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Looking to buy a boat. Found several but some are four stroke and some two. I don't make long hi speed runs very often. Like to scan areas and run SI as I move along. I noticed that there seems to be about 3k add on for exact same boat with the four in the used market. Which and why?
Crappie habits and myself are on our third boat. We've had a 40 horse merc outboard 2 stroke, a jet drive bass tracker with a 175 horse merc inboard oil injected 2 stroke. We now run a 90 horse 4 stroke merc and We wouldn't trade it for ten 2 strokes. The fuel economy is noticeably better by a lot. It's also very very quiet. As in you can run full throttle and talk in the boat no problem. Also the ease of just gas up and go, no oil to worry about with every fill up. Now we do change the engine oil and filter every year, about 65 bucks. And like you we do not desire great speed for long periods of time. That 90 will push our 2072 war eagle about 29 mph which is plenty for us. In my opinion, there is no other option for us. We love it. Good luck in your search.
Ps Honda 4 strokes seem to hold incredible value in the used market.
Well this is my 2 cents worth on this. I like the old 2 strokes because I have some that date back to 1967,1976, 1978,1991 and they still run just as good as when they were bought. I just don't know if the newer 4 strokes will last any where close to 48 years and still be in good shape. Now understand this is just what I think and everyone has their own opinion. Now why I would think the 4 stroke is priced higher is because their are going to be more and more States and Lakes that are going to ban the 2 strokes as environmental laws become greater on oil and gas being put into the water. I do know for a fact that the 2 strokes are more environmentally unfriendly because they use oil thru the combustion to oil the cylinders as where the oil is contained in the 4 strokes for lubrication. I have noticed that some motors are not even offered in 2 stroke anymore. I just hope I am dead and gone on before they ban 2 strokes on my lake because I just love the smell of the old 2 stroke smoke on a early morning fishing trip, it brings back old memories of fishing trips in the past. Well there is my:twocents and that won't cost you nothing. Hope you enjoy the new boat which ever one you get.
Generally speaking, the 4-Stroke engines are quieter and much more fuel efficient than their 2-Stroke counterparts. However, most 4's are not as "powerful" (hp to hp) as the 2's, as far as top end speeds go. And the hole shots are longer as well. But each year they are making greater and greater innovations to the newer 4's and I suspect that within the next few years, they will be just as efficient.
The 4's are also more "green" as far as emissions go, so, if you are so inclined, that's just another consideration. Finally, you just add the oil to your 4-cycle engine, as opposed to having to mix oil with each tank of gas you use with the 2's. The 4-strokes are very similar to a car engine in this respect.
The one other consideration is that with the newer 4-cycle engines, you should install a water separator between the gas tank and the engine. And just like with the 2's, make sure you use a good fuel additive to off-set that garbage gasoline that the Government has forced down our throats, with ethanol additives. I recommend StarTron, which I use in all the gas put in my small engines (outboards, lawnmowers & snowblowers).
Hello Whaler : The 4 strokes are more like a car engine. No mixing gas and oil. 4 strokes are much quieter, no smoke and stink and get better fuel economy. I still have a 2 stroke till I can afford a 4 stroke. Had a small 4stroke on my old boat and loved it but needed a bigger boat. Found a bigger boat that had a 2 stroke on it with low hours so I went with it. I think the 4 stroke is the way to go if possible. Good Luck this season. O - R
I have had 3 boats with 2 strokes from 50-150 hp..I now have a 60HP suzuki four stroke..If you like to idle around and graph as I do the 4s is the way to go..They will idle all day without loading up and also seem easier to keep at a slow speed..Start very easy and easier on fuel as well as not having to mix gas and oil or buy oil to fill oil tank..So initial cost is greater for the 4 but operating cost will be less..IMO
You can buy a lot of gas for 3,000.00.
Easy question. Four stroke for all the reasons mentioned above.
:hesaid pushes my Lund 1725 Explorer Crappie Edition 38-42 mph gps all day. And it's so quiet I've been known to come back to the console after fishing up front to find the motor is still running. Course, I'm near deaf.Quote:
Originally Posted by Kywareagle
It really depends on what you do. Two strokes are great for speed and power, also easy maintence. Four stroke are slower but also great for idling around and trolling. Four strokes use less gas and oil and are much quieter. I can say this much I run a two stroke and I fish a lot of places where I have to idle. I am prefixing fuel and have a lot of unburned oil. Due to this I have to run seafoam pretty regularly to clean the carbon out of the motor and plugs. Just an example of where a four stroke would come in handy.
