Pro XS Vs. SHO

[killin_Wells]

I am looking at a new oat I am am between two motors. The Merc. Pro XS 225 or the Yamaha SHO 225. I will be fishing primarily in Big Lake, I have seen plenty of the Merc out there but have yet to see a SHO on the Lake. I have only seen them on bass boats and wonder how they will hold up to the salt water. I am curious if anyone has pros or cons between the two I know the SHO will cost more. Does anyone know what their maintenance schedule is like, and has anyone seen their performance first hand. Thanks in advance for the help.

[fishinpox]

I've fished a boat that has a 250 SHO and it's sweeeeet! If going on a bay boat u need to mount it on a jackplate bcuz of the 20" shaft . I have heard those merc xs and proxs can be temperamental . If it was me I'd get the sho

[killin_Wells]

Originally Posted by fishinpox

I've fished a boat that has a 250 SHO and it's sweeeeet! If going on a bay boat u need to mount it on a jackplate bcuz of the 20" shaft . I have heard those merc xs and proxs can be temperamental . If it was me I'd get the sho

I was looking at adding a 10" hydraulic jackplate to whichever one I choose. It will probably be a 21' or 22' center console.

[meaux fishing]

I'd get the four stoke reliability for SHO

[fishinpox]

Pm member waterbowl on here he has one on his boat

[Top Dawg]

I heard the XS was faster than the pro xs. Is that right?

[huntin fool]

Get the SHO

[ckinchen]

I was speaking with the owner of LMC Marine is Houston today at lunch and the SHO came up. He had a 250 PRO XS on his boat and replaced it with a 250SHO. He believes the SHO to be the same speed as the PRO XS if not faster with the advantages of a 4 stroke. Get ready because there will be 30 or more people on this site that will tell you a PRO XS is faster and maybe it is but this person has access to Yam and Merc engines and obviously can get them at cost and decided to go with the SHO. That to me is very telling. He has only used his boat in saltwater and has a jackplate.

[PaulMyers]

Originally Posted by ckinchen

I was speaking with the owner of LMC Marine is Houston today and lunch and the SHO came up. He had a 250 PRO XS on his boat and replaced it with a 250SHO. He believes the SHO to be the same speed as the PRO XS if not faster with the advantages of a 4 stroke. Get ready because there will be 30 or more people on this site that will tell you a PRO XS is faster and maybe it is but this person has access to Yam and Merc engines and obviously can get them at cost and decided to go with the SHO. That to me is very telling. He has only used his boat in saltwater and has a jackplate.

That's good to hear Casey. Now all I have to do when I order my boat is decide whether I want the 250 SHO or the Zuk 250SS.

Sent from my EVO

[huntin fool]

Originally Posted by PaulMyers

That's good to hear Casey. Now all I have to do when I order my boat is decide whether I want the 250 SHO or the Zuk 250SS.

Sent from my EVO

stick to the sho paul. I wouldn't go the zuk route

["W"]

Ok......I have been doing some work on the Sho....because I'm thinking about getting one on my next Haynie..
He is what I have found
Fuel mileage is better on Opi max vs Sho on same boat...
Sho is heavier vs Opti Max

A guy ran a Sho 250 on a Trition for one month and ran the Opi 250 on same boat

He burned almost double the fuel with the sho...said fuel mileage is horrible

This is a guide who had the Sho to demo...

[killin_Wells]

Originally Posted by "W"

Ok......I have been doing some work on the Sho....because I'm thinking about getting one on my next Haynie..
He is what I have found
Fuel mileage is better on Opi max vs Sho on same boat...
Sho is heavier vs Opti Max

A guy ran a Sho 250 on a Trition for one month and ran the Opi 250 on same boat

He burned almost double the fuel with the sho...said fuel mileage is horrible

This is a guide who had the Sho to demo...

According to both manufacturers the weight on both engines is 505 lbs.

[evis102]

Originally Posted by Montauk17

Quick giving people false information.Sho is a whole 8 pounds heavier compared to a opti,big deal. Sho will beat a opti hands down when it comes to fuel burn. Yamaha does not "demo" loose engines...guide or not. Yamaha only demos packaged rigs like skeeter. (yamaha owns skeeter) My dad has worked with yamaha for over 20 years along with being on skeeter's factory team. Not trying to prove anything,but that is the cold hard FACTS.

