Hi, I have just purchased a boat with a 2012 525 efi engine. It currently has around 215 hours, runs well with no issues and it has never been opened. The headers have been pressure tested yearly, and it has spent most of its life at cruising speed and hardly any WOT runs.

I'm new to these engines, I am looking for some advice on whether I should look at a top end rebuild or if I might prolong this since it has never been opened and never had any issues. Do you suggest any other maintenance to perform during the winter?

Thanks!

I am curious for some opinions on this question too considering I have the same motors

With 215 hours they don’t need to be done immediately…the typical advice given here is 250-300 hours. I would do it when it makes most sense for you. Depending on how many hours you accumulate per season, it’s likely you can another year or so and do top ends over the winter.

For context, the reason for top end work is mostly because of the weak springs. Since the springs need to be replaced many just perform a full top end rebuild (I.e. new rockers, valve job, etc). Some would argue it shouldn’t need a new top end so early…it’s personal preference. Could just replace springs do a compression and leak down and go boating.

Good luck and congrats on the boat!!

Like Moses said, you are close to a top end so if you boat where it gets cold do it this winter.

As for the headers, what year motor? The later ones where not bad, early ones junk. Pressure testing only shows them good at that point, if they are the early design I would change them. Why wait till they start leaking and trash the motor?

BTW, I had a set of CMI E-Tops last 20 years, 10 in salt before they started a very small leak.

I'd scan the engines to find out the rpm history. This will tell you how they have been run. As long as they haven't been run real hard, you should be fine to go at least 300 hours.

Excuse me for the late reply as I was away for a while. I have a 2012 motor with CMI headers. Since I am completely new to this, can you guide me how to check what kind of CMI headers I have?

Thanks for all the other replies gents! Your input is much appreciated.

Those are CMI sweepers, standard on the 525 bravo application, look at the tube where it welds to the flange if the outer tube is welded about 1/4 to 3/8 inch from the flange those are the later style called cool collar.

EDIT: there also referred to as sport tube

Wow that's a tight fit in that engine bay. The cool collar CMI's are way better than the early versions and with your motor being a 2012 it has a few changes to it vs the early 525's. I would be sure to get the top ends done in the off season of it were mine. I'd rather spend a few thousand on them than a failure causing a complete rebuild.

The later ones also were different at the collector, the tubes extend into the collector so they could weld them better. Amazon sells cheap bore scopes, run one up the tail pipe.

Being 2012 they most likely are the new design.

Thanks for all the replies! I will run some checks once it is back on land next week and will keep this thread updated.