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I am buying a used Dauntless 16. I am between two options. One engine is a mercury 90 HP 2001 with 12 hours (not used). The other one is a 2006 90 HP with 300 hours. Which is a better option, the newer engine with 300 hours or a 10 year old engine with almost no hours? Also, I think that the 2006 is EFI but the 2001 is carburated. Both (I am being told, properly maintained).

Also, is 300 hours excesive for a 2006? How many hours can you expect from a well maintained motor? Thanks.

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60 hours of use per year. Salt or fresh?
If used every weekend of the long California summers, it could be as many as 30 weekends, that averages 2 hours per weekend of use.
I like newer boat motors because usually new means longer life of parts availability and a lasting value. I also see that old motor prices drop like a stone as hours pile on.

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Salt water in the 2006 and basically no use on the 2001. One key question is 300 hrs, a lot or not?

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That is for you to decide,.
300 hours divided by 5 years is 60 hours per year (average)
60 hours divided by 30 possible weekends, is 2 hours per weekend, or one hour per day (averaged)

If it was done as averaged above, then it isn't a lot. But if it was done in one month, it was rough use.

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My truck has 710 hrs. on the motor and 23000 miles on the clock.
Hours on a boat are alot tougher than hours on a truck no doubt, so if we figure the hours on a boat are twice as tough as hours on a vehicle then 300 hours on a boat motor would equate to around 22000 miles on a vehicle engine. This means nothing but it is something to think about.

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if one is efi that would be the better buy in my mind. easy starts, and hopefully better fuel consumption sounds good. Also the motor will always be valued as a 5 year newer motor.

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That was my feeling. I am also concerned about a 2001 not having been used in 10 years. There has to be some internal condensation issues related to non-use.

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I would go with the late model year motor. 300 hours is nothing.

You could easily spend $1000 in parts and a mechanics time going through the 2001 motor to get it into good shape.

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I don't know, I do not think sitting up is a huge deal except for the fuel system. Dirty fuel systems can be cleaned up fairly easy. Still i Think I would buy the newer motor.

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go wiith the newer model, it has been used. the older unused motor has not been running, and may have issues, varnish, internal rust, etc. was the older motor fogged, and stored or just not used. you lower the life of an engine by letting it sit for years, unless it's properly prepped. 300 hrs is not a lot of use for that year motor.

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Thanks for all the good advice.

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had a 2001 250EFI on my last big boat - good runner. never failed to start very quickly. all bugs worked out on these motors. downside = gas hog. probably not a gas hog in the 90HP range