200 Mercury
 

I have a opportunity to get a 2001 or 2002(I'm not sure) Mercury 200 EFI for a pretty reasonable price ($4500), with low hrs (I was told about 40 hrs.). I think this is a pretty good deal, but have no experience with the newer Merc's. My last Merc was a 1973 50HP, that was great till I threw a rod! [img]/images/graemlins/frown.gif[/img]

Does anyone have any experience with these motors?

Re: 200 Mercury
 

The newer Mercurys are much better than they were a few years back. That price is not bad at all as long as it was taken care of. There have been no major issues that I am aware of for the EFI models and they have been pretty reliable. The carb motors did have some problems and I have heard of some as recent as 2003 but, not rod throwing issues. They have been fuel related. The Optimax motors had issues in the late 90's but that has since been cleared up as well.

Persoanlly, I now own a 2003 225 Optimax but would not have owned one several years ago due to the above mentioned issues. I did a lot of research before deciding to purchase. I was a tried and true Yamaha fan prior to that. Thus far, the motor has been to the shop two times in the last year. The first time was for a bad MAP sensor and the second time was due to the air injection regulator sticking. Mercury replaced the entire fuel rail that time and I have not had a problem or issue since. The EFI motor would not have this same fuel rail as the Optimax does.

So, if the motor has been kept up and checks out, I would take it without thinking much more about it. If it includes the controls and oil tank etc, even better. EFI's are easy on maintenance and easy to repair. Labor on them is much less than the Optimax as well. Only real thing that the EFI had an issue with that was the word on the streets was the oil pump failures but that "word" has also gone away. I do not think many of the brands out there have not had an oil pump issue at one time or another. Just like the Yamaha OX66 must be run, even if you do not use it, because the fuel pump gets "gummed up" and once that happens, they are garbage.

Check it out, but the Merc is a decent motor if it is one of the 2000's or newer.

Just my opinion...

Re: 200 Mercury
 

I have a 2002 200 EFI. It's got 750 hours on it. So far no problems,just turn the key and go.

Re: 200 Mercury
 

Pat, thats too big for your boat........give it to me. [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 200 Mercury
 

I had a 1973 20' with a 175hp. Given the right conditions at WOT the boat would chine walk and do every bit of 60mph [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]
It would scare the heck out of me. I would not let anyone else run the boat at that speed. I think it was way too much power [img]/images/graemlins/shocked.gif[/img]

Re: 200 Mercury
 

Nah no such thing as too much power [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img] [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img].

Re: 200 Mercury
 

Thanks for all the help and opinions. I hope I can get this motor. I figured that with the 200 I wouldn't have to run it real hard to get a little speed out of the boat. My tired old 150 evinrude is beat, but still kicking on 8 toes.
It's kinda funny my wife is the one who suggested I get a bigger motor(I think see was talking about the boat[img]/images/graemlins/smirk.gif[/img])

Chris I will call tonight Lynn's going out with her sister-in-law for a birthday party. We may be down Sat, I will show you our two new foster kids (Scott and Cam-Ron).



Quote:
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I had a 1973 20' with a 175hp. Given the right conditions at WOT the boat would chine walk and do every bit of 60mph
It would scare the heck out of me. I would not let anyone else run the boat at that speed. I think it was way too much power


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Nah no such thing as too much power .

Yes, Capt you're right(just be careful) and Yes, Steve you are right (completely)
or try to find them (Again, and again and again)

Re: 200 Mercury
 

Capt Steele, would you please explain what "chine walk" is? Thank you, aaf

Re: 200 Mercury
 

Well lets see,
Given the right conditions; like just a slight water chop and being at WOT and having the motor and tabs trimed to peak; the boat would be sitting with only little bottom surface touching the water [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img] I think it felt like just the edge of the chines were giving steerage control. Just one more mile an hour, just one more knot of wind, just one more inch of wave chop and-----------------------------> Like Elton John says in "ROCKET MAN"
Is that enuff explanation brotha? [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

Re: 200 Mercury
 

aaf, ever been cruising down the interstate at a good clip and hit a substantial puddle and the car hydroplanes? The level of thrill is just about the same [img]/images/graemlins/ooo.gif[/img]