Answer

Hello. The Sailfish is an excellent choice - I think you will really like that boat. I don't think there is a hard and fast rule on engine hours - 500 hard use hours could be the same as 100 easy hours. More important is the overall condition of the motors. At the very least I would perform a compression test and expect to find compression of 100-120 psi and, more important, as little variation between cylinders as possible and no more than 10-15% from highest to lowest. If possible, have a qualified Yamaha mechanic thoroughly examine the motors, and make sure that both (I am assuming you are talking about twin motors here) are comparable. I don;t know that one HP would be prefereable over the other - bigger is generally better, but the 225 will use more fuel than the 200, so you'll need to balance speed vs. range. Additionally, it would be well worth the cost to have the boat you choose surveyed by an accredited Marine Surveyor - you'll probably need a survey for insurance anyway, and he will do a thorough inspection and test of the entire vessel. Good luck with it!