Verado or Optimax

[ishoot]

What kind of performance difference do you think there would be between a new 250 Verado Pro and a 250 Optimax on a 25' performance pontoon? The dealer is really pushing the Optimax HARD! I really want the quietness of the Verado as well as the digital controls and the great power steering. What kind of speed difference do you think there would be... 2 mph maybe in favor of the opti??

Thanks!!

Dan

[Bamaman]

Most people running tritoons like the quiet and 4 strokes seem to perform quite well for the way they use their boats.

The Verado Pro's 200 lbs. heavier, however it has power steering built in. With the Pro XS, you'll have to invest $2K+ in power steering assist. On the other side, Verados' setup can run $3,500-$4,500 over the cost of the engine. Those fly by wire controls and SmartCraft gauges are very expensive.

The more that I run my Bennington, the more I like simplicity of analog gauges and plain old Yamaha fuel injection. I'm into my boat for the long run, and I wouldn't cherish ever having to spend $4542.64 for a new supercharger. My lake's only 16 mles long, and all the electronics are overkill. My boat's good for 40 mph, and I seldom run over 30 mph.

It's a shame that a dealer's asking you to make such an investment without an in water demonstration. Tell him to rig two boats with each engine and go to the lake to see which feels better. He can always sell the losing boat to another customer.

[BoatCop]

He's pushing the Optimax to clear out stock. More people want the Verado, so Optimax engines are piling up.

The 2 stroke Optimax may get up to RPM quicker, but the Verado will provide more torque to get the heavy pontoon moving smoother. Plus there's no 2 stroke oil to worry about.

[Bryden24shp]

I really like my Verado, a few things to watch out for, but talk about power and fuel economy in a quiet package. Its nice.
How did you turn out on the Manny? Never heard anything since they replaced the center toon.

[ishoot]

Hi Bryan;

Don't want to take this thread off track but the tube is being replaced next month by one of their dealers.

Test drove a Verado 300 today and was quite impressed with it's low and mid range torque, it didn't lose much while cornering sharp either!! My Etec 250 HO lost more in corners than the Verado did. The quietness of it is just unbelievable!! Maybe I have made up my mind???....

When you say there's a few things to watch out for can you be more specific??

Guess I am still curious what if any performance difference would be between the Verado and the Optimax.... At this point I can't imagine much if any!

Thanks!!

Dan

[Bryden24shp]

Just a few things that kinda worry me
Like Bama said, the supercharger cost alot if it goes south and is out of warranty. I have heard of a few and though the chance is remote, if it does, its costly!
Mercury has alot of problems with pencil coils going bad in the Verado's. No real big deal, but there again, its still a concern.
The fuel float's in the Gen 1 and early Gen 2's would stick, making the motor starve for fuel. No big deal if you can have the boat home to change it, but when I was on vacation at Lake of the Ozarks, mine went out. Was charged $500.00 to replace. I could have done it here at home for about $125.00. It was good for about 3 weeks, then went out again. It was under warranty, so there was no charge to replace it a second time. But, I was told once it was replaced with the newest and greatest design it would never go out again...Just my luck.
Thats about it, Dan. I like it! Nice motor. Very gutsy, and that SuperCharger whine just makes me smile!
Take her easy, Buddy!
Bryan

[rancherlee]

My choice would be a Zuki 250 but if I had to get a Merc it would be the V-rod. The only thing I didn't like about the Verado powered toon I rode on was the constant whine from the supercharger under load, I love me some supercharger whine under acceleration on my Vehicles but the constant whine started to annoy me after a few minutes. It might have been the one I was on but whine was pretty loud.

[smoker62]

I never heard the supercharger whine. The only thing you hear is the power steering pump whine .

[tms0425]

I never heard the supercharger whine. The only thing you hear is the power steering pump whine .

Same here, under the helm.

I've only seen a few big Optimax's on pontoons, but if it's anything like the bass boats around here, you'd have to LIKE it loud. It's a rowdy sound, but not for everybody.

Obviously, I love my V-Rod. It's very quiet, smooth, and has plenty of torque when prop'd correctly.

[TN3Toon]

Another nod for the VRod!

We took a 40mile cruise yesterday from the river into the big lake here and the only thing you could really hear was the wind and water off the toons. I have ridden on a big toon with a 250 Opti, it sounded like a couple of angry beavers riding a rice rocket!

[Bryden24shp]

I had P/S whine. I re-routed the P/S hoses to eliminate the sharp bends. Its as quiet as a mouse now. You should be able to hear the supercharger winding up as the RPM's increase on the Gen 1 motors. The Gen 2's have more insulation in the cowlings so the S/C whine is reduced. I'ld rather hear it, so I know the damn thing is spinning.

[Bamaman]

Dang, TN3Toon:

A 40 mile trip on Kentucky Lake is a long way, but you're still far short of covering 184 miles length and over 2000 miles of shoreline. If I lived on your lake, my lifetime ambition would be to see all of Kentucky Lake.

With blue skies and 86 degrees, this is a great week to cruise. I rode the Waverunner a couple of hours this afternoon.

We're putting in at McFarland Bottom and running the length of Pickwick Lake on Thursday. If we get too tired, we may spend the night at Pickwick Landing State Park Lodge. It's been many years since I've seen the lower end of that lake.

[TN3Toon]

Bamaman,

That was only 20 miles one way too from Bumpus Mills up into southern Lake Barkley! Only to be chased back south with lightning and rain... I haven't even put the boat into Kentucky Lake yet. Too much lake to explore between the two here, just a few thousand miles of shoreline...no biggie! Maybe next summer!

[TN3Toon]

My impression of the Verado is its a 'torque-ee' SOB! If my kids aren't careful, like not holding onto the tube, I can easily dump them right off the back just by taking off. They get a little pissed but their dad has a long memory of their lack of give a damn through the previous week! Even with all 200lbs of me on a kid sized wakeboard, my 200 pulls me easily up to plane. That supercharger takes a big breathe, the prop bites and just straight out pulls my big boat right up outa the water! The 2strokes are great bass motors where screaming across the lake with your face mask on is as much a part of the fun as the actuall fishing itself. If you're gonna be hauling people around and slowing down enough to chat while doing so, you'll want the verado...

[bradm]

Bamaman,

That was only 20 miles one way too from Bumpus Mills up into southern Lake Barkley! Only to be chased back south with lightning and rain... I haven't even put the boat into Kentucky Lake yet. Too much lake to explore between the two here, just a few thousand miles of shoreline...no biggie! Maybe next summer!

Hey TN3Toon,

About what mile point is Bumpus Mills? Where is it in relation to the Highway 68 Bridge at Canton? Did you get all the way up the prison?

We cruised down to Barkley Lodge Saturday, which is around MM 58 or so. It was about a 20 mile one way from our condo and marina where boat is.
That strip of Barkley is really pretty.


Brad