Re: Optimax
Labor Cost. The smaller engines are low profit margin units. The OptiMax is built in Fon Du Lac, Wisconsin by American workers. All the non-Verado four-strokes are built in Japan by Tohatsu, the construction outsourced by Mercury Marine to take advantage of the cheaper Asian labor markets.
It's a shame, actually. The OptiMax is a much better engine than any of the comparable four-strokes in the 75-115hp range. I have two Alumacraft boats, one with a 90 EFI four-stroke, the other with a 90 OptiMax. The OptiMax will run circles around the four-stroke and gets better fuel economy. It used to be the other way around but the new generation of injected two-strokes is pretty impressive. And they're much simpler than a four-stroke.
--
Chris
