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1999 merc 225 promax

nightrider21

nightrider21

Member
I'm thinking of looking into a 2005 2100 pulsare br that has a 1999 225 promax motor on it. Does anyone know anything about this motor. Are they fuel injected or carbs, how many hours are they good for when they turn such high rpm's. It has what looks like a high performance lower unit with a real pointy nose cone. Any opinion would be helpful. I plan on calling the dealer next week but I was hoping to get some background first just incase the sales guy tries to whitewash me.


mark
 
The Promax line of motors was Mercury's BEST for power and reliability before the direct injected XS motors came along (except for 2 years, mentioned below). They started in 1994. I had a 1995 225 on my bow-rider Pulsare with a Torque-master lower unit (not nose coned).

The 150, 200, and 225 Promax motors are all 2.5 liter with the 'laser' injection system. They don't really turn much more rpm than the standard 'fishin' motors. A standard 2.5 engine rpm range tops out at 5800, while the 225 promax was rated for 6400. They also aren't higher compression than the standard fishin' motors. They have the advantage of solid engine mounts. Therefore, all things being equal, a Promax will last every bit as long as a standard 200 horse 2.5 fishin' motor. The Promax line is basically a standard motor with minor tweaks and assembled by the Mercury Racing guys.

There was some problems with the '98 and '99 motors burning up out of the factory. Mercury tried to lean up the programming for emissions and many motors fried. Make sure the motor you're looking at has had the Mercury or Rapair updated ECU.

Now, one more thing. Make sure it's a Promax. I can't count how many ads I've read where a motor is mis-named. IF that motor is really what's called an 'EFI', then that's a whole new ball game. The late '90's to current 'EFI' motors are 2.5 liter assembled by the racing division and only sold through Mercury Racing certified dealers. They turn many more rpms and typical rebuild time is around 200 hours for new rings.

Last thing. The pointy nose cone thingy is most likely slowing that boat down if it's really a 225 Promax. You really need 300 horse on the back of a 2100BR to take advantage of a nose coned lower unit. The 'EFI' racing motors can use that nose cone because they run from 280 - 300 horse.

Got any pix of that boat/motor/trailer package?
 
I dont know about that one Claupie. Maybe one of the ScreamandFly members has tested one?

I did see some posts on S&F about the 225 Promax really having closer to 240 horse. I know my Pulsare was slower top-end than my buddies Starflight with the standard 3.0 225 efi motor but he was much slower out of the hole. I couldn't find a prop that was faster top-end than my 23" worked Tempest because the 225 Promax didn't have the torque needed to swing a big blade while pushing a 21' boat.
 
A Promax 225 with a 23" Tempest will run low to mid 70's depending on prop quality. My 23" Tempest was worked for great hole-shot, and with my bow-cover installed and a 10" setback jack plate I could get 74 GPS out of it.
 
nightrider21 said:
http://minneapolis.craigslist.org/boa/886187175.html

Thanks JW for the informative reply. Here's the add for the boat. I can't see the words promax on the motor but maybe you can tell by looking at it. Also any idea of a top speed for this set up.

mark
Click to expand...
The seller of that boat is Checkmate Dave. He was the Checkmate dealer in Fargo until recently. Give him a call if you are interested. He's a great guy, he will answer your questions honestly.
 
That seems like a good deal from a reputable Checkmate dealer. The Pulsares tend to run better with the 3.0 liter motors because they put out more torque..but the Promax would be fine and there are alot of performance goodies for that motor. Good luck and injoy!:thumb:
 
One more thing about the Promax that makes it not as useful as the 3.0 motors is the noise. The Promax uses a light weight cowling with zero insulation, so the engine noise is quite a bit louder than a standard fishin' 3.0 225. As WONDERFUL as my '95 Promax was, it was also the main reason I sold my Pulsare. I use my boat mostly for pulling my wife tubing, and long hours listening to the Promax at 22 mph got tiring...............
 
I just stopped by to talk to Dave for a little bit today and he showed me that 2100 and pro max. It is one clean great looking boat. I would love to own one like it but with the economy..................... (plus I need to sell mine first)
By the way, that is Dave's personal boat. He is not a dealer anymore but Im sure that if you are still interested, he would be more than happy to talk to you. Dave is a really good guy and he wont try to "whitewash" you.:thumb:
 
Thanks for all the good replies, sorry to assume I'm might not get an honest transaction from the dealer, but I had a bad experiance with a very large boat dealer in the minneapolis area that I haven't quite got over yet. And I was so focused on the price that I totally forgot the boat is not maxed out on horsepower, something that I am a strick believer in. The horsepower to boat weight looks good on paper, my 21ft lund weighs 1800 lbs and with max horsepower, 225optimax, it works well. But aluminum to fiberglass is a whole different world in the horsepower to weight ratio. JW's estimate of low 70's would be the fastest boat I've owned (lund 58mph) But would I be happy knowing the boat could maybe do 90 with the 300. I'm going to have to ponder this for a little while. Thanks again for your insight.
 
pro max

I have a 88 starflight with a 97 225 super mag(promax)out of the hole the engine pulls real hard with a 23 p trophy... 74 mph GPS.... yes it is louder than a standard motor but i love the Promax rattle @ idle..... nothing sounds like it....kurt
 
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