Looking at buying a 2000 Merc 200 motor

[wplatehunter]

I'm looking at buying a boat with a 200 merc motor on it. I now have a 100 4-stroke Yamaha with a 15 merc kicker, and the kicker is cold blooded. How are the bigger motors. Is there any problems that people have had with this model. Its hard to get away from Yamaha, but I like the boat set up. Any info would be great. Thanks

[wplatehunter]

This motor is an Optimax. Thanks again.

[iffwalleyes]

They are a good motor and they have EFI so they should be just fine for starting. Your kicker isn't going to be an EFI and can be tougher to start. The opti is a pretty reliable motor. It will be much louder than your 4 stroke but you will have awesome perfomance.

[Xplorer]

wplatehunter,

Have you asked the owner if the head has ever blown? There were alot of problems with the 6 cylilnder Opti's when they came out with blown powerheads. I'd do some internet searches on that year motor and ask for a history of his particular motor. Those motors also have a computer chip that can be read by a merc dealer and give you a history of how the motor has been run in the past.

[wplatehunter]

Thanks for the info.

[BoxMN]

If I recall, year 2000 Optis in 200 and 225 were the troublesome ones. And I am a big Merc fan. Check that one out very close before buying, and decide what might happen when you go to resell it, given the history.

The 150s were and are bullet proof, and they are v6. It was just the big ones.

Good luck.

[Xplorer]

Huh, I always thought that the 135/150's were V-4's while the 200/225's were V-6's. Learn something new every day......I have also over the years seen that the 135/150's have been very good engines, very strong. While their big block partners in the 2000/2001 model years had alot of problems. Seems that the current Opti's are much better, but they really disappointed alot of folks with those early motors.

[bassNspear]

BoxMN is correct.

1999-2002 200 Merc are the motors that were ither blowing up, or locking up. If at all possible, stay away from them if you can.

[Valv]

135 and 150s were V6, Mercury never made a V4

[ccarlson]

Bass and Spear,

To clarify, it was only the Optimax motors of the 99-02 years. The problems did not include the EFI's which were solid motors.

ccarlson

[PerchJerker]

And only the big block Optis, the smaller blocks never had problems

[bassNspear]

ya....thats what i ment

[warrior]

My 200 Opti was an 2001 never ever had one problem with it. I owned it for 4 years. I do reccommend checking the chip as someone has already mentioned. This will give you ALL the info you need to know. It will cost you $75 to have it read at a certified dealer.