Verado Vs Optimax

[Double Barrel]

Hey guys just want to know the differences between Verado and Optimax. I am thinking about buying a 1800 prov with full windshield. Should I go with max hp at 175. Is there much price difference between verado and optimax. Thanks

[PerchJerker]

Verado is 4-stroke, Optimax is 2-stroke DFI. Opti is a loud motor but a great motor. Verados are very quiet said to be very good, but they have a much shorter track record and I don't have any first-hand experience with them.

The only motor that will cost more than the Verado is the E-Tec. The Verado will be a couple grand more than the Opti.

I am a believer in maxing the HP, but the 175 is an expensive jump over the 150 and there is not that much of a performance difference. I have had a 175 on each of my last two boats though, to max the HP.

There is an Opti 175 Pro XS available now, that will most likely be the strongest and fastest 175 motor you can get.

Hope this helps, good luck with your shopping.

[Double Barrel]

Thanks for the info. I own a mercury 115 4 stroke EFI and i love it. It would be hard for me to go with a two stroke. I have heard a lot of good things about the verado.

[Black_Bay]

BTW I have an 1800 ProV with only a 135 Opti on it. Top speed is in the high 40's. It's a great boat and I'm sure you'll like it. We got the boat before the baby Verados came out so we didn't have that option. If they would have been available there may be one on the boat now. With that said the Opti has been great and is good on fuel, but the electro power steering and quiet would be nice. My advice would be to go with the Verado since you have the IFS model, but either outboard would be great.

[PerchJerker]

In my opinion the only advantage to a 4-stroke over a DFI 2-stroke is the quietness. The DFI 2-stroke will beat it on hole shot, power, top-end, and even fuel consumption. But, they are close and if you want the 4-stroke then go with it. I've heard that the Verado has impressive performance.

[Payday]

I literally laugh out loud everytime I see "Opti is a loud motor".

Comparing the Opti to a Verado that is a marginally true statement BUT comparing the Opti to other 2 strokes, that statement is totally false. I own a 2007 150 opti and it is actually much quieter then my BIL's 2000 200 EFI.

While running at or near wot the 2 motors produce virtually the same noise in the cockpit area.

With that said, I personally would spend the extra grand and get the Verado. if for no other reason then people will be sitting in the jump seats and it would be nice for them.

[Double Barrel]

How long has the verado been out? what motor do you see on most boats.

[Mid-Lake Rock]

I have to agree with Payday. One of my fishing partners has a new Opti and it is not much louder than my Yami 4 stroke. It also is much more fuel effecient then older 2 strokes, does not burn a lot of oil, and does not have a haze of smoke. I was very skeptical when he got the Opti, but I've changed my mind.

[warrior]

I have to put in my 2 cents. I was the proud owner of a 200 Opti. I never had one single problem with it and everytime I turned the key it was there. I did burn the merc synthetic oil, Kinda spendy. But it really made a difference with smoke. As far as engine noise I really dont understand where that that comes from my 200 was not noisy at all. As a matter of fact people that fished out of my boat commented on how quiet it was. Oh and one more bit of advise... buy a glass boat you wont regret it. It only took me 5 boat purchases to figure it out

[marine_man]

Quote:

---

How long has the verado been out? what motor do you see on most boats.

---

This is the 2nd full year of the verado I believe...

marine_man

[PerchJerker]

Payday and the others can laugh all they want, but the Opti is a loud motor. The noise tests from boat test and power boat reports bear this out.

I agree 100% that at WOT there isn't much difference, but at cruising speeds like 1/2 throttle the Opti is noticably louder. Noticably louder.

DFIs are quieter than EFIs, that's partly why your Opti is quieter than your BIL's 2000 200 EFI. Also, you have an '07 Opti, they redesigned the cowl in '07 to quiet them down. But if you compare to DFI 2-strokes, the Opti is the loudest, even with the redesigned cowl.

I have a 2006 Opti, 175 HP. Love the motor. Would buy it again in an instant. Performance AND fuel economy are better than you'll get in a 4-stroke motor. I'm a huge fan of Optis and love the Opti growl. But they are a loud motor through the whole throttle range.

To answer Double Barrel's question, the baby Verados were first available in 2006. The big block Verados were out 2 or 3 years prior to that.

[sirsunnyslayer]

Quote:

---

but the Opti is a loud motor. The noise tests from boat test and power boat reports bear this out.

---

Compared to what? Loudness is all relative depending what you are comparing it to. A bulldozer is very quiet when you compare it to a fighter jet taking off, but incredibly noisy when you compare it to a Prius driving down the road.

