Hi I currently have an 6hp 2 stroke outboard on my hunter 23, which is acting up. So i am looking into getting a new one, But do I want an 4 stroke or 2? Cant decided, yes its more weight but is easier to mantain and more reliable i feel. So any suggestions?
2 stroke vs 4 stroke
- Thread starter SweetTrade
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Go with the 4-stroke
We were forced to get rid of our 2strokes in Lake Tahoe about five years ago. We all griped but in the end I couldnt be happier with my 4strokes. Much quieter and no smoke. Check out onlineoutboards.com. Go with a tohatsu. Tohatsu makes the small outboards for Mercury and Nissan. Tim
We were forced to get rid of our 2strokes in Lake Tahoe about five years ago. We all griped but in the end I couldnt be happier with my 4strokes. Much quieter and no smoke. Check out onlineoutboards.com. Go with a tohatsu. Tohatsu makes the small outboards for Mercury and Nissan. Tim
Future
Eventually the Lake Tahoe regulations will catch up with the rest of the world, why not plan for the future now and invest in a four stroke, perhaps your grand kids will thank you for having breathable air.
Eventually the Lake Tahoe regulations will catch up with the rest of the world, why not plan for the future now and invest in a four stroke, perhaps your grand kids will thank you for having breathable air.
If you want a new 2 cycle
o/b than I think you are out of luck. All the manufactures are only building 4 cycle in the HP range we are talkin about 2 to 20 HP. I had to buy a 4 cycle 4 HP outboard for the dink, but I like my new 4 cycle for the engine on my Hunter 260, but the engine I use on the dink is just to heavy. John USNret
o/b than I think you are out of luck. All the manufactures are only building 4 cycle in the HP range we are talkin about 2 to 20 HP. I had to buy a 4 cycle 4 HP outboard for the dink, but I like my new 4 cycle for the engine on my Hunter 260, but the engine I use on the dink is just to heavy. John USNret
Go 4
You'll feel good about having a 4-stroke. It's just so much cleaner. If your 2 was fine, I wouldn't say switch, but since you have the chance to start anew go with the 4. My 15hp Honda 4 has been easy to maintain and always starts. Don't know if its because its a Honda or because 4's are more reliable. I just change oil and fog it at end of season. Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
You'll feel good about having a 4-stroke. It's just so much cleaner. If your 2 was fine, I wouldn't say switch, but since you have the chance to start anew go with the 4. My 15hp Honda 4 has been easy to maintain and always starts. Don't know if its because its a Honda or because 4's are more reliable. I just change oil and fog it at end of season. Ron Mehringer h26 Hydro-Therapy
It depends on the application.
As auxilliary power to a sailboat I would prefer a 4 stroke but to power a Dink the light weight of a 2 stroke is preferable. Small 2 strokes (under 25HP) have fallen by the wayside due to EPA regulations. It is obvious these regulators have never had to raise and lower an outboard engine from a boat to its tender. It is also illogical to think that the pollution of a 75cc displacement 2 stroke engine would be more than its 500cc big brother. A high percentage value of a small number is still a small number. I bought a 2005 3.3HP Mercury 2 strokes weighing in at 28 pounds to use for my dink. I intend to maintain this engine for the rest of my sailing days. From ship to shore it will probably run about 15 hours in a year and pollute less than the usual spillage at the fuel dock. I don't blame the manufacturers as they are there to make a profit. But I question the motives of the Federal Goverment to effectively outlaw by regulation the manufacture of these fine little engines so necessary to sailors. Honda makes a 2HP 4 stroke engine, air cooled that is pretty light and luckly other countries will still manufacture light two strokes that will find their way to our shores.
