Pursuit 2870

[Mac_Attack]

A friend is looking at a 1998 2870 Pursuit W twin 225 Mercs. *I told him I ask you guys to see if anyone has any knowledge of these motors. *Did they make 4 strokes in 1998? *I have no idea. *Billy Mac *;D

[macojoe]

Everything I have found says 2001 and up they have 4 stroke? Have not seen anything before that?

[Mac_Attack]

Thanks MJ, I did not think 4 strokes were around that long but I did not know for certain. *Now another question, If they are two strokers, did mercury make only one model or more than one? *Thanks Billy Mac *;D

[macojoe]

1998 Models

225CXL OS

225CXXL EFI OS

225CXXL OS

225L

225L EFI

225XL EFI OS

225XL OS

225XXL EFI OS

225XXL OS

[Mac_Attack]

Where do you get this stuf so fast?! Billy Mac ;D I'll pass those models along to him and see which one are on the boat he's looking at.

[Skools Out]

those are great boats strong as a bull shark lol

[Mac_Attack]

He's going to use it on Lake Erie which can get plenty rough real quick. Skools what do you know about 98 mercs? Billy Mac ;D

[handyman_special]

You all sure know your stuff on just about every boat and motor that comes along ! Why are you all freezing to death up there ? I dont want to rub it in but it is 62 here right now

[Mac_Attack]

Handi man let me check it's 10 outside going down to 4 as the local weathercaster says its a cuddle alert night! Here are two photos of the boat. the motors are 225 Optimax. What do you guys know about these. Does mercury have problems with their waranty service?

http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/pursuit_1.jpg
http://img.photobucket.com/albums/v130/Machockey/pursuit_5.jpg

[handyman_special]

Mac, Im kind of a spectator on this site, Sure is a beautiful boat. I am from Michigan myself, miss Lake Michigan about 3 months out of the year

[Mac_Attack]

Where was you home town. Did you do any samon fishing over there. Billy Mac ;D

[handyman_special]

Im from the New Buffalo are, As far soutwest that u can go in the lower, and yes my family had charters in the St Joseph river up to Berrien Springs. Useto not be able to wait till the fall run

[handyman_special]

i have lived on that side of the state also, lived in Marine City and chugged the Saint Clair river

[phester]

I've read on THT, among other sources,'98 and '99 optis have been problematic.....Mercs version of OMCs FITCH

[macojoe]

Where do you get this stuf so fast?! Billy Mac Grin I'll pass those models along to him and see which one are on the boat he's looking at.


::) What?? I have no idea what you talking about ;D

Its not hard if you know were to look!

[Skools Out]

i've seen alot of them taken off boats at the coast. they are kind of noisey from the ones i've heard running. I'd say if he buys run it till ones dies then sell them and buy some E-Tec's.

[macojoe]

And it's 17.3* right now!! :'(

I checked the boat out real fast as i was under there today getting some measurements and the drain plug hole is solid ice with a icicles hanging out of it
:'( :'( :'(

[willy]

Don't know about those big Merc's, but I can tell you that is one d@mn fine boat, one of the best on the water. I have seen them around here with Yammies on them, never saw them with Mercs.

[Airslot]

Those motors are what, 9 years old now. My thoughs are if they were gonna "optipop", well, most of them did it early in life. If they pass compression and sea trail, run em hard.

Airslot

[reelapeelin]

My buddy in Charleston has a pair of '99 Opti 200s since new...has 2000 hours on 'em...there have been a couple of issues, but not excessive or major...they have been good motors and are extremely fuel efficient...lots of power...Mac, tell your buddy to have 'em checked out by Merc Tec and go from there... ;) ...

[spareparts]

as previously stated, the fact that those engines are still running should be a good indication of their value. But be prepared when dealing with opti's, it is best to run the opti oil( expensive), and parts for those motors can get expensive real quick( the recomended platinum spark plug retails in the $25 range each), there are a lot of non serviceable assemblies that have to be replaced, not repaired when they fail. What would be minor issues( or non existant) on carb or efi engines, can be major issues on optis and easaly exceede the value of those motors.

