My friend is a certified Mercury mechanic so I am getting a Mercury motor since I have access to a good mechanic. What do you thing is better for a saltwater outboard 200 hp OptiMax or Verado?
Paul Sasser
Founder, GoFishSC.com
President, Long Bay Fly Fishers
How much weight can your boat handle? The Verado is considerably heavier than the opti. I prefer the opti myself because of its proven simplistic design and power. The Verado is more complex with more components that could potentially fail, not that they have a bad record. Both are reliable, ask your merc guy.
I don’t mind the extra noise that comes with the 2 stroke. For a lot, that is a deal breaker. That Verado is whisper quiet below 3k and not all that loud at full power.
Hydra-Sports 22 Bay Sport
225 Rude
Verado’s is considered a propulsion system. There is a lot of extra cost associated with the rigging it requires. The opti is extremely fuel efficient and quiet as compared to most two strokes. The verado is going to have twice the life expectancy as well. It is not a apples to apples comparison. Both are great engines so you can’t go wrong, just look at the big picture when making your decision.
Captain Steve Little
TowBoat US Charleston
Psalm 107:23-32
www.towboatcharleston.com