How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Folks,

I have an optimax on order .. before I ordered I did some quick
research which showed bad problems in the first 1-2 years with these
things blowing up.

Havent found too much later and assumed they are proven and work well
by now.

Whats the real story? Can one buy an Optimax and have no worries (at
least not more than other motors)?

Or is this a desaster waiting to happen.

We are talking about a 200 optimax sportjet.

Thanks for your advice ... I am getting a little nervous...


Matt

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Matt Lang wrote:

Folks,

I have an optimax on order .. before I ordered I did some quick
research which showed bad problems in the first 1-2 years with these
things blowing up.

Havent found too much later and assumed they are proven and work well
by now.

Whats the real story? Can one buy an Optimax and have no worries (at
least not more than other motors)?

Or is this a desaster waiting to happen.

We are talking about a 200 optimax sportjet.

Thanks for your advice ... I am getting a little nervous...


Matt


I owned a 1998 Merc Opti 135 and used it through the 2002 season, many
hours, with no problems. The guy who bought my old rig last season
hasn't had any problems with it since.


--
A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush;
A vote for Bush is a vote for Apocalypse.

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

I have a opti max 135hp yr 2000 and I love it, one turn of the key
starts every time. You being a new (to be owner) does not know opti's
have back systems
like my fuel / water separator..... and my oil backup on the engine,
incase the main oil system should stop or fail.
and the main reason, it goes like hell !!!!!!!!!!

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Matt Lang wrote:

Folks,

I have an optimax on order .. before I ordered I did some quick
research which showed bad problems in the first 1-2 years with these
things blowing up.

Havent found too much later and assumed they are proven and work well
by now.

Whats the real story? Can one buy an Optimax and have no worries (at
least not more than other motors)?

Or is this a desaster waiting to happen.

We are talking about a 200 optimax sportjet.

Thanks for your advice ... I am getting a little nervous...


Matt


I owned a 1998 Merc Opti 135 and used it through the 2002 season, many
hours, with no problems. The guy who bought my old rig last season
hasn't had any problems with it since.


--
A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush;
A vote for Bush is a vote for Apocalypse.

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

On 26 Jul 2004 16:41:57 -0700, (Matt Lang) wrote:

Folks,

I have an optimax on order .. before I ordered I did some quick
research which showed bad problems in the first 1-2 years with these
things blowing up.

Havent found too much later and assumed they are proven and work well
by now.

Whats the real story? Can one buy an Optimax and have no worries (at
least not more than other motors)?

Or is this a desaster waiting to happen.

We are talking about a 200 optimax sportjet.

Thanks for your advice ... I am getting a little nervous...

There's blowed up and then there's Kablooey blowed up. Haven't seen
any Kablooey blowed up, but I have seen injector fault, lost ignition
and timing blowed up (which is a computer problem). Those are early
model Optimax though as I remember it.

There are a lot of bass fishing tournament guys around here with
Optimax engines and I haven't heard anything bad about them.

And I see a lot of them out in Narragansett Bay, so they can't be that
bad.

Just remember, anybody can bad mouth anything at anytime. Just look
around the local marina, lakes, etc and see what outboards they are
running - that should give you an idea.

Of course, I would have bought a FICHT instead, but hey..... :)
(inside joke).

Later,

Tom
S. Woodstock, CT
-----------
"Angling may be said to be so
like the mathematics that it
can never be fully learnt..."

Izaak Walton "The Compleat Angler", 1653

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Matt Lang wrote:
Folks,

I have an optimax on order .. before I ordered I did some quick
research which showed bad problems in the first 1-2 years with these
things blowing up.

Havent found too much later and assumed they are proven and work well
by now.

Whats the real story? Can one buy an Optimax and have no worries (at
least not more than other motors)?

Or is this a desaster waiting to happen.

We are talking about a 200 optimax sportjet.

Thanks for your advice ... I am getting a little nervous...


Matt


If you can get out of it you should Matt.

