Overheard a source in the marine industry say 2-cycle outboards are getting phased out in 2006. What have you heard and would this affect your present decisions if true?
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outboards
John, its true small two cycle outboards will soon be a thing of the past.With emissions deadline in 2006 and 2010 approaching the small 2 cycles are goners.The trend is to go with the 4 cycle engines because they can meet the emissions reguirements easier,on the other hand the larger 2 stroke will be here for a long time with new technology.As far as buying one I would not have a problem as they most likely will not be outlawed(there are several lakes that will not allow 2 stroke now)but in your area they will die a natural death from mechanical issue rather then goverment regulations.Let me say that I have a small 4 stroke and think it is better then caned beer! No more oil to mess with no more fouled spark plugs etc. They don't have the exhaust smell,they are not as loud and run smoother.As a added bonus they are greener so I can say I'm doing my part to help keep the the enviroment cleaner!IMO buy the new 4 cycle !
John, its true small two cycle outboards will soon be a thing of the past.With emissions deadline in 2006 and 2010 approaching the small 2 cycles are goners.The trend is to go with the 4 cycle engines because they can meet the emissions reguirements easier,on the other hand the larger 2 stroke will be here for a long time with new technology.As far as buying one I would not have a problem as they most likely will not be outlawed(there are several lakes that will not allow 2 stroke now)but in your area they will die a natural death from mechanical issue rather then goverment regulations.Let me say that I have a small 4 stroke and think it is better then caned beer! No more oil to mess with no more fouled spark plugs etc. They don't have the exhaust smell,they are not as loud and run smoother.As a added bonus they are greener so I can say I'm doing my part to help keep the the enviroment cleaner!IMO buy the new 4 cycle !
One more benefit...
Unless you use your two-stroke a lot, you can keep your gas fresher by dumping aging gas in your car or lawnmower tank and bringing new gas aboard regularly. Mucho less fuel filter and carb problems.
Unless you use your two-stroke a lot, you can keep your gas fresher by dumping aging gas in your car or lawnmower tank and bringing new gas aboard regularly. Mucho less fuel filter and carb problems.
california
Sales of new 2-strokes were prohibited in California in 2001. Although there was a huge uproar when this ban was proposed in 1998, at this point the boating community seems happy with the arrangement. 4-strokes are quiet and reliable. They don't foul their plugs when you idle for more than a minute, they are MUCH more fuel efficient, and they don't stink like a 2-stroke. Tend not to flood when started up cold, either, at least not in comparison to a 2-stroke. The only drawback is that they're significantly heavier. That's a minor price to pay, however, and I certainly wouldn't go back to the noise of a 2-stroke. It's nice to be able to go for a zoom in the dink at sunset and not have to yell to be heard.
Sales of new 2-strokes were prohibited in California in 2001. Although there was a huge uproar when this ban was proposed in 1998, at this point the boating community seems happy with the arrangement. 4-strokes are quiet and reliable. They don't foul their plugs when you idle for more than a minute, they are MUCH more fuel efficient, and they don't stink like a 2-stroke. Tend not to flood when started up cold, either, at least not in comparison to a 2-stroke. The only drawback is that they're significantly heavier. That's a minor price to pay, however, and I certainly wouldn't go back to the noise of a 2-stroke. It's nice to be able to go for a zoom in the dink at sunset and not have to yell to be heard.
All good points, but
A four stroke HAS to cost more too. And my 25hp Yamaha runs quiet enough for sunset cruises. And in this falls outboard tests in Cruising World, a two stroke had better gas mileage than the same horsepower 4 stroke. (@ 5.5 knots) But still,,aren't 4 strokes cool!?
A four stroke HAS to cost more too. And my 25hp Yamaha runs quiet enough for sunset cruises. And in this falls outboard tests in Cruising World, a two stroke had better gas mileage than the same horsepower 4 stroke. (@ 5.5 knots) But still,,aren't 4 strokes cool!?
Fuel will be the next thing here
Along with going to 4 strokes, I just read about 2 lakes in Santa Clara County (south of San Francisco) that now require you to show a receipt less than two days old, with your boats registration number on it, to prove that you have purchased your gas at one of four approved gas stations in the area that sell non-MTBE gas. The four stations (all Union 76) sell gas with ethonal alcohol instead of MTBE. Up here, Lake Tahoe doesn't allow any 2 strokes, along with a few smaller lakes in the Tahoe Basin. Seems 4 strokes are the way of the future.
Along with going to 4 strokes, I just read about 2 lakes in Santa Clara County (south of San Francisco) that now require you to show a receipt less than two days old, with your boats registration number on it, to prove that you have purchased your gas at one of four approved gas stations in the area that sell non-MTBE gas. The four stations (all Union 76) sell gas with ethonal alcohol instead of MTBE. Up here, Lake Tahoe doesn't allow any 2 strokes, along with a few smaller lakes in the Tahoe Basin. Seems 4 strokes are the way of the future.
