I'm looking at a 1997 252, one issue I have is that it has 430 hrs on it. How do you all feel about this many hours on the 454 motor. Is there any kind of rule of thumb that you go by in regards to the hours. Cosmetically the boat looks great, but from past experience cosmetics aren't what cost the big bucks to fix.

Thanks
Matt

31 hours per year isn't that bad. So the boat got used. More important is how hard it was run and salt or fresh water. Look it over real good and test drive it real good.

I knew there was another question....The current owner told me the boat has been primarily used in freshwater, but has had it in salt water a few times, but "flushed it everytime." Should that be a deal breaker or what issues should I look for? I've never had any experience (to my knowledge at least) with a boat that has been used in salt water.

Other than obvious visible corrosion to the drive or trailer IDK. I'll let someone else chime in.

430 hrs on a maintained 454 is nothing. I am pushing over 1100 on mine.

Its salt not acid,boats are supposed to be run in salt.

That boat could e in much better shape than a boat with 50 hours on a freshwater lake. It all depends on how it was maintained. I had a cruiser with a pair of 454's that had 1,100 hours on it when I sold it.....the current owner has over 1,300 and it's still running strong. (mostly salt water)

Thanks guys, I've just never dealt w a boat that had been run in salt water and wanted some insight. Thanks for any and all input.

Sold an '05 275 in the beginning of '09 with a 496 that had over 900 hours of it - all of it in salt.

Engine ran great and tested out okay before sale. It all depends on how the boat is maintained. Sometimes you won't be able to tell unless a compression test is done - but you have to weigh that against the cost of the boat.

454's are pretty dang strong.....I deffinitely run mine and it has 460 hours on it now...only big issues have been 3 starters due to hydrolocking, and replacement of exhaust manifolds that was causing the hydrolocking. I know of several guys with 800+ hours on 454's.