As auxilliary power to a sailboat I would prefer a 4 stroke but to power a Dink the light weight of a 2 stroke is preferable. Small 2 strokes (under 25HP) have fallen by the wayside due to EPA regulations. It is obvious these regulators have never had to raise and lower an outboard engine from a boat to its tender. It is also illogical to think that the pollution of a 75cc displacement 2 stroke engine would be more than its 500cc big brother. A high percentage value of a small number is still a small number. I bought a 2005 3.3HP Mercury 2 strokes weighing in at 28 pounds to use for my dink. I intend to maintain this engine for the rest of my sailing days. From ship to shore it will probably run about 15 hours in a year and pollute less than the usual spillage at the fuel dock. I don't blame the manufacturers as they are there to make a profit. But I question the motives of the Federal Goverment to effectively outlaw by regulation the manufacture of these fine little engines so necessary to sailors. Honda makes a 2HP 4 stroke engine, air cooled that is pretty light and luckly other countries will still manufacture light two strokes that will find their way to our shores.
New 2 strokes
I was recently at the inflatable dealer in Annapolis. They clewed me that a new high efficiency, low emission, in compliance, 2 stroke is in the working. Maybe you can do some homework and find out what is up. Good luck, Mike D
I was recently at the inflatable dealer in Annapolis. They clewed me that a new high efficiency, low emission, in compliance, 2 stroke is in the working. Maybe you can do some homework and find out what is up. Good luck, Mike D
Dos Golpes
I am responding from my own experience. I'm making no broad generalizations. I had a new 8 h.p. Honda 4 stroke (cuatro golpes) on my h26 for 2 years. It was heavy, weighting the metal part of the rudder assembly down into the water. It was a maintenance nightmare. I had it worked on one last time and sold it to the first guy I saw. The replacement is a Johnson 8 h.p. 2 stroke. (dos golpes) It was a lot cheaper. It is light. It is as quiet as the Honda. The stern is not weighted down. It has been running perfectly for the 2 years I have had it. I only use it for leaving my dock and running 15 minutes out into the Bahia de Banderas; another 15 minutes back. In between, I sail. For me it is the perfect choice. The environment is affected about as much as spitting in the bay. David King "Molly"
I am responding from my own experience. I'm making no broad generalizations. I had a new 8 h.p. Honda 4 stroke (cuatro golpes) on my h26 for 2 years. It was heavy, weighting the metal part of the rudder assembly down into the water. It was a maintenance nightmare. I had it worked on one last time and sold it to the first guy I saw. The replacement is a Johnson 8 h.p. 2 stroke. (dos golpes) It was a lot cheaper. It is light. It is as quiet as the Honda. The stern is not weighted down. It has been running perfectly for the 2 years I have had it. I only use it for leaving my dock and running 15 minutes out into the Bahia de Banderas; another 15 minutes back. In between, I sail. For me it is the perfect choice. The environment is affected about as much as spitting in the bay. David King "Molly"
Noise factor vs. HP
The Merc 2.5HP 2-stroke that we use on the canoe and Zodiac is fairly quiet because we aren't pushing rpm's to the higher range. It weighs only 29lbs. The Merc 9.9 4-stroke BigFoot on our H260 compares to an older 9.8HP 2-stroke that's on a friend's boat. Major difference between the noise levels of these two motors when powering the boats at 5mph or better. Just for the noise factor, I'd vote for a 4-stroke for sailboat use and am happy with the lighter 2-strokes if the application calls for hoisting or carrying them. When a low-emission 2-stroke comes on board, (per Mike D's post), I'll be at the boat show learning more!
The Merc 2.5HP 2-stroke that we use on the canoe and Zodiac is fairly quiet because we aren't pushing rpm's to the higher range. It weighs only 29lbs. The Merc 9.9 4-stroke BigFoot on our H260 compares to an older 9.8HP 2-stroke that's on a friend's boat. Major difference between the noise levels of these two motors when powering the boats at 5mph or better. Just for the noise factor, I'd vote for a 4-stroke for sailboat use and am happy with the lighter 2-strokes if the application calls for hoisting or carrying them. When a low-emission 2-stroke comes on board, (per Mike D's post), I'll be at the boat show learning more!
