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Author Topic:   Optimax for trolling

lurkynot posted 04-10-2007 06:57 PM ET (US)
I have a 135-HP Mercury Optimax on a 180 Dauntless, and, over the off season here in Michigan, I have rigged the boat for more serious trolling applications. There are many opinions on the effects of continuous low rpm use on larger outboards. Mercury marketed these motors with a SmartCraft package allowing the operator to precisely control the boat's speed when underway. I would rather keep my setup limited to a single outboard, however I am looking for input as to the long term effects [of low speed operation] on [a Mercury 135-HP OptiMax] in particular as well as larger two-stroke and four-stroke motors. Tony
jimh posted 04-11-2007 09:19 AM ET (US)
One of the long term effects of operating a large horsepower motor at slow or idle speeds for trolling is to put a lot of hours of operation on an expensive motor. While the motor may be capable of tolerating extensive operation at idle speed, you might want to consider the cost of those hours in terms of depreciation of the motor. It may be more effective to put hours on a motor that costs only one-fifth as much, such as a small trolling motor of much less horsepower and cost.
lurkynot posted 04-11-2007 12:32 PM ET (US)
Good point Jim. I have also weighed the benefit of the back up factor in the case of the main motor becoming unuseable while on the water. The point you mentioned regarding the depreciation assumes resale of the current setup. If I keep the current configuration I have I'm wondering if the engine will develop any mechanical problems i.e. carbon build up or excessive wear and tear in the powerhead. I am wondering how much if any wear and tear continuous low rpm operation contributes to the longevity of the motor. Do you believe lower rpms use is easier on the motor than mid to the upper band. Or as some have suggested does carbon build up and what has been reffered to as piston slap on the walls come into play.
itl posted 04-12-2007 05:34 AM ET (US)
Friend of mine has run his Optimax 150 way over 1000 hours. At least 80% of that time is trolling in idle speed. I'll think the engine is a 2002 or 2003 model.
No problems what so ever with the engine. However, engine has been burning only Mercury DFI synthetic oil and used spark plugs are NGK iridiums. Only normal maintenance has been done.
I used to own 2004 model 115hp Optimax. I troll about 400 hours to the engine. No problems at all. Using same oil/plugs than me friend. Normal maintenance as well.
I think the key thing with Optis is the oil. I would recommended that you use only DFI oils. It is expensive, but carbon build-up with DFI oil is next to nothing compared to cheap oil brands. DFI oil is really worth the money.
Based on these experiences, I would say that Optis are very reliable engines and very fuel efficients when trolling. My small Opti did burn gas about 0.15-0.2GPH and the other 150hp Opti burn about 0.25-0.3GPH. SmartCraft troll control feature is also very nice thing.
But if you are worried about engine resale value, dont run that much hours to your engine. Very difficult to sell big engine with big hours.
Royboy posted 04-12-2007 08:12 AM ET (US)
Also use Quickleen in your gas. I troll a lot too with my 135 Optimax, and use DFI oil and Quickleen per manufacurers recomendation. The advantage for the more expensive oil, as itl pointed out above, is its resistance to fouling.
I also have a kicker, and I troll with it when conditions will allow, but my main engine still gets plenty of hours trolling. I suspect that most ourboard engines spend the bulk of their time at idle, whether the owner is a fisherman or not.
Roy
handn posted 04-12-2007 04:42 PM ET (US)
I trolled a lot with my 1999 225 Optimax on a 23 Conquest both at slow speed 1200-1500 rpm for California Yellowtail and higher speed, 2000, 2200 rpm for marlin, sailfish and dorado.
In my opinion, the harmful effects on the engine from carbon buildup due to trolling was nill.
When I sold the boat, the engine had 900 hours and ran as well as new. I never used quick clean or similar products to reduce carbon buildup.
After five or six hours of trolling, when I put the hammer down to go home, I would get a tiny short lasting, haze of smoke but that was it. There was no missing sputtering or other hesitation.
A kicker may be necessary as a safety factor, get home engine, but certainly is not necessary for trolling assuming the main engine is a modern dfi outboard or 4 stroke.
A kicker, assuming it is a modern 4-stroke or dfi 2 stroke, probably gets better fuel economy trolling than the big main engine. It somewhat cheaper to maintain than the big engine but any cost savings would have to off set against the cost of the kicker and its installation and any savings would take longer than the life of the engines to realize.
handn posted 04-12-2007 04:46 PM ET (US)
I concur fully with the recomendation to use Optimax or whatever oil is now recomended by Mercury in the main engine whether it is used for trolling or not.
Another Optimax powered boat in our marina used no name two stroke oil and the engines lasted less than 400 hours.

