I have 99 optimax 200 and have taken it to the dealer and they could not make it do it in the tank but randomly on the lake I go to take off and get half way out of the hole and it starts sputtering bad and I let out and it will continue to sputter sometimes it will die completely other times it will start to run fine and I can get out of the hole and run fine. When I took it in they replaced the throttle position sensor and I think the tps senor. Got it back form them and it ran great now it started it again and just does it completly randomly you can pump the fuel bulb only like 3 times and its hard and it will start and run. Its getting rather frustrating... I have replaced the fuel filter in the motor.. and it checked out perfect other than the two sensors. I have a water seperator filter on it could that be causing it??

There are more than the fuel water seperator filters on that engine. I'm thinking there is a permanant metal fiter under the VST tank and also 1or2 sock filters in the line from the metal filter to the electric pump. They should be able to run a fuel prssure test to at least 4500rpm at the shop. That will show if it is a filter or not. It could be a break down of a spark plug, (they are not cheep, but cheeper than other items) And you were suppose to change them at 66 hours. Doubt it if it is an injector, but could be an electrical connection in the main wiring harness. That is a take apart, inspect, clean, add some di-electric grease and re-install. Lastly, it could be a faulty float needle valve, trying to stick in the VST tank and flooding #4 cylinder momentarly.........This ain't wrote in stone, but it gives you some knowledge as to where to look.

An intermittent problem like that implies an electrical cause; either a wiring problem or problematic sensor. It sounds like something is putting it in safe mode when it shouldn't.

These engine have 3 fuel pumps one is a lift pump the next one inline is the low pressure pump which keeps the VST full and the other is the high pressure pump that supplies the fuel system. Your problem could very well be that the low pressure pump is starting to fail because if it fails the VST will run out of fuel.....OPTI

Antisiphone valve at the fuel tank. The connector or hose barbed fitting has a spring and checkball that tends to start sticking after 10 years or so. Try a regular brass hose fitting the same size as the one you remove. Cary

Alright well I am bringing this back up becasue it still does it and I am going nuts!! I have yet to take it back in becasue yet again it does it totally random. Last time I was out it did it a lot but seemed to do it consistantly between 2300 and 3600 ish RPM then would gte on plane and run awesome. Does this help narrow it down any?

Not for me. I believe it is either fuel or electrical as mentioned above. I would bet it is a fuel problem.

Get it in soon. sputtering means sick

I have a 2000 200 hp Opti that was doing the same thing, a set of the correct (high $ plugs) solved the proble for mine.

I am having the same issue. I took it to a shop and had the primary and low pressure fuel pump replaced.
Still had the same symptoms. At one point during take off it would never plane and the fastest I could go was 6 mph.
Took it to another shop and they replaced the plugs and all seems alright. Well, yesterday it started happening again.
I have been fooling with them off and on for about a year. I just want it fixed.

Them tanks are just good for checking water pumps

Could be coils and plugs, could be the fuel water separator, could also be the fuel pump, and it could also be the oil tank.

If was me I would listen to opti, he absolutely knows what he is talking about.

I'm thinking ignition coil. I had the same symptoms..