I still cant believe that outboards are popular! Hahahahaha.....

I am with you 100% my boat is within 2-3 mph of a comparably equipped boat with twin 300's and I get at least 1 mpg more, sometimes double the mpg. and my boat is effectively larger without all those outboards in the way. My CG is lower and ahead of the transom, and my motors need practically no maintenance (oil change annually, gear lube every 50 hrs). A boat that gets left in the water is the only time the outboards are an advantage since you can tilt them out of the water.

you're comparing diesels with outboards on fuel mileage? not a very fair match up, besides not many perf boaters want the stink of diesel fuel...

One thing I found when researching outboards is there are good models and bad, if your looking at relatively lat model boats then the only ones that I would stay away from is Yamaha's HPDI and the F350's, they seem to have a lot of issues. Never heard anything bad about Etec's, Verados, I have 225 Optimax motors and love them , the 250XS or 300 XS have great reputations also and I'm sure they scream

What year are your Optis?

I've got over 350hrs on mine and the coastguard in the Keys had 1300 hrs last I heard

Great info guys..................I know this about the fuel usage, one of the guys that we run with in FMO has a 32' cat with twin 300 mercs,and he uses close to half of what I use on one of our runs and it's a lot easier to clean, the other reason we're looking for a CC with outboards is how much easier they are to beach, plus we got a doggie and she needs some running room.

2006 with about 375 hrs, any Opti after 2003 is a good one IMO

Depnds on where you boat and how you use it.

If you can see why they might have an advantage for some then you walk around with blinders on I take it.

What stink?? diesel smells great, besides I usually keep mine in the tank anyway. And who said anything about being fair??? It's not my fault they are better.