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Author	Topic: Optimax for trolling
lurkynot	posted 04-10-2007 06:57 PM ET (US) I have a 135-HP Mercury Optimax on a 180 Dauntless, and, over the off season here in Michigan, I have rigged the boat for more serious trolling applications. There are many opinions on the effects of continuous low rpm use on larger outboards. Mercury marketed these motors with a SmartCraft package allowing the operator to precisely control the boat's speed when underway. I would rather keep my setup limited to a single outboard, however I am looking for input as to the long term effects [of low speed operation] on [a Mercury 135-HP OptiMax] in particular as well as larger two-stroke and four-stroke motors. Tony
jimh	posted 04-11-2007 09:19 AM ET (US) One of the long term effects of operating a large horsepower motor at slow or idle speeds for trolling is to put a lot of hours of operation on an expensive motor. While the motor may be capable of tolerating extensive operation at idle speed, you might want to consider the cost of those hours in terms of depreciation of the motor. It may be more effective to put hours on a motor that costs only one-fifth as much, such as a small trolling motor of much less horsepower and cost.
lurkynot	posted 04-11-2007 12:32 PM ET (US) Good point Jim. I have also weighed the benefit of the back up factor in the case of the main motor becoming unuseable while on the water. The point you mentioned regarding the depreciation assumes resale of the current setup. If I keep the current configuration I have I'm wondering if the engine will develop any mechanical problems i.e. carbon build up or excessive wear and tear in the powerhead. I am wondering how much if any wear and tear continuous low rpm operation contributes to the longevity of the motor. Do you believe lower rpms use is easier on the motor than mid to the upper band. Or as some have suggested does carbon build up and what has been reffered to as piston slap on the walls come into play.
itl	posted 04-12-2007 05:34 AM ET (US) Friend of mine has run his Optimax 150 way over 1000 hours. At least 80% of that time is trolling in idle speed. I'll think the engine is a 2002 or 2003 model. No problems what so ever with the engine. However, engine has been burning only Mercury DFI synthetic oil and used spark plugs are NGK iridiums. Only normal maintenance has been done. I used to own 2004 model 115hp Optimax. I troll about 400 hours to the engine. No problems at all. Using same oil/plugs than me friend. Normal maintenance as well. I think the key thing with Optis is the oil. I would recommended that you use only DFI oils. It is expensive, but carbon build-up with DFI oil is next to nothing compared to cheap oil brands. DFI oil is really worth the money. Based on these experiences, I would say that Optis are very reliable engines and very fuel efficients when trolling. My small Opti did burn gas about 0.15-0.2GPH and the other 150hp Opti burn about 0.25-0.3GPH. SmartCraft troll control feature is also very nice thing. But if you are worried about engine resale value, dont run that much hours to your engine. Very difficult to sell big engine with big hours.
Royboy	posted 04-12-2007 08:12 AM ET (US) Also use Quickleen in your gas. I troll a lot too with my 135 Optimax, and use DFI oil and Quickleen per manufacurers recomendation. The advantage for the more expensive oil, as itl pointed out above, is its resistance to fouling. I also have a kicker, and I troll with it when conditions will allow, but my main engine still gets plenty of hours trolling. I suspect that most ourboard engines spend the bulk of their time at idle, whether the owner is a fisherman or not. Roy
handn	posted 04-12-2007 04:42 PM ET (US) I trolled a lot with my 1999 225 Optimax on a 23 Conquest both at slow speed 1200-1500 rpm for California Yellowtail and higher speed, 2000, 2200 rpm for marlin, sailfish and dorado. In my opinion, the harmful effects on the engine from carbon buildup due to trolling was nill. When I sold the boat, the engine had 900 hours and ran as well as new. I never used quick clean or similar products to reduce carbon buildup. After five or six hours of trolling, when I put the hammer down to go home, I would get a tiny short lasting, haze of smoke but that was it. There was no missing sputtering or other hesitation. A kicker may be necessary as a safety factor, get home engine, but certainly is not necessary for trolling assuming the main engine is a modern dfi outboard or 4 stroke. A kicker, assuming it is a modern 4-stroke or dfi 2 stroke, probably gets better fuel economy trolling than the big main engine. It somewhat cheaper to maintain than the big engine but any cost savings would have to off set against the cost of the kicker and its installation and any savings would take longer than the life of the engines to realize.
handn	posted 04-12-2007 04:46 PM ET (US) I concur fully with the recomendation to use Optimax or whatever oil is now recomended by Mercury in the main engine whether it is used for trolling or not. Another Optimax powered boat in our marina used no name two stroke oil and the engines lasted less than 400 hours.