I run a 250 SHO and love it.
In a much earlier life I ran a Chrysler!
What a terrible engine. Should never have been introduced

The Merc guys on here dogging the Yams obviously never owned a 2000-2002 Merc Optimax. They were nicknamed Opti-Pops for a reason. Mercury had to replace powerheads on nearly every one that was sold in those years.

I know early Yam SHO's also had problems with the oil pumps. I wown a 2011 SHO 250. It has been flawless. They sent me a letter offering to replace the powerhead at no charge and gave me until May 2017 to get it done. Fun & Sun just did it.

To be clear I have owned 20 Mercs and 6 Yams over the years. Had good luck with all of them. The Mercs are slightly faster on the same hull. For Two-Strokes I would go Merc all the way but Yamaha owns the Four-Stroke market. If you don't believe me, go down to the coast and see what's on back of 98% of all the offshore boats.

I fished with a guide out of Galveston last summer that had twin 225 Yams on his Contender that had 3,400 hours on them each. He told me all he had done was change the LU grease and the water pump impeller each year.

I have an '07 HPDI 225 and never had any issues (other than replacing the lower unit, but that is just going to happen on Texas lakes). I have heard that the Primary issues with the HPDI's were in the 250's, under 250 and you are good.

My motor has always started on the first crank, and has never bogged down.

My experience,

I am a Yamaha owner who just came from another Yamaha.
My 07 250 hpdi blew chunks running down the red river a few years back. I couldn't find anyone to work on it, everyone will tell you those motors are extremely lean right off the showroom floor, you go to repair a cylinder or lean a wall out a bit it throws the balance off, which can cause the opposite side to blow prematurely.

A few very well known HPDI mechanics in this area have completely stopped working on them for the fact that they can't guarantee the work. Some were blowing again during test runs.

This was a pre-series 2 HPDI.

It was an extremely solid motor for years, never gave any trouble or signs of problems.

Not saying it will happen to anyone else, but I am gun shy now.

Anyone have any experience with that big 4 stroke Honda that usually comes on the Charger boats?
Don't need one, just wondering.

Heck I had a 2001 Opti was a great motor for me. never had one problem with it, always let it warm up before taking off.

U only will hear the bad things on these here forums, when there are way more good motor stories out there. I know guys with Optis and Sho that have had issues, but they are both good motors.

my take away from this is don't buy a E ficht, all others are decent motors.

I run a Suzuki and while it has been great with no real issues,
Finding a certified Suzuki mechanic is a challenge. Whatever
Engine you go after, think about support for it later
Down the road.

This

I had a 2000 year model Optimax 200hp that was the best motor I ever owned. And it is still running on the boat I sold years ago.

You want a model that has never had a single mechanical failure, look no further than:

we have a 1996 optimax, that thing still runs amazing.

Mine is a 92 and still running great!

Well I believe that just about covers all motors!

I have see the computer printouts from Coast Guard Honda's. One at 7500 and the other over 10,000 hrs. Both with no problems. Except they keep hitting the oyster beds with the lower units!

They missed the Scott-Atwater and Firestone outboards but we'll get them next time.

And Motorguide.