We Bought Another Old Bass Boat, Did We Get Screwed?

We Bought Another Old Bass Boat, Did We Get Screwed? | Stratos 201 / Mercury Pros XS

Рет қаралды 9,214

Жыл бұрын

With spring incoming quickly, this March we went in search of a ride for the 2023 bass season. We picked up this 1997 Stratos 201 Pro XL with a 2009 Mercury Optimax ProXS 250. We were hoping this was a turn-key, ready to fish package, but alas, it was not. We've encountered many issues with the motor (mainly the compressor!), which we will be going into more detail on in this new Stratos series of videos.
Thanks for watching as always, don't forget to like and subscribe!
Kyle

Пікірлер: 39

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

What is your opinion on the Mercury Optimax line of motors?

@c.shoefish Жыл бұрын

Junk, just like most mercs... Yamaha or Suzuki all day, every day.

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

@@c.shoefish Strongly agree after owning this Opti for a few months lol

@c.shoefish Жыл бұрын

@@FishingOntario I've had to repair too many of em, I would never own one.

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

This will likely be our first and last lol

@randy1ization 9 ай бұрын

kind of hard to get parts for or find someone to work on a SUZY... they are like the old mercury force motors,, a hodgpodge of leftover parts from different manufacturers... suzuki vehicles are the same way,., the older yammy 2 strokes are very powerful and reliable... I bought the last year of the 2 stroke 115 on 08 and its been bullet proof.. lots of torque and carries the mail... only drawback is its a gas hog, and a little hard to start in cold weather, ive burned up a chrysler in cold weather due to icing in the carburetor, so im always kind of leary abt running the yammy when its really cold.. @@c.shoefish

@tim9928 Жыл бұрын

Love your videos! So in depth! P.S. sorry about your new problems.

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

Thanks for watching! It’s what keeps me making them! And thanks for your condolences, but we always manage to get everything figured out lol

@russbrown3159 Жыл бұрын

Where I live, we can do test runs year round. Seems there is an entire story behind the certified tech shake down. Look forward to seeing the repairs. Good Luck!!

@russbrown3159 Жыл бұрын

Where I live, we can do test runs year round. Seems there is an entire story behind the certified tech shake down. Look forward to seeing the repair work. Good Luck!! Time will tell if you were screwed or not. I hope not

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

Unfortunately, up here in the Great White North we usually have ice until the late spring, so no ability to test run. We are up and running now, and I’m just uploading the progress videos retrospectively, but there was… a lot required to get it going unfortunately😂 Thanks for checking the video out! More drama to come soon lol

@dexterfarmer3909 Жыл бұрын

Have you looked into having the compressor rebuilt? If they aren’t to bad blown on the inside it is fairly easy to rebuild them.

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

We have a bit! Unfortunately, this one ended up being too far gone. Crank pin was very worn, cylinder was oval.

@user-nq4fe8br9v Жыл бұрын

What is your opinion on the Mercury Optimax line of motors?. Love your videos! So in depth! P.S. sorry about your new problems..

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

Thanks for the support! 🙏

@randy1ization 9 ай бұрын

sir, do you know if the cool fuel cell on the optimax has a removable back cover ? reason is I think something is lodged in the water circuit of the cell that is intermittently blocking the tell tale stream.

@FishingOntario Ай бұрын

Not that I know of, but there is a strainer for the cooling water that may be plugged.

@randy1ization 9 ай бұрын

my 2007 115 hp optimax makes a knocking noise . previous owner bought it new, and said it sounded that way from day one.. Im going to take the belt off and investigate.. THANKS for the vid, if u need parts, maybe I can help you out,, im in TX

@chrisholmes1666 9 ай бұрын

Thank you very much for the parts help offer we have it back together and have been using it for a couple months now and all is good .These motors do have a slight knocking noise to them when running especially with the cowl off it's more noticeable . What you are looking for is excessive play at bottom or top dead center and noise there when rocking the pulley back and forth

@randy1ization 9 ай бұрын

I checked my air pump and it seems very healthy. I also found the water strainer location and cleaned it out,, these are interesting motors, and I love mine so far.. very fuel economic.. starts easy in cold weather. just wish there was a cheaper aftermarket scan tool available for them.. it would be nice to check the particular data pids now and then . something I found out, if u dont have a strong battery these motors will crank over, but wont start and u thing you have a different issue,, they want 850 to 1000 ccas @@chrisholmes1666

@FishingOntario Ай бұрын

Heyo, im pretty late on replying to your comment, and I see my old man already has, so just wanted to say thanks for watching!

@randybarger8649 9 ай бұрын

Omg got to pull power head to change

@FishingOntario Ай бұрын

Yessir

@c.shoefish Жыл бұрын

I'd say sell that POS for parts and swap to a Yamaha or Suzuki, even if used. They'll still cost you a pretty penny but you're not dealing with constant issues.

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

We’re fortunately not going to be in this boat for long. Once the Triton is done, we’re hoping to stick a SHO on the back of it.

@c.shoefish Жыл бұрын

@@FishingOntario There you go. Now you're talking. If you want to be the first one at the spot, buy a Merc. If you want to get back to the ramp, you buy a Yamaha.

@FishingOntario Жыл бұрын

You’ll see in an upcoming video how true that statement is lol

@c.shoefish Жыл бұрын

@@FishingOntario lol can't wait. I know how it is🤣