2008 Optimax 250
 

I have a 2320 Parker that needs a repower. It currently has a 2007 Yamaha 250 on it. I have the opportunity to pick up a 2008 Mercury Optimax 250 with less than 150 hours on it. It's been on a boat used in freshwater only and very little at that. Is the 2008 Optimax a reliable motor? I have a Yamaha 8hp kicker as back up, but I really don't want to have to come in 40 miles on my kicker. I don't venture too far off shore, 50 miles is about my max. Thoughts on the Optimax will be much appreciated. Pros and Cons
PS It currently has the big tiller arm, so i would need to purchase the cables, helm control etc.

i have a 2011 225 and love it great power good gas mileage 450 hours no issues

They make good power and are good on fuel, but I wouldn’t say they are reliable. I had twin 08’ optis on my old ocean hawk and I went through 2 air compressors on one motor, one on the other, 2 sets of injectors on each and all under 400 hours. I’d strongly suggest you look for a newer verado.

I have a 200 with over 1000 hours. I like it, great power uses less fuel than my 150HP Yammy 4 stroke. We did put a new compressor on mine before I put it on, from what I understand is those need to stay cool and the water line going to them can get clogged.

No injector issue, most of my friends run these and love them. But I will say seems like anything as they get older nothing is reliable in the boat world. New is the only way to know that you will be good for a few years.

Optis are the best of the DFI 2-strokes when it comes to fuel consumption and reliability. They don't sound very good, though. Evinrude had them beat there.

As with any modern Mercury fishing 2-stroke engines, their design life is in the "high hundreds" of hours. One with 150 hours has plenty of life left in it.

That said, as you can tell from the posts above, compressors should be considered maintenance items. So should the rubber diaphragms in the fuel rails. Like impellers, but a lot more expensive.

It is worth reading up a little on the engines so that you know what to watch out for when those parts need to be replaced.