Mecury Optimax what do you think?

[catching]

Looking at pair of 2002 225 Opti's 600 hours on them.

Why are they for sale? Owner put 2006 Verado’s on boat.

Why do we want them? Boat currently has old 200 Merc’s that siphon the gas out of the tank almost as fast as we can fill it :shock:

How are they on reliability, and efficiency?

[quack quack]

Just say no :shock:

[Tuna Devil]

I was told that there were problems with the earlier Optis. I bought mine in '05 when the problems were supposedly worked out. 340 hours later I have a ghost they can't find. That being said, the motor has run like a champ and is very fuel efficient. Just my two cents coming from a guy with an '05 Opti that can't go swordfishing. (Opinion may be jaded by circumstance).

[Captain Ollie]

Well as I see it the owner has made 2 mistakes so far.....Don't you go ahead and make buying those your first.....Trust me on this...inside info....your better off rowing.

[RiskTaker]

But rowing is oh so challenging for: great distances, in big boats, with big waves, strong winds and parallel currents to shore at 3.x knots.


Can't we just use the kicker?

[swordboy]

those motors are awsome but i would go with a new model. those older ones had a shit load of problems. i have a 05 opti and i have had it a year with out one problem. they are great on fuel economy

[catching]

thanks for the input guys, Price is great and if the repairs are nothing major it will probally still offset the cost of the fuel at todays prices. That is why we have twins one should get us home. Putting on 25 ft boat even one should get it to plane out and get us home.

[Tuna Devil]

Swordboy,

Did they install your motor with a water separator. I Know there is one in the motor, but I am wondering if you have a second one you can access? Set up like a racor.

Catching,

Before you jump in you might want to look at the SKA site I have a friend who got two good deals on motors from there. I think some of the pro boats turn motors over every year. If you are interested I will get you some more info.

[Double V]

I had 2004 twin 200 Opti's and they ran amazing, we had the services done every hundred hours and at 450 hours they were still like new, untill our marina collapsed during Wilma!

[CONTENDERCHRIS]

I can remember the Ftlauderdale Billfish a probably like 2003 or 4, the last day of the tournament was a bit rough. When we returned to the weigh-in there was a blue Whitewater that had a single 225 OPTIMAX. But the boat had started the day out with two engines. The mount on the engine had cracked in half and the engine fell off while running. If I remember correctly it was hanging by the cables, and the guy cut it off and let the engine sink to the bottom of the ocean.(IMO thats where they belong)

Anyhow Im sure the odds of this happening are slim to none, but it reasured me about the quality of Mercurys

If I could persuade you out of getting any Optis I would.

Many have abused them with no problems so Good Luck with your choice.

[swordboy]

tuna devil, no they did not install one, they used the one on the motor. i havent had any trouble with it

[wackme]

optis are good my friend has one and i have verados. i have been seeing alot of posts on how bad mercurys are. i happen to be contratry to how most people about how yamahas are so great and in all honesty i wouldnbt take an hpdi if it cam efor free, now yami four stroke good motor 250&200hpdi= have problems .know a guy that has blown his powerhead 3 times and only has 300 hours on the motor. jus my 2 cens , and also remember opinions are like a$$holes everyone has em.

[catching]

ended up not getting them, these had 30 inch shafts and we needed 25 inch shafts. We were thinking of jack plates to lift them then warned about possible transom damage.

Oh well guess we are stuck with the gas eating engines we have

thanks again for all of the input.
Catching

[PUMPKINEATER]

alot of the 30 in shft optimax can be changed to 25's

[Tuna Devil]

Swordboy,

That is what I have. I thought I had water in my fuel, but it turned out that my fuel filter was clogged on the inside. (the one they had said they changed). Motor runs like a champ. I totally stand by my Merc. 360 hours and I have always made it home under my own power (maybe really slow, but I did it myself.) Thanks for the response.

Back home-up North-tuna season's starting. I will let you guys know what goes down. irat:

[quack quack]

:twisted: :twisted: :twisted: :twisted: They stink not the motor but the marina that did TDs work.That marina is the one all right

[reeltherapy]

Well,

I'm lookin' both ways as I pull out here in this dangerous intersection!!!! Hoping not to get clobbered. I own a 99 225 Opti. Wasn't my first choice but was on the boat when I bought it. For the record it's done pretty good but not without a problem. Throttle sensors went out at the engine. Would throttle down to guardian mode. Thankfully, it never failed in an inlet run. Was a ghost problem for a while and finally ran it down. They aint cheap to fix.

If I were to repower, I think I'd go with a pair of Yammer 4st. However, it's running good, never had another problem so if it ain't broke, I'll not fix it for now.

Good luck

[BOaT & MoToR MAn.]

I might be able to stear you to some motors. o5's and or 02's maybe , i run the o2's on a 30' its the company pleaseure or tournament fishing vessel. i might be able to help you. the 05's were of a customer's pro fishing vessel.

THey are very fuel frendly.

i Run yamaha on my personal boat. :shock: I work with yamaha mercury and evinrude/ johnson.

[Verado06]

I prefer yamaha myself. I might know of a friend that needs your 05's though.. i'm going to call him later and see if he still needs them.