Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude Outboards: Which Is the Best for Me?
Although around 200,000 outboard boat motors are sold in the U.S. every year, not everyone is getting the same kind.
If you’re looking into buying a new one, you’ve probably heard about the Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude debate.
There’s a pretty wide spectrum of thought on the issue. Some people swear that the one is always the best. Others would never consider buying the other kind.
The truth is that if you are considering buying a new motor, you should think about many factors before purchasing.
We’ve broken down the Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude debate into factors that are important for any buyer to know about.
Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude: A Rivalry
When you’re picking a motor, the most important thing to consider is you. No matter what you’ve heard or read online, different motors are better for different people.
The Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude dispute is no different. There are advantages and drawbacks to both kinds of motors.
Some will matter more than others to you, and only you can decide which.
Let’s start with fuel efficiency.
Fuel Efficiency
What kind of distances will you be covering in your boat, and at what speed?
The answers to these questions can make all the difference when picking Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude.
The Evinrude is known for running cleanly and more efficiently. That means over time, you’ll get more bang for your buck while traveling long distances.
Of course, your fuel efficiency is most influenced by you, the boat owner. If you keep even speeds in waters of lower-resistance, you will use less fuel.
If you’re looking for action on the water, then you might not care that much about fuel efficiency.
But there are still other factors to consider.
Electrical Use
The Mercury Optimax can’t run without a battery, which means it requires a high electrical load to run, no matter what.
Evinrude engines also use a battery but draw less power.
Basically, starting up your engine could take a toll on your boats electrical load. So could all the other processes which require electricity in your boat.
That might not mean much to you.
However, if your Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude dilemma comes down to electrical usage, then you should pick the second.
Boat-Revving Noise
If you are an experienced boat owner, you know that engines can make a noise like a small storm in the back of your boat.
That means conversations between passengers might be tough.
If this is your first boat engine, then really, it does matter how much noise your boat makes.
No matter what you do with your boat, you will need it to be quiet sometimes.
If you are looking to spend your boat outings on the move, with the engine always rumbling, you might prefer a quieter option.
Easy fishing trips and outings with friends are some examples of instances when a quieter engine is better.
If you are concerned with the marine wildlife that swims below your boat, then you definitely want a quieter engine.
Engine noise can disturb echolocation tactics employed by large mammals in the deep ocean.
In the Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude debate, Evinrude makes less noise.
However, if you don’t mind the noise of a Mercury Optimax, or maybe even like it, there is no reason to consider volume levels much.
Two-Stroke or Four-Stroke
A common test to compare and contrast different engines is the stroke test.
Traditionally, there is a big difference between the two kinds of engines.
Two-stroke engines are considered to be more powerful than four-stroke engines, while the latter is considered to have a cleaner fuel output.
Mercury Optimax two-stroke engines tend to do better in situations where they don’t have to idle too much. These engines aren’t meant to be trolling all day long.
An ideal situation for a two-stroke engine is regular use on open water, for longer distances and higher speeds.
The four-stroke engines, on the other hand, are better for those situations, but less forceful out on the open water.
They’re better for smooth cruising across calm bodies of water. It’s not that they can’t take the action on the water, but you will need to maneuver a bit more.
The case with Evinrude two-stroke vs. four-stroke is similar. Traditionally, two-stroke engines were better for situations that required more power.
Today, however, both two-stroke and four-stroke engines achieve similar results. So, what other factors contribute to power?
Horse Power
Like cars, boat engines have different amounts of horsepower that can give your boat different kinds of kick.
Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude engines is a debate that is also influenced by horse power.
Mercury Optimax engines are known for giving a big horsepower kick to your boat.
When considering horsepower, you should think of your boat size and legal permits on the bodies of water you’ll be boating.
A smaller boat on a pond, for instance, might have a single digit horsepower.
A big speedboat on the open ocean or lake is another story.
Fuel Injection Type
There are a few main different kinds of fuel you’ll be using with your outboard engine.
These fuel types include Direct Fuel Injection and Electronic Fuel Injection.
What kind of fuel will you be using, and how will that influence your choice of engine?
That’s a question that requires a long term answer. Because you will be using your engine for a while.
Durability over Time
Outboard engines are amazing machines, given how much they have changed over the last decades.
Like any other part of your boat experience, they will require solid maintenance a few hundred miles down the road or water. Occasionally, you’ll need to get new parts.
Despite the inevitability of outboard engine repairs, some can be few and far in between.
Another way to look at Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude is to consider how often you want to get repair work done on the engine.
Are you willing to spend money and time on maintenance?
If you like to go on longer excursions faster, the Mercury Optimax might be better for you. It’s designed to make such trips easier.
With a Mercury Optimax, you can travel far off the coast in the morning, hang out a bit, and then make it back to dock before sunrise.
The drawback is that the wear and tear on the engine might be more than on an Evinrude. Your use will define the durability, too.
Another difference that depends totally on you. Are there any factors that are a bit more objective?
Well, it’s not objective, but there is one that requires no prior knowledge of outboard boats.
Visual Design
What seems like a throwaway factor is actually very important.
You should care what your boat motor looks like! It is just a motor at the end of your boat, but it’s also more than that.
It’s part of your presentation. If you’re stuck on the tiny details deciding Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude, why think about what your motor will look like?
Motor boats come in different sizes and shapes, and it’s important to know what will work best for your boat.
Just like you’ve picked out boats based on both functionality and appearance, you should give a motor a good look.
Seriously, a look. Then you can think about buying it.
Price
As with any luxury item, boats–and outboard engines–are priced all over the place.
Some are a few hundred dollars. Others, like this one released a few years ago, cost a quarter million dollars.
Well, you probably aren’t looking to buy that engine. The solution might seem simple: Wouldn’t the cheaper option always be better?
Hold on, not so fast. On the one hand, spending less money on your boat motor might yield a lesser product.
On the other hand, again, it all depends on what you want to use the boat for.
If you plan to take the boat out every once in a while, and it’s not a big one, then the cheaper option might be better.
You can even consider getting a high-quality boat that has already been used.
However, if you are an avid boater and will use your water machine all the time, the more expensive one might be a better option.
You probably don’t want to spend a quarter million dollars. But you might have a big budget.
Preparation is Key
Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude is all about preference. That’s not to say that one is never better than the other.
In fact, there are some general conclusions to be made.
If you’re a Boater with a capital B, the kind who likes to rev the engine and feel like a captain of the water, then Mercury Optimax is probably best for you.
However, there are equally valid reasons for picking Evinrude instead. If you use your boat for things like low-key fishing and other peaceful outings, then Evinrude might be better for you.
Are there other factors you need to consider before picking a side in the Mercury Optimax vs. Evinrude debate? If so, we’ve got you covered.
Feel free to reach out to hear more information about both brands. Good luck boating!