First thanks for all the quick input for EFI vs Optimax post
And please keep them coming 
Just need more input from this great site from the people that use these motors
Do not have much time on Mercury Optimax
This is the time of year for these type of toys
No bias opinions just the facts please
Thanks in advance
4 Stroke all the way.
Quote:
4 Stroke all the way.
I’d say 4 stroke…if it were a 115 or smaller.
If you troll with a kicker, I’d get the Opti.
I currently own a 150hp Yamaha 4 stroke and couldn’t be happier. Its going on its 2nd season. I’ve always run Yamaha’s and have never had a single issue, so I’m pretty biased. I also run a 70hp 2-stroke for the last 4 years on a boat I co-own, and its been a rock. Thats not to rip on Mercs, I know they make a good product. But, why fix what isn’t broke.
I’m sure you’ve done some research, but if you haven’t checked out Yamaha’s website they have performance test with specific boats and motors I found very useful when I was shopping.
i own a 115 opti. it has been a great motor, but if i did it again, i think i would go 4-stroke.
i feel like my maintainace cost are high with the opti. each plug cost around $20, oil is also expensive. i really like the performance, but i now would be willing to sacrafice a little performance for cost and a quieter motor.my boat maxes out at 43mph. if i lost 3 mph with the 4-stroke, i dont care if i max out at 40 mph. i am never in a race when I am fishing, nor do i run at wot much of the time. I really cant complain at all about the opti for performance. runs great all the time. i have trolled 8 hours out of a day and it never skipped a beat (i am still waiting for my stimulas package for a new kicker more). great motor, but if it was me, i would try4-stoke next.
My two favorite motors-135 Opti and the F115 Yammi I currently run. The Opti was abused and tortured beyond belief. Now being (lots) older and wiser, my little F115 has over 1000hrs and is still doing very well. It’s never had any serious issues, seems to virtually sip gas and be exceptionaly dependable. 
jerr
I’ve been running a Yamaha 150 4 stroke for the last 1.5 yrs, prior to that I had a Merc Opti 150. Both on very similar boats as far as wieght goes. Both w/ ss props. The Merc has a better hole shot and winds up quicker but the Yamaha is much more quiet at mid-full and at idle u can hardly hear it run plus no 2 stroke fumes. Gas mpg very close between the two. Top end too close to call…
I ran a 225 yamaha 4 stroke for three years, and that was a great motor. The only issue I had was it was a turd out of the hole, and was really heavy. Once it was up on plane it was fine, but it liked fuel just as much as the two strokes though.
I have had good luck with the optimax never had to repair one. Same as my yammi four stroke. Only difference is the cost of injection oil. use about same in fuel. opti much faster per hp and hole shot.
I have a 135 opti with 487 hours on it, change the plugs once, it has smartcraft, used 1247 gal of gas, never had a problem. it gets used all year winter too!! No oil to change ever, will never buy anything else. with the dfi there is hardly any fumes, no smoke ever! the weight u save vs. a 4 stroke will greatly improve the handling of your boat not to mention your boats transome will last longer with less weight on it. I have nothing against yamy have a T 8 for a kicker!!
I’ve never owned an Opti but I have owned an F150 and it was a super motor.
Here’s the weight specs on those two motors.
Mercury Optimax 150 (2.5 liter) = 431lbs (dry weight)
http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines/outboards/optimax/twofiveliter_specs.php?ID=54
Yamaha F150 = 476 (dry weight)
http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard/products/subcatspecs/63/specs.aspx
If you plan any watersports, get the Opti, much better low end torque. The Yamaha would be slightly cheaper to run (no oil to add, other than changes). The Opti is louder, but sounds awesome! Neither is a “bad” motor many thousands of both out there running lots of hours.
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