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Bf 200

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Tomhop

New member
Looking to buy a boat that has a 2008 BF200 on it. Honda dealer report says it has 500 hours and 20 overheat alarms. Is this a dealbreaker? No service records.
 
Hi,

2008? Only 500 hours?
Sorta/kinda sounds like they couldn't figure out the problem and just parked it for 18 years?

Do you know if it starts, runs and will push the hull? Albeit not for long I'm guessing.

You may want to see if the dealer has, and is willing to give you, the recorded data stream information associated with those alarms.

I'm far from being an expert on the subject but there might be pertinent recorded files in the ECM's memory about things such as:

Highest engine temperature detected during each occurrence.

Length of time during each occurrence.

Time engine was operated in power reduction (limp home) mode.

I'm sure there's other recorded parameters in memory that might interest a prospective buyer, such as:

Engine oil pressure data
Engine rev limiter data
And any additional codes and their duration.

But, as I stated, I'm not a Honda EFI guru and don't have any real idea what all is available.

More of a "caveat emptor" suggestion than anything else.

Good luck.
 
To expand on what JGMO wrote, have the dealer (or someone else) hook up Dr. H and get a complete readout.

I assume this is a saltwater boat, correct?

Those overheats could have been as simple as putting muffs on the engine during maintenance. These big Hondas tend to overheat on muffs, unless you have extraordinary water pressure. On the other hand, the internal water passages could be severely corroded, and there is no good fix for that.

Other explanations:
1. A failed water pump/impeller
2. Clogged water relief tube off the thermostat housings
3. Clogged water return hose at the bottom of the water jackets.

These items are fairly easy to fix.

Bottom line - determine the source of the overheating before buying. And test run it hard.
 
My 1999 130 has probably triggered the overheat alarm more than 20 times since I owned it, on my IR gun it triggered sometimes at 160f when flushing. It was usually a minor issue, the sensor is very sensitive to a tiny bit of dirt. I’ve started it cold in the bay, it can trigger an alarm after idling for 2 or 3 minutes. My outboard does not like muffs, I don’t use them.

My overheat alarms were really frequent after doing a barrel vinegar flush with the thermostat out and the telltale port disconnected, a lot of salt crystals came out. After that for a few months, it would throw the overheat alarm and go in limp mode, but it never overheated, it’s just a very sensitive thing.

Follow the good advice above, if the computer in this outboard has recorded that overheating event information. My 1999 does not have any sophisticated computer system, that came along it later years . It may be this outboard has not been damaged by overheating.
 
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