optimax

[mtnman05]

I am planning on buying a new Ranger 186vs Fish/Ski boat and I want to put a 175hp Mercury Optimax Pro XS on it. I have always been a Merc man so thats why I want a Mercury.
I am also a horsepower nut and I love the sound of a V6 mercury howling across the water. I put a Bobs exhaust relief on my 1994 175XRI thats on my bass boat and I love how it sounds. I know most of you like quiet outboards but I don't. Thats why I put flowmasters on my truck, I like the sound of horsepower. So the question is, what can I do to these new Optimax motors for a better sound? Can you put some kind of offshore midsection on them or do a drilled exhaust like everyone use to do to the old black max's? Anyone done any mods to their optis?

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: optimax

Any mod's that change the air/exhaust/emissions on a Optimax voids factory warranty and subject to a fine from the tree huggers. The only Opti's offered with a open exhaust is the ROS(race series).

 

[mtnman05]

Re: optimax

Do the ROS Mercs have a forward, neutral and reverse or are they just forward only for the racing boats? I would love to have one of those motors.

 

[Bamaman1]

Re: optimax

My lake has fishing tournaments every Wednesday and Friday nights--ending @ 7:00 a.m.

In years past, many fishermen were used Mercury engines with wide open porting/exhausts. Those kind of fishermen are not welcome at 5:00 a.m.--waking up thousands of people living on the lake with screaming motors. We finally got our State Water Patrol to flag those noisy fishermen and get them to trim their motors down and slow slightly to reduce the sound.

We're now very thankful that there are Optimax motors--giving the speed without the sound. It makes sleeping so much more peaceful.

 

[mtnman05]

Re: optimax

Oh i agree about the waking up the neighbors part. However I wont be tournament fishing with this fish/ski boat and if I am I would take my Ranger 374v bass boat. I have a Bobs exhaust kit on the 175 XRI thats on it but its no where near as loud as those motors with off shore mids.
I am just wanting a pleasure boat that I can enjoy riding around with the motor screaming. 99 percent of the lake I go to is Army Corps of engineers land that surrounds it so no one really lives on the water.

 

[Faztbullet]

Re: optimax

Do the ROS Mercs have a forward, neutral and reverse or are they just forward only for the racing boats? I would love to have one of those motors.

They use a 1:1 speedmaster with no neutral and foward only. These motors are for boats 1500lbs and lighter with a 15" transom.