New to outboards... have a few basic questions to get started!

[Fishermark]

I am typically a Mercruiser I/O guy. My dad just bought himself a new toy (at 82 years of age! ) I will be one of the ones doing the maintenance, etc on the boat so I have a few questions...

First - the boat is a 1992 Fountain 31' Sportfisher. It has twin outboards - Two Mercury brand Optimax Bluewater Series 250 Hp. The port engine's manufacturer's label indicates model year 1998, model no. 250CXleft, serial no. 06652463. The starboard label had been painted over and is illegible. Port engine hours indicated: 314 Stbd engine hours indicated: 462.

First question - where do I start looking for a remote oil tank for the oil injection? That seems like a simple thing, but I cannot find it. I see a tank under the cowling, but nothing in the boat... but I am sure there is one there.

Second - not being too familiar with the 2 stroke injection motors, is there anything I ought to check before trying to start the engines for the first time?

Any help for a newby would be helpful! (It is a beautiful boat - I will post some pics).

 

[ondarvr]

I hope you started them and did a water trial before buying, so starting them now to see how they run before doing anything further to them is fine.

If there is an oil tank someplace there needs to be an oil line, follow it, there will be an oil tank at the other end.

 

[Chris1956]

You do know that Optimax is Merc's brand of Direct Injection, right? That is good news, as those motors will be very fuel efficient. Those motors should have water separators under their cowling. These will have water sensors. You will want to get familiar with the warning system, for troubleshooting.

There should be three hoses from each motor to the cockpit. One is for gasoline, one is for oil and the third line is for pressure to force the injection oil to the motor reservoir. It is possible that a single oil injection tank is used, although, I do not know if that is a standard thing. A lot of boats will have a thru-hull oil fill fitting. See if you can find that.

BTW - "Bully" for your dad. However, that is a pretty large boat for anyone to handle alone. Makes sure he has some help.

 

[GA_Boater]

Opti's don't have an external oil tank. The one under the cowl is it.

I hope you or your Dad did take her on a water trial like ondarvr said. Has the boat been sitting or has she been used recently? Did the boat come with any maintenance records, like when the impellers and other normal maintenance items were were last changed?

 

[Teamster]

Opti's don't have an external oil tank. The one under the cowl is it.

Huh???????

I've never seen one without a remote fill oil tank,............

 

[Fishermark]

If there is no remote tank, then the under cowling tank seems mighty small given the size of these motors. I certainly don't know what is "normal." I am learning as I go!

On the water try out - yes, that is a good idea. He got such a good deal on the boat however that he felt a water try out was unnecessary. It had just been surveyed by a local surveyor and dad was confident in the purchase.

Here's a few pics:

 

[Chris1956]

Merc Inline 4 and smaller motors do not have remote oil tanks. They have the under-cowl mounted tank only. As far as I know all 2 cycle and Optimax V6 Mercs motors have remote oil tanks. I would think a peek in the bilge would reveal the remote oil tank. There may be twin oil tanks as well.