What do guys consider to be "a lot" of hours on a power head? Mercury pro xs and Yamaha Sho?

I would think 500 hours per year shows the motor is used a lot, as in guide service.

Agreed. That's about 10 hrs a week. I'd say that's some pretty heavy usage.

At what amount would you start worrying about motor power head issues?

Not to be that guy but from 20 hours to 3000. They're just like cars , you get some good ones and some bad ones

My mechanic tells me that a motor that is not being used is a motor that will not last as long. He says that upkeep is very important, but run your motor.

Yep Dads has around 800 and still going strong.

I see some really nice used boats for sale, and it seems like if they have more than 250-300 hours, they have trouble selling them.

Hours isn't as important as proper services performed on motor, I would rather buy a motor with 500hrs. On it that has been serviced at the proper intervals as opposed to one with 100hrs. that has been neglected.

My first boat had 1200 hours on it when I sold it...never had a problem with it

My second had 125 when I bought it and was 9 years old....that engine blew after 65 hours

High hours without issues is a better sign to me then low hours and little use

My 2003 Evinrude Ficht just turned 600 hours. I've had very little trouble with it even though everyone said "don't buy a Ficht" ! I really bought it for the boat, a 19 foot ProGator but the motor just kept lasting and doing great. I change spark plugs once a year and decarb it along with changing the lower unit oil once a year. I did have to change the low pressure fuel pump but that is about it. I'll just keep using it till it quits.I fish at least 4 days a week maybe more sometimes.

That's because guys wanting a used boat are like guys who want to buy Harleys, 5 years old but no hours or miles, for $500.00.

Look at the throttle percentage before deciding. Lots of hours full throttle will tell you about the yahoo that is trying to sell it.

Lots of truth in this comment ^^.

Engine hours are kinda like 40-yard times at the NFL combine; it's one of the quick and easy measurements you can point at, but it does not tell you the whole story of the engine/player.

Moderate to high-hour engines with good service schedules and steady-use have proven their dependability.

I have a 2003 Merc EFI with nearly 700 hours that still has 120 psi on all cylinders and impresses the mechanic every time he services it. That engine has been used steadily, but it also gets serviced once or twice a year since I got it.

It really depends on the type of hours. A boat with 600 hours and 30% or so over 3000 RPMs on it doesn't have a lot of hours on it. With today's electronics and styles of fishing, a lot of the time on the motor is used more for looking.

The other thing is if the motor had been maintained properly.

As stated prior, I wouldn't want a 10 year old boat with low hours and not ran hard a percentage of the time.