2 Stroke verse 4 Stroke

[Slaughter-06]

I kicking around the idea of upgrading to a 40 or 50 H.P. for my 17' Alum. boat
Tiller handle model.

I know the 4 stroke will get a little better gas mileage but its hard for me to get away from the 2 stroke, sense that is all I have every been around.

Is the 4 stroke that much better on gas to put up with its larger size?

Give me some input on your experience with either one.

 

[Headhunter]

I will not reveal names, but I know some of the better outboard mechanics in the southeast (maybe even the country) and they say they would not buy a 4 stroke.

 

[mike243]

can ya hang onto 1 with that much horse power with a stick ? man thats some power,mike243

 

[shorefisherman]

I got a 1977 20 hp mercury on mine and still runnin strong,only replaced the top end and couple impellers. ive heard good things about them 4 stokes, but who knows howlong they'll last since its still new to market, at least you dont have to premix!

 

[bowriter]

All depends on how long you have been married.

 

[mike243]

Or how long its been.

 

[Hillbilly Hunter]

All depends on how long you have been married.

 

[madgapper]

First post...been lurking around here since RSimms clued me in.
I can only speak for myself but I've got an '05, 60 hp Merc, and it came with a couple of bugs but once they were fixed it has run great(knock,knock). Was told by two different gearheads that Mercury was contracting four strokes to Yamaha for a while and I got one.

The Motorguide on my Tracker also came with a quality control problem.....the hole the pull rope comes up through had rough edges top and bottom so I put a grommet in....after I broke the first dang rope.

 

[trealtree]

I have a 9.8 4 stroke tohatsu, and it runs great and its so quiet.

 

[rsimms]

Once you've gone 4 stroke, you'll never go back. I run a 60 HP Yamaha 4 stroke. I tell folks that sometimes I think I get back to the ramp with more gas than I started with. It is quiet as church mouse, starts & idles like a dream. And I LOVE not having to mix fuel! Of course they're better on the environment and you don't have to breath in the 2 stroke stench.

Downside... they can be slower coming out of the hole, and larger size might cut speed some (depending upon boat, size of motor and other variables). They are more expensive... there are some great deals on 2 strokes out there these days.

But for me, the good things far outweigh the bad. I will never run another 2 stroke.

 

[Radar]

I love my 60/40 Merc. jet drive 4 stroke . It gets great gas mileage , and less maintenance than a two stroke . I have never known a two stroke motor in any boat or motorcycle to be more reliable than a 4 stroke .

 

[turkeyhunter64]

The life of a 2 stroke is the oil mixture. I had a 175 the VRO went out on and was mixing very little oil with gas. Dropped the #6 clyinder. Had it rebuilt, changed to a straight pump and mix my own oil. Motor was built in 1989 and still runs like a top. I see a lot of 4 stroke engines on pontoon boats and such but most of the bass guys still run 2 stroke.

 

[BuckWild]

I've got a 135 hp Honda four stroke on my pontoon boat. Runs like a top.

 

[Slaughter-06]

I will not reveal names, but I know some of the better outboard mechanics in the southeast (maybe even the country) and they say they would not buy a 4 stroke.

Ok this made me think a 2 stroke was the way to go.

 

[Slaughter-06]

Once you've gone 4 stroke, you'll never go back. I run a 60 HP Yamaha 4 stroke. I tell folks that sometimes I think I get back to the ramp with more gas than I started with. It is quiet as church mouse, starts & idles like a dream. And I LOVE not having to mix fuel! Of course they're better on the environment and you don't have to breath in the 2 stroke stench.

Downside... they can be slower coming out of the hole, and larger size might cut speed some (depending upon boat, size of motor and other variables). They are more expensive... there are some great deals on 2 strokes out there these days.

But for me, the good things far outweigh the bad. I will never run another 2 stroke.

Then a man that makes his living out on the water comes along with this.

Man I still am confused.

 

[RUGER]

Good luck.
I ain't qualified to answer but if I were going to buy a boat today I would go with a four stroke.

 

[Headhunter]

Not trying to influence anyone, but I was influenced by the guys I talked to. I can promise you they are some of the best. One of them was "the man" for a major outboard company for many years. He said the cost of working on a 4 stroke was out of sight compared to a 2 stroke. Maybe he just does not like working on 4 strokes or some other reason, but he has never steered me wrong.

 

[Radar]

2 strokes will soon become obsolete . Any new motor you buy now will be a 4 stroke due to the emissions regulations .

 

[Slaughter-06]

I am going to have to give this some serious thunking!

 

[trealtree]

I dont think I would take a mechanics advice, since they are bias. Maybe some mechanics dont like them because they dont break as often. just an idea.

 

[holstonangler]

No one has mentioned that 4-strokes are quite a bit heavier if that makes any difference. As far as gas goes, it would take a few years of running to save what you would pay for a four stroke.

 

[gil1]

Yes, the main reason I got a 2 on my Riverhawk rather than a 4 is that every pound makes a difference in skinny water, and there was enough of a weight difference to sway me.

 

[RUGER]

I see what ya'll are saying about the mechanics saying two strokes are better and I think I may know where they are coming from.
Racing motorcycles are now going to more and more four strokes. The reason the mechanics are saying that is indeed that it cost ALOT more to overhaul a four stroke than a two.
The kicker to this and what you have to remember is, the NEED TO REBUILD a fourstroke is ALOT less than a two.

 

[trealtree]

TOHATSU 9.8 HP 4 STROKE WEIGHT: 81 LBS

YAMAHA 9.9 2 STROKE WEIGHT: 79 LBS

 

[trealtree]

not much weight difference on the 9.9 hp.

 

[Radar]

I see what ya'll are saying about the mechanics saying two strokes are better and I think I may know where they are coming from.
Racing motorcycles are now going to more and more four strokes. The reason the mechanics are saying that is indeed that it cost ALOT more to overhaul a four stroke than a two.
The kicker to this and what you have to remember is, the NEED TO REBUILD a fourstroke is ALOT less than a two.

I agree.

 

[trealtree]