Hello everyone, we just bought a 260 at the Atlantic City Boat Show. We were looking to put a Honda 9.9 four stroke on it with engine controls on the wheel steering pedestal. The dealer said he would give us a new Mercury 9.9 two stroke for $1500 instead and do the same with the engine controls. Any advice on which to get? I know the EPA wants all four stroke. And the four stroke weighs 93 pounds. Any other drawbacks?
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Noise
The two stroke you must always keep a supply of oil aboard to add to the gas, a minor inconvenience. But the difference in the amount of noise the motor makes is substantial. If you will be motoring much it may be worth the additional weight burden and cost. If you do not motor alot I think there maybe better things to spend the money and weight penalty on.
The two stroke you must always keep a supply of oil aboard to add to the gas, a minor inconvenience. But the difference in the amount of noise the motor makes is substantial. If you will be motoring much it may be worth the additional weight burden and cost. If you do not motor alot I think there maybe better things to spend the money and weight penalty on.
Got Honda
Hi Jay, I got a H260 last april and put the Honda9.9 on mine with the same setup. Have not regretted the purchase. Quiet engine with lots of power, pushes "Java" along at 6.5kts. We also got the extra long shaft on the motor. Also on the Honda there is a bracket that is in the kit that will allow you to connect the motor do the rudder for turning. Look in the photo forum for pictures. Several of us have made this connection. Happy Sailing Jim S/V Java
Hi Jay, I got a H260 last april and put the Honda9.9 on mine with the same setup. Have not regretted the purchase. Quiet engine with lots of power, pushes "Java" along at 6.5kts. We also got the extra long shaft on the motor. Also on the Honda there is a bracket that is in the kit that will allow you to connect the motor do the rudder for turning. Look in the photo forum for pictures. Several of us have made this connection. Happy Sailing Jim S/V Java
and don't forget the fuel economy
Two stroke engines burn more fuel than a four stroke. If you are planning on traveling very far this can make a big difference.
Two stroke engines burn more fuel than a four stroke. If you are planning on traveling very far this can make a big difference.
Motors
Jay; There has been much said about motors in the past but based on experience, this is what I find. First, a true 9.9 is the maxium motor as you will plow with full throttle. They come either in a two or four stroke. With the 2 stroke, the engine is less, you add the oil to the fuel, weighs less and less maintenence. The drawbacks versus 4 stroke is a little noiser and less fuel efficient. As for the 4 stroke, it costs more and there is a little more maintenance plus you have to make sure the oil resevoir is kept full and oil does have to be chanbged but it is quieter and more fuel efficient. The choice is yours. As for a 15 hp, most of these motors use the 8 hp block with some modifications but again, you are over powered and there is conceren about the motor bracket and transom with a 15 hp motor. Crazy Dave condon
Jay; There has been much said about motors in the past but based on experience, this is what I find. First, a true 9.9 is the maxium motor as you will plow with full throttle. They come either in a two or four stroke. With the 2 stroke, the engine is less, you add the oil to the fuel, weighs less and less maintenence. The drawbacks versus 4 stroke is a little noiser and less fuel efficient. As for the 4 stroke, it costs more and there is a little more maintenance plus you have to make sure the oil resevoir is kept full and oil does have to be chanbged but it is quieter and more fuel efficient. The choice is yours. As for a 15 hp, most of these motors use the 8 hp block with some modifications but again, you are over powered and there is conceren about the motor bracket and transom with a 15 hp motor. Crazy Dave condon
enviornment
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the enviornmental issue. All 2 strokes will exhaust a small amount of oil into the water. In some bodies of water 2 strokes are outlawed for this reason. These restrictions will only spread in the future. I bought a Honda 8 HP 4 stroke last August and recommend to anyone buying a new motor to go with 4 stroke.
I am surprised that no one has mentioned the enviornmental issue. All 2 strokes will exhaust a small amount of oil into the water. In some bodies of water 2 strokes are outlawed for this reason. These restrictions will only spread in the future. I bought a Honda 8 HP 4 stroke last August and recommend to anyone buying a new motor to go with 4 stroke.
Three years now
I have owned a Honda 8 hp for three years now and have not have any problems. I echo the previous responses: maintenance is minor, ease of fueling (no oil adding), quieter, more fuel eficient, and to me it seems like it has more guts than a two stroke. Nobody has mentioned the possible battery charging feature because of the alternator, I'm not sure the Merc would have. IMO it is worth the extra $$. Bill K. S/V Slapshot
I have owned a Honda 8 hp for three years now and have not have any problems. I echo the previous responses: maintenance is minor, ease of fueling (no oil adding), quieter, more fuel eficient, and to me it seems like it has more guts than a two stroke. Nobody has mentioned the possible battery charging feature because of the alternator, I'm not sure the Merc would have. IMO it is worth the extra $$. Bill K. S/V Slapshot
I have the merc
I have the Mercury Bigfoot Sailpower 4 stroke with the 25 inch shaft. I control it with remote controls on the pedestal and have connected it to the rudder post for steering. The motor has been excellent except for two drawbacks; It is big and heavy, so heavy in fact that HUNTER recently recommended that I move some weight up forward (I am in the process of moving two of my three batteries out of the aft port locker to amidships to better balance the weight. I should note that I had added other aft weight by installing a permanent eleven gallon fuel tank in the helmsman's seat locker). The second drawback is that the bigfoot sailpower model is relatively new. Mercury has not yet come out with a "workboat" prop for it that allows an optimum range of engine speeds on a displacement hull. I had to have a prop shop lower the pitch of the original prop a couple of inches. I have heard that Mercury is supposed to be coming out with the right pitch for the bigfoot sailboat model some time in the near future. Hope this information is useful to you.
