Yam 200 HPDI vs. F225 vs. 200 OX66

[Stretch]

Where I live, regarding outboard power, this is Mercury country. There are very few Yamaha motors so the Yam service facilities are few and far between.

If I buck the local trend and go with Yamaha, does it make any sense to also go with the old reliable OX66 EFI? The HPDI and the V-6 four stroke are such advanced technology and I have little or no confidence that the few Yam mechanics around here have the computer diagnostic skills and the other expertise with those products to maintain them properly. Resale is NOT a factor; my priority is dependability and I also would not mind saving myself several thousand dollars in the initial purchase price. The motor would be run less than 100 hours per year so the fuel economy issues are not that significant either.

What do you folks think?

[John_Madison CT]

Call me old fashioned because my vote is for old reliable.

I'd get the Ox66 200hp EFI. Hard to beat with reliability.

John

[t bone]

I have the 200 ox66 and i love it .Its a brand new one and it doesnt smoke bad or run rough .

[bens2]

Stretch,

3 years ago I bought a 15hp Yamaha 4 stroke for my little boat and thought "It's a Yamaha what could go wrong." Well, 1.5 hours into breakin the CDI died, so I took it to my local Yamaha guy and he couldn't fix it. Bottom line, after several experiences with him he couldn't fix anything very well and I had to make a 2 hour drive one way back to the selling dealer to get it fixed.

So why not get Mercury EFI from the best local dealer/mechanic unless you are planning to move from the area anytime soon as it is fairly well proven.

Oh don't take this the wrong way as I currently don't own any outboards, so I have no real brand affiliation.

Just a thought.

Wish you the best with whatever you get,
Ben

[PenfieldReef]

I was considering a 150 OX66, or HPDI, and decided on the OX66.

Two years in use, 75 days a year, and not one problem; the engine cranks first turn; even when I hauled the boat this year, and it was 12 degress!

The reliability of the OX66 Yammies is unmatched.

[blacklabmarine]

Did you know that Mercury's 4 stroke engines are basically Yamahas with a black cowling/paint job?

Why not get one of these?

Jay Perrotta
President
Black Lab Marine, Inc.
www.blacklabmarine.com
800-650-0144

[aquasport17]

I heard they were not making the OX66 any longer, or that they would be phasing them out.

[Stretch]

For 2003, Yamaha has discontinued the 225 and 250 OX66 but still offers the 200. Also, there are plenty of leftover 2002 225's available from dealers at deep discounts and I might go that route also. The boat that presently tops my list has a max hp rating of 225.

Regarding the Yam four stroke badged as a Mercury, I am not so sure that the local Merc mechanics would be any better than the local Yamaha mechanics at maintaining Yam's V-6 four stroke technology.