Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

[saxrulez]

This is my first boat, but I've been renting boats on the local lake here for awhile. All of the rentals are I/O's most of them with a good bit more horsepower than my boat. A buddy of mine also has a newer 4 stroke outboard.

The acceleration of this 2 stroke is just nuts though! I can't imagine giving it up, even for the quieter idle of the 4's.

Anyone with me?

 

[abarron]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

I myself like 2 strokes! I have a 1977 Mercury Thunderbolt 850 and it runs great! I love the sound of it when i open it up when i come out of a NO WAKE ZONE! THERE ISN'T NOTHING LIKE IT!!!

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

i like the power, the sound, and the smell of a 2 stroke... its all ive had on all the boats ive ever owned.

 

[05GlastronSX]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

I agree, and with the newer DI 2 strokes like the etec and optimax, they seriously make me wonder why people even consider larger bore 4 strokes. An equivalent horsepower 2 stroker will almost always be faster, quicker out of the hole, sound better (to me), and just flat out put more enjoyment on my face than a 4 stroke. At WOT they burn nearly the same amount of fuel and tests have shown that even at some cruising speeds the 2 strokes are right there with the 4 strokes in fuel efficiency.

I have a 150 XR6 carb, and even though it does goes through gas, I enjoy the performance it provides and the ability to pop up 2-3 225 lb skiers or 4 tubes, with 5-6 people in the boat, or top out at 57 mph. A similar size 150 4 stroke struggles doing that.

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

I have nothing but older omc two strokes. Easy to work on, tend to be lighter, and parts are readily available.

 

[Trotter]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

I recently bought a Mercury 2-stroke and I'm thus far quite happy with it. It's a 15hp and gets my boat up to plane in about 3 seconds even when I'm not trying to. I love flying down the lake doing 20-25mph cruising.

 

[ChrisAG]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

4-strokes: Hate 'em! Biggest scam on the water.

 

[bob johnson]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

what i hate about the four strokes is the extra weight for no more power....like dead weight..

I understood it when they were cleaner....but with the evolution of the E-tech....that isnt the case any more

bob

 

[RotaryRacer]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

I love my Evinrude. Direct Injection. Post FICHT. Pre E-Tec.

I'm very satisfied so far. Easy starting and minimal smoke. I do get a faint smell of exhaust every once and a while...nothing too objectionable though.

The thing barely has to break idle to get the boat on plane.

I haven't used it long enough to say for sure, but either my gas tank keeps getting replenished by the gas fairy or this thing hardly burns any gas....no really...I figure I have maximum of 5 hours of heavy use and I have only put 25 gallons in the thing and it is showing 3/4 full (32 gal tank). I figure it had at most 10 gallons in it to start with. So, that works out to a very rough estimate of, 2.2 GPH. That includes many WOT runs and a lot of cruising/ideling and about an hour of pulling a tube.

I have a fuel flow meter sitting in the house. I need to find a place to mount it in the boat.

I'm hooked on 2-strokes...especially these new fangled DI thingamajigs.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

Nothing says "Good Morning" like the great smell of 2 stroke along with the smell of fresh coffee.

 

[backyard mechanic]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

With a straight face I will tell you that young guys like the 2strokes and older guys like the 4 stroke. Why? Primarily the noise they make. It's as simple as that and you have proven my point with your comments.

I remember back as a kid putting baseball cards in the spokes of my bike JUST to make noise. Even today a nice loud exhaust sounds like heaven to me. I hear the power of every stroke and appreciate every cam pop it makes. Tractor pulls, drag races, stock cars to muscle cars... the best are the ones that sound the best. Agree? And the power they get out of them is astounding.

I like the 2 stroke outboard power just like I do the muscle car power but I have to say... my next outboard will be a 4 stroke. Yes, the weight of a 2 stroke is 3/4 that of a 4 stroke. Efficiency is on an equal now a days with 2 stroke and 4 strokes but that quick burst of power can ONLY come with a two stroke. Why do I need that "burst of energy"? I really don't any more and thus................ I'm gonna be a swap guy next buy.

Strangely, I prefer less noise on a boat and those 4 strokes are a lot quieter.

 

[kenmyfam]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

With a straight face I will tell you that young guys like the 2strokes and older guys like the 4 stroke. Why? Primarily the noise they make. It's as simple as that and you have proven my point with your comments.

I remember back as a kid putting baseball cards in the spokes of my bike JUST to make noise. Even today a nice loud exhaust sounds like heaven to me. I hear the power of every stroke and appreciate every cam pop it makes. Tractor pulls, drag races, stock cars to muscle cars... the best are the ones that sound the best. Agree? And the power they get out of them is astounding.

