outboards: 2 stoke or 4 stroke

[Cruisingdad]

I currently own two engines (three, if you count dad's).

I own right now a 6 hp 4-stroke mercury (circa 2006) and a brand new 2-stroke 15hp Yamaha.

I was ready to beg, borrow, or steal to get the 2-stroke. It was the last of 4 in SW Florida. Yamaha quit production on them this last summer in favor of the 4 stroke. That is too bad.

I believe the negative comments on teh 2 versus 4 strokes are true on the older 2 strokes. But many of the newer ones (all I was told but I have not researched it) are at least as emmission clean as their 4 stroke cousins and quite good with the fuel. Also, for those worried about having to carry two types of fuel, my Yamaha mix rate is 1:100 (yes, you read right... 100). Going to take a really long time to go through a quart of that mix and you can buy it at Sams or whever for $18 for a gallon!! I couldn't burn that much.

The 4-stroke technology for sailboaters sucks. They are heavy and typically harder to start than their 2 stroke cousins. I believe they are likely a bit more efficient, but do we motor enough to realize it??? If you race, I can guarantee you that you will be pulling that outboard off and tying her to the mast down below if you want to be really competitive. If it is just for your tender, you will hate lugging that 120 lb behmoth up and down the davits or mounting on the transom. The comments earlier about them being the preferred motor in the islands is what I have heard too and will tell you first hand soon.

My little Mercury 6hp has been an absolute PITA. It has been in the shop so much, I finally gave up on it. I cannot tell you how many time the carb has been rebuilt. It has reached the point of being completely unreliable. I have also had a Yamaha 8 4 stroke that was much more reliable, but still a bit harder to start than its 2 stroke cousin. Dad's 9.9 4 stroke is a good running engine, but getting that thing to lock up for shallow water is an act for Superman. You better check out how to and what acrobatic contortions are required to raise your 9.9 Mercury! I can tell you dad would not buy it again!

Oh, and my 2 stroke does not smoke any more than anyone's 4 stroke. SO put that debate to rest.

My very strong advice, contrary to what most have written here, is to get a 2 stroke if you can. The new ones are not like their old bretheren. I also believe that they have been driven out of the market not because they are not a superior product, but because of marketing and govermental influences.

But if you are gong to buy a 2 stroke, you better hurry.

Brian

PS The only clear advantage I have seen in the 4 stroke is for those that do a lot of low speed idling. It seems the 2's like to run versus the 4's which perform fine on all ranges of throttle.

[LifeWorthLivin]

Originally Posted by Cruisingdad

Yamaha quit production on them this last summer in favor of the 4 stroke.

Cruisingdad,
Do you know if Yamaha just stopped selling them in the states, or actually stopped production? They are still listed on the Yamaha Mexico site, but it may just be out of date. I was planning on getting one in Mexico when I get down there next year, but if they have truly stopped production, it may be worth me getting one now.

[eolon]

I have two one-strokes that came with my dinghy. They are the long, flat wooden ones that hook onto the gunwales. Evidently you have to pull on them at the same time to get them to start, although it's hard work and nearly impossible to get into reverse, so I don't recommend them.

Best Regards,

e

.::.

[sailjunkie]

I was going to start a separate thread, to ask how reliable folks find the small HP 4 strokes, because I had heard that quite a few small HP 4 strokes are not as mechanically sound as small HP 2 strokes. However, the above replies at least partly answer that question.

Has anyone had ANY bad experiences with small HP 4 strokes?

[sailjunkie]

Whoops! Just saw CD's note. My sources match his experience.

That said, is his experience a comment on small HP 4 strokes; or Mercs? Our sailing co-op used to power the Catalina 27's with Merc 4 stroke 9.9's. Unfortunately, the motors could never take the pounding that some of our rookie members unintentionally deliver. After switching to 9.9 Yamahas, we found that while the pounding continued, durability increased substantially.

I originally asked about this because we currently own an "ancient" Nissan 2.5 HP 2 stroke. Now that we own our own boat and dinghy, I would like to get something that has a transmission. With that in mind, I'll be interested in where this thread goes.

[2Gringos]

People in the US seem to think that if they can't get two strokes, NOBODY can get two strokes. That is totally wrong. The EPA and the US government are the reason you can't buy two strokes in the US. For the rest of the world, they are preferred in many places. Its simplicity and power to weight ratio vs a four stroke's less noise and slightly better fuel economy under some conditions. Four strokes are more expensive to purchase, more expensive to maintain, and heavier for the same horsepower.

Wonder how much more energy and chemicals it takes to manufacture all the additional parts in a four stroke, and the spares for them.

As for the fuel and oil questions, both two and four strokes use fuel and oil. The two stroke gets some power from the oil. The four stroke oil gets discarded, somewhere.

[jrd22]

I just bought the neighbors old Yamaha 8 hp two stroke to replace the brand new Yamaha 4hp four stroke I bought last year. I was really disappointed in the noise and vibration of the 4, and when warm it routinely yanks the pull cord out of my hand (even though I'm ready for it) when trying to start it. The noise is what really got me, much louder than the Nissan/Tohatsu 9.8 hp two strokes that I have had for years (single cyl. vs twin?). The weight and complexity of the four strokes really doesn't make much sense to me, but they do burn nice and clean. Wish I could still buy a new two stroke.

[T37Chef]

I really hate my Honda 2hp 4 Stroke! It sucks, really really sucks!!! And IMO its NOT quiet at all. I also had a Suzuki 6hp 4 Stroke a few years ago, hated that one too.

Gas these days isn't helping these little engines at all, fuel stabilizers (some even say a little 2 stroke oil) seems to help.

If I could find a 2 Stoke 6-8hp I would buy it in a second.

[2Gringos]

I feel for you guys. We can get whichever outboard we want here, two or four stroke, not just what Uncle Sam allows to be marketed. Keep in mind, while you can't find two strokes in stock up there, it's certainly not illegal (yet) to own them.

Hey, the closest place for a lot of you guys would be Mexico. And for those who keep saying this rubbish like "Yamaha doesn't make two strokes any more" blah blah...well. Bullpucky. They don't know what they are talking about. Common problem these days. check out the Yamahas, your choice, 2 hp up through 250 hp 2-strokes:

IMEMSA-YAMAHA, La mejor experiencia de navegar la Aventura

[Cruisingdad]

Originally Posted by 2Gringos

I feel for you guys. We can get whichever outboard we want here, two or four stroke, not just what Uncle Sam allows to be marketed. Keep in mind, while you can't find two strokes in stock up there, it's certainly not illegal (yet) to own them.

Hey, the closest place for a lot of you guys would be Mexico. And for those who keep saying this rubbish like "Yamaha doesn't make two strokes any more" blah blah...well. Bullpucky. They don't know what they are talking about. Common problem these days. check out the Yamahas, your choice, 2 hp up through 250 hp 2-strokes:

IMEMSA-YAMAHA, La mejor experiencia de navegar la Aventura

I was told by the distributor that Yamaha ceased all 2stroke production as of this last summer. I do not know if that was worldwide. DId not matter to me as I got one of the last ones.

TO the other responders that want a 2stroke, I would be shocked if you could not still find some. Just start calling Yamaha dealers. They would love to move them as most dealers keep the small engines only to satisfy Yamaha which requires they keep a wide variety in stock. There is no money in small engines so you will probably be able to pick it up for dealer cost (though I am sure there is a kick-back somewhere).

Hope that helps.

Brian