posted 01-26-2006 09:47 PM ET (US)            

A mechanic that I met this summer told me that the OptiMax motors built on the 2.5-liter block had fewer problems than those built on the 3.0-liter block.

The Mercury OptiMax is a two-stroke motor which has licensed the Orbital Injection System for use in producing a low-emission two-stroke motor. This system has a complex arrangement of dual injectors, one for fuel and one for air. The electrical requirements to operate this motor are quite high.

I believe that historically there have been some problems with spark plug fouling. Be certain to check for use of the most recently recommended plugs.

posted 01-27-2006 02:19 PM ET (US)         

Just to keep things in a fair and balanced perspective, my 1998 135 hp Optimax on my 18' Ventura blew after 20 hours use, whereupon after the powerhead replacement with numerous other issues it was sold at a $8,000.00 loss. I may add NO Optimax fans have stepped up to the plate to compensate me.

posted 01-27-2006 03:25 PM ET (US)            

Sorry to hear about your issue.

I had a 1998 Opti 135 on my 17 foot Outrage for 3 years with no problems. I ran Opti DFI oil and did the normal preventative maintenance and had no problems. Sold that boat, and bought BillS's Conquest with the twin Opti 135s (a lot of my decision was based on the experience I had with my motor). His had around 430 hours on them and I've put around 60 on it this past season. The only thing they require are large batteries with 1000 cca capabilities.

posted 01-27-2006 04:07 PM ET (US)            

Back in 2001 I faced the agony of only having an Optimax as the engine option on a Whaler. During that time the feedback was much worse on the Optimax, though mostly with the 200HP and 225HP models.

After talking to a few people such as BillS and hearing some good feedback on the 135, I decided to take the plunge because I really wanted a Conquest.

Now 3+ years later and about 220 hours on the motors, I am fairly satisfied with the engines. Besides regular maintenace work, I did have to get a power trim assembly replaced under warranty. For the whole time, I used Merc's expensive Opti oil.

posted 01-28-2006 12:16 AM ET (US)            

I don't have the 135 Optimax, but rather the 225 Optimax.
IMHO, it is a wonderful motor with great fuel economy and excellent power. I know that if you run other than the OEM Optimax oil, you risk problems with the injectors (air/fuel).

I have seen some posts in this thread that suggest the 135 Optimax motors are noisy. Is this due to the smaller vessel and the motor being closer to the operator? I have the 225 on a 25' Outrage and at WOT, the noise from the wind is louder than the motor.

At low rpm's, you may think it has stopped it is so quiet.

Would the smaller block of the 135 make it louder than the larger block?

Just curious as to the noise comments.

posted 01-28-2006 12:09 PM ET (US)            

I am leaning toward the CON 21 because of the bigger cabin with more headroom for family and I am probably in minority in this forum in preferring the "euro" transom for ease of wife and family getting in and out of the boat.

posted 01-30-2006 10:34 AM ET (US)            

However, I've heard so many negative things about Optimax motors that I would never buy a boat that had them on it. The previous owner of my Outrage had so many bad experiences with his Optimax 135 that he replaced it with a Honda motor...at huge expense. My neighbor's Optimax 135 has limped home several times. And the small-block Optimaxes are supposed to be the good ones! If you spend any time on the bassboat forums, you will hear dozens of stories about blown powerheads and bad injectors. And, in many cases, Mercury did not do a good job of dealing with these customers and their repairs.

Some of those problems may be due to owner neglect or abuse...but Mercury has lost so much consumer confidence over these motors that it will be difficult to get it back. I'm sure the Verados are nice motors...I have no personal experience with them...but like many others, I would now think twice before buying any Mercury outboard motor. Just my .02...

posted 01-30-2006 10:47 AM ET (US)            

Couple that with a corporate decision to drag heels on either authorizing repairs, or slow-repayment to the dealer networks for work performed (leaving the dealers to balk at making the repairs) only intensifies the PR crisis.

Mercury makes and sells A LOT of motors to A LOT of boat owners/builders. The good news is that they eventually "made good" on the problems; unlike OMC, whose problems with a line of motors ultimately resulted in the company's bankruptcy.

