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Author Topic:   OptiMax Noise levels

jjdiv posted 12-25-2006 04:18 PM ET (US)
I've seen a lot of banter about OptiMax motor and the possibility of making them quiter through some design improvements.
Does anyone know if that has happened and have any data that shows the resultant noise reduction?
Teak Oil posted 12-25-2006 08:25 PM ET (US)
Check the Mercury website and read about the "New Generation" Optimax's. Most of the noise reduction is probably achieved by the redesigned cowl and by making the air pump quieter.
jimh posted 12-26-2006 10:40 AM ET (US)
Mercury's own information on the new 2007 OptiMax motors (which they seem to be calling either OptiMax G2 or OptiMax The Next Generation) indicates that specific noise reduction as a goal was applied only to the 3.0-liter motors and that the target for this improvement was to reduce the noise of the motor "up to 6-decibels."
Most all of the information about changes to to be incorporated into the new models of their OptiMax motors was summarized and presented in a prior article
OTNG--OptiMax The Next Generation
http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/011847.html
That article was written shortly after the new models were announced by Mercury in early 2006.
I have not seen any actual data in which a measurement has been made of the noise level of the new engines. It would be very difficult to make accurate measurements of the noise level of a new engine in a manner that would permit comparison to a prior measurement of an older engine. I say that because there are so many variables possible in a noise level measurement that I have very little faith in those measurements unless they are all made with the same instrument and made on the same boat at the same time.
My impression of the instruments and techniques which magazine testers employ to make sound level measurements is that they are not particularly rigorous or scientific, and thus the data they present is useful perhaps for making a comparison among the measurements taken at a particular test, but not necessarily so accurate and repeatable that one could compare data among different test runs made with different boats, motor, and sound level instruments.
A good indication of any improvements to the noise, vibration, and harshness of the 2007 OptiMax or the G2 OptiMax or the OptiMax The Next Generation motor would be to have a first-hand report from someone who is familiar with the breed. This sort of data would be quite refreshing. It is one thing to regurgitate the Mercury press release or repeat advertising copy and quite another to actually get out on the water and run the motor for a few hours.
If anyone has some experience with the 2007 OptiMax motors, perhaps they would be kind enough to favor us with a report about the motor's noise, vibration, and harshness, and, if we are lucky, our correspondent might be able to compare the new motors for us with their prior experience with the pre-2007 motors.
The Judge posted 12-28-2006 01:25 PM ET (US)
This is not a bash on Mercury engines but I drove a 25' Proline full transom with twin 150 Optis on it last week and man are those engines loud. They are not too bad at slow speed(idle is loud) but on plane they are just as loud as conventional 2 strokes I believe. My friend has HPDI's and they are about half the decibles of the Merc's through all the ranges and do not sound like diesels at idle. Now I know there has been shootout tests that show decibles but I am talking just my experience with these types.
Livingwater posted 12-28-2006 01:51 PM ET (US)
My 190 Nantucket came with the Optimax 150. Prior to purchasing the boat I asked the question about noise levels for this particular engine on this forum. I was concerned about the noise because Boston Whaler has the different DBA levels listed on their website for the Optimax and Verado outboards.
I was really concern when I was reading noise levels above 100 when the boat speed was only around 24 Knots.
From my actual experience with the Optimax 150 it is extremely load however I learned to accept it while I continue to save on fuel.
I also own a 2500 4x4 with the Cunmmins Diesel so hey!!!
My Optimax purr's load and runs great :o)

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Author	Topic: OptiMax Noise levels
jjdiv	posted 12-25-2006 04:18 PM ET (US) I've seen a lot of banter about OptiMax motor and the possibility of making them quiter through some design improvements. Does anyone know if that has happened and have any data that shows the resultant noise reduction?
Teak Oil	posted 12-25-2006 08:25 PM ET (US) Check the Mercury website and read about the "New Generation" Optimax's. Most of the noise reduction is probably achieved by the redesigned cowl and by making the air pump quieter.
jimh	posted 12-26-2006 10:40 AM ET (US) Mercury's own information on the new 2007 OptiMax motors (which they seem to be calling either OptiMax G2 or OptiMax The Next Generation) indicates that specific noise reduction as a goal was applied only to the 3.0-liter motors and that the target for this improvement was to reduce the noise of the motor "up to 6-decibels." Most all of the information about changes to to be incorporated into the new models of their OptiMax motors was summarized and presented in a prior article OTNG--OptiMax The Next Generation http://continuouswave.com/ubb/Forum1/HTML/011847.html That article was written shortly after the new models were announced by Mercury in early 2006. I have not seen any actual data in which a measurement has been made of the noise level of the new engines. It would be very difficult to make accurate measurements of the noise level of a new engine in a manner that would permit comparison to a prior measurement of an older engine. I say that because there are so many variables possible in a noise level measurement that I have very little faith in those measurements unless they are all made with the same instrument and made on the same boat at the same time. My impression of the instruments and techniques which magazine testers employ to make sound level measurements is that they are not particularly rigorous or scientific, and thus the data they present is useful perhaps for making a comparison among the measurements taken at a particular test, but not necessarily so accurate and repeatable that one could compare data among different test runs made with different boats, motor, and sound level instruments. A good indication of any improvements to the noise, vibration, and harshness of the 2007 OptiMax or the G2 OptiMax or the OptiMax The Next Generation motor would be to have a first-hand report from someone who is familiar with the breed. This sort of data would be quite refreshing. It is one thing to regurgitate the Mercury press release or repeat advertising copy and quite another to actually get out on the water and run the motor for a few hours. If anyone has some experience with the 2007 OptiMax motors, perhaps they would be kind enough to favor us with a report about the motor's noise, vibration, and harshness, and, if we are lucky, our correspondent might be able to compare the new motors for us with their prior experience with the pre-2007 motors.
The Judge	posted 12-28-2006 01:25 PM ET (US) This is not a bash on Mercury engines but I drove a 25' Proline full transom with twin 150 Optis on it last week and man are those engines loud. They are not too bad at slow speed(idle is loud) but on plane they are just as loud as conventional 2 strokes I believe. My friend has HPDI's and they are about half the decibles of the Merc's through all the ranges and do not sound like diesels at idle. Now I know there has been shootout tests that show decibles but I am talking just my experience with these types.
Livingwater	posted 12-28-2006 01:51 PM ET (US) My 190 Nantucket came with the Optimax 150. Prior to purchasing the boat I asked the question about noise levels for this particular engine on this forum. I was concerned about the noise because Boston Whaler has the different DBA levels listed on their website for the Optimax and Verado outboards. I was really concern when I was reading noise levels above 100 when the boat speed was only around 24 Knots. From my actual experience with the Optimax 150 it is extremely load however I learned to accept it while I continue to save on fuel. I also own a 2500 4x4 with the Cunmmins Diesel so hey!!! My Optimax purr's load and runs great :o)