Attn: Mercury Optimax owners

[SD Walleye hunter]

I have a buddy who bought a new Yarcraft last spring with a 115hp optimax. That motor is always broke with something here and there. Is anyone having any luck with these motors, or is my just a fluke. Help i need to know.

[Mr T]

I have heard alot of good about the 135 optimax,not sure about the 115 yet, but in general I don't trust all this new techno stuff just yet. Look at all the trouble OMC has had with the Ficht system. It actually sent them into bankruptcy. I think the Optimax and the Ficht systems are here to stay but all the bugs have yet to be worked out. Untill they are, it is probably a good idea to stay with the old 2 stroke engines (or perhaps 4 strokes which have been around a long time) for a few more years. For instance I talked with my dealer the other day about the cost of service on the new Optimax motors. Just about any shop work at all will run you 500 dollars and go up from there. If I'm going to pay that kind of money it had better be top quality and reliable. I do think the manufactures will get the bugs worked out of these engines but some problems they won't even know about until the motors have been out there for 5 or 6 years. Until then, if I'm buying new I'm going to go with the old technology if I can still find it. So many changes have been going on in the outboard world the last few years I just think it's been too much too fast for the engine makers.

[Actually]

The FICHT didnt send OMC into Bankrupcy. It did not help, but that is not why. Draconian thinking and pi$$ poor management and bad decisions from the top down are what submarined OMC. The writing was on the wall for Years! Sorros kept bailing them out, and the FICHT mess was basically one of the last straws.

[outlaw]

i have a 150 optimax i love it the fuel millage is great .i havent had any problems whatsoever and it has lots of time on it. but i have a freind who has a 225 optimax he is on the 3d or forth rebuild.

[Curious]

Can't answer your question but I wonder if your problems are in any way indicative of why Merc quit making the 115 Opti this year. Anyone know why they don't offer it this year?

[Opti. owner]

I will be going on my third year with a 150 Optimax. This spring, it started immediately after being stored since last October. This engine has been a good performer and I have been pleased with it. I'm amazed, at times, when I hear these negative comments about the Optimax outboards. I would buy another one.
Is the 115 Opti. an new engine this year?

[redhorse]

Stay away from them,i know of more that gone bad than have run good i own one it always runs like and sounds like a efi.maybe in a couple of years would be better but for now go with anything as long is its not an optimax.

[Smitty]

I have a 135 Opti and have had no problems to date.. Motor starts instantly, runs great, I just love it so far.

[Fish Search]

Personally I would stay away from all Merc Optimax and OMC Fight products. Both have had many problems and some HP engines have have more problems than others. I work at a dealership and seen way to many come in for repair. I am not bashing Merc or OMC as a whole just their decision to produce a product that was not properly tested. The nomally asperated engines or Merc DFI run fine and I push them before the newer F.I.'s. If my customer wants the new F.I. I suggest Yamaha. They have been testing their F.I. for the past 10 years off the market, removed all the bugs and I have not seen many problems with this product. Yes I know everyone wants to buy USA made but until Merc and OMC get their engineering together before the product is sold to the public I will push a reliable product before a problem and a angry customer. We have customers thanking us on directing them to other product after they hear all the horror stories that their firends are having.

[Will]

I have a 1999 135 Merc Optimax and have had 2 rigging problems. One was a bent ground pin on the main wiring plug to the motor from the controls. The second was simply a spark plug wire not secured to the spark plug not allowing to get to full rpms. I had a leaking fuel pump gasket and the tech replaced the whole pump to be sure about it. My motor never did start right away (kept stalling during cold starts) and the problem may be the air/fuel pressure in the rails...either bad reeds in the compressor or I have a faulty air rail somehow. Anyways it is more a nuisance than anything having the tech diagnose everything since the DDT analyzer does not show all of the problems. I like the motor though...and I can't complain about the service I am getting so far.

[800proX]

i have a 225 opti on my 620 Ranger and other than the oil alarm going off (sensor improperly located) i can say that the engine has performed great. many miles of WOT 10 - 20 miles at a time, and low idle is great. i have heard of the probs and it makes me wonder, but until mine goes to #####, i guess i can do nothing but praise it.

jeff

[Roger Osborne]

I have a 2000 135 Opti on Lund Pro V. Last May was delivered and had some sensor problems, tech replaced wiring harness 2 times, sensors a couple times and finally the whole lower unit was replaced. I put alot of hours on last summer, since I own a lodge in Canada and use this boat as my personal guide boat too. By the end of summer it was running well. Brought it back to Missouri for the winter and have been out 3-4 days per week here putting more hours on than most of last summer and is running perfectly! I have noticed a dramatic improvement as the engine has broke-in. Gas consumption is good, and starts very easily, idle is perfect and would recommend it. Only concern I would have is in intitial break-in to have a tech close by!

[Jim Carroll]

I have nothing but praise for my 225 Opti. Very smooth running and stingy on fuel. I ordered a new one.

[Smitty]

Roger, at roughly how many hours into the breakin were you able to notice a difference in performance? My 135 is still relatively new (a 2001 model) with only about 20 hours. I'll be really happy if it only gets better from here.

Thanks

[JeffC]

I bought a Lund with a 200 Optimax Blue water series, its a 99' it was never on the water before I purchased it. It starts and runs great, I also have very low hours (maybe 1hr)on it. I did have a recall on the steering bolt that connects to the motor. These problems are with the red or blue water series? I still have the option of buying the extended warranty packages. Wondering if it would be worth it.

Thanks Jeff

[Crankineyes]

Well what can I say after every fishing I get to look forward to having something replaced on my OptiCrap. That is a fact I hate the motor. I have been told the problems I have been told they fixed the problem in the 2001 but this can't be fixed in my 2000. Merc doesnt seem to care there product doesnt hold up to ther own claims. And I stuck.... All I can say is this is the last Merc I will own because of how I have been treated by the dealer and Merc. Thanks for nothing. Its funny once they get your money they never want you back unless your buying something.

[Mike Heller]

It's amazing how these jokesters that bash Mercury can't use their real name, they have to hide behind an alias - what are you guys afraid Mercury will take you guys to court for stating false facts?

I own a Yamaha and haven't had a problem yet. The only reason I didn't buy another Mercury was because the dealer by my new house only sells Yamaha.

Mike

[BigBass]

What about the Yami HPDI or HPDI VMax? Problems? Service?

[Crankineyes]

Dear Mikey

Give me a break and go back to that rock you came out from under.. Merc would never be able to sure me because there 2000 150 Opti can not troll at 450 rpm's without dying FACT. They put a larger Alt. pulley on the 2001 because the alt could not keep up FACT. The up grade to the 2001 doesnt retro fit the 2000 FACT. Thus the problem is not fixable on the 2000 am I right.. As I PROMISED Merc I will return my boat after every trip to address this problem. Both the dealer and Merc made claims that this motor should troll all day at 450 RPM's and untill it does I shall return for service untill it does.

[Mike Heller]

Crankwithyourself, I believe you need to go back to school and learn a little about grammar. That's funny, never had a problem with my Mercury, maybe you need to learn a little about boats and motors before you attempt to fish - if that's what you call it.

Mike