200 Mercury

pogden · #1 03-11-2004, 10:14 AM

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?

JohnS · #2 03-11-2004, 12:53 PM

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...

SECF3114M73J · #3 03-11-2004, 03:12 PM

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

Finster · #4 03-11-2004, 08:40 PM

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

Capt Chuck · #5 03-11-2004, 09:18 PM

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]

lost2a6 · #6 03-12-2004, 01:28 AM

Quote:

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]

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].

pogden · #7 03-12-2004, 10:52 AM

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:
--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

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)

Quote:

A man's got to know his limitations

or try to find them (Again, and again and again)

RAHIM NAHIM · #8 03-31-2004, 11:38 AM

Capt, Steele

You're 20ft SC with a 175hp was able to do 60mph. Was that speed verified with a GPS or a speedometer. I have a 73 SC 20ft with a b-bracket and a 200hp MERC boat does low 50'S. She chine walks in the high 40's. you had a rocket man? or a bad speedometer

Capt Chuck · #9 03-31-2004, 01:08 PM

Rahim

In '73 we didn't have GPS. You counted the number of No-Seeums that stuck to your teeth in 10 seconds at WOT [img]/images/graemlins/grin.gif[/img]

As I remember (many beers ago) we measured with the speedometer off the transom. It was probably not real accurate I'm sure [img]/images/graemlins/wink.gif[/img]

Ryan · #10 03-31-2004, 03:53 PM

My 20 with a 150 rude will top out at 47 on gps and thats a 20 year old motor for what its worth