Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

[The Man 5150]

OK I don't want to open a big can of worms here but I am looking at getting a new boat next year so I need some help and advice. What engine type would be best on an aluminum fishing boat like the Tracker Pro - Guide 16WT . I have a choice of either a mercury Optimax or the mercury fourstroke. I will be getting either the 75hp or 90hp. Now according to the mercury web site the opti max is 24lbs lighter than the four stroke. I would like to hear from you all about your experiences and the pros and cons that you all might have on them. Thanks

 

[kahuna123]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

Drive both and then decide.

 

[jerryjerry05]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

Good thing about the 4st is NO oil and all the dirty little things that go along with it.
Extra tank extra hoses OIL etc.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

Good thing about the 4st is NO oil and all the dirty little things that go along with it.
Extra tank extra hoses OIL etc.

No oil????? What about the oil in the crankcase that needs to be changed, drained, slobbered down the side of the engine, the oil filter that does the same, and then the disposal of the dirty oil. What about the valve adjustment and timing belt replacement? These are more than a little inconvenience when the time comes. And a bunch inconvenient on the wallet. IT is not that I'm trying to talk you out of a four stroke or into a two stroke. Just make sure you understand the differences and associated costs. On a light boat, weight is very important. The Opti will perform better -- both out of the hole and top end. At wide open throttle, fuel economy will be very nearly the same.

 

[The Man 5150]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

No oil????? What about the oil in the crankcase that needs to be changed, drained, slobbered down the side of the engine, the oil filter that does the same, and then the disposal of the dirty oil. What about the valve adjustment and timing belt replacement? These are more than a little inconvenience when the time comes. And a bunch inconvenient on the wallet. IT is not that I'm trying to talk you out of a four stroke or into a two stroke. Just make sure you understand the differences and associated costs. On a light boat, weight is very important. The Opti will perform better -- both out of the hole and top end. At wide open throttle, fuel economy will be very nearly the same.

That is why I am asking you all about this. I have never owned a boat before so I have no ideal what is needed for maintance and upkeep on them. However I am a mechanic and I have owned 2 stroke motor cycles in the past so I do have a very good understanding of how a 2 stroke engine works. I overhauled my first V-8 when I was 13 ( yes by myself ).

Its just that I am really intreasted in what people like you and the others on this fourm have experianced with there boat engines. I never trust a dealer to tell me the truth about maintaince of something they always try to make it sound so easy and cheap. Also I have been trying to do a lot of research on the internet and the most common result of a search for "2 stroke vs. 4 stroke" is a list of pro's and con's for the two types of engines.

I looked on the mercury site and they say that the 4 stroke is 40 pounds heaver than the 2 stroke. Is 40 pounds really that much in a 16' boat?
I ask only because I don't know and would like to know.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

Howdy,


If I was buying a new Outboard boat, I would look FIRST at an Evinrude ETEC!
http://www.evinrudeetec.com/evinrude-etec/the-new-improved-evinrude-etec-motor/





Regards,


Rick

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

Howdy,


If I was buying a new Outboard boat, I would look FIRST at an Evinrude ETEC!
http://www.evinrudeetec.com/evinrude-etec/the-new-improved-evinrude-etec-motor/






Regards,


Rick

He has selected the boat and the engine - except for the 2S vs 4S. Why confuse the issue?

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

40# on a 16 foot boat may not seem like much but it represents weight. Weight is what makes boats, cars, and airplanes require more power to haul that weight around. If performance was significantly better on the 4S then the 40# is not an issue. However, 4S do not get out of the hole (accelerate) nor do they have the top end that a 2S does. In fact most of the 4S in the same HP class have deeper gears to compensate for that lack of hole shot. I like a four stroke on a pontoon where you are generally just cruising slowly or maybe at 1/2 throttle most of the time. That's where four strokes are happy. On go-fast boats, I like a two stroke for the performance. Upkeep is definitely higher on the 4S than the 2S and if anything goes wrong mechanically, it is way higher.

 

[robert graham]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

OK I don't want to open a big can of worms here but I am looking at getting a new boat next year so I need some help and advice. What engine type would be best on an aluminum fishing boat like the Tracker Pro - Guide 16WT . I have a choice of either a mercury Optimax or the mercury fourstroke. I will be getting either the 75hp or 90hp. Now according to the mercury web site the opti max is 24lbs lighter than the four stroke. I would like to hear from you all about your experiences and the pros and cons that you all might have on them. Thanks

That would be a tough call even for me, and all I've ever owned are 2 strokes. I expect that over time we're all going to be running 4 strokes and the 2 strokes will go the way of the dinosaurs. But I'm gonna run my 90HP 2 stroke pre-mix as long as I can because it just runs so darn well, and 90HP from 268lbs. is hard to beat! If you're going to keep the boat and motor for many years maybe the 4 stroke is the best way to go. Tough Call!

