Optimax or Four Stroke

[Tip Up Rookie]

I am looking to upgrade into a different boat this season and looking for some opinions. I am leaning toward a 17-18 tiller boat and many of the boats I have seen are outfitted with 90 hp Optimax engines. I would prefer a four stroke, but have heard that Optimax are just as efficent.

I am wondering if a 90hp Optimax be used to troll down to 1.5 to 2mph? Also with these being 2 strokes, how is the exhaust situation when moving slow? I have a Johnson 2stroke 90 that smokes and sputters when trolling along.

[Esox_Magnum]

Remember when going up to a 4 stroke to get the preformance of a 90 2 stroke you'll need to go up to a 125ish to get the same results. Most 17-18 tillers max at around a 90 hp. Not sure without a trolling plate if you can get down to the 1.5 range, on my old 70 2 stroke full walk through 17'6 deep V slowest I could get was around 2.2, anything slower I used the bowmount. Havent tried trolling yet with the 115 on the new boat, also a 2 stroke.

[Borch]

It would depend on the boat it is hanging on. With the smart gauge option and the low rpm computer update it will troll down. Just hard to say how slow.

[CAMAN]

+1 Borch

It's also going to depend on how it's propped.

[gregg52]

boat will make a differnce how it sits in the water

how heavy it is gear on board etc etc

i use to have 17ft glass boat with a 60 on it (not to fast of a boat 23tops) but it was glass so in big winds i still could run with 125-135hp tin boats and when it came time to fish i had excellent boat control (backtrolling..mille lacs..winnie..gull..on&on)

when it was flat i had a 45-50 thrust eletric on the back to

so when it got to windy for that the big motor did a good job

it was a 60 evinrude 2stroke worked very good for bout 19 yrs

so i guess just match up a good eletric with enuff thrust to push till

it gets to much for it then use the gas motor should work.. if its 2 stroke and its windy the exhaust should not be a factor

rookie

just curious are you from savage i grew up down there

[Tip Up Rookie]

yep moved to savage last may, still have to get out and try prior lake.

thanks for the feedback fellas, now i have some more boats to consider on my search. These Optimax motors sound like the best of both

[Esox_Magnum]

With todays computerized engines and better oils than in the past you may not even notice the 2 stroke smell, my 115 is a 1991 and doesn't smoke half of what my 1993 70 smoked... My partners 05 60hp merc doesnt smoke at all.

[gregg52]

not sure what you want to spend but a 75-90 e-tec would answer alot of your problems

power..lightweight...no exhaust...and the albility to troll

and fairly quiet....specially at trolling speed

i'd say my 150 at idle or trolling speed is just tick louder than

my t-8 kicker

[WaveWacker]

Last year dad picked up a 1750 Crestliner Fishhawk with a 90hp 4 stroke. The dealer was kind of trying to push him towards an Opti but I told dad to not even consider it.

Don't get me wrong as they are great motors but they are going to have slightly more exhaust. Weight is basically a non-factor in my mind with the base weight of the Opti being only ~25lbs lighter (375 to 399). Opti may have a little better "snap" out of the hole (even though I haven't had a chance to compare a 90 Opti on the same rig).

However, all the above isn't the biggest reason I'd go with a 4 stroke. The Opti isn't going to be anywhere close to as quiet as a 4 stroke. I love this for trolling and just overall running from the back of the boat.

Yeah, you're going to hear arguments that with the 4 stroke now you'll have to buy a filter and engine oil but if you log a fair amount of time on the water you're going to have to burn through oil with the Opti as well. Oh and this leads me to having to use up a compartment to have the oil reservoir.

In my mind, there isn't a question as to what I'd get if I was getting a tiller (oh and I have a 75hp 4 stroke on the back of my rig). Go with the big tiller kit. Very nice.

WW

[Ralph Wiggum]

not sure what you want to spend but a 75-90 e-tec would answer alot of your problems

Weird, he asks about MERCURY and you suggest Etec...

[NoWiser]

I don't have much experience with the Optimax motors, but I will say that I switched to a 4-stroke tiller 3 years ago, and I will NEVER go back to a 2 stroke. No smoke, idles down great, and just purrs. Change the oil each spring (about a 15 minute job), and I never have to worry about it again all summer. When I spend 10 days in Canada each summer I put on 50-80 miles every day and it just sips the gas. My personal opinion is a person would have to be nuts to get a 2 stroke motor these days.

[solbes]

You can use Troll Control through the Smart Craft on either engine. However the 90 EFI will allow you to go to 550 RPMs, where the Opti has a 650 RPM min. So 4 Stroke would troll slower if you are going to install that feature.

If you want an edge in hole shot, then I'd say the Opti gets the nod. Either engine should have plenty of displacement for the job. The EFI 4S will be a tad quieter and will not generate any smoke. The opti will generate far less smoke than the old tech 2 strokes. The four stroke is a big motor, since it is a Verado minus the supercharger. Take a peek at one before ordering to make sure you're cool with the size. Both are great engines, I'm sure you'll be happy.

[FM_Mike]

If your looking to fish and not race from spot to spot then I would go with the 4 Stroke. You will not be disappointed with either choice. I have a mercury 4 stroke now and also ordered a 4 stokr on my new rig. I just love those motors. Again just my opinion.

Mike

[Tip Up Rookie]

thanks again for the feedback guys. sounds like the 4 stroke is the ticket for me. I'll have to check into those gauges too

[gregg52]

Weird, he asks about MERCURY and you suggest Etec...