225 Optimax opinions

Geez, you would think if they wanted to sell the motors they would have made them presentable... I don't think any electronics would do well subjected to the elements for long. Those Opti's have a throttle body that point up, so if all the plastic intake garb isn't intact they may have injested some rainwater from sitting uncovered. Sounds like a good time for pause and reflection..
 
Actually i asked to see them. Otherwise i would never had known they way they were stored.

I called about one serial number she gave me, it came back to a 2002 Opti counter rotating 30" shaft from Boca Raton (i think i spelled it right). I know for a fact there is a 1999, and a 2001. So the 2002 may be the newest, but how would a 30" shaft affect a V20. I understand i can just move my bracket up more to compensate, but what about the stability? Would the powerhead being higher up cause the boat to roll more?

Talking with MarineMax now they say to stay away from Opti's because parts are becoming hard to get. Truth or more BS?

And finally i found this in Miami. Talked with the seller and it includes wire harness, ignition, prop, but no controls for $3900. May be worth a drive. http://miami.craigslist.org/mdc/boa/2985307886.html

And this is close, but being a 1999 I am not sure, but its $3000 http://okaloosa.craigslist.org/boa/3016491604.html

Just talked to the dealer about the 1999. It has been off since February but on a stand covered up. $3000 is just for the motor and prop. Never had a replaced powerhead or any major service. Its had all the annual service since new.
 
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As previously mentioned I had a 2000. It was a great motor but with low hours. The only part that I am aware of as being "hard to get" is the SmartCraft style gauges, they are NLA from Merc for the older Opti's. It has been that way for a while now so all of the gauges sitting on dealers shelves have been scavenged up too.. Maybe those MMax guys opinions are based on experience, maybe they know something I don't, I am just a consumer.. dealers can be biased. LOL
 
I keep looking at the 1999 on CL. I have the gut feeling my money is better spent on it. Plus that leaves me with enough money to get controls. But it has no warranty. Come to think of it most used motors do not come with a warranty. I asaume 650 hours is low hours. Alot to think about.
 
while researching what the bluewater series Optimax was i found a thread on continuous wave. The 99 /00 Optimax did not have problems like the next two years which is linked to a different supplier of major components. Not sure of the credibility of this. But the bluewater series has a stainless tilt tube.
 
RidgeRunner said:
Geez, you would think if they wanted to sell the motors they would have made them presentable... I don't think any electronics would do well subjected to the elements for long. Those Opti's have a throttle body that point up, so if all the plastic intake garb isn't intact they may have injested some rainwater from sitting uncovered. Sounds like a good time for pause and reflection..
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Ridge looking at pictures online, on none of the engines i can see the flywheel and belt. Its covered up by a plastic piece. Is this the intake garb? If so none of the engines at the dealer had that on them. On every one of them the rusty flywheel is not covered at all along with the alternator and compressor.
 
jasoncooperpcola said:
Ridge looking at pictures online, on none of the engines i can see the flywheel and belt. Its covered up by a plastic piece. Is this the intake garb? If so none of the engines at the dealer had that on them. On every one of them the rusty flywheel is not covered at all along with the alternator and compressor.
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At this point I would PASS as fast as you can. From the sound of these engines, they have not been cared for. OPTI's are good engines, but they will NOT withstand abuse and neglect like the old carbed engines could.
 
Personally I would wait until the boat is done. Buying an engine in the fall or winter will save you some money as well. Early summer is the worst time to buy an engine as everybody is trying to buy an engine to get out on teh water for summer which drives the prices up.
 
Like i said i wanted to wait until tax season but i found these. Now i have the loan approved and a $3500 check in the truck. Its costing me $150 a month for this loan. So i figured i might as well use it.
 
Ferms thoughts were going to be echoed by me but I understand, you got the sickness.. :beer:
Sort out what you can when you can so when the boat is done you can jam on the rigging and get er done..

Regarding the plastic intake stuff, the flywheel cover missing would not necessarily mean water in the throttle body. That piece covers exactly what you said. The piece in the very front that clamps over the throttle body and serves as the front mount for the flywheel cover is the one of concern.(Nobody would need to remove it to remove the motor so it is probably a moot point) BUT With it missing and the motors stored upright the throttle body becomes a funnel.. Still, with the flywheel cover removed the air compressor has its air intake exposed that could allow water to enter there. It faces straight up and actually pulls air from the front (where the air filter is) through the flywheel cover and into the compressor. The more I think about it, I think I would walk away briskly.
Too many motors for sale, as you know.
 
could you take the check back to the cu, repay the loan & establish a $3500 line of credit.when you find the deal & check it out, then go and get the money. having to pay $150 a month would make me want to jump on something pretty quick.
have you checked the mobile craiglist. they are not far from you and a larger market. i'll keep an eye out over here in pc.
 
Phat i appreciate it. I will talk with the credit union tomorrow. I checked mobile and no luck. So my two options now are a 1999 in fort walton and a 2002 in miami. Both have 650 hours.

Ridge i am not even thinking about the first motors anymore.
 
I have one more option, its a 2003 Optimax 25" shaft. Emerald Coast Marine just quoted a repower on a boat powered by twin Opti's. He said to give him a couple days to find out if they do it or not.

If this one falls through i am giving the check back and trading my GMC for a Ford F150 4x4.
 
The guys I know with the ox66 say they are great motors, but a bit thirsty. Also think that 250 be way more then the V can handle.

Stay away from Ford!
 
What about the Yami 350 hp V8 ? Only weighs around 800 lbs......

Figure we should get 65 mph before the transom tears off and the boat sinks.
 
bgreene said:
What about the Yami 350 hp V8 ? Only weighs around 800 lbs......

Figure we should get 65 mph before the transom tears off and the boat sinks.
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The way i am building my bracket it will have to tear the stringers, and the whole bottom of the boat out for five feet! Besides i wont pay $25000 for a four stroke Yamaha.
 
[QUOTE=jasoncooperpcola; and too much power?


there is no such thing as too much power. If I came across one of those motors for a good deal it would be on the back of my boat faster then it takes me to type this response
 
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