Merc are in the process of going all 4 stroke in the OBs so you will
have a boat & boat resale value with the "old" 2 stroke technology.

Merc Opti is not as reliable as it should be (not as bad as Ficht, no
joke in or otherwise:-)) & this also impacts on your resale. Remember
when you try to sell or trade the very same people who encourage it now
will be the ones to tell you why they can't give you much for it.


K

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Thanks Joseph, Harry!

Yes I heard nothing bad about the 135. They seem to be very robust.

What about the bigger ones? I will be getting the 2.5l 200 HP. After
all there seems to have been a time when they even stopped shipping
them?

Are they good to go these days?

Matt

"Joseph Stachyra" wrote in message ...
I have a opti max 135hp yr 2000 and I love it, one turn of the key
starts every time. You being a new (to be owner) does not know opti's
have back systems
like my fuel / water separator..... and my oil backup on the engine,
incase the main oil system should stop or fail.
and the main reason, it goes like hell !!!!!!!!!!

"Harry Krause" wrote in message
...
Matt Lang wrote:

Folks,

I have an optimax on order .. before I ordered I did some quick
research which showed bad problems in the first 1-2 years with these
things blowing up.

Havent found too much later and assumed they are proven and work well
by now.

Whats the real story? Can one buy an Optimax and have no worries (at
least not more than other motors)?

Or is this a desaster waiting to happen.

We are talking about a 200 optimax sportjet.

Thanks for your advice ... I am getting a little nervous...


Matt


I owned a 1998 Merc Opti 135 and used it through the 2002 season, many
hours, with no problems. The guy who bought my old rig last season
hasn't had any problems with it since.


--
A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush;
A vote for Bush is a vote for Apocalypse.

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

"K. Smith" wrote in message ...
Matt Lang wrote:
Folks,

I have an optimax on order .. before I ordered I did some quick
research which showed bad problems in the first 1-2 years with these
things blowing up.

Havent found too much later and assumed they are proven and work well
by now.

Whats the real story? Can one buy an Optimax and have no worries (at
least not more than other motors)?

Or is this a desaster waiting to happen.

We are talking about a 200 optimax sportjet.

Thanks for your advice ... I am getting a little nervous...


Matt


If you can get out of it you should Matt.

Merc are in the process of going all 4 stroke in the OBs so you will
have a boat & boat resale value with the "old" 2 stroke technology.

Merc Opti is not as reliable as it should be (not as bad as Ficht, no
joke in or otherwise:-)) & this also impacts on your resale. Remember
when you try to sell or trade the very same people who encourage it now
will be the ones to tell you why they can't give you much for it.


Definately the 4 stroke is the way to go. However the problem is that
the sportjet only comes in 2 stroke :( You have the choice between
Carb, EFI and DFI. Carb and EI are bad fuel eaters .... Thats why i
want the opti to have decent fuel economy...


Matt

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

My 135 optipuke blew up after 3 months.

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

well, it was new to me , I bought it still new in the crate, however, it was a
few years old.

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

K. Smith wrote:


The extra fuel cost of carb or EFI is small compared to the extra cost
of the Opti & the "risk" of having the resale on the boat damaged.

K


Bull****. You don't have *one* reliable statistic to back that up. Even
with my 1998 Opti, I took no hit whatsoever on resale.

Where's your proof, Ms. Turdbreath?



--
A vote for Nader is a vote for Bush;
A vote for Bush is a vote for Apocalypse.

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Matt Lang wrote:
"K. Smith" wrote in message ...

Matt Lang wrote:

Folks,

I have an optimax on order .. before I ordered I did some quick
research which showed bad problems in the first 1-2 years with these
things blowing up.

Havent found too much later and assumed they are proven and work well
by now.

Whats the real story? Can one buy an Optimax and have no worries (at
least not more than other motors)?

Or is this a desaster waiting to happen.

We are talking about a 200 optimax sportjet.

Thanks for your advice ... I am getting a little nervous...


Matt


If you can get out of it you should Matt.

