Notarized Hour Meter?

[SoundWave]

The hour meter on our Westerbeke 42B is working fine, it's part of the tach.
The tach is starting to act wonky, though, I think it will soon need replacing.

Is there a best practice if you have to change an hour meter, to properly document? Nothing will give a future buyer 100% confidence if it's not the original meter, I'd like to do the right thing, though.

There is no notary or certification that I'm aware of.

What did you do?

[Snore]

While I have not personally changed mine, when, boat shopping years ago I looked at a boat or two with new hour meters.

From a buyers perspective, if being done by a third party/mechanic have then record the details on a paper receipt. Be sure to save both the paperwork and the original meter. If you are doing it yourself, save all the paperwork from the changeout, the original meter and enter it in the vessels maintenance log.

When I was boat shopping the existence of a paper file gave me a confidence that work was done when, and as, recorded. The dates in electronic files are too easy to corrupt. Saving the original hour meter is suggested solely to give the potential buyer a level of comfort in the integrity of the data on the paperwork.

[boatpoker]

How about ....... Dated photo record of replacement process.

[a64pilot]

I just kept the old one in the Nav desk, if someone wants to see it, they can.
In truth hour meters don't matter much, as you have found they break, and what would keep a dishonest person from simply unplugging the thing for a few years?
In my opinion condition of the engine trumps anything the hour meter says.

[CSY Man]

Notarized...?
Nah, not that big of a deal.
I changed hour meter once and simply noted the "old" hours in the log book, then forgot about until I sold the boat. When the buyer asked I looked in the book and added up the total. All of 2 minutes.

Compression tests, oil analysis and common sense will tell as much as hours:
If the engine is spray painted, including hoses, hose clamps, starter motor, etc, big red flag in my book.
Leaks, rust, soot: More red flags.

[MarkJ]

Tacho check the connection onto the engine. It's down the back. It gets corroded.

I notorised my engine hours go up. 😂🤣😂🤣

When you put in a new engine counter just keep the old unit it's little room.