Re: 2003 Yami 4 stroke
you didn't mention what type of boat these engines are pushing and what HP we are talking about, and that can make a difference in my view. The Yammy is obviously two years newer, may or may not be fuel injected which is a big advantage over carbs on the two stroke. If you do maintenance yourself, costs will likely be the same but the four stroke has things such as valve lash adjustment, timing belt replacement, oil and filter changes and the seemingly never endiing issue of "making oil". A two stroke is generally a lighter engine, has better hole shot (generally), is faster on top end (generally) on identical boats. The four stroke will use less fuel. If you don't do maintenance yourself, those costs will be higher on the four stroke. I like a four stroke on a pontoon. On a planing hull I like a two-stroke (carbed, EFI, or DFI). In your case, the number of hours and maintenance records will tell the story which engine is in the best condition. In either case, insist on a compression test that you observe and by all means, do an on water test drive. Without those two, you are buying a pig-in-a-poke.