Merc are in the process of going all 4 stroke in the OBs so you will
have a boat & boat resale value with the "old" 2 stroke technology.

Merc Opti is not as reliable as it should be (not as bad as Ficht, no
joke in or otherwise:-)) & this also impacts on your resale. Remember
when you try to sell or trade the very same people who encourage it now
will be the ones to tell you why they can't give you much for it.



Definately the 4 stroke is the way to go. However the problem is that
the sportjet only comes in 2 stroke :( You have the choice between
Carb, EFI and DFI. Carb and EI are bad fuel eaters .... Thats why i
want the opti to have decent fuel economy...


Matt

It's likely when Merc get the 4 strokes bedded down they'll go through
the entire range.

The extra fuel cost of carb or EFI is small compared to the extra cost
of the Opti & the "risk" of having the resale on the boat damaged.

K

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Harry Krause wrote:

Where's your proof, Ms. Turdbreath?

Got to chuckle at this one. The king of no proof asking another for proof.

-- Charlie

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Harry Krause wrote:
K. Smith wrote:


The extra fuel cost of carb or EFI is small compared to the extra cost
of the Opti & the "risk" of having the resale on the boat damaged.

K



Bull****. You don't have *one* reliable statistic to back that up. Even
with my 1998 Opti, I took no hit whatsoever on resale.

Where's your proof, Ms. Turdbreath?




You're aliar Harry never owned an opti & never owned a boat, gees you
even now make up lies about trailer winches no less, you're a lying
idiot & what should be expected of a union employee spruiker.

K

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

K. Smith wrote:

Harry Krause wrote:
K. Smith wrote:


The extra fuel cost of carb or EFI is small compared to the extra cost
of the Opti & the "risk" of having the resale on the boat damaged.

K



Bull****. You don't have *one* reliable statistic to back that up. Even
with my 1998 Opti, I took no hit whatsoever on resale.

Where's your proof, Ms. Turdbreath?




You're aliar Harry never owned an opti & never owned a boat, gees you
even now make up lies about trailer winches no less, you're a lying
idiot & what should be expected of a union employee spruiker.

K

You have any proof of that, Ms. Turdbreath? Of course not. Just as you
have no scientific, valid statistics to prove the claims you made in
this post that I questioned.

You're simply a spiteful old bitch. There's nothing more to you than dust.

--
We have nothing to fear..
....but four more years of George W. Bush.

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Harry Krause wrote:
K. Smith wrote:


Harry Krause wrote:

K. Smith wrote:



The extra fuel cost of carb or EFI is small compared to the extra cost
of the Opti & the "risk" of having the resale on the boat damaged.

K



Bull****. You don't have *one* reliable statistic to back that up. Even
with my 1998 Opti, I took no hit whatsoever on resale.

Where's your proof, Ms. Turdbreath?




You're aliar Harry never owned an opti & never owned a boat, gees you
even now make up lies about trailer winches no less, you're a lying
idiot & what should be expected of a union employee spruiker.

K


You have any proof of that, Ms. Turdbreath? Of course not. Just as you
have no scientific, valid statistics to prove the claims you made in
this post that I questioned.

You're simply a spiteful old bitch. There's nothing more to you than dust.


Well there ya go trouble is you are the groups OT liar not just me
saying that, even those you've taken in in the past have finally woken
up, you're the saddest of the sad.


Here's a random of your own lies, in your own words of course;-);

Harry has claimed;

I own the following boats:

a 36' "lobster" style boat
a 19' center console fishing boat
an 11' inflatable dinghy
1/2 of a canoe

Those are the types of boats I currently own. I'm also in the market for
some interesting kind of lightweight flatbottomed skiff, similar to the
old Skimmar, for the "new" 51-year-old 10 hp outboard I recently bought.

One of the boats is kept on dry land within a half mile of Chesapeake
Bay. One is kept at a private covered boat dock in a little creek off
Chesapeake Bay. One is kept in the backyard of a friend who lives much
closer to the Shenandoah River than I do. And one is kept next to the
36-footer.



