Hello everyone, here is a question that I must figure out before spring... I'm selling my 99 ZX202c and wanting to get a Skeeter State team gig,(things are looking up) But the dealership and Skeeter want me to run the new FX210 Skeeter boat, this is a 21 footer but it has been riged with a Yamaha 225 or a 250 HP 4 stroke. This will be my fourth skeeter boat, really sold on them, but I've only ran the 2 stroke 200 and 225 VMAX. Love the horsepower of the 2 stroke but gas and oil gets really expensive after 4 or 5 days of fishing. Has anyone else driven or had any experience with these new engines? Let me know what everyone thinks... Thanks for your time


EAT SLEEP FISH

I test drove a new NITRO with a 225 Mercury Opimax, ran real sweet and very quiet. I imagine they are really pretty close when you get down to it. I am looking at a new Tracker Avalanche soon and am trying to decide between the Optimax and the EFI 175 Mercury. After driving an Avalanche, I absolutely fell in love with the boat! I am leaning towards the EFI, but the jury is still out.

I have friends that have the Optimax and HPDI engines all of them really like them, Fuel usage is low, but I do here they flat eat the oil. These four stokes only use gas no oil, that really has me leaning that way.. I'm wanting to find out how much lower end power I will loose. Upper end with a 225 or 250 should not matter.. But gas and oil expense alone has me heading that way... Merc makes a great engine, I had one on my very first Tracker boat, good choice.. Good luck on your new purchase.

EAT SLEEP FISH

The NITRO I drove (with the 225 4 stroke) didn't seem to have any problem with either low end or top end. I got out of the hole real fast, and I backed out at over 70 (probably would have run faster, but I felt it was fast enough for me and the conditions).

NOT trying to be smart, but you guys should be made aware that Opti's and HPDI engines are NOT 4 stroke. You're comparing apples to oranges. Check out the manufacturers' web sites if you need more info. Especially check out the weight differences between the 2 and 4 stroke engines of the same HP.

CCB

We understand what you are saying, 6.54bass is looking at a boat with the optimax 225 2 stroke engine, The boat I am looking at runs the new 4 stroke 225 and 250 engines. Skeeter built this boat just for 4 stroke engines, they added 100 pounds of meat to the transom area on a zx250 and call it FX210 to hold these new engines. My real questions goes back to performace issues with these new 4 stoke engines, I have driven a new Skeeter deep water boat the a four stroke 225 Yamaha, it seemed to be fine. But on a bass boat is what I'm looking for. Any help would be great.. Thanks

Sorry, Don- I got confused when 6.54 referred to test driving a Nitro with a 225 Opti, then referred to a Nitro with 225 four stroke. Probably different boats.

The only guy I know who runs a 225 four stroke has it on a huge Lund walleye boat. He's quite happy with his set-up, but performance can't be compared with what you may run into with a bass boat. You may want to try asking on Bass Boat Central? There can't be too many bass rigs around with the that engine.

It would be interesting if you could post the results of your search. Thanks.

CCB

I stand corrected, I listened to a guy talk about the Optmax and assumed he was correct in saying it was a 4 stroke. I had not looked heavily into them, so, like I said I just assumed. Anyhow, the Optimax ran real good, I was very impressed with it. I had heard there was a significant weight diffeence between the two (2 stroke/4 stroke).

As soon as I get more information from dealerships and Skeeter/Yamaha I will be more than happy to post this information for you guys.. I think this is the new wave of the furture in Bass Fishing...Have a good New Year, Need to go fishing now the T Rock is calling me see everyone a little later..

Eat Sleep Fish

I'm not sure if I'm reading you guys right but the Opti-Max is a 2-stroke not a 4-stroke. Having raced dirtbikes for years the only difference between a 2 & 4 stroke is a 2-stroke is built for top end speed while a 4-stroke is built for overall power. 4-strokes will out last a 2-stroke because of lower RPMs which produces less heat from friction. 4-strokes will produce the same top-end speed but you will get faster hole shots due to the fact they have more low end torque.