reelfishin
Captain
- Joined
- Mar 19, 2007
- Messages
- 3,050
Re: Do you regret buying a 4 stroke?
I had replaced the worn out 1983 Evinrude 90 HP with a new Yamaha 4 stroke 115 on my 1983 Renken 18' runabout, I loved the lack of smoke and noise but felt I lost some mid range pull and the added weight put the stern much deeper in the water at rest. The fuel economy was better, it was quieter, but the boat just wasn't the same. I sold the boat in the end not wanting to hunt down another motor. It was rated at 150 hp, I had the same boat a few years back with a 140 hp V4 on it and it flew, the 90 hp on the last one was decent but the 115 Yammy felt lame. Especially with a couple of big passengers onboard. The 90 hp didn't seem to mind the added weight as much. The dealer tried a dozen or more props, they kept saying to get what I had I needed to go bigger, but the weight was already an issue. I kept the motor, and will most likely find a good aluminum boat to hang it on. Something wide and flat in the stern to handle the weight.
I'm currently debating on what motor to buy for a 14' V hull tinny I want to repower that's rated for 25 hp, but the 25 hp Yamaha is absolutely too heavy at nearly 80lbs heavier.
I like the idea of the easy cold starting, low trolling speeds, and no oil to mix, but weight is still my biggest issue with the 4 strokes. On an older boat, 1987 in this case, I see no other option other than to under power or to buy a two stroke.
I had replaced the worn out 1983 Evinrude 90 HP with a new Yamaha 4 stroke 115 on my 1983 Renken 18' runabout, I loved the lack of smoke and noise but felt I lost some mid range pull and the added weight put the stern much deeper in the water at rest. The fuel economy was better, it was quieter, but the boat just wasn't the same. I sold the boat in the end not wanting to hunt down another motor. It was rated at 150 hp, I had the same boat a few years back with a 140 hp V4 on it and it flew, the 90 hp on the last one was decent but the 115 Yammy felt lame. Especially with a couple of big passengers onboard. The 90 hp didn't seem to mind the added weight as much. The dealer tried a dozen or more props, they kept saying to get what I had I needed to go bigger, but the weight was already an issue. I kept the motor, and will most likely find a good aluminum boat to hang it on. Something wide and flat in the stern to handle the weight.
I'm currently debating on what motor to buy for a 14' V hull tinny I want to repower that's rated for 25 hp, but the 25 hp Yamaha is absolutely too heavy at nearly 80lbs heavier.
I like the idea of the easy cold starting, low trolling speeds, and no oil to mix, but weight is still my biggest issue with the 4 strokes. On an older boat, 1987 in this case, I see no other option other than to under power or to buy a two stroke.