Harry says;

This season boat is stored on
a trailer, and launched at least once a week. Never bothered to examine
the winch or notice there was a lever that allowed another gear to slide
over.

None of my other trailer boats had multi-speed winches. They were much,
much lighter boats, and there was no need for a multi-speed.

"

or how about just this week first you start a thread do pretend you
actually own a boat with;

This season boat is stored on
a trailer, and launched at least once a week. Never bothered to examine
the winch or notice there was a lever that allowed another gear to slide
over.

None of my other trailer boats had multi-speed winches. They were much,
much lighter boats, and there was no need for a multi-speed.

etc etc as the lie continued.

However not long after.... anon posts;

This season boat is stored on
a trailer, and launched at least once a week. Never bothered to examine
the winch or notice there was a lever that allowed another gear to slide
over.

None of my other trailer boats had multi-speed winches. They were much,
much lighter boats, and there was no need for a multi-speed.


Clearly this lying piece of crap couldn't have been launching &
retrieving as his lie said, but when in a hole he just keeps digging
with !!!

This season boat is stored on
a trailer, and launched at least once a week. Never bothered to examine
the winch or notice there was a lever that allowed another gear to slide
over.

None of my other trailer boats had multi-speed winches. They were much,
much lighter boats, and there was no need for a multi-speed.


So come on real boaters is this even remotely plausible??? all the
boats he claims & he doesn't realise even small trailer winches have
multiple speeds but certainly the trailer bot he claims above.

Nope just a sad lying grub is our non boating union ripoff Harry.

K

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Guys, lets bring this thread back to how optimax are holding up in sportjets :)

"K. Smith" wrote in message ...
Harry Krause wrote:
K. Smith wrote:


Harry Krause wrote:

K. Smith wrote:



The extra fuel cost of carb or EFI is small compared to the extra cost
of the Opti & the "risk" of having the resale on the boat damaged.

K



Bull****. You don't have *one* reliable statistic to back that up. Even
with my 1998 Opti, I took no hit whatsoever on resale.

Where's your proof, Ms. Turdbreath?




You're aliar Harry never owned an opti & never owned a boat, gees you
even now make up lies about trailer winches no less, you're a lying
idiot & what should be expected of a union employee spruiker.

K


You have any proof of that, Ms. Turdbreath? Of course not. Just as you
have no scientific, valid statistics to prove the claims you made in
this post that I questioned.

You're simply a spiteful old bitch. There's nothing more to you than dust.


Well there ya go trouble is you are the groups OT liar not just me
saying that, even those you've taken in in the past have finally woken
up, you're the saddest of the sad.


Here's a random of your own lies, in your own words of course;-);

Harry has claimed;

I own the following boats:

a 36' "lobster" style boat
a 19' center console fishing boat
an 11' inflatable dinghy
1/2 of a canoe

Those are the types of boats I currently own. I'm also in the market for
some interesting kind of lightweight flatbottomed skiff, similar to the
old Skimmar, for the "new" 51-year-old 10 hp outboard I recently bought.

One of the boats is kept on dry land within a half mile of Chesapeake
Bay. One is kept at a private covered boat dock in a little creek off
Chesapeake Bay. One is kept in the backyard of a friend who lives much
closer to the Shenandoah River than I do. And one is kept next to the
36-footer.



Harry says;

This season boat is stored on
a trailer, and launched at least once a week. Never bothered to examine
the winch or notice there was a lever that allowed another gear to slide
over.

None of my other trailer boats had multi-speed winches. They were much,
much lighter boats, and there was no need for a multi-speed.

"

or how about just this week first you start a thread do pretend you
actually own a boat with;

This season boat is stored on
a trailer, and launched at least once a week. Never bothered to examine
the winch or notice there was a lever that allowed another gear to slide
over.

None of my other trailer boats had multi-speed winches. They were much,
much lighter boats, and there was no need for a multi-speed.

etc etc as the lie continued.