 

[The Man 5150]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

Howdy,


If I was buying a new Outboard boat, I would look FIRST at an Evinrude ETEC!
http://www.evinrudeetec.com/evinrude-etec/the-new-improved-evinrude-etec-motor/





Regards,


Rick

I would consider an Evinrude ETEC however I beleive they only offer the Mercury brand engine at Bass Pro Shop Tracker dealer. I was up there today and I only saw Mercury engines on display, and in the brochure for the boat all of the other engine options are Mecury.

 

[The Man 5150]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

That would be a tough call even for me, and all I've ever owned are 2 strokes. I expect that over time we're all going to be running 4 strokes and the 2 strokes will go the way of the dinosaurs. But I'm gonna run my 90HP 2 stroke pre-mix as long as I can because it just runs so darn well, and 90HP from 268lbs. is hard to beat! If you're going to keep the boat and motor for many years maybe the 4 stroke is the best way to go. Tough Call!

If it tough for someone that has boating experiance its a @#$&*%$^@!&*^@ nightmare for someone like me that has never owned a boat before! LOL

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

He has selected the boat and the engine - except for the 2S vs 4S. Why confuse the issue?

I am looking at getting a new boat next year so I need some help and advice. What engine type would be best on an aluminum fishing boat like the Tracker Pro - Guide 16WT .

The above statement doesn't necessarily indicate to me the selection is cast in cement........ so I wouldn't say it confuses the issue.... Besides, there's probably more than one dealer that will sell that boat with what ever engine you want...


If I only had a choice of Mercury 2-stroke vs 4. I would probably select the 4 stroke without much of a thought.


I don't think the DFI 2-strokes are going anywhere. Just about all the DFI 2 strokes are CARB 3-Star rated meaning that even at Lake Tahoe, Ca where they want to ban everything, they'll still allow 3-star DFI 2 stroke engines on the lake. (they will NOT allow a carbureted one though)

 

[The Man 5150]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

What do you mean "that you dont think DFI 2-strokes are going anywhere"?

At the tracker dealer where i was looking at the boats today they only offer Mercury engines for all of there tracker brand boats.

Also why would you go with the 4 stroke?

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

What do you mean "that you dont think DFI 2-strokes are going anywhere"?

At the tracker dealer where i was looking at the boats today they only offer Mercury engines for all of there tracker brand boats.

Also why would you go with the 4 stroke?

There is a thought that 2 strokes will be banned someday.... In actuality, 2 stroke carbureted engines are being banned in many places. (and will all probably be banned in the not so distant future for use on lakes and inland waterways)...........This will not affect anyone with a DFI 2 stroke....

The 4 stroke engines are far less complicated than the relatively new direct injection 2-strokes (although as I indicated earlier...I REALLY like the new Evinrude ETEC!) They're also extremely smooth and quiet. no stink or smoke

(although again.......the new DFI 2 strokes are also pretty quiet and exhaust little or no smoke)


You're going to get a lot of people that actually have them, tell you that they are very happy with what they have.

There's no doubt that they are!!

Your best bet? find someone or a dealer, with a similarly sized boat that you want, with a 2 stroke 90 and one with a 4 stroke 90 etc.......

Drive each one at trolling speed up to including WOT.

Then make up your mind.

I don't think you'll be UN-happy with either one.



Cheers,


Rick

 

[The Man 5150]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

Thanks for the clarifacation. I got a dvd from Evinrude and I did like what they had to say. However if I want a diffrent engine on a tracker boat then I will have to find another dealer and see if I can get other brands of outboards.

 

[Silvertip]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

Tracker very likely has a contract with Merc and you won't find a different engine because that sets the price differently. There are lots of boats equal or better than the Tracker that you can get whatever engine you want. Alumacraft for example will sell you a "No Prerig" boat (no engine or controls). You then put whatever engine you want on that boat. More and more manufacturers have gone to the "package" concept so you may be stuck with whatever engine they package.

 

[HT32BSX115]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

You may be right.
I did go to several dealer websites and it appears that many will probably sell you a Tracker without an engine (for enough money they'll probably do anything!)

Doing it that way will probably cost considerably more though.......

I guess if you want it "your way" you'll need to go to Burger King!!

 

[robert graham]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

If it tough for someone that has boating experiance its a @#$&*%$^@!&*^@ nightmare for someone like me that has never owned a boat before! LOL

Well the great thing is that no matter which motor you choose, with good care and preventive maintenance, it's gonna run like a top for a long time. Whatever motor you get, buy a factory repair manual for it and learn all you can about "what it takes to make this motor run great, all the time". That's what's really important! Really clean, fresh, stabilized gas is the biggest key to these motor's dependability and performance. If I bought a 4 stroke, I'd have to educate myself regarding some differences in preventive maintenance. No need to overthink this, but just pick one and go for it! Good Luck!

 

[NSBCraig]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

I'd rather have an optimax then a four stroke or an e-tec anyday, and there are a whole lot of people out there that wouldn't even consider anything but.

 

[capndan]

Re: Cant decide 4 Stroke vs 2 stroke help

What is magic about the Etec? I am in a similar situation, re-powering an older boat.