Dave M

Generally speaking, is 400 hours a lot of hours these motors? I'm a NOOB when in comes to OB's. What kind of maintenance do these things require?

Gear oil, plugs, what else? And how frequently?

rak rua

ive got the old dinosaur 275's so I can't tell you much but if servicing is the same, the major service is due at 300 hours so if they are running well and the services are done on schedule, you should have no problems. (According to Mercury)

RR

BUP

iTrader: (9)

You will need to post model - year model and serial number - I would look at all issued Service bulletins and make sure they have been done. With that said go to OEM mercury and have him run your serial #. This will pull up all warranty work and service bulletins that pertain to your engine serial number groups.

I would look at all the maintenance needed for all fuel systems - the FSM is very important with the Verado. There is a post of it from me up here I will try to find it and post it.

I am not at trained with any Verado's - not a common engine inland for my location so my thought always was not going to waste my time. I do know a bit about them but not like Mercruiser. These Verado's are totally different animal than any other outboard so you have to watch out for which is the correct advise. I would look for a tech who specializes in Verado's Just saying

Knot 4 Me

If they've been properly maintained, 400 hours Is nothing on the Vrods.

BUP

iTrader: (9)

Info in these posts. Worth a look. especially about the FSM so read all of them

http://www.offshoreonly.com/forums/g...ing-out-2.html

Dave M

Thanks Guys! One more question, how would you compare Verados to Optimax? Which would you rather have and why?

speicher lane

What are you hanging the 300's on????

We just hung a pair of 4 cylinder 200 Verado's on our service boat...supercharged, DTS, strong gearcases and cheap on fuel running the twins over a big single and whisper quiet at idle and surreal at wot - can still talk freely.

Our compeditor is running a pair of opti's on a similar rig and I know our operating costs are less. Opti's need a comlete warm up before running (cold seize issues).

Dealing with clients Verado's 225's - at 650-700 hours the gearcases need resealed. Yearly scheduled services and using reccomeded Merc + oil filters+ almost no issues...all owners are happy with the Verado's performance and reliability. All of the Verado's fire on first crank and are not burning oil with heavy use.

Dave M

This would be a center console application.

Brad

I bought a boat this year with 2008 300 VRods with over 1,000 hrs. Most of the hours are very low RPMs for trolling. If it is a fishing boat hours may be of similar use. So far so good, they are the quietest and smoothest motors I have ever owned. Lots of Yamaha OB with over 5K hours running strong.

I have been told two different things on the lower units, I have the original lowers and JT tells me it is only an amount of time tell they break. Another Mercury service centers that works on primarily fishing boats tells me if they are going to break they would have broken by now. I hope JT is wrong. Love the torque on these motors.

Thunderstruck

Go To www.veradoclub.com which is a specific Verado based website with everything you ever need to know re Verados. I have a 250 on a bay boat that had 240 hours and now has 725 hours in 3 years. 1 sensor failed and an oil leak that required powerhead removal in that time. Otherwise starts every time and very quiet.