Mercury Verado Pro Vs Optimax Pro Xs

[A-Jay]

I'm doing a little homework.  Trying to figure out what motor I want hanging on the back of the new Lund 1875 Pro V bass boat next spring. 

The pros & cons of 4 stroke compared to 2 stroke. 

The Oil tank or oil changes.  The hydraulic auto like steering on the new Verado compared to the time tested steering on the XS.

 

There are several ways to look at the differences and when it's all said & done it may all come down to personal preference.

 

Then I came to the weight of each and almost fell out of my seat. 

Verado pro 200hp comes in at 635 and the XS lists at 505.    OK, so what does that extra weight get me ? 

 

Then I compared the 250 & the 300 Verado's weight - It's The Same as the 200hp ~ 635 ?  WHAT ?  

 

So basically All three Verado 's are the same they just chip them differently ?  I'm kind of floored.  

 

I went into this leaning toward the XS - fairly heavily.  But not wanting to miss out on a chance at the newest technology, I started digging into the Verado. 

I really liked what I was finding until I hit this gross weight disparity.  

Am I making too much of this?  Am I missing something ?

 

A-Jay

[slonezp]

When I bought my Lund the Vrod carried a $2500 premium. I'm not sure if that still applies today. I hear the electronic forward controls on the Vrod are instantaneous with no delay. I believe you can dial in the speed as well if you were going to troll or take mama for a moonlight cruise. There's going to be no exhaust smell with the Vrod. The fuel consumption on the Opti is a better than the Vrod, performance curve is similar. Optimax oil is very pricey, but my 225 uses less oil than the 90 carbed merc on my last boat.

 

The ProXS sounds badazz. There is just a hair of a delay with the forward controls, but it puts me up on plane in a couple seconds. Had I done a lot of trolling, I would have picked the Vrod. I'm real happy with the ProXS. Like I told you before, they need a little babying in cold water

[A-Jay]

When I bought my Lund the Vrod carried a $2500 premium. I'm not sure if that still applies today. I hear the electronic forward controls on the Vrod are instantaneous with no delay. I believe you can dial in the speed as well if you were going to troll or take mama for a moonlight cruise. There's going to be no exhaust smell with the Vrod. The fuel consumption on the Opti is a better than the Vrod, performance curve is similar. Optimax oil is very pricey, but my 225 uses less oil than the 90 carbed merc on my last boat.

 

The ProXS sounds badazz. There is just a hair of a delay with the forward controls, but it puts me up on plane in a couple seconds. Had I done a lot of trolling, I would have picked the Vrod. I'm real happy with the ProXS. Like I told you before, they need a little babying in cold water

 

Cool Thank you.

 

Prices look close enough now - I'm planning on going to a few of the outdoor & boat shows this winter. 

 

I'll be picking the brains of the humans there who are getting paid to be in the know.

 

A-Jay

[Tim Kelly]

No chance of getting it rigged with a Suzuki or Yamaha 200 I suppose? They look like they'd be a better match for the boat than the V rod or Honda that Lund offer in 4 stroke.

[Fishing Rhino]

Regarding weight,  I don't think you find much if any weight difference in the Optimax 200 - 300 horsepower.  I doubt the only difference is the chip in the four cycle line of motors from the two hundred to the three hundred horsepower versions. 

 

All internal combustion engines are nothing more than air pumps.  The more air you get into them, the more fuel they can burn to produce horsepower.  One way or another, be it larger or better porting, the 300 horsepower breathes better than the 250.  Chips control the air/fuel mixture to optimum ratios, which primarily involves controlling the fuel injectors.

 

I'm surmising that the reciprocating parts in the 300 horsepower are significantly stronger, and maybe lighter, than those in the 225 horsepower engine.  It costs big bucks to produce stronger and lighter components.

 

You can bolt on a turbo charger, a supercharger, or a nitrous injection system on your street car and gain a hundred horsepower.  But the guts of the engine will not take the strain of that extra horsepower for long.

[slonezp]

Regarding weight,  I don't think you find much if any weight difference in the Optimax 200 - 300 horsepower.  I doubt the only difference is the chip in the four cycle line of motors from the two hundred to the three hundred horsepower versions. 

 

All internal combustion engines are nothing more than air pumps.  The more air you get into them, the more fuel they can burn to produce horsepower.  One way or another, be it larger or better porting, the 300 horsepower breathes better than the 250.  Chips control the air/fuel mixture to optimum ratios, which primarily involves controlling the fuel injectors.

 

I'm surmising that the reciprocating parts in the 300 horsepower are significantly stronger, and maybe lighter, than those in the 225 horsepower engine.  It costs big bucks to produce stronger and lighter components.

 

You can bolt on a turbo charger, a supercharger, or a nitrous injection system on your street car and gain a hundred horsepower.  But the guts of the engine will not take the strain of that extra horsepower for long.

The entire Vrod line is supercharged. Merc uses the same block on numerous models of their 2 strokes and chips them differently to increase the hp. I imagine it is similar on the 4 strokes

[Siebert Outdoors]

Make sure you look into maintenance schedules and costs. 

[A-Jay]

Make sure you look into maintenance schedules and costs. 

 

Have been.  The dealer is my neighbor - good thing. 

 

Between the two engines ~  it looks like a wash more or less.

 

Just depends on which way I prefer.

