In 99 when I was repowering my boat, I did a lot of research on engines
available at 225hp. After about two months of daily research I went with the
Ficht. Of course the Yamaha dealers told me not to, etc etc but I called all
the tech service people and made my own decision. The engine has about 600
hours now and no problem. Had a problem with the trim and tilt unit, kept
creeping back down, under warranty they ended up replacing that. Also had a
recall one time to put some covers on the injectors and wires and update the
software. Other than all that I really satisfied with it, fuel economy is
great, and can troll for days, really idles nicely. I found a good source
for plugs at about 3 dollars per unit. Personally, I think its the dealers,
in my area, I am surrounded by maybe 6 big dealers of all brands, and I know
them personally but dont trust any of them, each time I had a dealing with
them they tried to burn me and not only I think this way about my local
dealers. If they say they have an Optimax authorized repair mechanic on
staff, ask to see their credentials and make sure its him/her working on
your engine. A lot of times they just get the guy off the lawn mower to fix
your engine and you paying for the other guy.






"Florida Keyz" wrote in message
...
After running four strokes for years, and very succesfully, we decided to
try
an optimax.

Bottom line, NO MORE 2 STROKES!

Have have this new motor in the shop half a dozen times, alarms going off,
etc.

And don't dare remove that engine cover, it does not even look like a boat
engine under there!

Sterling
www.CaptainSterling.com

Tuuk wrote:
In 99 when I was repowering my boat, I did a lot of research on engines
available at 225hp. After about two months of daily research I went with the
Ficht. Of course the Yamaha dealers told me not to, etc etc but I called all
the tech service people and made my own decision. The engine has about 600
hours now and no problem. Had a problem with the trim and tilt unit, kept
creeping back down, under warranty they ended up replacing that. Also had a
recall one time to put some covers on the injectors and wires and update the
software. Other than all that I really satisfied with it, fuel economy is
great, and can troll for days, really idles nicely. I found a good source
for plugs at about 3 dollars per unit. Personally, I think its the dealers,
in my area, I am surrounded by maybe 6 big dealers of all brands, and I know
them personally but dont trust any of them, each time I had a dealing with
them they tried to burn me and not only I think this way about my local
dealers. If they say they have an Optimax authorized repair mechanic on
staff, ask to see their credentials and make sure its him/her working on
your engine. A lot of times they just get the guy off the lawn mower to fix
your engine and you paying for the other guy.

I'm sure everyone here is happy for your good luck, but even with an
OMC admitted failure rate of 1 in 5 that means 4 kept going.

It does seem you say having 6 "big" dealers in tow helps:-) I'd agree;
all you need now are the sacks & bricks:-)

Pretty bad lottery but hey we have a winner!!!!

Alas 5 out of 5 suffered the odium of the OMC & ficht names so 5 out of
5 suffer the loss of boat value.

K









"Florida Keyz" wrote in message
...

After running four strokes for years, and very succesfully, we decided to

try

an optimax.

Bottom line, NO MORE 2 STROKES!

Have have this new motor in the shop half a dozen times, alarms going off,

etc.

And don't dare remove that engine cover, it does not even look like a boat
engine under there!

Sterling
www.CaptainSterling.com

Tuuk wrote:
: In 99 when I was repowering my boat, I did a lot of research on engines
: available at 225hp. After about two months of daily research I went with the
: Ficht. Of course the Yamaha dealers told me not to, etc etc but I called all
: the tech service people and made my own decision. The engine has about 600
: hours now and no problem. Had a problem with the trim and tilt unit, kept
: creeping back down, under warranty they ended up replacing that. Also had a
: recall one time to put some covers on the injectors and wires and update the
: software. Other than all that I really satisfied with it, fuel economy is
: great, and can troll for days, really idles nicely. I found a good source
: for plugs at about 3 dollars per unit. Personally, I think its the dealers,
: in my area, I am surrounded by maybe 6 big dealers of all brands, and I know
: them personally but dont trust any of them, each time I had a dealing with
: them they tried to burn me and not only I think this way about my local
: dealers. If they say they have an Optimax authorized repair mechanic on
: staff, ask to see their credentials and make sure its him/her working on
: your engine. A lot of times they just get the guy off the lawn mower to fix
: your engine and you paying for the other guy.





I have the same engine. Where, pray-tell, did you find plugs
for ~3.00 ?? Cheapest I found was about 4.50 but now up to 5.00 (sparkplugs.com).

I too have not had a FICHT failure.

It does eat plugs if you idle/troll excessively.



--

Almus Kenter

`` Pluralitas est ponenda sine neccesitate''
`` carpe per diem ''

Hi

I haven't purchased them for a while, last time I purchased them I got 3
sets. So I change them about once every two seasons, or about 100 hours. I
first tried all over the place, every marina near me, every marina was
around 22.00 each cdn. Then I tried all the auto dealers around for a NGK
equivalent, I was able to find them for around 8.00 cdn each for the
champion QC12PEP. Then I tried the Boat U.S. and the West Marine. They did
some calls and some parts dealer called me up from Florida and who supplies
Boat U.S. Now, first they said they used to have them on the shelf but no
longer were carrying them. Then called back and found them, so they sold me
36 plugs for close to 3.00u.s each. I figured it was less than what I would
have paid for one set here so I grabbed them.
I suggest you call the Boat U.S. and get some quotes, I am not a member
anymore but I dont think that matters.
Have you ever tried the NGK equivalent? I forget the number but I know they
are very much cheaper and I am not sure their quality.