What's even worse is
that all the d*mn politicians are doing is phasing it out. Phasing it out? Why not just stop? The idiots.
that all the d*mn politicians are doing is phasing it out. Phasing it out? Why not just stop? The idiots.
If they just stop, it's proof positive that it is
bad and wrong. The lawyers would love it, the politicians would look bad. Can't have that! Oops, can't talk politics here. *x
bad and wrong. The lawyers would love it, the politicians would look bad. Can't have that! Oops, can't talk politics here. *x
2stroke/4stroke
Am about to buy a 4 stroke for my kicker, but will keep the two stroke in my dink(very low hours). That said, the noisy , smokey two stroke has much less moving parts than a four and requires much less work to keep reliable. I am actually buying the four stroke because I hate the two stroke sound. In the grown up world, everything's a trade off. Regards, Jim
Am about to buy a 4 stroke for my kicker, but will keep the two stroke in my dink(very low hours). That said, the noisy , smokey two stroke has much less moving parts than a four and requires much less work to keep reliable. I am actually buying the four stroke because I hate the two stroke sound. In the grown up world, everything's a trade off. Regards, Jim
The crazy thing is...
MTBE is a highly toxic by-product of the refining process that the refineries used to have to pay a pretty penny to a haz-mat carrier for proper disposal. They were able to talk the powers that be into the idea of letting them mix it back into the finished product as an oxygenate to supposedly lower the air pollution. When CalEPA investigated, they only looked at it's potential harm to the AIR, not the WATER. Now they find that it is extremely carcinagenic and moves through the water table with ease. Also, filtering is to no avail, as it is such a small molecule that standard methods of filtering don't remove it. Way to go, Sacramento.
MTBE is a highly toxic by-product of the refining process that the refineries used to have to pay a pretty penny to a haz-mat carrier for proper disposal. They were able to talk the powers that be into the idea of letting them mix it back into the finished product as an oxygenate to supposedly lower the air pollution. When CalEPA investigated, they only looked at it's potential harm to the AIR, not the WATER. Now they find that it is extremely carcinagenic and moves through the water table with ease. Also, filtering is to no avail, as it is such a small molecule that standard methods of filtering don't remove it. Way to go, Sacramento.
I just bought a 2 stroke
over a four. Two primary reasons: cost and weight. I couldn't see spending an extra few hundred dollars for the four stroke just so I wouldn't have to mix oil in the two or three tanks of gas I use in a season. Also, I considered the weight of the four to be a big drawback; while my engine mount and I could handle it, I was concerned that in an emergency, my wife would not be able to. She has enough problems dealing with an 80-odd pound two stroke. I don't think she would be able to raise or lower a 120 pound four stroke.
over a four. Two primary reasons: cost and weight. I couldn't see spending an extra few hundred dollars for the four stroke just so I wouldn't have to mix oil in the two or three tanks of gas I use in a season. Also, I considered the weight of the four to be a big drawback; while my engine mount and I could handle it, I was concerned that in an emergency, my wife would not be able to. She has enough problems dealing with an 80-odd pound two stroke. I don't think she would be able to raise or lower a 120 pound four stroke.
Lawn mowers?
I have a two-cycle Lawn Boy. I wonder if two-strokes are being phased out there, too?
I have a two-cycle Lawn Boy. I wonder if two-strokes are being phased out there, too?
Believe it or not...
there has been talk in the past about Kalifornia setting emmisions standards for lawn mowers, weed whackers, generators and just about all other small gas powered engines. In the late summer months, the air pollution levels in the Central Valley get so bad that they announce 'Spare the Air' days where people are asked not to drive their cars, mow the lawn, etc. I don't think it'll be too long before they're not 'asking' but 'telling'. Then, you'll have people calling 911 to report their neighbor for the heinous act of mowing his lawn! I see a big future in manual lawnmowers!
there has been talk in the past about Kalifornia setting emmisions standards for lawn mowers, weed whackers, generators and just about all other small gas powered engines. In the late summer months, the air pollution levels in the Central Valley get so bad that they announce 'Spare the Air' days where people are asked not to drive their cars, mow the lawn, etc. I don't think it'll be too long before they're not 'asking' but 'telling'. Then, you'll have people calling 911 to report their neighbor for the heinous act of mowing his lawn! I see a big future in manual lawnmowers!
Jeff, it's inevitable
Before your lovely choice for a place to live, was in the hands of its' original owners; their name for your home was 'Valley of the Smokes'. As long as we have an oil economy, you're, well, sucking smoke.
Before your lovely choice for a place to live, was in the hands of its' original owners; their name for your home was 'Valley of the Smokes'. As long as we have an oil economy, you're, well, sucking smoke.
Of course, considering most of the rest of the (+)
world will continue to burn anything that will ignite, I'm sure killing the 2-stroke outboards here in the US will still turn the tide of environmental decline. B.
world will continue to burn anything that will ignite, I'm sure killing the 2-stroke outboards here in the US will still turn the tide of environmental decline. B.
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