If both motors have been rebuilt, I would rebuild yours.
Call speed marine in Lebanon TN. He's the best around here and will do you right. Certified Mercury Mechanic and if I owned a Merc would be where I would take it.
You Don't Know what you Don't Know until you Know.
1984 Champion 201/Yamaha 175
1986 Ranger 390v/Yamaha 200
2002 Viper Cobra Coosa 216/Mercury 225EFI
2002 ProSports ProKat 2200/Twin Yamaha 150HPDIs
Look at it this way, cost of maintenance vs fuel. You can still fish by filling up the tank, vs it sitting in a lot waiting to get looked at!!!!
That's a great point, but that is a dealer/mechanic issue. The dealer I used to use kept my boat over three weeks and didn't do anything, said it showed no codes. I now used a dealer down by KY lake that takes appointments. You bring your boat the day they are going to work on it, and unless they tell you it is a multiple day job, you get it back the same day. In the event it does go over one day, they keep it in the garage, not outside like my dealer used to. I'm having a senior moment and a brain freeze or I'd tell you their name... they are down on HWY 68 before you get to Johnathon Creek. Husband and wife own the place, and have several mechanics. GREAT PEOPLE... I have their key chain out in my truck and receipt down at the lake house... sorry I can't remember the name right is moment!!!
Danny
Wow you guys make it sound like the optimax families a assured failure. I'm sure some do fail but in many locations, mine included, they're the most popular brand of motor on the water. If they really were that failure prone that would not be the case. That being said I probably optive rebuild the EFI motor unless the Pro XS was basically the same price. As far as the choice between the OptiMax and the Pro XS I go to Pro XS.
Bruce
2019 20 TRX Patriot
Mercury 250 ProXS Fourstroke
HDS 12 Live - Console
HDS 9 Live - Bow
My 2004 Optimax has been a very good engine. Although, I did blow a power head once due to not warming up the engine one cold morning (this is about the time we all found out about the need to warm up the Optimax engine on cold mornings prior to running WOT). Outside of that, the new power head on mine has been flawless since 2006. I do regular maintenance on mine, but have never had fuel rails or injectors cleaned. I use ethanol free gas only and fuel stabilizer (Mercury Brand) in every tank. Therefore, I vote for the 2004 Optimax over the ProXS.
2000 520vx Ranger
250 PRO XS
SERIAL#2B115788/ 25P Fury 4/ 25P Fury 3 blade
Love my Pro Xs. Two years old now and problem free. I do all my maint. And Dons cocktail. When I fish 2 day tournaments all my buddies with carb or efi motors need to refuel and i dont. It is hands down way more fuel efficient than any efi. As far as performance i dont think you can beat an efi. Me and my buddy in our boats can be doing 70 across the lake side by side and his is drinking fuel
2000 520vx Ranger
250 PRO XS
SERIAL#2B115788/ 25P Fury 4/ 25P Fury 3 blade
The complexity of these newest 2 strokes scared me off. I went with a 4 stroke.
Never had a minutes trouble out of my 07 Optimax. I'd buy another in a heartbeat.
BassCat Sabre FTD
Mercury 150 Optimax
"It's just fishing"
xpress x19, 200ho G2, aluminum sawtooth cut prop, paper sack tackle storage, ugly stik pro team, color c-lector
I am a big fan of Optimax/ProXS motors. I have had several and they have been relatively trouble free. Really just minor stuff. The biggest was a compressor that let go on my 200 ProXS while it was under warranty. Of the two, I would get the ProXS. There are much more differences than just stickers. There are many, many improvements. That being said, I would rebuild the EFI if it has been trouble free up to when it blow. It is a much more robust design but did not meet EPA restrictions set by our guberment so it was eliminated.
USN Retired
2020 Basscat Caracal
2020 Mercury 225 ProXS 4s
I would love to know all those differences. Perhaps you might list three of four of the many, many differences.
Here is that answer from our resident guru...
http://www.bbcboards.net/showthread.php?t=567684
USN Retired
2020 Basscat Caracal
2020 Mercury 225 ProXS 4s