As far as performance goes, I've seen dyno test on those motors and they put out closer to 250 than 225, and they are one of the most fuel efficient big outboards i've ever run. In 2000, I ran a 23 SeaCraft to the Georgetown hole and back with a 225 opti( 70 odd miles each way), in a whole lot rougher conditionds than we had any business being in ,and we burned less than half a tank of fuel( can't remember how much it was)

[macojoe]

and they are one of the most fuel efficient big outboards i've ever run. In 2000, I ran a 23 SeaCraft to the Georgetown hole and back with a 225 opti( 70 odd miles each way), in a whole lot rougher conditionds than we had any business being in ,and we burned less than half a tank of fuel( can't remember how much it was)

It had a 1000 gal tank and it cost you 500 gal to go 140 miles! http://syncboard.com/albums/album02/nana.gif

[randlemanboater]

What about a 1999 Carb Merc 150?

Any opinions?

[spareparts]

it didn't cost me anything, it was a demo boat, we pumped fuel out of all the other used boats on the yard and filled the tank on the SeaCraft. I think it took something around 40 gal(?) to fill it back up

[willy]

RB I had a 96 150 black max carb merc. Potent engine, very strong when it ran, but like I posted before, even though it had very low hours when I got it. Less than a hundred it constantly had one issue after another and most related to electronics. Changed power boxes, changed coils and two items under the fly wheel, stator etc. and it would run good for awhile and then another problem would pop up.
I think they are tough to beat when running good but I have had two and both had similar type problems, they remind me of the older (60's) Ford engines. Run great but your mechanical and diagnostic skills better be good or they will nickle and dime you to death.
That being said my best friend has had three on his Grady, all three were 200 hp carbed engines and the first two gave him similar problems but this third one he has, has been a real good engine with no problems for two seasons. Can't explain it I'm not a mechanic, just know that other friends with Suzuki's, Yamaha's and even the Johnson Evinrudes (non ficht) have had years of basically trouble free boating with them.
I am of course speaking of my own experience around boats, there are others who have had real good reliabilty with them and would expect them to have diffrent perspective.

[randlemanboater]

Thanks Willy.

One of the V-20's I have my eye on has a 99 150 Merc. Just wonderin.

You still got the new boat fever?

[willy]

Yea, it's like super models, can't stop looking, thinking, dreaming and occassionally acting upon them ;)

[reelapeelin]

Hey spareparts...saw ya mention Geo'town Hole ;D...are ya about 3 hrs down I-26 from me??...

[spareparts]

yeah, my office is at City Marina, . The hole is a little far out for my v-20, we used to run a 23 Formula out there, ran to the ammo dump, 380, and 260 on a regular basis( it was twin engine). lost the offshore ride for this year, trying to talk someone else into providing me a ride, just have to wait for his boat to break, after that, its easy to talk them into having a boat mechanic on board for the next trip out.

[Seacrets]

I run a 2000 150 Merc carb engine and I love it. No problems so far.

[Airslot]

I love my 88' carbed merc 150.

Airslot

[reelapeelin]

Spareparts...I'll let ya know next time in Chas area...I'll buy ya a beer at Shem Creek... 8) ...

[spareparts]

shem creek is getting too uppity here lately, ther're in the process of condo-ing it out. I hang out at Saltey Mikes after business hours

[reelapeelin]

shem creek is getting too uppity here lately, ther're in the process of condo-ing it out. I hang out at Saltey Mikes after business hours



Salty Mike's...I'll have to check it out next trip...any food to wash down the beer with?... ;D ...just don't mention The Wreck :P ...my last trip was long ago ;) ...

[throwback]

Twin 225 optimax grab it if the motors are decent. Some people sware at optimaxes run the devel out of mine never a serious problem but oil is expensive