Verado Vs Optimax

[Pete]

Hi Everyone,

I am posting this question to anyone that knows someone or has a Mercury Verado on their boat.??

Has anyone switched from an Optimax to a Verado and seen an improvement ??

If there is anything that you can share with us that would be great.

Pete

[Gary]

I personally am a Yamaha or Evinrude E-Tec HO man, but I know several people who fish tournaments with Verados. They have all said the engine works great, has good top-end speed, decent hole shot, but eats gas like it's going out of style. That probably doesn't help much, but that's what I've heard from guys that own them.

Gary

[Scott Morrison]

Hey everyone!

I have had the pleasure of driving a Z21 Ranger with a Verado on the back. I enjoyed the ride immensely what with the torque, hole shot, quiet operation and good top end. It took a while to get used to the steering however. I found that as you make steering adjustments, even small ones, its enough to make the boat shudder a bit. Maybe it just wasn't set up right or some airlock in the steering hydraulics.

I get a lot of people asking me about putting a Verado on a Ranger but none of my customers have committed to one yet.

Its important for people to know that the engines are quite a bit heavier than their Optimax equivalent horsepower motors. As well, they are considerably more expensive too! I think they are a marvel of engineering but not for everyone though.

Maybe I've just muddied the waters a bit here but I thought I'd throw in my $0.02 worth.

Regards,

Scott

[Pete]

Thanks for the input Gary and Scott.

I thought that the fuel consumption would have been better with the Verado. Or am I just not reading the literature correctly.

I agree with you Scott, the Verado is about 167 lbs heavier in the 225 HP motor. That is my biggest concern. Being a big man myself having the extra weight on the transom will not do me any good for the top end speed nor the whole shot.

I presently have 175 Optimax on my Nitro NX882 and I get 62 GPS with a ripple on the water, 2 guys and full tank of fuel on a tournament day. I was hoping for mid 60's but I think that I would have to play around with the prop.

The reason I'm asking is because I'm not sure if I'm going to go to the Verado or stick with the Optimax.

I also hear good things about the Optimax XS. So many choices, so little time.

Thanks again for the input fellas.

Pete