Many of the problems with the OptiMax engines occurred in the earliest years of production. I understand that by 2000, most, if not all of the "problems" were worked out - and that those motors made at that time were experiencing "normal" rates of failure/problems (all motor lines have a "rate of failure").

I would talk to your mechanic about it. See what he has to say about the motor. Is it a leftover, or is it used? If used, what was the service history?

Advice given above is also good to check on if the injectors needed/received replacement under the problems with the early versions.

I don't think I'd hesitate to buy a 2005/2006 Optimax, but I'd be a bit more cautious (as with any motor) with one that is already 5 years old.

It SHOULD give you about 15 years of fairly reliable service.

Good luck.

posted 01-30-2006 07:34 PM ET (US)            

I just became aware of the class action lawsuit on the 2002 OptiMax and now an worried about the engines. I am dealing with a broker who says she is unaware of the lawsuit or problems the optimax has had and I tend to believe her. My contract is for pretty much top dollar due to the low hours and condition of the boat and there have been no problems with the motors according to the whaler dealer who has serviced it. I checked.

Surprisingly though, no one in the transaction has mentioned any problem with 2002 OptiMax motors, including the service manager, dealership owner, and the broker. I stumbled across it on this site. So here are my questions:

Will the 2002 OptiMax engines lower the price of the boat due to people not wanting these engines? Will it hurt my ability to re-sell?

Since the motors have had no problems with light use (125 hours) but the warranty has expired, how concerned should I be about the 2002 200-HP OptiMax problems?

posted 01-30-2006 08:00 PM ET (US)            

Bottomline ....... use Merc DFI oil and Quickleen everyother tank of gas and they'll be your friends for a long time.

posted 01-30-2006 08:57 PM ET (US)            

The boat is shrinkwrapped and winterized and is on blocks and only has 125 hours on the engines. I have agreed with the seller that if he can prove to me through records the boat has been properly maintained until it was winterized this fall, I would wave the survey. I just don't want to pay to unwrap and un winterize and then pay to have it all done again. The boat has been maintained by the local whaler dealer.

posted 02-07-2006 02:29 PM ET (US)            

I bought a 2001 Dauntless 220 in the spring of 2004. I got a good deal, knowing that the 2001 Optimax on it had blown the powerhead at 70 or so hours and was on a "new" powerhead with about 20 hours. It was alway run with Optimax oil, not 100% sure about Quickleen. He was disgusted with Brunswick and Merc and bought a bigger GW.

Before buying it, I had I checked out by a Premiere Merc dealer and I discussed the motor with the local rep. All updates and upgrades done per Merc records and mechanic inspection. Both assured me that the motor was 100% and go for it.

I bought it.

The first summer, about 80 or so hours on it, no problems.

Last year, blew the powerhead. First day in the water. In the shop all summer and fall.

The original owner had a "extended service contract" from a 3rd party since Merc is a stickler about letting you buy extra protection only the first 30 days, instead of the more familiar first year or so (while original warantee in effect). This contract transferred to me.

I contacted and my dealer contacted Merc and they are giving me a stripped "new" powerhead and the procedes from the service contract will cover the labor, so I not out any cash yet, just one boating season.

My lessons regarding the early Opti's ( through 2002 or 3)

A used Optimax? Only if you get a killer deal.

A new Optimas? Not sure. Definitely no without the 4 or 5 year warantee.

Mercury? Fingers crossed.

Resale? Everybody in the high end boat market knows about Optimax and the problems. A 2001 Opti on the end of your boat hurts resale. Period. You may get lucky and find a sucker, but can you sleep at night dumping it on someone else? I couldn't. If you get one, make the original owner take the hit, not you. After all, he had the joy of a new boat. LOL. I bought my boat hoping to get 3 years out of the motor before a repower. I got one year, maybe more. Not really sure yet.

An evaluation by the dealer and the Merc rep on a used motor? It helps but not gospel and certainly no guarantee. Better than nothing and you would be reckless not to get one. Just don't think a clean bill of health means a good as new motor.

good luck

posted 02-07-2006 03:53 PM ET (US)            

Ventura (full load gas, water, 4 people, fishing gear, electronics) around 5100lbs.

