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Author Topic:   Mercury Optimax

alan posted 05-09-2000 04:35 PM ET (US)
I'm strongly considering repowering with a new 150HP Optimax on my '82 Outrage 18. Anyone have any experience with them?
Thanks -
Clark Roberts posted 05-09-2000 08:21 PM ET (US)
Alan, I just put a 135hp Optiax on an older 21 Revenge and it is great... I recently put about 400 miles on her on a trip up the Apalachicola River (NW Florida ..see trip report this forum) to the Chattahoochee and return to Apalachicola and averaged around 6 mpg for the trip cruising at about 28 mph and 3500 rpm most of the time . Starts are turn key and idle is computer controlled at 600 rpm.... really nice! The 150hp is same block at 2.5 liters!This is a big engine!!! and you may want to evaluate putting 445lbs on the back of an 18?If you are not too concerned about draft then everything should be ok... I think Larry runs twin 115's on his 18 so he may have some pointers as to weight... other than the weight, the Opti will be great...
You won't believe the mileage!!! The OMC (evinrude) direct injected models are supposed to be great also... don't know anyone who has one though! Happy Whalin'.. Clark
alan posted 05-10-2000 07:52 AM ET (US)
I've got a 150 Johnson on it now so it's about the same weight and rated max of 150. Doelfin helps it get right up on plane. I won't go with OMC after the research I've done. I understand that they are experiencing some problems even with the reengineered 2000 engines & the companies in tough shape, last two years of hell with the fichts,etc. It's Yamahas first year with the technology and it's hard to get a hold one.(I had a 90 Yamy on my reconditioned 1973 17' Sakonnet for 14 years without any problems). The Optis have been out for three years with relatively few problems - basically from poor installation by inexperienced techs. Thanks for the input.
Alan
kent posted 05-10-2000 11:40 AM ET (US)
If you are looking for some major input from users of the Optimax engine, or any other engine for that matter, go to:
http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/bassboard/boats_motors/index.html
Type the word Optimax in the Search for Title box. You will get all the information you ever wanted to know, and some you won't care to know. If you look around on the board, you will find that there are several different forums, some that you can take or leave. There are several people there that go off on some pretty silly tangents. There is a really
good prop forum. Some good information, if you can overlook some of the crap.
lhg posted 04-26-2001 12:37 AM ET (US)
Preserving thread
compounder posted 04-27-2001 11:13 AM ET (US)
Don't want to upset all the Mercury fans on the board, but something interesting recently has taken place with our state Department of Natural Resources (wildlife).
I've noticed that they are re-powering their boats recently with Yamahas, and spoke with one of the officers with whom I am aquainted.
He admits that they abuse their equipment, but states that the problems they experienced with the Mercurys (including the Optimax) were horrendous......seizures,holed pistons, etc. This after they had abandoned OMC because of the FICHT problems.
Speaking with the nearby dealer who sells both Mercury & Yamaha and who sells most of the engines to DNR, he admitted that there were severe problems with the Mercs, and that with about 9 months experience with the Yamahas the problems were very few.
I'm not interested in "Ford vs Chevy" arguments, and this certainly is not presented in that vein. I recently purchased a Yamaha based on all the information I could gather, including the above, but I did not care what brand my research led me to. If all the anecdotal evidence had suggested Mercury, that would have suited me fine and saved me a little money.
I do tend to respect the results obtained when equipment is subjected to "severe" service, which I'm sure is what happens in the hands of DNR officers.
There has been some negative feedback from the public however, about our state purchasing "Japanese" products, but I'm sure it's being done in other equipment purchases also.
Joe

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Author	Topic: Mercury Optimax
alan	posted 05-09-2000 04:35 PM ET (US) I'm strongly considering repowering with a new 150HP Optimax on my '82 Outrage 18. Anyone have any experience with them? Thanks -
Clark Roberts	posted 05-09-2000 08:21 PM ET (US) Alan, I just put a 135hp Optiax on an older 21 Revenge and it is great... I recently put about 400 miles on her on a trip up the Apalachicola River (NW Florida ..see trip report this forum) to the Chattahoochee and return to Apalachicola and averaged around 6 mpg for the trip cruising at about 28 mph and 3500 rpm most of the time . Starts are turn key and idle is computer controlled at 600 rpm.... really nice! The 150hp is same block at 2.5 liters!This is a big engine!!! and you may want to evaluate putting 445lbs on the back of an 18?If you are not too concerned about draft then everything should be ok... I think Larry runs twin 115's on his 18 so he may have some pointers as to weight... other than the weight, the Opti will be great... You won't believe the mileage!!! The OMC (evinrude) direct injected models are supposed to be great also... don't know anyone who has one though! Happy Whalin'.. Clark
alan	posted 05-10-2000 07:52 AM ET (US) I've got a 150 Johnson on it now so it's about the same weight and rated max of 150. Doelfin helps it get right up on plane. I won't go with OMC after the research I've done. I understand that they are experiencing some problems even with the reengineered 2000 engines & the companies in tough shape, last two years of hell with the fichts,etc. It's Yamahas first year with the technology and it's hard to get a hold one.(I had a 90 Yamy on my reconditioned 1973 17' Sakonnet for 14 years without any problems). The Optis have been out for three years with relatively few problems - basically from poor installation by inexperienced techs. Thanks for the input. Alan
kent	posted 05-10-2000 11:40 AM ET (US) If you are looking for some major input from users of the Optimax engine, or any other engine for that matter, go to: http://www.wmi.org/bassfish/bassboard/boats_motors/index.html Type the word Optimax in the Search for Title box. You will get all the information you ever wanted to know, and some you won't care to know. If you look around on the board, you will find that there are several different forums, some that you can take or leave. There are several people there that go off on some pretty silly tangents. There is a really good prop forum. Some good information, if you can overlook some of the crap.
lhg	posted 04-26-2001 12:37 AM ET (US) Preserving thread
compounder	posted 04-27-2001 11:13 AM ET (US) Don't want to upset all the Mercury fans on the board, but something interesting recently has taken place with our state Department of Natural Resources (wildlife). I've noticed that they are re-powering their boats recently with Yamahas, and spoke with one of the officers with whom I am aquainted. He admits that they abuse their equipment, but states that the problems they experienced with the Mercurys (including the Optimax) were horrendous......seizures,holed pistons, etc. This after they had abandoned OMC because of the FICHT problems. Speaking with the nearby dealer who sells both Mercury & Yamaha and who sells most of the engines to DNR, he admitted that there were severe problems with the Mercs, and that with about 9 months experience with the Yamahas the problems were very few. I'm not interested in "Ford vs Chevy" arguments, and this certainly is not presented in that vein. I recently purchased a Yamaha based on all the information I could gather, including the above, but I did not care what brand my research led me to. If all the anecdotal evidence had suggested Mercury, that would have suited me fine and saved me a little money. I do tend to respect the results obtained when equipment is subjected to "severe" service, which I'm sure is what happens in the hands of DNR officers. There has been some negative feedback from the public however, about our state purchasing "Japanese" products, but I'm sure it's being done in other equipment purchases also. Joe