However not long after.... anon posts;

This season boat is stored on
a trailer, and launched at least once a week. Never bothered to examine
the winch or notice there was a lever that allowed another gear to slide
over.

None of my other trailer boats had multi-speed winches. They were much,
much lighter boats, and there was no need for a multi-speed.


Clearly this lying piece of crap couldn't have been launching &
retrieving as his lie said, but when in a hole he just keeps digging
with !!!

This season boat is stored on
a trailer, and launched at least once a week. Never bothered to examine
the winch or notice there was a lever that allowed another gear to slide
over.

None of my other trailer boats had multi-speed winches. They were much,
much lighter boats, and there was no need for a multi-speed.


So come on real boaters is this even remotely plausible??? all the
boats he claims & he doesn't realise even small trailer winches have
multiple speeds but certainly the trailer bot he claims above.

Nope just a sad lying grub is our non boating union ripoff Harry.

K

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Matt Lang wrote:

Guys, lets bring this thread back to how optimax are holding up in sportjets :)


Haven't noticed, but the engines are solid. If you treat them carefully,
as you should any outboard, and flush it after use, and don't run it for
long periods of time at high throttle setitngs, well, it should last a
long time.



--
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in
Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me -
you can't get fooled again." -George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept.
17, 2002

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

I did more reading and it looks the worst optimax selfdestructs were
the 3l blovk. The optimax uses the 2.5l block. Not sure but I think
its the same block the robust 135 uses :)

Harry Krause wrote in message ...
Matt Lang wrote:

Guys, lets bring this thread back to how optimax are holding up in sportjets :)


Haven't noticed, but the engines are solid. If you treat them carefully,
as you should any outboard, and flush it after use, and don't run it for
long periods of time at high throttle setitngs, well, it should last a
long time.

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Matt Lang wrote:

I did more reading and it looks the worst optimax selfdestructs were
the 3l blovk. The optimax uses the 2.5l block. Not sure but I think
its the same block the robust 135 uses :)

Harry Krause wrote in message ...
Matt Lang wrote:

Guys, lets bring this thread back to how optimax are holding up in sportjets :)


Haven't noticed, but the engines are solid. If you treat them carefully,
as you should any outboard, and flush it after use, and don't run it for
long periods of time at high throttle setitngs, well, it should last a
long time.

Well, the guy who bought my '98 Opti 135 is out fishing a lot on the
bay...I've seen him several times and saw him at the dock once or
twice...he's naving no problems.

Make sure you establish a good relationship with a Merc dealer whose
mechanics are trained on these high-tech engines, and have your engine
serviced by the book. Also, use premium Merc oil in your oil tank. You
can buy it in bulk for a couple of dollars more a gallon than Brand X
from most dealers.



--
"There's an old saying in Tennessee - I know it's in Texas, probably in
Tennessee - that says, fool me once, shame on - shame on you. Fool me -
you can't get fooled again." -George W. Bush, Nashville, Tenn., Sept.
17, 2002

How are Merc OPTIMAX holding up these days?
 

Haven't noticed, but the engines are solid. If you treat them carefully,
as you should any outboard, and flush it after use, and don't run it for
long periods of time at high throttle setitngs, well, it should last a
long time.

Well, the guy who bought my '98 Opti 135 is out fishing a lot on the
bay...I've seen him several times and saw him at the dock once or
twice...he's naving no problems.

Thw 200 Jet and the 135 both use the 2.5l block they seem to hold up
better (hopefully)....

The optimax was introduced 8 years ago in 96 .. one should assume that
after almost a decade they can make a motor that doesnt blow up ...



Make sure you establish a good relationship with a Merc dealer whose
mechanics are trained on these high-tech engines, and have your engine
serviced by the book. Also, use premium Merc oil in your oil tank. You
can buy it in bulk for a couple of dollars more a gallon than Brand X
from most dealers.

Yes definately ... I will be feeding Merc DFI oil to this motor ..

Matt