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The 2 verses 4-stroke debate will be influenced based upon one's intended cruising ground. In the Bahamas, much of the Caribbean and Central America, it can be difficult to find someone qualified to work on 4-stroke motors and parts may prove difficult to obtain, while 2-strokes are ubiquitous and easily repaired and serviced. For the last several years the 2-stroke motors really are no louder than their 4-stroke cousins, about as fuel efficient and certainly more powerful for a given size. We have several friends that switched to 4-stroke motors and all save one were disappointed with the results. On the other hand, we bought a 2-stroke Mercury 15hp new from West Marine several years ago that has proven completely unreliable, having spent more time at the local Mercury dealer than on the back of our dinghy. Fortunately we bought the 5 year extended warranty ($180 at the time) but that is coming to an end... Oh how I regret having given up our 1962 Evenrude Angler. It started every time no matter how much abuse to suffered and purred away faithfully. It's only drawback was it's weight (64 Lbs) for the horse power. Getting more horses for the same weight was a good argument but has proven chimerical.
N'any case, FWIW...
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"It is not so much for its beauty that the sea makes a claim upon men's hearts, as for that subtle something, that quality of air, that emanation from the waves, that so wonderfully renews a weary spirit."
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