if my boat doesnt have an hourmeter  on it is there an easy way to keep track of the hours

Nope... well you could keep notes each time out. I tried to log it the first year (for service requirements) but after that it was too much of a pain. I've had her 13 years, she tells me when she needs to see the mechanic.

I have a 15hr. Evinrude that I fried the lower unit on a few years ago due to a bad seal. We hardly ever used the motor and have had it since it was new in 81. When I carried it to the shop to be repaired they said the motor only had 80 hr.'s on it, which was about right. Thinking back thru the times we used it I just assumed there was a hour meter on it somewhere, but didn't ask how they knew that or if it was an educated guess.

Here is the hour meter that I have on my boat. It is very easy to hook up and functions well.

Paul

it's my understanding that alot of the newer fuel injected motors have an hour meter built into the computer for the injectors, this is only readable from a laptop that connects to the control computer, this helps the manufacturer figure out just how many hours are on a motor for warranty work.

My Yamaha VMax is like newbe said, the hours are stored in the motors computer and can be accessed by your dealer.  They can also tell if your motor was broken in properly with this computer, it keeps track of more than we know.

i need to keep track of the hours so i can know when 20 hrs are up for my break in period  around here we  fish smaller resevoirs  so putting 20 hrs on a motor  could take me forever considering  time on water is 99 percent fishing   so i need to keep track

If your boat dealer doesn't carry an hour meter you might get one that you could make work through a farm/construction tractor dealer, tool distributer like Northern Hydrolics or possibly a farm supply like Tractor Supply. I know some of these used to carry such items, but I can't give you a specific place right now.   You also might try useing a stop watch that will stop and start.