I agree on the weight but were are you facts on fuel burn? I do not have a Mercmointor but when I'm doing 45mph at 3500rpm that has to be pretty good.

[Montauk17]

Originally Posted by evis102

I agree on the weight but were are you facts on fuel burn? I do not have a Mercmointor but when I'm doing 45mph at 3500rpm that has to be pretty good.

All I can tell you is yamaha tested alot comparing the sho to a opti before they released it. I have no literature on a EXACT same boat setup comparing a opti to a sho. To each his own,yamaha stands behind there product 100%.
I much rather have a jap made engine than a mexico and china made engine. For example,Mercury has been having ignition coil and lower unit problems for years on the opti. They have too many of the older non updated product and are getting dealers to install them instead of fixing the problem with a updated product.

[skeeter77346]

Originally Posted by "W"

Ok......I have been doing some work on the Sho....because I'm thinking about getting one on my next Haynie..
He is what I have found
Fuel mileage is better on Opi max vs Sho on same boat...
Sho is heavier vs Opti Max

A guy ran a Sho 250 on a Trition for one month and ran the Opi 250 on same boat

He burned almost double the fuel with the sho...said fuel mileage is horrible

This is a guide who had the Sho to demo...

The SHO and the Merc ProXS motors (3.0L) show their weights as 505 lbs.

http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard...pecifications/

http://www.mercurymarine.com/engines...optimax/proxs/

I agree that IF the SHO was more fuel efficient, then rest assured Yamaha would have that posted on their website. From my experience it is very close.
That said, I have owned the Merc 225 and 250 ProXS motors and now have my 2nd SHO on my 2nd new boat. The SHO is very impressive - quiet, efficient, big time torque & excellent top end - despite being a 'Year' 1 product. There have been a few TSBs on the SHO to modify the thermostats and water pickups, as the early models would not get to desired operating temps in ultra cold water situations. My 2nd SHO had them done at the factory, so all new SHOs should be good to go.

With a motor serial number, the Atlanta Yamaha Outboard folks can tell you if the SHO you have in mind is up to spec. As you try to make your decision call the Yamaha Outboard guys in Atlanta and ask them about the SHO, saltwater use, etc. http://www.yamaha-motor.com/outboard...ctus/home.aspx

Also a number of boat companies have performance data on bay boats with the SHO from Scout, Maverick, Pathfinder, Skeeter, etc.

The LMC guys sell Mercs and Yams, so maybe go talk to them too before you decide. They do my SHO service work and I have been impressed LMC.

Good luck.

["W"]

And he said the 250 Opt was about 4mph faster on top speed

[huntin fool]

Originally Posted by "W"

And he said the 250 Opt was about 4mph faster on top speed

Who are you referring to, pilgrim?

[ckinchen]

Originally Posted by "W"

And he said the 250 Opt was about 4mph faster on top speed

I know someone in Houston with a Haynie 24HO and a 250SHO, it ran 65mph loaded which is exactly what the 250PRO XS typically runs. 4mph would put an HO at almost 70 tournament loaded with a 250 PRO, sorry but I don't see it since a 300 2 stroke racing motor only runs around 70 or slightly above on that boat.

["W"]

Originally Posted by ckinchen

I know someone in Houston with a Haynie 24HO and a 250SHO, it ran 65mph loaded which is exactly what the 250PRO XS typically runs. 4mph would put an HO at almost 70 tournament loaded with a 250 PRO, sorry but I don't see it since a 300 2 stroke racing motor only runs around 70 or slightly above on that boat.

we got Nick's 24ft with a 250Opt up to 67mph last week

[ckinchen]

Originally Posted by "W"

we got Nick's 24ft with a 250Opt up to 67mph last week

250 Opti is a strong motor, I'm not a 2 stroke guy so it wasn't something I considered. My last 2 stroke was 4 boats ago. I ran my Verado today for a test run on Lake Houston. I now have the larger gear case, the power was much better. 67 was the best I had done with the old smaller lower unit and 1.75 gear ratio, based upon what I saw today i should exceed that.