I have a 2001 225 Mercury Optimax and was wondering if I have a factory or "aftermarket" cowling. I weighed it today and its just over 10lbs. It looks factory but there aren't any part numbers on it and I remember the guy we bought the boat mentioned something about it. Thanks for the help guys!
2001 Mercury Optimax 225
0T344965
2000 Mercury ELPTO 125
0T072885
I would love to hear where you got it. Mine must weight 35#
Butch Derickson
2011 Z521 w/250 hp SHO
Traverse City, Michigan
Original cowling weighed approximately 48 lbs.
The later style plastic cowlings average around 36# (varies, depending on model).
Sounds like yours is NOT original.
Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
Still consider myself a "Marine Apprentice" after 48 years (learn something new every day).
Mercury Parts, Mercury Outboards, Smartcraft & Accessories, Injector Service, TDR Reeds- BBC Sponsor
Thanks for the replies!
I wish I knew where it came from as well. It looks close to factory just looking at it. Here are the best pictures I have available at this time.
2001 Mercury Optimax 225
0T344965
2000 Mercury ELPTO 125
0T072885
Would be interesting to see the INSIDE of that cowling.
Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
Still consider myself a "Marine Apprentice" after 48 years (learn something new every day).
Mercury Parts, Mercury Outboards, Smartcraft & Accessories, Injector Service, TDR Reeds- BBC Sponsor
I will post some pictures of the inside tomorrow.
Do you see many of these Don? What are you suspecting?
2001 Mercury Optimax 225
0T344965
2000 Mercury ELPTO 125
0T072885
Just curious to see what is (or is not) inside the cowling, since that one is (according to your weight measurement) a little less than 1/2 the weight of the lightest "OEM" cowling.
Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
Still consider myself a "Marine Apprentice" after 48 years (learn something new every day).
Mercury Parts, Mercury Outboards, Smartcraft & Accessories, Injector Service, TDR Reeds- BBC Sponsor
Don,
Here are some better pictures up close of the outside and some pictures of the inside. Also, exact weight is 10.5lbs.
2001 Mercury Optimax 225
0T344965
2000 Mercury ELPTO 125
0T072885
Looks like it is made pretty good. Will be nice to get Don's opinions on that. I would love to have o.e like that on my motor to save some weight.
Yea, all this time I heard people talking about heavy cowlings and I had been thinking to myself how weak everyone must be cause I thought mine was factory.
2001 Mercury Optimax 225
0T344965
2000 Mercury ELPTO 125
0T072885
Never seen that one before... appears to be a "splash" molded cowling (hand-laid, which would certainly make for a light-weight cowling).
Someone obviously put a lot of work into it.... leading me to believe it was probably not a "one-off" model (there are likely more of them out there).
Air intakes are nice and clean.... although they "might" be more proned to water ingestion when coming off plane.
How well does it seal to the lower cowling pans?
Dual Mercury Master Technician- for Mercury Outboards, Mercruiser and Mercury Racing at European Marine in Greenville, SC.
Still consider myself a "Marine Apprentice" after 48 years (learn something new every day).
Mercury Parts, Mercury Outboards, Smartcraft & Accessories, Injector Service, TDR Reeds- BBC Sponsor
Really nice and tight fit. Locks down really well and has zero play around the latches. You have to give it a little push to get it down around the seal.
2001 Mercury Optimax 225
0T344965
2000 Mercury ELPTO 125
0T072885
heres mine thomas it is 7lbs
[imghttp://im1.shutterfly.com/media/47a1cf03b3127ccefef8a6fe406600000030O01AatWTZq3ZMg e3nw0/cC/f%3D0/ps%3D50/r%3D0/rx%3D550/ry%3D400/][/img]
22ft Storm
300+ merc
89.1 mph gps 29TXP 6050rpm
Looks great and 7lbs!!! Wow. Thats going to be a nice option for a Storm with a 3.0 Merc hanging on the back of it come early Jan! Not many lightweight Cowlings for the 3.0 thats the best I have seen.
2001 Mercury Optimax 225
0T344965
2000 Mercury ELPTO 125
0T072885
I would also like to pull a mold of yours also just to have
22ft Storm
300+ merc
89.1 mph gps 29TXP 6050rpm
No problem. Hopefully I can make a trip down there for some fishing this spring and let you do whatever you need for the mold.
2001 Mercury Optimax 225
0T344965
2000 Mercury ELPTO 125
0T072885
Storm...could u make a factory looking cowl in fiberglass. I would like to have something to save some weight.
22ft Storm
300+ merc
89.1 mph gps 29TXP 6050rpm
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