Yamaha or Mercury 200 pump?

crayfish69 · 03-06-2004, 04:50 PM

Help me out guys. Looking into a new motor for new 23' boat. Yamaha HPDI 200, or Merc optimax. Or is the 225 a better bet. Need to make up my mind by Monday, HELP!

FishinMission · 03-06-2004, 04:53 PM

I spoke with my bro-in-law who is a Merc mechanic on the east coast. He thought I should get a Merc (because he sells them, and services them) but told me all in all BOTH are great motors. There..now are you more confused?

I bought a Yami for the new boat.

Mark

[ 03-06-2004, 05:53 PM: Message edited by: FishinMission ]

Sourdough · 03-06-2004, 04:58 PM

Yamaha, especially if it is going to see any salt water. Even though I have had good luck with my Merc pump, while I was in Belize I noted that I only saw Yamahas. No Mercs, no anything but Yamaha. I asked our guide. He said that Mercs only lasted a year in their salt. Yamaha was the only one that survived the environment in Belize. Good enough for me.

This thread should be good for some quiet, considered, thoughful responses. Will be fun to watch. No one seems to have any strong opinions on this one.

boater · 03-06-2004, 05:15 PM

if it`s a jet i`d put a 200 v-max on it, i dont trust any of the new hdpi junk and the optimax

wouldnt be on my short list, but if its a prop i`d check into a 200 4 stroke yamaha.

(note to self, you should keep your mouth shut)

Mojo · 03-06-2004, 05:48 PM

My 1990 Merc 200 (jet) has never failed me. I'd hang another Merc in a minute. Yamaha makes a great motor as well. I'd say it's a split decision for me, and whichever motor I got the best deal on would be the one I'd buy.

Boater,
HPDI's work pretty darned well from what I've seen (Mojo stirs the pot a little more... :grin: ) . So what makes you think HPDIs are junk?

[ 03-06-2004, 06:50 PM: Message edited by: Mojo ]

Fish Hawg · 03-06-2004, 06:01 PM

Yamaha 225 hpdi

spooner · 03-06-2004, 08:11 PM

I work at a lodge in alaska and we run 225 optimax and there is another lodge that runs yamaha and there is one out board shop and our boats are alwase there and the yamahas are rarly there our hole fleet is going to yamaha this year and never looking back. this is two fleet we have five boats and they have ten boats do the math and buy yamha .I broke a yamaha in at a lodge seven years ago and ran it for three years and it is still runining. (it was a carberated yamaha) DO NOT BUY OPTIMAX.

[ 03-06-2004, 09:23 PM: Message edited by: spooner ]

HOGTIDE · 03-06-2004, 08:31 PM

I would personally go Mercury EFI 2 Stroke. I believe it is the best motor on the water......and a bit cheaper than Yamaha currently.

I would NOT go with Optimax however. I have a friend who is a Merc mechanic and he is not at all impressed with the system. Lots of burned plugs that need frequent replacement and maintanence.

I am sure that the Yami's are good motors, they are just not my preference. i have no knowledge of the HPDI record so far.

Mr. Carp · 03-07-2004, 01:04 AM

Stay away from that black magic. :grin: Go with Yamaha. I have seen too many things go wrong with Mercs. Yamahas can't be killed.

FishinMission · 03-07-2004, 05:12 AM

On the flip side...I love my 2000 200 Merc plain 'ol 2 Stroke. The new owner will love it too! It's been trouble free for three years now.

More confusion for ya...

Mark

Quasimodo the fish killer · 03-07-2004, 09:11 AM

I have a buddy that got 11 years of guiding out of his 200 merc. I know it didnt give him a bit of trouble because I am the first person he calls when his boat stops running lol finally he got a new boat and a new 200 merc to go with it and as far as I know the guy that bought his old one is still running it hard.

I could be wrong but I have always heard the yamaha was quite a bit heavier then the merc 200 2 cycle. if it is then it would seem like the extra weight hanging from your transom would slow down the speed at which your boat gets up on to plane.

quasi

.

crayfish69 · 03-15-2004, 07:02 PM

ttt

crayfish69 · 03-15-2004, 07:04 PM

ttt

Denali · 03-15-2004, 08:27 PM

I have a Yam 200 HPDI but I drive a chevy. Are you confused now. Yeah what Mojo said.

Mr. Carp · 03-15-2004, 10:24 PM

With that size boat, go with more juice and get the 225 or a 250. If there is room, you could go with two smaller engines and use duals. You get addded insurance and reliability. Definately go Yamaha though. Seen several Merc problems including fuel pressure loss on the fuel injected to fouling plugs and no-start issues with the optimaxes. A friend of mine got a brand new merc 4 stroke little kicker and thing dies all the time and doesn't start with beans. We have a high thrust yamaha for a kicker and the thing never sputters a bit.

Some on the board might suggest Suzuki or Honda, but I don't know anything about them.

[ 03-15-2004, 11:26 PM: Message edited by: Mr. Carp ]

onstep · 03-16-2004, 07:09 AM

The yamaha or the merc carb motors are great. As far as the HPDI goes I'll quote Wayne Priddy last thursday. "Yeah I love my new wide bottom, but this new 250 (HPDI) is a piece of s*** they still can't get the wiring right." Buy a carbed 2 stroke don't mess with all of this techo stuff it will break. I have owned two 200 mercs and have had no problems. You will notice also that Dave Johnson, Bob Barthlow, Dennis Stewart, Len Self, and Chris Sessions (Ifish Guides) all run this motor on their guide boats.

Killertraylor · 03-16-2004, 07:58 AM

Ford vs. Chevy.... :grin: