Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I know where your coming from. I've run 2 strokes for 30 years and never needed /wanted anything more. Still own/run 4 of them. They are light and simple to repair when they misbehave. That said, I just bought a 30 Hp 4 stroke on the new fishing boat. Mainly because I couldn't find a 30 hp two stroke ( with power tilt). Sea trials were today. I have to admit I REALLY liked it. It was nice to hear birds sing over the motor at idling speed. I didn't miss the smoke either. What I will miss is my ability to do my own repairs if/when the time comes. Got used to it om my cars, guess I'll get used to it on my outboards too.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I loathe that I sell four-pokes. Does that count?

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I have to admit that I'm pretty much of a "newbie" and certainly no expert when it comes to 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke.

However, will say this.....

The boat I bought in March of this year is a 2005 Proline CC with a 115 Mercury Optimax (2 stroke).
Now, I've heard all about how noisy the 2 stroke engines are -
I was surprised just how quiet this engine is.

Second, seems to troll very smoothly at slow speed.

And, thirdly, the gas mileage (I'm told) with this engine is exceptional.

Sooooo, not that I'm anti-4 stroke.....but this Merc seems like a great engine!!

 

[dingbat]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I have to admit that I'm pretty much of a "newbie" and certainly no expert when it comes to 4 stroke vs. 2 stroke.

However, will say this.....

The boat I bought in March of this year is a 2005 Proline CC with a 115 Mercury Optimax (2 stroke).
Now, I've heard all about how noisy the 2 stroke engines are -
I was surprised just how quiet this engine is.

Second, seems to troll very smoothly at slow speed.

And, thirdly, the gas mileage (I'm told) with this engine is exceptional.

Sooooo, not that I'm anti-4 stroke.....but this Merc seems like a great engine!!

There are two types of 2 strokes. The noisy, fuel guzzling, smoke belching carbureted motors which most around here seem to levitate towards. Then there are the new Direct Fuel Injected 2 strokes like your Opti are pretty quiet and for the most part smoke free.

The DFI 2 stroke and the 4 stroke are fairly comparable from a noise and fuel consumption stand point.

 

[RickV1955]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

Dingbat......

Thanks for the explanation.....

Absolutely not a mechanic and wouldn't really know the difference between a 4 stroke and a 2 stroke it I saw them side by side.....lol.

All I know is that I'm pretty impressed and happy with my Mercury OptiMax

 

[crazyclam]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I was just talked out of upgrading to a newer 4 stroke....due to valve problems...or any other problem once it does eventually happen...you cant really work on them....they are a lot heavier than the 2 strokes of days ago... I use the same fuel tank fro both my engines my 50 and 9.9 so i would have to go one way with both of them....too costly just for a newer year on the side of my engine......I am sticking with the 2 strokes...more power

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I was just talked out of upgrading to a newer 4 stroke....due to valve problems...or any other problem once it does eventually happen...you cant really work on them....they are a lot heavier than the 2 strokes of days ago... I use the same fuel tank fro both my engines my 50 and 9.9 so i would have to go one way with both of them....too costly just for a newer year on the side of my engine......I am sticking with the 2 strokes...more power

Valve problems? oh, you mean checking the valve lash every 400 hours..... Easy to do if you don't mind spending a few hours out in the garage every 4 or 5 years.........

Can't work on them? If you can handle changing oil on a car then you can handle a 4 stroke outboard. Everyone seems to be scared of the "Computer" and "EFI". When is the last time the computer when bad on your car? These engine have simple Open loop style EFI systems with very few sensors to go bad. Get use to them, in 2 to 3 more years 99% of the outboard on the market will be "computer controlled" except for the small carbed 2 to 15hp range engines, carb 2 strokes will be all but gone.

A lot heavier? Yes, heavier than OLD carb 2 strokes, but not much more than the modern DFI 2 stroke and in some cases lighter especially in the 40-60hp range where quite a few are lighter than the Etec in that range.

More power? Last time I checked HP was HP and both engines PROPERLY PROPED will perform within 1mph of each other. A 2 stroke may have a bit better hole shot since they can crank up the rpm faster but that is the only difference, less rotating mass in the engine to get spinning.

Both the modern DFI 2 stroke and EFI 4 stroke are great engines and I would run either over an carbed 2 stroke any day of the week, DON'T fear the computer!!!

 

[Mark_VTfisherman]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

.......and wouldn't really know the difference between a 4 stroke and a 2 stroke it I saw them side by side.....

Yes you can! The four stroke motors are those HUGE things that look like a Far Side cartoon of a bass boat. The two strokes are half that size.

 

[jevery]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

Yes you can! The four stroke motors are those HUGE things that look like a Far Side cartoon of a bass boat. The two strokes are half that size.

I know what you mean. I?ve rigged ski mirrors on each side of my windshield just to see around my 150 four stroke

While my buddy?s 200 practically disappears back there.

I'll never own another of those bulbous beasts.

