4 stroke? 2 stroke?

[snoozebutton]

I'm thinking about buying a 14 footer (just the boat and trailer, no motor) that's rated for 15 hp. and if I get it, (which I'm about 95% sure I will) I'm trying to decide on a 4 stroke or a 2 stroke. What can I expect for a top end speed difference and does anyone know what the weight difference is? Thanks!!!

[Slyster]

That was my same dilema a few years ago.. I say go with a 2 stroke!.. because weight is SUCH an issue with a small boat.. with you in the back as well.

No doubt 4 strokes are quieter etc.. but for a small boat.. I'd say weight is more important.. compare weights.. and get a long hose and put the tank up front too. Not sure which is more efficient.. but I sure get a lot of long days on a 5 gallon tank!

I decided on the Johnson (Bombardier) 15hp 2 stroke. I LOVE it! Always starts right up with a pull or two.. even after the long winter storage.

Mod the boat too... I added a deck.. carpet.. 30-55# transom trolling motor.. the latest electronic gadgets etc.. you would be amazed at how great a 14' can be for fishing!

If I was to fish alone my whole life.. I would keep my 14' Lund the way it's setup... the only reason I will get a bigger boat is that my young kids get bigger everyday!

[cold one sd]

I have a 14 foot lund with a carpeted plywood floor, livewell and storage compartment. It must be pretty heavy as 14 footers go. My outboard is a merc 15 4 stroke and it pushes me about 16 mph when alone. I don't think I have ever used over 1 1/2 gallons of gas in a long day. It runs like a swiss watch and is quiet. I don't miss two stroke exhaust at all.

[gunflint]

Slyster is right on the money, weight is everything on those small boats. We had to go to heavy duty 14s for our 9.9 4-strokes and they're still too heavy. This year we traded in 2 9.9 4-strokes for 8 hp 2-strokes just for that reason.

[Slyster]

FYI: I cruise at 21mph (and I a big guy at 220lbs!) and don't have any problem with exhaust... the newer 2 strokes really run smoke free... especially if you run on Amsoil (which I do)... again a bit louder no doubt.. but not so bad!

Also.. I have my deep cell battery inside the rear bench I sit on.. even more advantage to go lite in my case.

[snoozebutton]

Thanks for the replies everyone. I was considering a 4 stroke for the trolling aspect because they'll idle a lot slower but weight is an issue. We (my wife and I) fish a lot of smaller lakes (under 1000 acres) that have some pretty lousy landings so the lighter the better.

One thing I was thinking was if a 4 stroke can troll slow enough to avoid using a trolling motor, wouldn't that make up the weight difference?

[Kyle Sandberg]

With a smaller boat like yours, you'd only need a 36 or less and with the wieght difference between the two and four stroke, you should still be less that with a 2.

[Slyster]

In cae this helps.. my 2S 15hp Johnson idles quite slow.. I can go as slow at 1.5mph or so... not sure of the difference in models at slow speeds though.

[Bassboy1645]

yeah smaller 2 strokes like my old 15 I had and the 9.9 we have now on our duck boat idle soo slow you cant even tell your moving. I thought they were rather quiet compared to the older motors Ive seen. They troll down very nicely.

[MuskieJunkie]

Can anyone comment on the difference in maintanence costs between the two? I have never owned a 4 stroke but may soon.

The two stroke you are burning oil, the 4 stroke you have to change it so that should be a wash, I am sure they both have the same lower unit oil change schedule and cost. How about valve adjustment, timing belt, winterizing, etc.....

[Slyster]

I don't know on 4 stroke. But I follow directions for my 2 stroke and there's nothing to it! Fog the cylinders for the winter. Put grease into the 3 or 4 grease nipples each year. Ummmm... that's it. Unplug gas line when coming in from a day out.. to run the gas out of the carb etc.. I do this every outing.

Clean gas and oil... always use ethonal free gas however!.. I already had my carb gum up once from 'normal' gas.

[Shack]

Has anyone heard any more news on the outlawing of 2 strokes? I do not know if this would include the private sector or just manufacturing companies. When I buy my next motor, this could be a factor in what I buy.

[Slyster]

I think they will outlaw 'older motors' and all 2 strokes today meet the tighter pollution standards. Certainly they can't make people just toss out their $2000-$6000 motors.

[marine_man]

I doubt they'd outlaw them. The existing motors would be grandfathered in and the manufacturers would have to go a different route. However, with that said, I highly doubt they'll ever outlaw 2-strokes all together. They'll do it based on emission numbers, which is why you see a lot of direct injected 2 strokes still in production and not a lot of carb'd 2-strokes anymore.

marine_man

[cold one sd]

I haven't owned a 2 stroke for 5 years and it was an 82 Evinrude. With my 4 stroke 15 hp it costs a couple bucks for a quart of 4 stroke oil and about 8 bucks for a filter. I don't know how much 2 stroke oil most people use in a season. I didn't like mixing oil and 2 stroke exhaust made my wife get a bad headache. I bought 6 oil filters on hsolist a while back for 10 dollars so I am set for years.

[Slyster]

An '82 would smoke a lot. My '04 has zero smoke.. really clean. No worse than a 4 stroke for smell I would guess.