'05 Optimax Out Of The Crate--Any Concerns?

[4fishys]

Myself, I would go the extra 2,500 and get a fresher outboard. You are going to gain at least that much in resale value. And in the event of an insurance claim that 05 will be depreciated...regardless of how "new" it is to you.

Fishinwrench,

Dude, you are fantastic! Checked the NADA guide, and while the 2010's aren't listed yet, the difference between an '05 and an'09 is about $3,000.00, Also a great point about insurance if it should be needed.

The dealer REALLY worked for me, and by some dealer magic he got me into a 2010 for about $1,000.00 more than I was going to pay for the 2005. His include the prop and an extra oil tank, transom saver, tie downs, etc. needed which were a-la-carte items with the '05. Going with the 2010!

The dealer, for all you Missouri guys, is Cook's Boats outside of Troy, Mo. Shaun (spelling?) is the guy I worked with. He really couldn't have been nicer, and really worked for me to get this at about a $5.000.00 discount from what my local Chicagoland dealer was willing to do for me. I could not be happier with him and his efforts.

Fishinwrench--I assume you work at a dealership given your knowledge. You have given me the best info. and advice to think about, and I really appreciate it. Again, the folks on this site are fantastic. Looking at retiring down there in a few, and I only hope that when the time comes I can contribute in as meaningful a fashion as I find on here daily.

Thanks again, Bill

[conman]

Wrench,

This is a timely topic as my buddy is going tomorrow to look at a 05 Ranger with a 150 Opti. The owner fell sick not long after the original purchase in 05 and has run just 125 gallons of fuel through it. What would be your advice on this?

Is there a year where the Optimax got much improved that you would reccomend buying something from that time on?

Thanks for the info.

Chris

[Bill Babler]

Chris, I wish the guy would have just gone ahead and used the boat. O5's with only that ammount of use really don't thrill me. If he had used the outfit a reasonable ammount I would much more prefer it. The lack of use is not a selling point for me other than perhaps the estetics of the rig. It should be immulate. I would still not even consider it with out at least 2 full years of warranty on the engine.

I know for a fact that Mike Webb and Tim SAinato popped 7 of those 2005 opti's I believe Tim Popped 3 and Mike popped 4. I believe Beck also popped a couple. Hence the warranty.

Ranger, Stratos, Champion, Skeeter, Bass Cat, right now for the 05 20footers, and the duce and a quarter's are selling in the $25,000 range, with at least 2 or 3 years of warranty, and these boats are in 9 out of 10 condition, with electronics and tandum trailers. 20 ft. Nitros rigged the same are at $18,000. Kind of some guidelines to go by.

Knock off 2 grand a year for 2 years if the warranty is expired or 21 grand for the top of the line outfits and maybe 15 grand for the Nitro with no warranty.

There is a very special deal on new boats right now. You can buy a Nitro Z8 with a 200 ProXS, 2010, I believe for about 34 grand with two HD8's and a tandum trailer. Pretty good deal, but you still have a Nitro, when all is said and done. And we all know the resale on those rigs.

I'm sure Wrench can give you his thoughts, its good to have a Professional Wrench here for these things.

[fishinwrench]

Wrench,

This is a timely topic as my buddy is going tomorrow to look at a 05 Ranger with a 150 Opti. The owner fell sick not long after the original purchase in 05 and has run just 125 gallons of fuel through it. What would be your advice on this?

Is there a year where the Optimax got much improved that you would reccomend buying something from that time on?

Thanks for the info.

Chris

Chris, I see situations similar to what you describe pretty often. And this is just my personal feelings, but I really wouldn't purchase a used Opti (for a fair price) unless it had some warranty time left on it. If it was a straight Merc EFI with no warranty I'd jump on it, but not the Opti-max, and especially not one manufactured just prior to the race to meet emission mandate.

4Fishys, "fantastic" is quite a stretch, but Thank you, and you are more than welcome. I think you made the wiser purchase. What engine did you have on the boat, how bad was it blown, and are they keeping it as part of the deal ?

[4fishys]

Chris, I see situations similar to what you describe pretty often. And this is just my personal feelings, but I really wouldn't purchase a used Opti (for a fair price) unless it had some warranty time left on it. If it was a straight Merc EFI with no warranty I'd jump on it, but not the Opti-max, and especially not one manufactured just prior to the race to meet emission mandate.

4Fishys, "fantastic" is quite a stretch, but Thank you, and you are more than welcome. I think you made the wiser purchase. What engine did you have on the boat, how bad was it blown, and are they keeping it as part of the deal ?

No old engine at all. Still have the 16Ft. Sylvan with a 90 merc on it that I will sell after my spring trip to Erie. This was a motor that was being added to a new Princecraft Ventura 192. Originally came with a 115, but I decided to go higher horses.....never heard anyone say they wish they had bought the smaller engine! Dealer was offering 7900 credit if I wanted it without the engine, and so began the search for the 150 and dilema between the '05 and '10. After his work as documented above I'm ending up with the '10 for just over a grand more than the '05. Thanks again for the help on this, and no, fantastic is RIGHT ON!