 

[capt sam]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

that yami f150 is an awesome motor, other than the size what issues have you had?

 

[jevery]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

Zero issues. Easily the best of the five outboards I've owned, (three 2 strokes and two 4 strokes).

 

[junior1113]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I have 60HP 4-stroke Yamaha, couldn't be happier
....and just to rub it in it is lighter than 60HP ETEC

torque is the big thing with evinrude little motors try that 250 to 250 tug of war that thing would sink your boat just to rub it in gotta love evinrude

 

[gss036]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I currently run a Honda 225 and Yamaha T9.9 and would never go back to a 2 stroke. I ran a Mercury 200 HP w/6carbs for the last 19 years, I kind of happy it finally blew up and I wore out my 1997 Honda 15 hp, it had maybe 3500 hours on it, maybe more, mostly trolling.

 

[Navy Jr.]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

Yep, they're big alright. Ours just fit in the garage (the door is a tad shorter than normal). The picture is a little deceiving, but the motor also cleared the beam traversing the ceiling seen near the rear of the garage.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

Besides liking the smell of a 2 stroke first thing in the morning I will be extremely open minded when it is time for a new motor. Hope to get a little more experience on other peoples experiences of performance, fuel consumption etc before making a decision.

 

[bassman284]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

I have a 2001 Merc 60 EFI 4 stroke. I smile every time I start it. Quick touch of the starter and hum-m-m-m-m-m-m. Hot weather, cold weather, doesn't matter.

Maintenance is a *****, I admit. Have to change oil every year. I run stabilizer all the time because the fuel consumption is so low so it's always winterized. And it weighs 8 pounds more than an Etec 60.

Also have a 9.9 4 stroke kicker. It's carbed so I sometimes have to pull it twice to start, usually because I forget to choke it on the first pull. Once I went 18 months without starting it. Took two pulls that time, for sure.

 

[SeaNymph Man]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

Besides liking the smell of a 2 stroke first thing in the morning I will be extremely open minded when it is time for a new motor. Hope to get a little more experience on other peoples experiences of performance, fuel consumption etc before making a decision.

I will NOT own a four stroke,...never have ,...and never will. I am a two stroke guy all the way. If I don't smell or see any smoke when I start it
up,it does not go on my boat. (Unless they give me the money for a new 25
hp E-TEC,the EPA will NOT tell me what kind of motor I will run.) If only
BRP would bring Johnson back and bring out a Johnson version of the E-TEC,
I would be very happy. Until that happens,I will stick with my carbed two stroke Johnsons.

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

Might as well add to the noise. This Yammy 90 is my first 4-stroke. I'm only halfway civilized as it's one of the last carbed versions, just pre-EFI. But still clean burning, super quiet. Loverly! As others have stated, a conversation at normal speaking levels up at the helm while she's humming along at WOT is really great.

I'm definitely not looking forward to touching the maze of linkages on the four carbs when the time comes but the rest of it sure looks simple enough. Compared to the stuff I've disassembled to reach the valve trains and timing belts on my cars, this will be a snap.

When researching 4 strokes the references to "making oil" had me somewhat concerned, but I ensure the engine is run long enough to warm it up completely and haven't had any issues.

Yeah, sure -- she's a bit of a big-bottomed girl but still spritely on the back of the Scout. Besides, 350 vs. 400 pounds or whatever the difference is, I sure ain't lifting any engine of this displacement myself no matter how many strokes it has or doesn't have..

And, of course, compared to the gymnastics required to winterize my last I/O -- heaven on earth right there standing upright with everything within easy reach. Well...except maybe for that 4th carb down there...

 

[MudSkunk]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

i have always had 2 stroke boat motors because thats all that was realistic to get for the size of boats i have used. i truly despise 2-stroke motors so i was ridiculously happy when i could finally buy a new boat after moving to wisconsin and get a 4 stroke. there is just something about 2 strokes taht hate me i have always had a hard time getting them started and keeping them running. it doesnt matter if it is a chainsaw a weed eater or an outboard. mixing hte fuel with oil is a pain in the butt and once mixed unless you use it relatively quickly it starts to seperate.

all the hassles of 2 stroke gone?? yeah ill go 4 and love it.

i am not a greenie tree hugging hippy by any stretch but i do love my fish and keeping 2 stroke discharge out of the waters i fish and eat fish from... i like that.

4 stroke is way quiet and i can actually talk to my fishing partners while we are motoring around. it is such a pleasure to run one that having to take it in for end of year maintenance is worth the savings on paying for 2 stroke oil and all the hassles and repairs during fishing season that 2 strokes have always brought me.

to me the 4 strokes are a blessing.

 

[kkj]

Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?

The only reason for a 2-stroke is a small, simple and super-light 2 hp or less, that you have to carry around (for some reason) a lot.
In the old days when a Johnson 2-cyl. came to our lake I was amazed how smooth it was compared with 1-cyl. engines that was the common ones.