Opinions on Older Engines?

[Zara Spook]

I'm looking at a 1993 Yamaha Pro V 150 with 420 hours on it.

The question is, is it even possible for an engine that old to perform well for many more years?

What's more important with all other things equal, the age of the engine, or the number of hours on it?

[99yam40]

how it was stored in between running would make a big difference.

along with how it was run and taken care of for all of these years

[robert graham]

What 99yam40 said, and was the motor used primarily in saltwater or freshwater....saltwater can be tougher on an outboard than freshwater...especially from a corrosion standpoint.

[Zara Spook]

Appreciate the replies.

Let me ask folks this: would you buy a 1993 engine if it wasn't possible to determine the number of hours on it?

[rodbolt17]

yep.
but based on a compression test and a good visual checking.
if it looks like a neglected POS it most likely is.

that motor,taken care of can easily run over 5000 hrs.
crabbers around here do it all the time.
usually it fails due to wristpin failures due to over propping.

lets face it,if you prop it empty then add 4 50lb bait flats and 2200-3200lbs of crab its now seriously over propped.
that is very hard on that small wrist pin bearing.

[scofflaw]

Got me a 1994 200 hp that I bought from some guy a year and a half ago who knows nothing about boats. Compression was solid at 120, hours unknown. Been flogging the bejesus out of this sweetheart and it's been nothing but reliable. Of course with that being said I may have jinxed myself.