My buddy has a 150 Opti and I have a carbureted (2-stroke) Johnson, his motor is WAY quieter than mine but not as quiet as a some of the new 4-strokes.

I say the Opti is quiet enough and I'd pocket the difference in price and get some killer electronics and a vacation out of it.

[PerchJerker]

Quote:

---

Quote:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

but the Opti is a loud motor. The noise tests from boat test and power boat reports bear this out.

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Compared to what?

---

Compared to other DFI motors.

These reports compare different motors on the same boats at all rpm ranges. They test holeshot, top speed, fuel economy, cruising speed, etc. And they test noise levels (decibels), usually measured at the cockpit or in the passenger seat. To put it another way, they use equipment to measure the noise level and list it out for all to see, and the Opti is the loudest DFI motor. Not that much louder at WOT, but definately louder all the way through the throttle range.

I'd post links but they aren't allowed. Look around, they aren't that hard to find.

sunnyslayer, you are comparing an Opti to a carbeurated 2-stroke, that's apples and oranges. Same goes for the earlier comparison to an 8 year old EFI motor. Compared to the other DFIs or 4-strokes you can buy today, the Opti is the loudest.

I also think the Opti is a great motor, that's what I bought and I'd buy it again. I love the way it performs and sounds.

[Lund4Fish]

I bought a 200 HP Verado for my new Lund, Pro-V back in 2005 and really like it. I too was skeptical about buying the relatively new 4-stroke (at that time) over the already proven Opti-Max. I can say though that I have never regretted buying the Verado. I love it and they run great and are incredibly quiet. I'd gotten used to how quiet it is after running it for 3 summers now, but went out with a friend with his 2005, 225 Opti-Max last month and it seemed very loud to me. The only thing negative thing I can say about the Verado would be their size (if that's a factor?), but I see the new 4 cylinder Verado's are quite a bit smaller. If I had it to do over again I wouldn't think twice and would definitely buy the Verado again.

[sirsunnyslayer]

Perch I totally agree with you, that the Opti is the loudest of the new motors but it's still not that loud and in my opinion and my opinion only I say the Verado is a better motor but not worth the price difference or weight penalty.

[magnum mike]

Wait a few more months, save your pennies and get an E-Tec. This is the best performing outboard I have ever owned. NO SMOKE EVER. NO COLD BLOODED STARTING EVER! I would love to hear that from a Merc owner. When warmed up, not much performs like a Merc but they are hard starting when cold. I have had mine sitting for 2 months, went out in 30 degree weather, barely touched the starter and the old girl popped right off and was ready to rock. You can troll for hours, crank it up and she jumps out of the hole with no spitting or sputtering. Check the stats and the Evinrude outperforms everything in every category. They aren't cheap but if you take care of it, it is a long term investment. I forgot to mention the 7 year all inclusive warranty.

[Sutty]

I have a 135 Opti and it is my first Merc, it starts fine in the cold. I love the motor. I want to have a kicker on my boat as well which is why I went with the opti. I felt it was just too much weight to throw a 4 stroke main motor along with the kicker. This is on an 18 foot fish hawk.

[sparkyaber]

I second Sutty's comment, I had a mercury 200 opti, and it started great in the cold, I used it into december last year. Started just the same, 90 degrees, 30 degrees.

[Da Beak]

Quote:

---

I second Sutty's comment, I had a mercury 200 opti, and it started great in the cold, I used it into december last year. Started just the same, 90 degrees, 30 degrees.

---

I'll also agree. I had a 150 Opti on my last boat and never had a problem with it. I now have a 225 Verado, and a 9.9 Pro Kicker, neither of them has failed me, nor have any of them been "cold blooded." And yes, the Opti is louder. But it does have a better hole shot, and higher top end. But the Verado with the DTS is sweet!

[Ranger sport]

I bought a new E-Tec about a month and a half ago and so far I love it. This motor is quiet,don't smoke,starts with the turn of a key and is very snappy.

[Double Barrel]

My buddy just bought a new 115 E tec and i'm not that impressed with it. It doesn't start very good and it smokes in the cold. I think it is hard to beat mercury motors.

[PerchJerker]

I'm glad you like your E-tec, a lot of the guys that have them like them. And I think they're good motors.

But you said

Quote:

---

Check the stats and the Evinrude outperforms everything in every category

---

and that just isn't true --- in fact it's not even close to true. The E-tec advertisements and propaganda say this, but in the true head-to-head tests done by independent magazines and organizations the E-Tec rarely if ever comes out on top in any category. Except in price, it is just about the most expensive motor you can buy. But for performance and fuel economy the E-tec does not come out on top very often.