I like the 2 stroke outboard power just like I do the muscle car power but I have to say... my next outboard will be a 4 stroke. Yes, the weight of a 2 stroke is 3/4 that of a 4 stroke. Efficiency is on an equal now a days with 2 stroke and 4 strokes but that quick burst of power can ONLY come with a two stroke. Why do I need that "burst of energy"? I really don't any more and thus................ I'm gonna be a swap guy next buy.

Strangely, I prefer less noise on a boat and those 4 strokes are a lot quieter.

Well, that makes me feel young....Thank You

 

[robert graham]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

My Yamaha premix 2 strokes have all been light, simple to maintain and operate, and dependable...pretty hard to beat! But I believe the 2 strokes may be going the way of the dinosaurs, mainly because of exhaust emissions. Better enjoy them while we still can!

 

[jdsgrog]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

My Yamaha premix 2 strokes have all been light, simple to maintain and operate, and dependable...pretty hard to beat! But I believe the 2 strokes may be going the way of the dinosaurs, mainly because of exhaust emissions. Better enjoy them while we still can!

In the midwest, I have yet to be out on a lake that outlaws two strokes. I've been on lakes with hp restrictions, but not restrictions on two stroke motors. I can't speak for other states but here in the upper midwest (particularly IL, WI, and MN), I can't see this happening any time soon.

 

[NelsonQ]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

Love the 2 strokes. I'm on my 3rd and had to decide between the Optimax or the Verado 4 stroke.

Although the Verado is quieter, fuel consumption is on par, and to get the low end torque, I didn't see the need to pay the extra thousands of $$$ to get a supercharged engine to produce the low end power the Optimax does.

Love my new 200HP Optimax....

 

[ChrisAG]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

Strangely, I prefer less noise on a boat and those 4 strokes are a lot quieter.

I guess you haven't heard an Evinrude E-tec - quietest 2-stroke made.

 

[Rudi2]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

I guess you haven't heard an Evinrude E-tec - quietest 2-stroke made.

And emissions on par or better than a four stroke.

 

[j_martin]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

With a straight face I will tell you that young guys like the 2strokes and older guys like the 4 stroke. Why? Primarily the noise they make. It's as simple as that and you have proven my point with your comments.

I remember back as a kid putting baseball cards in the spokes of my bike JUST to make noise. Even today a nice loud exhaust sounds like heaven to me. I hear the power of every stroke and appreciate every cam pop it makes. Tractor pulls, drag races, stock cars to muscle cars... the best are the ones that sound the best. Agree? And the power they get out of them is astounding.

I like the 2 stroke outboard power just like I do the muscle car power but I have to say... my next outboard will be a 4 stroke. Yes, the weight of a 2 stroke is 3/4 that of a 4 stroke. Efficiency is on an equal now a days with 2 stroke and 4 strokes but that quick burst of power can ONLY come with a two stroke. Why do I need that "burst of energy"? I really don't any more and thus................ I'm gonna be a swap guy next buy.

Strangely, I prefer less noise on a boat and those 4 strokes are a lot quieter.

I might be getting older, but I refuse to grow up.

It's fun driving a boat my teenagers can recognize by ear at a couple of miles. It's also fun to drive one that they're scared to drive.

Love my well oiled XR4

 

[BigB9000]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

I guess you haven't heard an Evinrude E-tec - quietest 2-stroke made.

My friends dad (65) bought himself a 2009 E-Tec 115hp for his pontoon boat.
He loves the engine, but hates how quiet it is.
He cant hear if its running of not, so he constantly hits the starter switch, and grinds the bendix.

The bubbling water from the exhaust makes more noise than the engine.
...at idle anyway.

 

[Rancherlee]

Re: Anyone else hooked on 2 strokes?

And emissions on par or better than a four stroke.

For now. Etec is as high tech as 2 strokes can get, 4 stroke outboards are running OLD FASHION 1980's open loops efi systems which are very simple and they still pass emissions with flying colors. Once they are forced to the 4 strokes can get ALOT cleaner by moving to a closed loop system with oxygen sensor that constantly adjust the fuel ratio. As for power, I actually think my Johnson 70hp 4 stroke pulls better out of the hole than the 70hp Johnson 2 stroke it replaces and top speed is identical. I can't argue on the weight as my motor is heavy but the latest Suzuki engines are LIGHTER in the midrange classes than Etec and on par or slightly heavier on the high HP engines.