I vote for 6hp 4stroke``
Went from the original Tohatsu 6hp two stroke to a Nissan 8 hp four stroke and found the 8hp too much weight in the stern. Traded for a Nissan 6hp 4 stroke which weighs in at 75 lbs (aprox), and easily moves the boat to its hull speed and uses practically no gas at all. A new 6 hp 4 stroke Nissan was selling for $1250 last time I checked..from porta-bote.com. BTW - Tohatsu & Nissan are made in the same Nissan factory...they appear to be identical except for the outside logo. Hope you have many many days of ideal sailing days ahead!
Went from the original Tohatsu 6hp two stroke to a Nissan 8 hp four stroke and found the 8hp too much weight in the stern. Traded for a Nissan 6hp 4 stroke which weighs in at 75 lbs (aprox), and easily moves the boat to its hull speed and uses practically no gas at all. A new 6 hp 4 stroke Nissan was selling for $1250 last time I checked..from porta-bote.com. BTW - Tohatsu & Nissan are made in the same Nissan factory...they appear to be identical except for the outside logo. Hope you have many many days of ideal sailing days ahead!
4 stroke...its a good thing
The 4 strokes are cleaner, quieter...no need to mix up gas. I have a honda 8, yes its a bit heavy but I have to deal with Puget Sound tides and currents. The honda is also very reliable, it has never stranded me. I'm sure you wouldnt dump your porta-pottie overboard...its just the right way to go.
The 4 strokes are cleaner, quieter...no need to mix up gas. I have a honda 8, yes its a bit heavy but I have to deal with Puget Sound tides and currents. The honda is also very reliable, it has never stranded me. I'm sure you wouldnt dump your porta-pottie overboard...its just the right way to go.
How about...
Does anyone still make a small diesel outboard? Or are they a thing of history? All the ones I've ever witnessed are old and decrepit looking, but they ran like champs...
Does anyone still make a small diesel outboard? Or are they a thing of history? All the ones I've ever witnessed are old and decrepit looking, but they ran like champs...
found few
I found a few deisel outboards, bout mostly 27-35 and 3-4 hps, nothis for my range nice idea!
I found a few deisel outboards, bout mostly 27-35 and 3-4 hps, nothis for my range nice idea!
4 stroke
When I purchased my 240 it had a 4 stroke 9.9 honda, which I really liked. the honda was stolen off the boat and I replace with a Nissan 9.8 this yr. I found neither motor to be too heavy to effect sailing or removal. If I had it to do again though I believe I would have gotten the 8hp range as the 10hp range is a bit overkill for motoring the 240/23. Pleased with the effiiency, maintenance and cleanliness of 4 stroke. I personally would not want to mess with a 2 stroke.
When I purchased my 240 it had a 4 stroke 9.9 honda, which I really liked. the honda was stolen off the boat and I replace with a Nissan 9.8 this yr. I found neither motor to be too heavy to effect sailing or removal. If I had it to do again though I believe I would have gotten the 8hp range as the 10hp range is a bit overkill for motoring the 240/23. Pleased with the effiiency, maintenance and cleanliness of 4 stroke. I personally would not want to mess with a 2 stroke.
too small
its only 4 hp, would like a little more hp than that, plus whats the sound? loud soft? also weight.
its only 4 hp, would like a little more hp than that, plus whats the sound? loud soft? also weight.
Found One
Hey guys thanks for all the help! I decided to go with a 4-stroke murcery 6hp, Its only 60 lbs compared to nissan and yamaha 6hp weighing it at a whoping 83.6!! Price is cheaper too!
Hey guys thanks for all the help! I decided to go with a 4-stroke murcery 6hp, Its only 60 lbs compared to nissan and yamaha 6hp weighing it at a whoping 83.6!! Price is cheaper too!
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