I have the Mercury Bigfoot Sailpower 4 stroke with the 25 inch shaft. I control it with remote controls on the pedestal and have connected it to the rudder post for steering. The motor has been excellent except for two drawbacks; It is big and heavy, so heavy in fact that HUNTER recently recommended that I move some weight up forward (I am in the process of moving two of my three batteries out of the aft port locker to amidships to better balance the weight. I should note that I had added other aft weight by installing a permanent eleven gallon fuel tank in the helmsman's seat locker). The second drawback is that the bigfoot sailpower model is relatively new. Mercury has not yet come out with a "workboat" prop for it that allows an optimum range of engine speeds on a displacement hull. I had to have a prop shop lower the pitch of the original prop a couple of inches. I have heard that Mercury is supposed to be coming out with the right pitch for the bigfoot sailboat model some time in the near future. Hope this information is useful to you.
Calm Day. Why leave a smoke trail?
Jay, We just purchased a used sailboat with an outboard for aux. power. We sailed on approx 10 boats with only 2 having 4 stroke motors. (Honda) All the other boats had 2 cycle outboards and had the standard blue smoke oil plume following in the still air. Our Honda 9.9hp is clean and quiet and also has the battery charging port. By the way, our motor is a 1983 model and runs perfect with no repairs! Ray
Jay, We just purchased a used sailboat with an outboard for aux. power. We sailed on approx 10 boats with only 2 having 4 stroke motors. (Honda) All the other boats had 2 cycle outboards and had the standard blue smoke oil plume following in the still air. Our Honda 9.9hp is clean and quiet and also has the battery charging port. By the way, our motor is a 1983 model and runs perfect with no repairs! Ray
2001 Honda 8 hp
For 2001 Honda has an 8 hp motor with extra long shaft, electric start and alternator that weighs considerably less than the 9.9. Cost less too. I own a 2000 model 9.9 Honda, but this new 8 hp seems to be the ideal power for water ballast Hunters. Alan Long S/V Random Access
For 2001 Honda has an 8 hp motor with extra long shaft, electric start and alternator that weighs considerably less than the 9.9. Cost less too. I own a 2000 model 9.9 Honda, but this new 8 hp seems to be the ideal power for water ballast Hunters. Alan Long S/V Random Access
2 Stroke Fumes
I have an 8 year old Evinrude 8 HP 2 Stroke on our H23. If I motor any distance I must put up a curtain on the back stays to prevent the exhaust fumes from coming back into the cockpit and making the family sick. I have rechecked numerous times to ensure I am mixing the gas correctly. If given the choice I would have a 4 stroke for this reason alone. Mark
I have an 8 year old Evinrude 8 HP 2 Stroke on our H23. If I motor any distance I must put up a curtain on the back stays to prevent the exhaust fumes from coming back into the cockpit and making the family sick. I have rechecked numerous times to ensure I am mixing the gas correctly. If given the choice I would have a 4 stroke for this reason alone. Mark
8 hp honda
A friend put a 8 hp honda on his catalina 25 last summer. It is much lighter and powers his boat nicely. The cost saving were also substantial. r.w.landau
A friend put a 8 hp honda on his catalina 25 last summer. It is much lighter and powers his boat nicely. The cost saving were also substantial. r.w.landau
Stingy man spends the most
The 2 stroke smells, is noiser, vibrates more, pollutes more..... the 4 stroke is less smelling, quiter, much less vibration and less pollution. Pay the man and enjoy.
The 2 stroke smells, is noiser, vibrates more, pollutes more..... the 4 stroke is less smelling, quiter, much less vibration and less pollution. Pay the man and enjoy.
OMC is bankrupt
I have heard OMC is bankrupt which builds Johnson and Evinrude. Time will tell what will happen. Thought you would want to know. As for the engine, 9.8 Tohatsu/Nissan is a good engine too. The 9.9 of any make either 2 or 4 stroke is the maxxium engine recommended. I have had conversations on a 15 hp although in some cases the 15 is the same block as the 9.9, it could warp the outboard motor bracket. I have seen one instance of it. Crazy Dave Condon
I have heard OMC is bankrupt which builds Johnson and Evinrude. Time will tell what will happen. Thought you would want to know. As for the engine, 9.8 Tohatsu/Nissan is a good engine too. The 9.9 of any make either 2 or 4 stroke is the maxxium engine recommended. I have had conversations on a 15 hp although in some cases the 15 is the same block as the 9.9, it could warp the outboard motor bracket. I have seen one instance of it. Crazy Dave Condon
Greetings from Denville
Jay - I too live in Denville and I keep a '97 Hunter 26 on Lake Hopatcong. Drop me an email and maybe we can get together sometime. I'm also listed in the telephone directory. mehr@bellatlantic.net Regards, Ron Mehringer s/v Hydro Therapy
Jay - I too live in Denville and I keep a '97 Hunter 26 on Lake Hopatcong. Drop me an email and maybe we can get together sometime. I'm also listed in the telephone directory. mehr@bellatlantic.net Regards, Ron Mehringer s/v Hydro Therapy
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