4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

[andymach23]

My new boat, 20 feet, 80hp 4-stroke Yam, 2600 lbs, came with a 4-stroke 4hp Yamaha kicker. My old boat which I am about to sell, 17ft fisher with 40hp 4-stroke Yamaha, has a 5hp 2-stroke mariner kicker.

Both kicker engines have been little used are about the same age, 1998 and are running well.

I'm wondering whether to keep the 4hp 4-stroke Yam for my new boat or the 5hp 2-stroke Mariner.

I appreciate that 4hp isn't ideal power for my 20 foot boat, but I'm thinking that the 4-stroke will be convenient as I won't have to run with premix and it will match up with the 80hp main engine.

The 5hp 2-stroke is probably pretty marginal as well for the larger boat!

Would the 4-stroke maybe be better suited to the heavier boat than the 2-stroke or should I just go with the extra hp of the 2-stroke. 1hp seems trivial but I suppose it's significant % wise.

The engine will be be basically for emergencies and will have to push me a few miles only. Maybe for some slow speed occasional fishing.

Both kickers are running standard props.

I think I probably have to sell a kicker motor with my old boat to be able to offer a complete outfit.

I will hopefully be upgrading maybe next year if I can afford it, to an 8hp 4-stroke that I can use to push the boat on the inland waterways.

I'm going to test both kickers out, but thought I'd see if anyone had an opinion on this. Maybe someone is running the 4hp Yamaha on a larger boat?

Thanks

Andy

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

sell them both and buy an 8hp.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: 4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

The 4-stroke is more convenient, but the 2-stroke is the better power plant.

 

[JB]

Re: 4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

Sell them both and get a 9.9 or 15 4 stroke with a hi-thrust prop. If you have a strong wind to buck (seems there are always storms involved in emergency situations) even an 8 will fail you.

 

[jay_merrill]

Re: 4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

I would stay with the four stroke but agree that 4hp as a kicker on a 20 foot boat will be inadequate.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: 4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

With a 4 stroke main engine why run a 2 stroke kicker which will need its own seperate tank for mixed gas (unless its got a built in tank). The 4hp yamaha can be fed off the main tank.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

With a 4 stroke main engine why run a 2 stroke kicker which will need its own seperate tank for mixed gas (unless its got a built in tank). The 4hp yamaha can be fed off the main tank.

If you're going to be using a smaller engine as a kicker or as an emergency power source, it should have a separate tank, anyhow. Contaminated fuel, for example, won't run either engine. Neither will a blocked fuel line or some other problem with the main tank and its plumbing.

Using a separate tank means you have an independent fuel supply for your kicker. Before leaving the ramp or dock, you should start that small engine on its own fuel every time you boat. You want to know it's going to run if you need it.

And ditto on the 4 or 5 hp not being adequate for a 20' boat.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: 4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

agree with CAT.

 

[andymach23]

Re: 4hp 4-stroke or 5hp 2-stroke kicker?

I think I will go with the 5hp 2 stroke, for this season and look to upgrade next year.

On the river a 9.9 high thrust would give me a decent slow cruise speed and sip fuel compared to my 80hp 4-stroke. It would be ideal if I could rig steering up for it. The Yamaha is very expensive. A Tohatsu (Nissan) might be a better value option.

For the 5hp 2 stroke, I like the simplicity of the 2 stroke and am happy enough to use the internal tank with a back up small can.

As a % increase, 5hp instead of 4hp is more than 20% better, even though this HP is marginal for my boat.

I'm selling my old boat and think that the Yamha main engine plus the matching 4 stroke kicker may help the sale a little.

I'll have to give the 5hp a try and see how it goes.