When I fish offshore I run about 110 miles transit at 4200 -4500 rmps (32 - 33) mph. Troll for 8 hours at 1200 - 1400 rpm's (6 - 8 mph). Average travel distance per trip is 155 miles. The most gas I have used is 57 gallons and 1.1 gallons of DFI oil. That breaks down to an average of:

12.2 gph at 4500 rpms
1.4 gph at 1300 rpms

I changed the water pump impeller at 310 hours and am in the process of changing the plugs for the [first] time. I run Quickleen every other tank of gas, use nothing but Mercury DFI blend, burn regular gas, and change the lower unit oil every 50 hours. Other things I do is flush it after every use and take the cowling off after every use. I changed the alternator belt once because I felt compelled to do so (it was not worn).

Before the Ventura I had a 16' Dauntless that was powered by a 100 hp Yamaha 4 Stroke. I was reluctant to buy the Ventura with Opti power but took the chance and have never looked back. I have been nothing but impressed with my Opti and yes it's loud but it runs like the wind and is terrifc on gas and oil. It has never failed to get to and from the fishing grounds and in doing so has been in some pretty rough and exciting conditions.

posted 02-07-2006 04:57 PM ET (US)            

Sounds like you got a good 'un!

I am picking my boat up today. Just got off the phone with the shop.

Guess I'll be running her Sunday unless it is freezing just to see how she runs.

posted 02-07-2006 08:06 PM ET (US)            

I'm going to pick up my new 2004 190 Nantucket soon and I am concerned about the reliability of the 135 Optimax.

posted 02-07-2006 08:17 PM ET (US)            

Enjoy it.

posted 02-08-2006 08:53 AM ET (US)            

Matt

posted 02-08-2006 04:21 PM ET (US)            

The only other problem I have had related to the trim/tilt motors and the trim gauge. At some point during the summer of 2004 I noticed that the trim gauge on my Smartcraft gauge was not working. The trim and tilt functions were working properly, but the trim gauge was "stuck" on 18.5. It turned out that some type of stop pin had fallen out of the one of the trim or tilt motors, which somehow allowed the trim sensor to be crushed. The dealership replaced the entire tilt/trim motor assembly and the trim sensor free of charge under warranty.

Neither of these incidents cost me any time on the water. From a mechanical standpoint, my motor has always operated flawlessly. I always use the Mercury Optimax DFI Oil, and I add Mercury Quickleen and Sta-Bil everytime I put gas in my boat.

posted 02-09-2006 08:47 AM ET (US)            

The OptiMax engine was the subject of some testimony before the United States International Trade Commission. A Mercury dealer from Wisconsin submitted the following declaration:

----------------
"My experience with OptiMax engines was particularly painful. My dealership sold a number of OptiMax engines and those engines experienced a much higher failure rate than did engines of other manufacturers. Because of this serious reliability problem, my dealership was concerned with stocking, selling, and promoting the OptiMax technology. Mercury has now redesigned the OptiMax engine and in recent model years seems to have addressed the reliability concerns associated with the OptiMax platform. [Our dealership] has worked hard to re-launch the OptiMax outboard and to promote it as an environmentallly-friendly, high-performance alternative in the marine industry."

posted 03-10-2010 02:12 PM ET (US)            

I think all Optimax problems were eventually solved and the engine has been a winner ever since. Optimax is really popular among the Bass fisherman.

It seems like most every company’s first go with DFI had problems. Yamaha has had trouble with a higher hp version HPDIs and that really shut the yammi guys up after their relentless bashing of Mercury. We cannot forget the Ficht problems either.

The early four strokes seemed to have much less teething problems, except that they were huge and lacked performance. The Verado fixed the 4 stroke performance problems and was big winner for Mercury from the beginning. As a result, the Verado has really helped Mercury’s reputation, and by default, helped the reputation of other Mercury products like the Optimax.

In the last couple of years, it seems I’ve seen a lot of mercs on the sterns of many boats: Military, police, pleasure boats of foreign countries. Even the Sea Shepherds use mercs on their ribs in the Southern Ocean. (Not exactly an area you would operate and un-trusted motor)