2016 THINGY BOATS 19 CENTER CABIN   - New Boat Library

MY CHOICE OF ENGINE..... MERCURY OPTIMAX 115 The most powerful of a trio of DFI two-stroke outboards from 75hp, the three-star OEDA-rated Mercury 115 develops 113.3hp at 5375rpm from its 1526cc loopcharged powerhead and has a Wide Open Throttle range of 5000-5750rpm. Developed by WA's Orbital Engine Corporation, the Mercury OptiMax DFI is a two-stage system that mixes air with fuel before injecting the atomised mix directly into the combustion chambers. I don't want to put anyone to sleep so I won't go into operational details, but suffice it to say this DFI system gives incredibly low trolling fuel and oil consumption with traditional two-stroke outboard performance. A belt-driven, voltage-regulated 60A alternator provides plenty of power for electronic toys and since the only other belt is for the air compressor, the 115 is relatively trouble free compared to 115hp four-strokes. The dry weight is 170kg for the longshaft version (175kg for extra-long) and the gear ratio 2.07:1, which is a little taller than its OptiMax 75 and 90 counterparts. Powerhead access is good even though a 4.7L oil tank is fitted. Mercury recommends servicing every 100 hours or annually after the first 20 hours, and the engine has a five-year recreational use warranty.