Optimax vs 4-Stroke

[springbok]

I'm buying a new 16' Crestliner Fish Hawk in the spring.
I'm trying to decide between a 75hp Optimax and a 75hp 4-stroke.
I'm really leaning towards the Optimax, as I know the performance is better from hole shot to top end and the fuel economy is basically the same as a 4-stroke.
The only question I have is the longevity of the Optimax vs the 4-stroke. I know from experience, with 2-stroke high performance snowmobiles if you drive them hard all the time you can expect to rebuild the engine every 6-8 thousand miles. Should I expect the same from a high performance 2-stroke outboard? Is the Optimax considered a high performance motor?

Thanks in advance,
Any input is appreciated.

Paul

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

optis are great motors
as long as u do regular maintenance and use good oil they will last a long time

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

opti's have far less moving parts than the 4 stroke. less to go wrong, and far less maintainance. then there's the weight factor.

 

[deejaycee_2000]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

go with the 2-stroke .....

 

[dingbat]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

From a resale stand point I'd go with the 4 stroke.

Around here low hour 2 stroke motors are a dime a dozen. You can't hardly even give them away.

 

[Chunder06]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

Optimax is not your normal 2 stroke, its a hi-tech outboard that runs rings around dime a dozen motors.It will give the 4 strokes a touch along also.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

Let's add up some numbers. 6-8,000 miles at 35 boat miles per hour is 200 hours of continuous operation. Draw your own conclusions.

Sounds a little short to me for outboards built back as far as the '50's that have led a sheltered (so to speak) life and have never had a serious wrench on them.

2 cy OB engines have chrome, pressure seating, rings running in cast iron liners in the head (or used to). The crank and the rod caps run on fresh (fuel mix) oiled needle bearings, not babbit tin/copper backed shims (inserts) in "dirty" crankcase oil that you change every so often.

Don'y have to worry about adding "upper cylinder lube" to the 2 cycle as every fuel charge brings with it it's own upper cylinder lube.

The valves are high tensile pieces of special material that only move about .02" to let the fuel in and this is on the end of a relatively long piece of this special metal so there is essentially no stress (work function) on these valves.....no rocker arms, timing chain, valve springs, valves that have to seat to the head in a combustion environment with stems that have seals and can leak oil around them after they age, etc.

Then there's weight and cost extras with the 4 stroke.

Hmmmmmmm. Am I missing something? :/

Mark

 

[thumbnut]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

4 stroke if you troll with the wind as the oil smell rides with you. The only failure I have ever had with the many 2 strokes i've owned is the rod needle bearings or cage fatigue and grind up. If they would make a 2 stroke not using the crank case for pumping air/fuel they could use real oil and plain bearings. I'd go with the 2 stroke if you like to go fast.

 

[JUSTINTIME]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

From a resale stand point I'd go with the 4 stroke.

Around here low hour 2 stroke motors are a dime a dozen. You can't hardly even give them away.

re-sale on outboards?
why did u buy a boat then

 

[scoutabout]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

I was in the same boat (ha!) this summer and tested an Optimax 135 on a CC. Damn that thing was loud at all power settings (meybe I'm jus gettin old combined with the closer proximity to the motor a CC puts you). With a 4-stroke (admittedly much less power) I can carry on a normal conversation with others (or myself...heh) at WOT.

That opti was a gorgeous motor no doubt but seemed quite unrefined compared to a 4S. I'm sure I'd have chosen that raunchy two-stroke growl ten years ago, though!

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

quiet 4 stroke, at the ramp the other day a big Yammy launched, never heard it, and i was on the dock next to it.

 

[andy6374]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

The new e-tec's are quite silient!

 

[BillP]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

My 2 cents worth...
If snowmobiles only do 200hrs I wouldn't compare them with 2 stroke outboards. Most 2 stroke outboards will do 2000+ hrs without a hint of problem. Many do 3000+.

Like already posted, check the etecs if you want a quiet running motor. I was next a 40 etec the other day and it was WAY quieter than my 50 x 4 stroke Mariner (merc).

If resale bothers you, check NADA values. I compared 4 strokes vs 2 strokes 2-3 yrs back and found 3-4 yr old 50hp 2 strokes actually retained a HIGHER book value (based on percent of original MSRP) than 50hp 4 strokes. Take note that 10yrs ago a 50hp 2 stroke was $3700 and a 50 hp 4 stroke was $5500. A 75hp 2 stroke was also $5500. Only recently have prices leveled.

In my very humble opinion, modern 2 stroke technology has changed things and it's the wrong time to buy a 4 stroke. 2 strokes are the lastest and greatest. It's going to take time for the general public to learn it though.

B.

 

[thumbnut]

Re: Optimax vs 4-Stroke

I'm buying a new 16' Crestliner Fish Hawk in the spring.
I'm trying to decide between a 75hp Optimax and a 75hp 4-stroke.
I'm really leaning towards the Optimax, as I know the performance is better from hole shot to top end and the fuel economy is basically the same as a 4-stroke.
The only question I have is the longevity of the Optimax vs the 4-stroke. I know from experience, with 2-stroke high performance snowmobiles if you drive them hard all the time you can expect to rebuild the engine every 6-8 thousand miles. Should I expect the same from a high performance 2-stroke outboard? Is the Optimax considered a high performance motor?

Thanks in advance,
Any input is appreciated.

Paul

Outboards have pretty much constant load on the rod bearings. Snowmobiles "trail throttle" when braking, thus reversing the rod load on every stroke. This rattles the rod bearings around and they flake apart from fatgue sooner. More times than not an engine with a compromised rod bearing will let go when letting off the throttle.