 

A-Jay

[Siebert Outdoors]

That makes it a tough choice.  I'd probably lean toward the one most economical to run. I looked at all the specs on Mercury marine and the biggest differences I saw were the gear ratio, weight, and the supercharger.  With the 100lbs more weight I'm not sure how much benefit it would be with 100lbs more due to power to weight ratios.

Which one did your neighbor/dealer like better?

[WIGuide]

If it were me and I had to choose between those two motors I'd probably go with the XS. The extra weight hanging off the back for me just isn't worth it. Yes the 4 stroke is quieter and has a few nice options, but I've heard a lot of the hype about the Verado isn't what it's cracked up to be. I know a few guys who ran them on bass boats when they first came out, and they actually were slower and burned more gas than the 2 strokes. I'm sure you're basing you decision based on dealer, but I'd be looking hard at the Yamaha SHO if I were looking at getting a 4-stroke. Those are pretty beastly motors and haven't heard many negative reports at all. 

[A-Jay]

Here's some basic stats ~

 

A-Jay

 

https://www.mercurymarine.com/en/us/engines/outboard/compare/?e[]=158&e[]=245

[slonezp]

Set your sights a little higher http://mercuryracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3300_ROS_InfoCard_Final.pdf

[A-Jay]

Set your sights a little higher http://mercuryracing.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/11/3300_ROS_InfoCard_Final.pdf

 

Nice  but for me that would be like Forrest Gump driving NASCAR ~

 

 

A-Jay

[slonezp]

That's the same block as the Vrod and only 15lbs heavier.

[00 mod]

I have a 4 stroke on my little boat, but it in no way helps you with a 200hp purchase.  What I will say is this, I will never go back to pull starting or a carb!  Electric start and fuel injection is where it is at!

 

Now, Brian's boat, which I have fished a ton out of he last 2.5 years, has a 250 Opti Pro XS.  We have had no problems with cold starts, although our cold temps here are in the 30's, unlike you!  Mixing the oil is a thing of the past, just keep the reservoir filled and you are good to go!  I cannot compare to a 4 stroke as far as fuel, because of displacement differences, but with the running we do, it does not seem to be as much fuel as when I was younger fishing with my dad and burning through fuel all weekend!  I think you are making the right decision buying Merc as your neighbor is the mechanic.  Take into account the warranties if you haven't thought of that!

 

Jeff

[slonezp]

00 mod. By babying in cold water, has nothing to do with cold starts on the Opti ProXS, as it is a direct injected motor. Running the engine WOT without warming it up properly can cause catastrophic engine failure.

[00 mod]

00 mod. By babying in cold water, has nothing to do with cold starts on the Opti ProXS, as it is a direct injected motor. Running the engine WOT without warming it up properly can cause catastrophic engine failure.

Got ya. I just thought that properly warming up an engine was common procedure- for any engine. Guess for some people, you just have to remind them.

Jeff

[A-Jay]

Got ya. I just thought that properly warming up an engine was common procedure- for any engine. Guess for some people, you just have to remind them.

Jeff

 

Thanks for the in put Jeff ~ the Break-in & every use warm ups especially - gotta do it.

 

A-Jay

[Jig Man]

Yes the warm up is really important.  My tech is a good friend who told me a long time ago that my Opti would keep on keeping on if I warmed it up to 120° even in the summer before I left the launch area and also after any extended fishing without using it.  Mine is 13 years old and going like a charm.

[Catt]

Coin toss!

[Fishing Rhino]

Nice  but for me that would be like Forrest Gump driving NASCAR ~

 

 

A-Jay

 

Fishing is like a box of chocolates.  You never know what you're going to get.

[JGBassinAL]

Got ya. I just thought that properly warming up an engine was common procedure- for any engine. Guess for some people, you just have to remind them.

Jeff

 

I don't know about the Pro XS but my buddy had a HPDI and he had to let it warm up for a couple minutes before blasting off. He blew the power head and the Yamaha tech told him it blew because he didn't let the motor warm up. I had a Pro XS on my last boat and never had to let it warm up. I have a Yamaha SHO now and I don't think I would ever have another motor. It is an absolute joy to use! Plus I save a buttload of money on oil each year 

[Al Wolbach]

I read about the Verado a several years ago and the biggest concern I had other than weight was the wireless controls. At that time the throttle and gear selector were wireless which concerned me, however I have not read any negative comments about them. At that time you could not run a hot foot type throttle control, only the factory hand controls. That was years ago and may have changed but I would research it before purchase. High HP engines without a hot foot type throttle would be a deal breaker for me....

[slonezp]

I read about the Verado a several years ago and the biggest concern I had other than weight was the wireless controls. At that time the throttle and gear selector were wireless which concerned me, however I have not read any negative comments about them. At that time you could not run a hot foot type throttle control, only the factory hand controls. That was years ago and may have changed but I would research it before purchase. High HP engines without a hot foot type throttle would be a deal breaker for me....

They gave a digital hot foot style control

[A-Jay]

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvbU4gmShak

 

New video. Such a great design. 

 

http://foxs.pt/1PPICIu

 

I'm very excited about this one.  Hoping to see both models at this winter's outdoors & boat shows.  I've been waiting several years for someone to come out with this design.   For me, the fact that it's a Lund make this one a must see.

 

A-Jay