My last boat was a 16 ft metal tracker with a 50 hp 4 stroke. Ran good and sipped gas. I traded out for a wider model 16 foot tracker that has a 50 hp 2 stroke. This lil 2 stroke pushes the new boat just as well even though I added an extra 600 or more pounds of weight. I would never get that performance out of the 4 stroke. 4 strokes are good on gas and ease of operation. 2 strokes are good for raw power and thrust. As I only use the big motor to get from spot to spot the 2 strokes was the way to go for me. I would have needed a 75 or better to get the performance i get now is my guess.
Google four strokes "making oil". There's a good thread on the boating forum at The Hull Truth.
Two stroke for me I think.
I am on my second four stroke now....I love them.....I do not ever want another two stroke
Owned a boat of some size or description for 50 years. Now have a 4 stroke and best motor I ever owned. Most newer 4 strokes rival same size 2 strokes in power and response. Tons of improvements since they first came out. Would not trade mine for any 2 stroke out there.
4 stroke
No Brainer on this one. 4 Stroke.
The newer 4 strokes have more displacement giving them more torque to the prop for a quicker hole shot and they are much quieter, use much less fuel, and you won't have the problems you have with gas/oil mixtures fowling the carbs. The 4 strokes top out as well as the 2's at WOT. The guy with the Suzuki can vouch for that. Those are GREAT engines (actually my favorite because THEY DONT BREAK)!!!!!! The newest bigger engines from 115 up in the High Output models will also jump out of the hole like a 2 stroke, but even the non High Output engines are much better today than they were 5-6 years ago., and I doubt you notice much difference.
The newer EFI/Direct Inject 2 Strokes are nice, but burn lots of high end oil, and can't idle as smoothly (hence the street names Evinrough, and Optipops) as the 4's which is a bad thing when trolling cranks. Most models (Evinrude and Optimax) require you burn 50.00 a gallon oil to perform well, and idle right in colder weather. The 2 strokes also have a much higher risk of blowing powerheads if the oil injection fails, or the oil isn't distributed evenly to each of the cylinders. The oil distribution system varies with the different manufacturers.
I have owned many boats this is my 1st 4 stoke. I will never have anything else. Quiet, fuel efficient, no smoke, easy to start.
The 4 stroke is the way to go. Especially if you plan on idling. Buy a 2005 or newer. The new Mercury pro xs is awesome and the yamaha sho.
i am not an expert. i have owned several 2 strokes in the past and currently own a 4 stroke. I am enjoying my 4 stroke due to the quietness of the engine. my advise is to get a good engine regardless of stroke size, the boat payment comes monthly whether the boat is running or not.:dono
Would you buy a riveted boat ? Same deal . Yes ,they worked for years . Four strokes are less maintence , cheaper to run , idle lower . The hole shot may have been slower years back , I had a 2 stroke then . I would not let a used boat deal go untaken because of a 2 stroke ,but would not pay equal money for one either . jmo.
My 2 cents worth. The smaller 4 strokes perform better with a 4 blade prop. The difference was drastic between a 3 and 4 blade prop. May have just been my setup but it made a big difference for me.
Although I am a 4 stroke fan, Quieter, more fuel efficient, easier maintenance, better slow speed idle speed. Heavier and more bulky. But If Johnson were to reintroduce the mid 80's 88spl, I would buy another one in a heartbeat.
I own a lot of boats, some with 2-stroke, some with 4.
Surprised that the FICHT/Optimax/HPDI/E-Tec owners haven't chimed in here...
The above are all 2-stroke, but are very quiet and very good on fuel. I have an Evinrude 150 Intruder Ficht that I absolutely LOVE! Yes, I use the fuel additives, and I run XD50 or Amsoil in it, but it uses very little oil, and WOW is this one powerful engine! Pushes my very heavy 190 Pro Cajun up to 63 MPH, and at WOT it is much quieter than the 4-stroke Yamaha in the other boat.
And that is a funny thing... The Yamaha is almost silent at idle, but the faster you go, the louder it gets. The Ficht is a little louder at idle (but still pretty quiet) but the faster you go, the quieter it seems to run. At WOT, you mostly hear the wind.
I know... Fichts are garbage, and all that, but I really, really love this motor!
Still- for trolling shallow fresh water for crappie... a 4 stroke, 9.9 kicker is my engine of choice.
Just another free opinion.
-TH
IMO 4 stroke engines flat suck. I use to fish a LOT of bass tournaments and it seemed like the 4 stroke engine were always in the shop. Yea they save file but are alot heavier and slower than a 2 stroke. I would only consider one if I had a big center console that I was going to use to go off shore with and put 140+ miles on in one trip
Now-a-days, both engines are good! It is not valid to compare an older 2 stroke with the new 4 strokes or a earlier model 4 stroke with a new 2 stroke. Compare pluses and minuses on 2 present day models and they will come out equal. Comes down to a matter of personal preference and opinion and intended use.