Posts: 32935
Location: Rhinelander, Wisconsin | The issue with the big block Opti's was fuel rail/ecm related, and the '06 block has all the updates. Check with your local Mercury dealer or one close enough to the seller, and make sure before you buy to have it checked out; that should be done with any used motor out of warranty. That's your 'way of knowing'.
I personally witnessed the issues the Rude big blocks had early, blown powerheads and lower units all over the place by the Evinrude Trailer at tournaments. They corrected the issues and sell a solid motor, just like Mercury.
Yamaha had some big block issues too.
If I said 'don't buy' because of the history of past issues I have seen personally and know about because of my job since the new EPA regs went into effect, you'd have to row.
All the DFI outboards evolved from the EPA driven cleaner 2 strokes, and the issues were mainly with the early motors. Many were 'updated' under warranty and are still running great today.
Except the Fichts, OMC went out of business and Bombardier refined the technology designing the new ETEC after buying what was left of OMC, basically the Evinrude brand.
http://www.epa.gov/OMS/regs/nonroad/marine/si/420f96012.htm |