"Almus Kenter" wrote in message
...
Tuuk wrote:
: In 99 when I was repowering my boat, I did a lot of research on engines
: available at 225hp. After about two months of daily research I went with
the
: Ficht. Of course the Yamaha dealers told me not to, etc etc but I called
all
: the tech service people and made my own decision. The engine has about
600
: hours now and no problem. Had a problem with the trim and tilt unit,
kept
: creeping back down, under warranty they ended up replacing that. Also
had a
: recall one time to put some covers on the injectors and wires and update
the
: software. Other than all that I really satisfied with it, fuel economy
is
: great, and can troll for days, really idles nicely. I found a good
source
: for plugs at about 3 dollars per unit. Personally, I think its the
dealers,
: in my area, I am surrounded by maybe 6 big dealers of all brands, and I
know
: them personally but dont trust any of them, each time I had a dealing
with
: them they tried to burn me and not only I think this way about my local
: dealers. If they say they have an Optimax authorized repair mechanic on
: staff, ask to see their credentials and make sure its him/her working on
: your engine. A lot of times they just get the guy off the lawn mower to
fix
: your engine and you paying for the other guy.





I have the same engine. Where, pray-tell, did you find plugs
for ~3.00 ?? Cheapest I found was about 4.50 but now up to 5.00
(sparkplugs.com).

I too have not had a FICHT failure.

It does eat plugs if you idle/troll excessively.



--

Almus Kenter

`` Pluralitas est ponenda sine neccesitate''
`` carpe per diem ''

Tuuk wrote:
: Hi

: I haven't purchased them for a while, last time I purchased them I got 3
: sets. So I change them about once every two seasons, or about 100 hours. I
: first tried all over the place, every marina near me, every marina was
: around 22.00 each cdn. Then I tried all the auto dealers around for a NGK
: equivalent, I was able to find them for around 8.00 cdn each for the
: champion QC12PEP. Then I tried the Boat U.S. and the West Marine. They did
: some calls and some parts dealer called me up from Florida and who supplies
: Boat U.S. Now, first they said they used to have them on the shelf but no
: longer were carrying them. Then called back and found them, so they sold me
: 36 plugs for close to 3.00u.s each. I figured it was less than what I would
: have paid for one set here so I grabbed them.
: I suggest you call the Boat U.S. and get some quotes, I am not a member
: anymore but I dont think that matters.
: Have you ever tried the NGK equivalent? I forget the number but I know they
: are very much cheaper and I am not sure their quality.



Thanks for the reply. For my first set of plugs
I got them from BOAT US but they were about $9.00 each. (still better
than dealer who had them for ~17.00 per). I hunted around and found
www.sparkplugs.com who had them for ~4.50. Last check had them
for 5.04. I didn't think there was a NGK equivalent or for that matter
*any* equivalent. If you find the contact for that place in FLA
let me know.

So far I have only had *one* plug that I couldn't index somewhere on the engine.


Thanks,

-Almus


--

Almus Kenter

`` Pluralitas est ponenda sine neccesitate''
`` carpe per diem ''

Ok, I will look for that contact in Fl. It was through the Boat U.S. I
remember them being flexible with their price also, they mentioned a higher
price and they listen to me complain for a bit then reduced the price and
had that supplier call me from Fla. I think it was just some small auto
supplier or something like that. I read here before that some were having
luck with the Auto places like UAP or places like that but I never had luck,
always a marine part and Champion only made them for the marine industry
available through marinas only (wow, scary thought). I did make a point of
it to call back the marinas who quoted me the 20. per plug, and told them I
found them for 3ish per plug, just to rub it in and feedback is good.




"Almus Kenter" wrote in message
...
Tuuk wrote:
: Hi

: I haven't purchased them for a while, last time I purchased them I got 3
: sets. So I change them about once every two seasons, or about 100 hours.
I
: first tried all over the place, every marina near me, every marina was
: around 22.00 each cdn. Then I tried all the auto dealers around for a
NGK
: equivalent, I was able to find them for around 8.00 cdn each for the
: champion QC12PEP. Then I tried the Boat U.S. and the West Marine. They
did
: some calls and some parts dealer called me up from Florida and who
supplies
: Boat U.S. Now, first they said they used to have them on the shelf but
no
: longer were carrying them. Then called back and found them, so they sold
me
: 36 plugs for close to 3.00u.s each. I figured it was less than what I
would
: have paid for one set here so I grabbed them.
: I suggest you call the Boat U.S. and get some quotes, I am not a member
: anymore but I dont think that matters.
: Have you ever tried the NGK equivalent? I forget the number but I know
they
: are very much cheaper and I am not sure their quality.



Thanks for the reply. For my first set of plugs
I got them from BOAT US but they were about $9.00 each. (still better
than dealer who had them for ~17.00 per). I hunted around and found
www.sparkplugs.com who had them for ~4.50. Last check had them
for 5.04. I didn't think there was a NGK equivalent or for that matter
*any* equivalent. If you find the contact for that place in FLA
let me know.

So far I have only had *one* plug that I couldn't index somewhere on the
engine.


Thanks,

-Almus


--

Almus Kenter

`` Pluralitas est ponenda sine neccesitate''
`` carpe per diem ''