Mercury Optimax

[Flint River Pirate]

What do you guys think about Mercury Optimax motors? My last 4 motors have been Yamahas and I certainly consider myself a Yamaha man. I have heard good things lately about Optimax motors. I know several of you guys run them and I am not trying to start argument among anyone but I am just curious about them. I have been looking at the Triton 1860 boats and they come with Optimax motors. I like to buy local but I will have to go out of town to get a G3 or Xpress with a Yamaha. What do you guys think?

[chugbug]

I have a 225 Opti and love it. It is great on gas and oil. You have to warm them up good before getting on them but with proper care they're awesome.

[sundown]

I have a 2008 115 hp optimax...If I was buying another motor tomorrow, it would be an optimax....Mine probably has 50 plus hrs on it..been a winner so far.

[Reel Cowboy]

I've got a 150 and she is strong like bull.
The spark plugs ain't cheap but you only need to replace them every 3 years or so. I would definitely buy another one.

[Flint River Pirate]

You guys prefer them over a 4 stroke motor too?

[sundown]

fuel economy is great..not as quiet as a 4 stroke but is ok....torque is better than 4 stroke

[leesburgga]

I have a 2006 90hp with not a single hiccup (knocking on wood hard). I bought a Mako which came with the optimax. It is quite, great mileage, and been very dependable for me. I hear all of the horror stories about Mercurys and hear how yamaha is the only way to go. Based on my experience, I would not shy away from the optimax.

[silverking]

FRP,
When researching a column on 2 vs. 4 strokes a couple years ago, I learned that the Opti was originally an Australian design and is considered the simplest of all the direct injected designs. It'll definitely have more torque than a 4 and will be lighter, too, although not as light as the E-TEC.

Of all the boats I've run or tested that were Opti powered, they were responsive, quick out of the hole and good on fuel economy.

Hope this helps.

[What a mess]

Not me but the guy that got me back in the salt has a merc he bought based on price and has had many problems with his. My buddy with the big boat has a pair one just got rebuilt. Neither are opti's but I wouldn't buy a merc unless it was so much less expensive I could not care if it only lasted a year or two. At my house I buy used and try to squeak life out of it as long as I can. The 95 120 Johnson I got from M D has done great for me. How often do you fish? inshore or off? My buddy got an e-tech and has had some fuel related troubles with it. But that could be fuel or lack of use. Maybe I will see it in another way sometime but I don't use one often enough to spend big bucks and have to be working on it too. And your right the word that I hear most often is Yamaha. But I fish a ten year old skiff with a 15 year old motor. If I was buying new I would want it as bullit proof as possible.

[chugbug]

There is lemons with any brand. I've heard of people with HPDI's that blew up with two hours. Same with BRP (E-TEC) before they got their computer woes fixed. 2000 -2001 Opti's where terrible. Just have to take a gamble and buy whatever will service you the best. I will tell you that I run my boat a lot. Not sure how it would perform if I let it sit for a month or two between trips.

[Natureboy]

If you buy a friggin Mercury I will drive down to Albany and kick your %*#. If you are planning on buying new don't put your self in that position. I put more hours on my boats than most folks and I have owned all brands. There is a reason why I have Yamahas hanging off the back of my boats.

[Reel Cowboy]

Well, what do you get Dave?

[Flint River Pirate]

Well, what do you get Dave?

Nothing yet Matt, still waiting on a good deal!

[Reel Cowboy]

A good deal?
Man shot, you got plenty o' money.

[Rogan]

While I've owned and had great service from 3 Yamahas I'd buy and run an Optimax. I've read some great reviews and hear good things about those engines from a couple people I know. I'm of the opinion that there are lemons in every bunch and for me I'd switch up if I found a boat I liked with an Opti. I own both 4 stroke and 2 stroke and I like both for different reasons but I would hesitant on buying an Opti just because it’s a Mercury. My dad ran a Merc for years and the thing never missed a beat.