to check engine hours and why it’s crucial to monitor this feature from time to time.   

Meanwhile, make sure to check up on your boat engine hours, it is also important for you to maintain your boat, with Boat Butler a notifier boat maintenance app. It will help you to notify regarding the updates of when and which part of your boat engine needs to be serviced.  

4 Ways of How to Check Boat Engine Hours 

There are several ways how to find hours on a boat motor, Let’s explore them: 

1. Digital Hour Meter  

This gadget is common in most new boats because they have a Digital hour meter as a standard feature of a boat’s speedometer. This meter is normally placed close to the tachometer/ speedometer and records the engine hours and operation time on its own each time the engine is switched on.  

To verify the engine hours, switch on the boat's ignition without starting the engine and look at the hour meter. This method can be used without additional equipment and effort, thus making it easy to perform.  

2. Engine Control Module (ECM) 

Regarding the boats with electronic fuel injection (EFI) systems, the information that is recorded by the Engine Control Module (ECM) includes various parameters, which are the engine hours. To get this data, one needs to have a diagnostic tool or a scan gauge that can be connected to the ECM.  

Most of these tools are commonly used by marine technicians but some can be bought by boat owners. Once connected, the tool will show the engine's running hours and other useful data regarding performance parameters and errors. 

3. Manual Logs

For people who like a more physical approach, their recommendation can be to record the hours spent on the engine in a notebook, for example. Every time you take the boat out for a ride, you can record the initial engine hours and the final engine hours.  

This will help over time to provide you with a used record of your engine and will indicate whether it is wearing out or not. But this method is slightly more time-consuming and demands more self-discipline, it has the advantage of recording not only the driven km, but also the fuel consumption, service, and troubles met during your trips. 

4. Mobile Apps  

In this present generation, technology has advanced and there are several mobile applications that are used to monitor the engine hours and other important statistics of boats. Most of these apps will either use Bluetooth or Wi-Fi to connect to your boat systems and are used to monitor engine performance and hours on the engines. Some of them also record the maintenance history, schedule service reminders, and even navigate you to your boat’s location as well as track fuel consumption.  

Troubleshooting Common Issues  

At the time of “How to check boat engine hours” is generally straightforward, but you may encounter some issues that require troubleshooting, Let’s explore them: 

Hour Meter Not Working 

If your digital hour meter is not functional properly or seems to have some problem, then the first thing you should do is look at the wiring. They can include loose connections, damaged wire connections, and blown fuses to mention but a few which will affect the proper functioning of the meter.  

Check the wiring harness that is connected to the meter and make certain that all the clips are in order and there are no signs of corrosion. If the wiring looks fine, then go on checking the fuses of the boat's electrical system and replace the faulty one.  

Replacing the Hour Meter  

If the hour meter is faulty or damaged, then you may have to acquire a new one for use on the machinery. It is also possible to purchase aftermarket hour meters, and, in most cases, their installation is not complicated.  

When changing the meter, it is important to ensure that the new meter is compatible with your engine and the electrical system. The previous engine hours, where possible, should be noted together with the new meter reading after installation is complete.  

Consulting a Professional  

In the process of ‘how to check boat engine hours’, if you fail to troubleshoot, it will be advisable to hire a marine technician to do it for you. To check the engine hours, a professional can use diagnostic tools to access the engine’s data and may examine the ECM to discover stored engine hours; electrical or mechanical problems may exist that could impact the hour meter.  

While taking proper help for “How to check boat engine hours”, you should add an extra layer of Boat Butler, an engine maintenance notifier app. With Boat Butler, one of the best app for boaters, it will help you to have an update on your engine servicing, so next time when you plan a trip, it can be hassle-free.