Ugg. My 2006 Mercury Optimax has lost compression in one of it's 3 cylinders. The motor has low hours and ran great for 3 summers before this failure. It's 115, 1.5 liter. I'm getting estimates around $5,000 to $6,000 to put a "reconditioned" power head from Mercury on it. (comes with a 1 year warranty) My question is "is it worth it?". This is a big punch in the nose. I appreciate any thoughts.

Send Freebie a PM...he will give you good advice...
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for that price i would just buy a new 4 stroke. Put the 5K down and finance the rest if you have to. probably buy a good used 4 stroke for the price as well.

go to

www.iboats.com sign up then scroll down in forum and find your boat brand and ask your question.

it is a great boat question site with some top notch people

I was in sort of the same situation. 2002 brp Fitch 200.... Running back one afternoon then brapppp. Done. Rebuild or repower..... I got lucky I sold the whole mess and got out from it. Its a tough spot but the advice to go 4stroke is solid but its gonna cost some shekels.... Maybe you can get lucky and sell it all if you are not to attached to the hull and get into something newer with a 4 stroke. Just my .00001 cents worth.
Sol...
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ETEC.

Thank you all for the feedback.

Don't remember where but I recently saw a Yami 115 4 stroke with 429 hour for $6K

A quick update…. I decided to go with the rebuild on the Optimax. Was very tempted to upgrade to a 4 stroke but didn't want to spend that much. Outboard mechanic said I had water in my 2-stroke oil tank causing the failure. Should be done in a couple of weeks and then stored indoor till spring.

I would be asking...how did water get in the oil tank? That seems odd to me.

Use the highest quality oil they recommend for that motor in the future, never use some no name brand you got from walmart.


BTW, been on several boats where a motor blows, that term "Brapppp" is a very accurate phonetic description.

I use only Optimax oil. The oil tank (plastic) sits on top of the engine and is auto
mixed. The gasket on the cap was compromised and let a few tablespoons of water in. Enough to reek havoc. Replacing all of that. It sits on a mooring all summer (fresh water) and I have to be more careful with that cap.