Opinions on the mercury 150hp optimax outboard motor?

[V45 sabre]

Looking at a boat with one of these motors on it. Does anyone have insight on its reliability and common issues that come up.
Thanks

[deschambault]

I put over 1300 hours on one before repowering to a 150 fourstroke. It ran fine after the first year.

[TROLLER]

Great motor should have lots of trouble free boating

[dodgeboy1979]

i have a 75 hp optimax and have had no issues, real solid performance.

[Popman]

I have had a 150 Opti for 20 years trouble free (1998). Replaced some impellers and one cracked fuel rail. It has been and continues to be a great motor.

[does it ALL outdoors]

Plain & simple.


Merc's are GREAT engines.

[Brandonkop]

I had one, nothing but issues for me. But I didn't own it for long. First time out on the ocean just going slow out of the marina and the alternator bolt sheered off causing belt to shred and cost $3000 to repair. Next summer one trip worked fine. Second trip alarming non stop on and off. We rewired the alternator and it worked for a few hours then left us stranded in governing mode as light faded 13 miles from the dock going 6.5 mph with the alarm blaring the whole way home for four hours of miserable darkness. Should have cut the wires. Then took it in and mechanic said not sure why its alarming but now seems a cylinder or two are not firing well. Then could be some of the injectors. Recommended not worth fixing... summer after putting in 3 G. I bought a new 150 Four Stroke this year. Soooo much better.

Read all the nightmare reviews on the optimax online forums. What happened to me with the alternator bolt sheer is a common problem, as well as injectors plugging.

Good luck. I'd avoid. The merc Dealers and guys at bass pro in the boat department all told me after the fact the Optimax was a terrible engine and why Merc no longer makes it and switched to four stroke engines.

I'm sure there are many people with good experience. I wish I knew now what I did. Would have saved me some money and could have had a new four stroke repower earlier.

[dodgeboy1979]

Originally Posted by Brandonkop

I had one, nothing but issues for me. But I didn't own it for long. First time out on the ocean just going slow out of the marina and the alternator bolt sheered off causing belt to shred and cost $3000 to repair. Next summer one trip worked fine. Second trip alarming non stop on and off. We rewired the alternator and it worked for a few hours then left us stranded in governing mode as light faded 13 miles from the dock going 6.5 mph with the alarm blaring the whole way home for four hours of miserable darkness. Should have cut the wires. Then took it in and mechanic said not sure why its alarming but now seems a cylinder or two are not firing well. Then could be some of the injectors. Recommended not worth fixing... summer after putting in 3 G. I bought a new 150 Four Stroke this year. Soooo much better.

Read all the nightmare reviews on the optimax online forums. What happened to me with the alternator bolt sheer is a common problem, as well as injectors plugging.

Good luck. I'd avoid. The merc Dealers and guys at bass pro in the boat department all told me after the fact the Optimax was a terrible engine and why Merc no longer makes it and switched to four stroke engines.

I'm sure there are many people with good experience. I wish I knew now what I did. Would have saved me some money and could have had a new four stroke repower earlier.

merc still makes the optimax for the sport jet option. I'm thinking you must have gotten a lemon or the previous owner didn't do any maintenance on the machine.

[fisher Gord]

I know one salmon guide who started cursing his new optimax within weeks of purchase,performance,fuel usage and maintenance. very few running in the guide fleet.

[Brandonkop]

Originally Posted by dodgeboy1979

merc still makes the optimax for the sport jet option. I'm thinking you must have gotten a lemon or the previous owner didn't do any maintenance on the machine.

It's not just mine, if I would have read all the forums about OptiFails prior to buying I wouldnt have bought it. Prior owner did regularly service. I had engine mechanical inspection prior to purchase everything seemed ok. Not reliable in my opinion. But you're welcome to buy whatever you want.

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[Buckhead]

Originally Posted by Brandonkop

It's not just mine, if I would have read all the forums about OptiFails prior to buying I wouldnt have bought it. Prior owner did regularly service. I had engine mechanical inspection prior to purchase everything seemed ok. Not reliable in my opinion. But you're welcome to buy whatever you want.

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That just doesn't jive with my own experience. Ran an Optimax for 11 years.
Cost me one impellor, some sparkplugs and fuel filters. Not one issue.
You just got a lemon - plain and simple.