Back in January 2017 I purchased a second hand boat (1999 Cruise Craft Rival 500) with a 1999 115 HP 2 stroke Yamaha. At purchase the motor had 170 hours and I immediately had it given the once over with a 100 hour service by a Yamaha dealer up on the mid north coast of NSW, cost a bomb but it was all done, spark plugs, impeller and water pump housing, gear oil, fuel filter, etc.) Since that service I've only added about 50 hours (total engine hours of 220 now) in 2 years. I'm about to go on our regular annual holiday for a few weeks up to Forster where the boat gets most its use from year to year (about 25-30 hours in 3 weeks thru January, not much at other times in the year).
Should I get the motor serviced again in early January 2019 prior to our 3 week holiday up at Forster or is okay to defer a service until after I come back from holidays in late January 2019? Is time elapsed or hours more critical in these circumstances, particularly where my use profile only sees me predominantly using the boat each January? During the year when the boat is not in use I tend to run the motor every few months just to keep things lubricated.
Interested in your thoughts on how to manage this.