Bill

[fishinwrench]

I decided to go higher horses.....never heard anyone say they wish they had bought the smaller engine!

LOL, True that.

[skeeter]

Fishinwrench,

Dude, you are fantastic! Checked the NADA guide, and while the 2010's aren't listed yet, the difference between an '05 and an'09 is about $3,000.00, Also a great point about insurance if it should be needed.

The dealer REALLY worked for me, and by some dealer magic he got me into a 2010 for about $1,000.00 more than I was going to pay for the 2005. His include the prop and an extra oil tank, transom saver, tie downs, etc. needed which were a-la-carte items with the '05. Going with the 2010!

The dealer, for all you Missouri guys, is Cook's Boats outside of Troy, Mo. Shaun (spelling?) is the guy I worked with. He really couldn't have been nicer, and really worked for me to get this at about a $5.000.00 discount from what my local Chicagoland dealer was willing to do for me. I could not be happier with him and his efforts.

Fishinwrench--I assume you work at a dealership given your knowledge. You have given me the best info. and advice to think about, and I really appreciate it. Again, the folks on this site are fantastic. Looking at retiring down there in a few, and I only hope that when the time comes I can contribute in as meaningful a fashion as I find on here daily.

Thanks again, Bill

4fishys,

My neighbor and good friend got a 2010 150HP Optimax back in the Fall on his new pontoon boat rigged for fishing. He had it out seven / eight times before weather got too cold for him and that is one great running and performing outboard. He got the "lifting strakes" on the tritoon and the thing get's up on plane and scoots for a 24 footer.

"Out of the hole" acceleration is unbeleivable for a 'toon that size and it's not due to the prop as he had them prop it for cruising. Several dealer's service dept's. managers said the new Opti's are using less fuel than comparable four strokes and you don't have the oil change hassle on them. Hope yours works out for you and you enjoy.

How in the world did a guy from Chicagoland hook up with Cook's down in little old Troy MO ? I'll bet that's a story in itself.

Wrench and Bill, thanks for posting the info about the '05 Opti's. Good to know.

[Bill Babler]

If that 150 on the tooner is an Opti ProXS, it will be the Bomb. I would guess right now it is by far the best, most reliable engine on the market. What a turnaround from the 05's.

Fuel economy is just as good as the 4strokes and I believe if you follow the the recommendations to the letter on the oil changes for the 4 strokers, the ProXS will use less oil.

I have had my 09 duce and a quarter ProXS since July, and have never seen anything like the savings on gas and oil. It just flat does not use oil. Kind of scary, but it is great.

The Yamaha's are still bullet proof, and a motor that will last a lifetime, but the merc is just not as thirsty.

Excellent Winter time topic

Thank You All

[denjac]

The Yamaha's are still bullet proof, and a motor that will last a lifetime, but the merc is just not as thirsty.

Excellent Winter time topic

Thank You All

My 225 Yamaha does alot better on fuel than my Merc. 150 EFI. Just have to run them in the sweet spot 3500- 4000 RPM. I am not a hot rodder like some people I know! Last time I was down there I did try to run down a boat. I came around point 5 heading for the Indians and saw it about half a mile ahead of me.Kicked it up to 71mph and the boat kept getting smaller and smaller, what is up with that! By the time I hit the Indians it was nowhere to be seen. It was a bass boat but thats all I could make out. Wow!

[4fishys]

4fishys,

My neighbor and good friend got a 2010 150HP Optimax back in the Fall on his new pontoon boat rigged for fishing. He had it out seven / eight times before weather got too cold for him and that is one great running and performing outboard. He got the "lifting strakes" on the tritoon and the thing get's up on plane and scoots for a 24 footer.

"Out of the hole" acceleration is unbeleivable for a 'toon that size and it's not due to the prop as he had them prop it for cruising. Several dealer's service dept's. managers said the new Opti's are using less fuel than comparable four strokes and you don't have the oil change hassle on them. Hope yours works out for you and you enjoy.

How in the world did a guy from Chicagoland hook up with Cook's down in little old Troy MO ? I'll bet that's a story in itself.

Wrench and Bill, thanks for posting the info about the '05 Opti's. Good to know.

Skeeter,

Thanks for tossing the info. on your friends satisfaction up here. There is always some second guessing when you make a purchase as expensive as a new boat! I really do believe that I am going to be very happy with the whole rig. Now I just have to make the time to get out and enjoy it.

I hooked up with Cook's through an E-Bay posting on the boat. The posting just listed the town, but it didn't take a lot of detective work to find the dealer. This was my first time doing the E-Bay thing, and thankfully Sean was very gentle with me! I asked what he would be willing to let it go for, how the system worked, and he continued to work with me a ton in putting together the final package. Again, great guy and experience for me.