How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

[alpapale]

Hello,<br /><br />I'm getting old and my wife and I are thinking about trading in my four Winns run about for a pontoon boat. My dealer is apparently cuting me a fair deal, but the four stroke option is putting the price out of range. I would really prefer the 4 stroke mostly because of the smoke. (My wife has asthma ) So the question I have is "how bad are the new 2 stokes? I believe it's a Merc 50 hp. <br /><br />Thanks for the inputs !

 

[JB]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

If you have a problem with smoke or noise, Alpapale, get a 4 stroke. A 1 or 2 year old 4 stroke would be less than a new 2 smoke anyway.<br /><br />If your dealer can't supply one, check out:<br /><br /> http://www.boatmotors.com/ <br /><br />Good luck.

 

[Forktail]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

I don't think you can put a price on asthma.<br /><br />Hang out at the dock and watch the new 2-strokes. They smoke, especially on start-up.<br /><br />If you're looking at 50's, check out Yamaha's 50 hp high-thrust 4-stroke. It has a special gear case, etc., made just for applications like pontoons.<br /><br />No history running the new E-techs yet, but they are supposed to be the latest and greatest in 2-strokes. However, I think you'll find the oil they use still goes into the air/water, and many are priced more expensively than competitive 4-strokes.

 

[josip_voyager]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

First of all, present-day classic 2 strokes are pretty old on the market. For example you can buy new Mercury 30 ELPTO today, but that generation of engine showed up on the market 1994 I think. It means that there are no new two strokes. They are all veterans on the market, because all outboards manufactures in last 10 or more years are developing only either direct-injected 2 strokes or four strokes. If you want to enjoy all the benefits of modern technology, you should buy direct-injected 2 strokes or the four strokes.<br />With every classic 2 strokes you'll get blue smoke when you run it under 1.500 rpm.<br />Conclusion: best solution should be to buy one of the 4 strokes if you can afford it.

 

[Spidybot]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

Forktail has it.<br /><br />You can't put a price on your and your wife's health.<br /><br />Give yourselves a change to enjoy the freshnes of sea air by getting a 4-stroke. Folk's here mention some possible ways to get a bargain - I'd simply add my 2c by saying 'Do not go for anything but the 4-stroke'.

 

[manitoba1]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

I can also endorse the benifits of the 4 stroke engine. No smoke and if you enjoy peace and quiet the difference in noise is almost unbelieveable especially at lower speeds. When I upgraded from a 2 stroke to a 4 stroke I bought a trade in with 60 hours. The dealer recieved my engine from someone who wanted to upgrade to a larger horspower engine(from 70hp to 90hp. My engine actually came off a pontoon boat. I saved a considerable chunk of cash over brand new but had an engine which was just broken in. Take the plunge and you'll be glad you did. One other thing is that if buy a 4 stroke get one with EFI. Merc50/60hp have it and all Suzuki/Johnson from 40hp up.

 

[Forktail]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

Josip, I think I know what you're trying to say, but I wasn't comparing "classic" 2-strokes to 4-strokes. I was comparing the latest 2-strokes with 4-strokes.<br /><br />Optimax, HPDI, Evinrude's Direct Injection, the old FICHT injection....you name it...<br /><br />They all smoke.

 

[BillP]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

I bought a 20' pontoon boat and did a 50hp 4 stroke motor ONLY to eliminate smoke in the cockpit. After running this rig for 7 yrs I now believe the motor on most pontoon boats is so buried, down, under and behind all the interior furnishings that 2 stroke smoke would be a non issue 99% of the time. Unlike monohulls, air tunnels between the hulls and takes most of the exhaust with it. You can always run synthetic oil to help clean up the smoke trail too.<br /><br />Unless the pontoon boat has an open back area I doubt you will have a noise problem with the 2 stoke. Noise and smoke issues are nothing like they are on a 20'regular conventional hull outboard boat.

 

[kenneths]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

Also, remember the newest of the evinrude DFI's produce LOWER emissions than 4-strokes, and may be the best answer considering cost, weight, performance and what-not.......my opinion, I would take the 'Rude' 2-stroke.......

 

[JasonJ]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

The other thing you can do is simply set up a demo of each type of motor and see for yourself. I myself would not trust my better halfs health issues to a bunch of strangers on a computer, go see for yourself and decide. If the dealer does not want to demo, get another dealer. I have used both types and saw little difference, but I am just another stranger....

 

[BillP]

Re: How bad are the new 2 strokes ?

My opinion is based on owning the pontoon boat and a 20' Proline with a 140 carbed Johnson at the same time. I sold the Proline a couple of years after getting the pontoon boat.