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Author Topic:   Stepping Up?

prm1177 posted 09-14-2004 08:51 AM ET (US)
I have an opportunity to make an offer on a Conquest 235 with an Opti 225 mounted. It's an estate boat unused and dry stored for 2 seasons in excellent condition. I have 2 questions for the Cognoscenti in this forum.
1) Given the known issues with the big block Optis (this one is a 2000 model), should I price the engine part of the boat offer low? I have an '98 Opti 135 on my '96 Outrage II 17, and am very happy with the performance and reliability, but past reports on the large engine are of a concern.
2) If I buy this boat, I'd like to sell my Outrage at a fair price quickly. This boat is also in excellent condition. Any suggestions on the best method (Boat Trader, etc.)?
Paul
prm1177 posted 09-14-2004 08:55 AM ET (US)
Make that a Conquest 23, not the new 235 :)
dcwhaler posted 09-14-2004 10:18 AM ET (US)
While I don't claim to know much about the big block engines, I did buy a used Conquest this spring with a used Mercury and know repowering it with a Honda 225. While I had a surveyor look at the boat he did not look at the engine. My advice would be to have a dealer or neutual party look at the engine and give you their opionion. I would think you would be able to get several years or more out of an engine that was fairly new and not used over the last two years.
bsmotril posted 09-14-2004 11:02 AM ET (US)
If you would rather look at a conquest23 with dual 135 Optis, I have one for sale listed in the marketplace forum. Plenty of pictures on the link provided on that posting. BillS
handn posted 09-14-2004 11:48 AM ET (US)
A used Optimax can be evaluated by an experienced Mercury mechanic.
1. The on board computer will show total hours, rpm and temperature abuse as well as self test all of the electronic circuits including fuel injection and all of the sensors.
2. A compression test will give an indication of the mechanical health of the engine.
3. Mercury will have a record of whether recalls have been performed on the engine.
4. If the owner used the proper oil, spark plugs and kept up with maintence of engine, that is a good sign.
I had a 23 Conquest with a 99 Optimax which gave 1200 hours of relatively trouble free service and was running strong when the boat was traded.
I prefer a four stroke but would consider another Optimax if it were on the right boat, as this one appears to be.
prm1177 posted 09-14-2004 10:13 PM ET (US)
Thanks for the pointers all. Bill. That looks like a nice boat and with twin 135's I'll be she flies. While I don't know if I can handle a Texas purchase from California, I do have one question. Is your boat considered officially over powered with those twins? I recall the max on the Conquest 23 was 225 at one time.
Paul
bsmotril posted 09-15-2004 08:30 AM ET (US)
The max rating on an older Conquest 23 was 300 HP. There are quite a few on the market with twin 150s which are the same physical size and weight as the 135s. BillS
dcwhaler posted 09-15-2004 09:20 AM ET (US)
Kind of interesting, the twin versus the single on the Conquest 23. In repowering my 97 Conquest 23 I had wanted to put twin 150 Hondas on it, the dealer I am working with who is both a long time Honda and Whaler dealer, although they only carry the commerical line now told me not to put twins on it, he recommended the Honda 225, which is what I have gone with. Part of the problem could have been the twin 4 strokes which put more weight on the stern then the single. I think it was very interesting in the respect that he pasted up a larger sale for one he thought made more sense when the boat is rated for 300 HP.
bsmotril posted 09-15-2004 03:36 PM ET (US)
In addition to the HP rating, you also have a max weight rating for the engine(s). It could well be that a pair of hondas would have exceeded that weight rating. BillS

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Author	Topic: Stepping Up?
prm1177	posted 09-14-2004 08:51 AM ET (US) I have an opportunity to make an offer on a Conquest 235 with an Opti 225 mounted. It's an estate boat unused and dry stored for 2 seasons in excellent condition. I have 2 questions for the Cognoscenti in this forum. 1) Given the known issues with the big block Optis (this one is a 2000 model), should I price the engine part of the boat offer low? I have an '98 Opti 135 on my '96 Outrage II 17, and am very happy with the performance and reliability, but past reports on the large engine are of a concern. 2) If I buy this boat, I'd like to sell my Outrage at a fair price quickly. This boat is also in excellent condition. Any suggestions on the best method (Boat Trader, etc.)? Paul
prm1177	posted 09-14-2004 08:55 AM ET (US) Make that a Conquest 23, not the new 235 :)
dcwhaler	posted 09-14-2004 10:18 AM ET (US) While I don't claim to know much about the big block engines, I did buy a used Conquest this spring with a used Mercury and know repowering it with a Honda 225. While I had a surveyor look at the boat he did not look at the engine. My advice would be to have a dealer or neutual party look at the engine and give you their opionion. I would think you would be able to get several years or more out of an engine that was fairly new and not used over the last two years.
bsmotril	posted 09-14-2004 11:02 AM ET (US) If you would rather look at a conquest23 with dual 135 Optis, I have one for sale listed in the marketplace forum. Plenty of pictures on the link provided on that posting. BillS
handn	posted 09-14-2004 11:48 AM ET (US) A used Optimax can be evaluated by an experienced Mercury mechanic. 1. The on board computer will show total hours, rpm and temperature abuse as well as self test all of the electronic circuits including fuel injection and all of the sensors. 2. A compression test will give an indication of the mechanical health of the engine. 3. Mercury will have a record of whether recalls have been performed on the engine. 4. If the owner used the proper oil, spark plugs and kept up with maintence of engine, that is a good sign. I had a 23 Conquest with a 99 Optimax which gave 1200 hours of relatively trouble free service and was running strong when the boat was traded. I prefer a four stroke but would consider another Optimax if it were on the right boat, as this one appears to be.
prm1177	posted 09-14-2004 10:13 PM ET (US) Thanks for the pointers all. Bill. That looks like a nice boat and with twin 135's I'll be she flies. While I don't know if I can handle a Texas purchase from California, I do have one question. Is your boat considered officially over powered with those twins? I recall the max on the Conquest 23 was 225 at one time. Paul
bsmotril	posted 09-15-2004 08:30 AM ET (US) The max rating on an older Conquest 23 was 300 HP. There are quite a few on the market with twin 150s which are the same physical size and weight as the 135s. BillS
dcwhaler	posted 09-15-2004 09:20 AM ET (US) Kind of interesting, the twin versus the single on the Conquest 23. In repowering my 97 Conquest 23 I had wanted to put twin 150 Hondas on it, the dealer I am working with who is both a long time Honda and Whaler dealer, although they only carry the commerical line now told me not to put twins on it, he recommended the Honda 225, which is what I have gone with. Part of the problem could have been the twin 4 strokes which put more weight on the stern then the single. I think it was very interesting in the respect that he pasted up a larger sale for one he thought made more sense when the boat is rated for 300 HP.
bsmotril	posted 09-15-2004 03:36 PM ET (US) In addition to the HP rating, you also have a max weight rating for the engine(s). It could well be that a pair of hondas would have exceeded that weight rating. BillS