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Posts: 335
Location: Orland Park | I have a Mercury 225 EFI, and I got some bad news. #1, I have a blown powerhead......the #6 cylinder is shot. I also have a bad hydrolic trim which must be replaced. We're looking at $6,600 to fix everything. For a few grand more, should I just get a new 225 Optimax? Need help quick. I'm going up to Leech in 5 weeks, and Cass in 7. |
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | What year is your motor...?
What warranty on rebuilt..?
Can you afford a new one..?
Warranty on Opti's is out 5 years now...?
If you intend to keep your boat it's probably worth the investment in a new motor if you can afford it. If your going to sell the boat in a few years your probably better off repairing your current motor.
What failed on your motor and how old is it years/hours...? Curious as I have a 175hp EFI.... |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | Jim - check out blackbirds rebuilts. He may be able to save you some coin and has a good warranty. I have an optimax and wouldn't get another. |
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Posts: 335
Location: Orland Park | It's a 1998 Mercury 225 EFI. Don't know exactly how it happened until it's torn down, but they think it overheated at some point. The water pump is fine, so I don't know how it overheated. May not have been getting oil.....don't know.
A new 2003 Optimax I can get for $11,000, but maybe cheaper because the 2004 are coming out soon and Merc is unloading everything they have. I have to see what they'll give me on a trade for my existing motor.
I plan on getting a new boat within a year or so....... in fact, my wife told me to start looking for a new one now. She doesn't see the reason to dump $6600 into a 5 year old boat. I can get around $22K - $23K for my boat, provided the engine is fixed, and just buy a new one.
I knew this day was coming!!!!!! |
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Posts: 335
Location: Orland Park | Joe,
What size Optimax do you have? I've heard they have all the bugs worked out. If I get a replacement, it has to be a Mercury. Even more money to switch brands. So maybe get a new EFI? |
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Posts: 1137
Location: Holly, MI | How do you know what it will take to fix if it is not torn down yet? Maybe the $6600 will be $3600. I would get a couple of quotes on overhaul. A 5 yr old motor is not an old motor. Fix it, run it, then sell it. The next buyer may be happy to know the motor has just been compleatly gone through, and you saved some good coin. |
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Posts: 335
Location: Orland Park | For a new powerhead and a new hydrolic trim, $6600, out the door. Do they have to tear it down to know the powerhead is done? They did the compression tests and whatnot, and that's what they determined. I've had work done on my motor by this dealer, and I feel extremely comfortable with their work.
If I fix it, $6600.......
Get a new motor, maybe $11,000.........
Resale of a boat with a brand new motor and a waranty.......priceless?
Plus, I have to disclose that the motor was trashed, and that could significantly effect the resale value. |
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Posts: 326
Location: Plainfield IL | Get the 250 XB! If you were to go new, I would stick with the EFI, the opti's are nice, but then you need the special opti oil at a nice price. Not sure if all the bugs are out of them. Must have been all those bugsy's you threw on cass that cooked the motor!
Edited by Running_Hot 6/19/2003 2:39 PM
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Posts: 1936
Location: Eau Claire, WI | Jim,
One more bit of advice....from someone who's been married 18 years.
When the wife says, "time to look at a new boat"...take advantage of that...hehe
Appreciate the feedback... From what I've heard the EFI's are still a very dependable motor, I also know many people who very happy with their Opti's. One of my best friends had his blow up when they had the fuel rail issue but his new motor is flawless and he is very happy.
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Posts: 335
Location: Orland Park | Could Bugsying the motor be that bad for it?
Here's another problem. Have a local guy rebuild it for around $3000, and have the dealer do the hydrolics?.....may take a couple weeks, then have the local guy rebuild it.......may take a month.
Have the dealer do everything for $6600? And have the boat back in 2 weeks.
Buy a new motor for whatever price their going to give me?
Will the resale value be more with a new motor, and how much more?
I will be buying 2004 Ranger 521.
I am leaving for Leech Lake on July 25. Time is of the essence. |
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Location: Minneapolis, MN | If you are committed to buying a new boat, cut your losses. Do as little as it takes to get that boat running with a rebuilt head which will have a one year warranty that should be transferable. Someone will want it with a practically new motor if it has a warranty. Put it on BFHP and it will be gone in one week if you price it right. Then hop in your truck and drive down south to one of the big Ranger dealers and buy a leftover 2003 for a steal of a deal. |
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Posts: 670
Location: Minnetonka , MN. | AMEN new boat yes |
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Posts: 32958
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | Sell the boat or trade it sans outboard, and get a new rig. The OptiMax Technology is now sound; very sound, and carries the warranty Mercury feels confident to offer. I spent two weekends this year working with Mercury at OEM meetings and can tell you they are extremely confident in the OptiMax technology. They are very aware that the percentage of failures hurt the branding, although small on a strictly percentage basis, and are working very hard to regain lost customer confidence ground, as are the other builders who had similar problems with the DFI technology.There is a HUGE push to meet the required 2006 EPA standard, and no one was ahead of the curve. 4 Stroke, HPDI, RAM, or OPTI, all had to go through the forced EPA timeframe and had their share of problems. |
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Posts: 335
Location: Orland Park | Steve,
I can get a 2002, brand new 225 hp Optimax for $10,000 from the dealer, after they keep my blown 225 EFI. And the 3 year warranty starts when they put it on my boat. I am getting a 521, and will special order it this year. When I go to sell this boat, I would think it would be very attractive to have a new motor on it with a 3 year warranty. |
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Blown Powerhead...Should I get new motor?