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Random Quote: It's a boat, it's supposed to leak money.
Mercury had problems with the 1999 Mercury Optimaxes....and the 1998, 2000, 2001, and 2002s.
Please utilize the "find" button and insert "Mercury Optimax" in the blank area. Thereafter, hit your "enter" button.
You will see that the Mercury Optimax has been the subject of much discussion in this forum.
My opinion, based on personal first hand knowledge, i.e., actual ownership of a pair of 1998 Mercury Optimax 200s is that, well, they sucked. Your search on this forum will reveal the factual basis for my opinion and others just like me.
By the way, when BiminiMan starts talking in this forum, and he will, keep in mind that he is probably a Mercury representative or has some indirect interest in the reputation of the Optimax.
Do yourself a favor....ask everyone you know who knows anything about the optimax.......once you hear, repeatedly, what a terrible engine it is, you will make the right decision.
Foster- Thanks for the reply. I did just that. Too much negative publicity. What bothers me more than the problems with the motors is that Merc apparently doesn't stand behind there product too well.
And yes, Special-K is the street name for Ketamine, a drug abused by many teens. Unfortunately I've had the nickname since grade school and on three boats. Long before the drug was created, but the cereal has been around longer.
I plan on changing boat names when i find a good replacement...and no it will not be Doobie, as suggested by someone else on this board (although i thought that it was funny).
Yep, the Opti is a terrible motor, every year they have been made. Thats why the Yammi's win all the races. Yeah right. foster, why don't you just go ahead and admit that you were abused by a Merc as a child.
Glad you know what it stands for.........good idea regarding changing the name of your boat.........no need to have the DEA pull you over ever time you head out.
You might take a look at the new Honda 150s.
Good luck!
Foster
GW Cat
Honda.
And...oh.....Shag, I was abused by Mercury.... as an adult, not a child. Being in physical possession of not one, but two, optibombs coupled with having to deal with mercury's "non customer service representatives" is closely akin to having one's scrotal sack removed with a salty pitchfork.
Special K, if your not serious about the 150's shoot me the info if you wouldn't mind. I'm in the shop for a rebuild right now on a 150 optimax. I'm looking at $5,000 for a remanufactured powerhead plus all the labor to put her back together. It might be a better idea to pickup a 5 year old still new motor as a parts motor if it isn't a ton more...My email is brent.juilleret@equistarchem.com
BTW, the failure was a fluke, lost oil to one cylinder due to oil line coming apart. This was the one recall item on the motor and I think I may had inadvertantly seperated the tubing...yes that sucks! Happened only 3 miles from the house and I saved the block by limping her back home...
I have had a pair of 2000 225 Optis that I have had since new. I went through a period of time that a nagging flashing check engine light would come on. Turned out to be a faulty MAP sensor. I also had a spark plug failure but Merc remedied this by replacing with all NGK platinums. I am happy with my motors but will offer this advice....use Opti oil, buy a service manual, and consider purchasing the DDT machine. I have also owned a 2001 200 Opti, a 1999 135 Opti, and recently had a pair of 2001 Merc EFI 225's. Let me tell you the EFI's drank fuel like there was a leak!! I will never go back to EFI's!! Over all I am satisfied. I lost a lower unit last year and merc replaced it in a week. They have been excellent about support and have even replaced a part out of warranty.
I have twin 225 Opti's and have not had any problems with them. I use Opti oil and Quickkleen with every fill-up, and think this is a big reason why. I've had no issues with Merc service.
I think in most instances satisfaction is directly related to the quality of the dealer. This is true irrespective of manufacturer, and is doubly important now that the motors are so complex requiring extensive dealer training.
I do find it funny that many of the same folks who are quick to bash Merc have been oddly silent now that the 250 HPDIs are the engines having a problem. Here again though, the dealer is important, as some posters' dealers don't dseem to know about the service bulletins issued to remedy the problems.
What?? Yamahas malfunction?? Never, not here, couldnt happen, who said that, Blasphemy!! Yamahas have had numerous issues as well, the HPDI's had sensor issues upon first release related to barometric pressure changes, newer ones have oiling problems, etc. The truth is that people run these motors hard in an extreme enviroment and then act the victim when they break. Think about it, heavy boats, long distance runs, less than stellar maintenance, salt water enviroment, often substandard oils = breakage or malfunctions. My position is that the people that take care of their stuff are rewarded with excellent service, the people that dont....well they get problems.
My advice to those who are not sure about the Optimax, or any other motor with technological advancements, is to seek comfort and direction from others like you, such as those who would not give up their horse and buggy, those who would not give up their slide ruler, those who would not give up their propellor driven aircraft and those who would not give up their typewriter. You should take comfort in relying on that which works, leaving the technological marvels to the rest of us who enjoy the comfort of innovation, development and progress. Ironically, however, the day will come where you will buy the technology which you currently choose to scorn, because it is the quintessential standard.
Although I will probably get a new boat(19'-20') by Feb 2004 I'm constantly on the lookout for a used bargain. The last 3 "bargains" that I came across all had a Optimax(1999-2001) on the back..All 3 where about $2000-$2500 below fair market value. On boats such as KeyWest, Seapro....something amiss!!!
You know advocate, do you think that just maybe the level of confidence someone gets from technology that has been proven and refinded (to a certain extent) for 40+ years has some effect on their decision? I'm like SeaCat in that I run an '02 carbed Merc. 150. It's has been flawless since the day I started it for the first time. Do a search on the forums for the number of times people ask if new carbed, 2-stroke engines are reliable. When I'm 40 miles out, I'm more concerned w/ getting back than I am w/ burning 25% less fuel and not smoking at all.
Maybe not everyone can afford the latest and greatest technology? Hmmm, ever consider that? I didn't have the $$ for a DFI or 4-stroke. If I did, I probably would have gotten one.
Maybe the lack of properly trained local service technicians is an issue?
Next time, why don't you stop and look at every angle before you open your big mouth.
You Optimax bashers are full of shit.
I LOVE my Optimax and would not hesitate to get another one! How many Yamahas have won the 24 hr. Endurance Race in France?
NONE!
How many Mercury's have won?
Many!
What motor won this year?
Optimax!
Nuff said.
When all you have in life is a hammer, treat everything like a nail.
quote:Originally posted by cgrand:
the brand bashing around here is getting really old...
So what are you a gw saying? The 1999-2001 Optimax's had no problems? HUH? You'd be hard pressed to find one without a problem in those years.
Brand bashing? No. The guy asked a question for opinions (which is what this forum is, personal opinions). My personal opinion which is well known here is that Merc has been ripping people off for many years selling less than reliable motors, and the part I displike, is that it has been done KNOWINGLY. I'm not as hard on the OMC debacle a few years ago. The reason being is, I don't believe they knew they had a problem until it was too late. With OMC, the motors were built, shipped and delivered before they were found to be some problems. That can and does happend, unfortunetly for OMC, they could not financially overcome it and the reputation killed them. Merc on the other hand is part of one of the largest companies on the planet and has plenty of resources at hand to design, manufacture and market a MUCH better product than they have been doing.
And that, is MY opinion. So again, to answer Special-K's original question, NONE.
i'll give you the benefit of the doubt, and assume you speak from first- hand experience.
hard- pressed? the 1999 optimax in my father's driveway as we speak, on the back of a piece of shit starcraft, runs like a champ. i guess he got lucky...
Optimax -what yrs were trouble? 
