merc opti 200, new 2002, 80 hours only

[Hugh Jardon]

i am buying a boat with a merc opti 200 with 80 hours, looks to be in mint condition and runs very nice, lazer 2 prop etc, is there anything to look out for on this engine, also serviced about 2 or 3 hours ago, what major service expenses can i look forward to, after i had convinced myself that optis are efficient on fuel at cruise so ok to buy one after having 4 strokes for years. then i read someone putting that spark plugs need replacing every 100 hours at £100 quid each, feck me i hope not. any guidance from you knowledgable chaps would be good on major service items or what to look for or listen for or check for on the smartcraft

i do have to say that i never thought i would buy a 3 liter v6 two stroke!!!

[danny]

Yeah buy it.

It's a great engine although it surrely makes a lot more noise than fourstrokes.
I have one now for a couple a months and it runs like hell !
Fuel economy is good. Can run it at idle all day if neccesery and will take of like a rocket in an instant.

Don't know about the maintanace yet because its has run 107 hours (in two months!) and will be serviced in some weeks for the first time.

Is it a Saltwater edition ?

[Rogue Wave]

The Opti's are very sweet engines but like any modern engine they are complicated so failures are expensive!

my advice would be to be scrupulous about eliminating water from your fuel! fit a second filter/seperater you can and use something like fuel set as well !

Always use Opti oil and pay attention to the electrics when cleaning the engine make sure the insulation/watreproofing is still sound!

we have been running Opti's for years so if you want some advice on miantenance bring your engine over and we'll show you what to do.

re maintenance unless you have a service dealer you can trust then in this area it would be Lee Fairweather/Kieron French or Dean at Hedge End outboards ( I think he has done the Opti course! )

[Hugh Jardon]

thanks guys for the feedbackso far, is not a saltwater edition so not sure what that means, also dont have any manuals for the boat so not sure how to use the smart craft features yet, it has one smart craft dial with two buttons and then separeate rev and speedo

not too worried about the noise as the mrs can sit up the front if she dont like or or wear ear muffs

[Hugh Jardon]

oops should have said i have two logons here and changing over to the hugh one for more fun, so chris hartley and hugh jardon are one and the same

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by Chris Hartley

thanks guys for the feedbackso far, is not a saltwater edition so not sure what that means, also dont have any manuals for the boat so not sure how to use the smart craft features yet, it has one smart craft dial with two buttons and then separeate rev and speedo

not too worried about the noise as the mrs can sit up the front if she dont like or or wear ear muffs

Fitted those flaps yet?!

[hard1]

Saltwater Edition = marketing exercise and blue decals.

[Mollers]

Originally Posted by hard1

Saltwater Edition = marketing exercise and blue decals.

I wondered whether they'd fitted fancy liners to the waterways or something on the Saltwater range. So it's just a badging exercise then?

[hard1]

You got it!

It worked well though, following the 2000/2001 Opti debacle.

[Hugh Jardon]

well have agreed a price for the boat and will pick it up next week when i have sorted out some cash and will be very keen to get on the water with it, will be meeting the chap to do a test drive on the water to see if all is ok first of course.

i have spoken to a few people and the optis seem a good bet,

someone had mentioned spark plugs being 100 each but having checked they are only around 17 to 25 each so not so bad, gulp

i was quoted that the service pack of filters plugs bits and bobs was around 180 compared to other normal engines of 70 to 80

chris

[Hugh Jardon]

Originally Posted by Mollulnan

Fitted those flaps yet?!

nooooo not going to, will give it a go without and see how we get on, ;-)