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Thread: Mercury Optimax 250 Sportjet
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11-04-2009, 11:26 AM #1Junior Member
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Mercury Optimax 250 Sportjet
I've been trying to obtain a new Optimax 250 powerhead and jet pump for a project boat I'm working on and have not been successful. I have contacted the company and local dealers. I live in the west suburbs of Chicago. I know a lot of you guys have built your own boats with these systems and I was wondering how to order the motor. Thanks in advance!
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11-06-2009, 04:59 PM #2Member
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Merc plans to stop production of the 250 SportJet Dec 31, 09. Per my sales rep,there is one more run scheduled but all those engines are spoken for.
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11-06-2009, 05:40 PM #3
are they stopping production of all sportjets? or just the 250?
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11-06-2009, 06:52 PM #4Member
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Just the 250...
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11-07-2009, 11:24 AM #5Junior Member
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Why are they discontinuing it? Have there been problems with it? Are they replacing it with anything?
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11-14-2009, 12:56 PM #6Junior Member
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Does anyone know if someone, somewhere has these in stock? I would expect that with the boating business in this state that some manufacturers would have some to unload. Anyone have any leads? .....help.
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11-14-2009, 05:26 PM #7Member
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Short answer: 250 sales didn't justify upgrading to the 3 Star Carb rating. Personally, I feel the 250 is a slug. In light weight hulls, the quicker reving 200 offers a better hole shot. The 250 offers a slight top end advantage.
As of yesterday, Merc had zero 200s / 250s available. I know of no one who has extra 250's in stock.
If you're looking for a 200, I might be able to help. KTLast edited by Kevin Turner; 11-15-2009 at 07:29 AM.
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11-15-2009, 07:38 AM #8Junior Member
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Is the 200 lighter and smaller or is it the same block. I would be interested in a 200 if you think that is a better choice for a light hull. I've had 2 mercury sport jets: a 175 and a 240. I've heard that the Optimax powerhead is much better on fuel. I think 200 would be enough for my application. My primary reason for wanting a 250 is I figured they were the same v6 block with the same weight. I don't know that much about the powerbands. I don't need top end. I don't even drive my Fountain at full speed. I couldn't imagine going that fast in a 16' jet boat but the jets I've had were very slow.
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11-15-2009, 04:34 PM #9Member
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200 / 2.5L @ 367 lbs
250 / 3.0L @ 434 lbs
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11-16-2009, 08:34 AM #10Junior Member
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The 200 is sounding better. Any leads? I got a retail price from mercury for the 250. I imagine the 200 is a bit less.
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11-16-2009, 10:29 AM #11Member
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PM sent
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06-16-2013, 09:03 PM #12New Member
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06-17-2013, 04:27 AM #13
I'd opt for the 4.3L and jet. It'll be a little heavier and take up a little more room (close coupling will help a bit), but the real advantage will be when the boat is loaded. Also the 4.3 will have a waaaayyyyyy better exhaust note
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06-17-2013, 08:56 AM #14New Member
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Thank you for your response. When you state when the boat is loaded does that mean the Optimax does not have the volume of water out the nozzle to push the loaded boat.
Tom
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06-17-2013, 04:09 PM #15
Not so much that it doesn't move enough water as it doesn't move as much water. The Optimax is a good combo and alot of guys use them and they do pretty well, just the larger volume of water accelerated with the larger pump will suit larger loads better. There will be minimal difference in fuel consumption for any given speed, and you can get away from having a gearbox as well (removing undue complications)
There are also plenty of go-fast bolt-on options for the 4.3 (no doubt there are for the 2.5L Merc block), and and mechanic can do the work rather than paying 'marine' rates when having any work or maintenance done, so squeezing more power is simple, reliable, reasonably cheap, and well known.