2-stroke or 4-stroke?

[Jaspernuts]

Hey guys, going to get a newer boat with a 90hp motor like a crestliner fishawk and will do some waterskiing with the boat. 2 or 4 stroke and why? Thanks for the opinions ahead of time!

[Nick Kuhn]

4 strokes are more convenient and for me at least have run smoother and quieter (maybe just because it was newer). Plus you get a 3 year warranty on a 4 stroke as opposed to a 1 year on a 2 stroke (with Mercury at least). 2 strokes run a little cheaper (generally you can get a step up in horsepower for the same price by going with a 2 stroke).

[eelpout50]

2 strokes will give you more torque and top end speed, 4 strokes will idle down better and are quieter but are heavier. If you just looking for a fishing motor a 4 stroke is the ticket, but for any water sports go with a 2 stroke. I run a 90 opti on my fishhawk and it does great for tubing and skiing.

[GoFish4]

I would vote 4 stroke. I have a 17.5 fishhawk with a Honda 90 4 stroke. I have 4 boys under 13 that water ski behind the boat. If you have older kids or larger people (200+ lbs) I would suggest the 115. 4 stoke runs the gammet from slow trolling (2.2 mph/gps) and 36 mph top end. I have no problem with 3 in boat and one on the skis but when my kids get older I could see needing the power of a 115. Good luck on your boat

[Eric Wettschreck]

4 strokes are quieter, idle down better, easier to maintain, cleaner, heavier.......More expensive.

2 strokes have quicker "Hole Shot" ability, loud, smoke a lot, hassle of gas and 2 stroke oil.......Less expensive.

There are ups and downs to each.

[Bigeye30"]

I'd go with a four stroke, even though a 2 stroke is going to be a little better for skiing with a little more power on a hole shot. The quietness and fuel efficiency of a four stroke, along with others already mentioned. We made the switch from a 90 horse 2 stroke to a 100 horse 4 stroke and overall noticeablity of pulling a skier is minimal. But the amount of fuel consumption is drastic. We use to run to canada every year for a week. The first year we had the four stroke we burned approximately 50% less fuel through the boat and we fished exactly the same way from previous years. Hands down go with a four stroke.

[Scott K]

4- stroke vote here as well!

[muddpuppy]

I would have to go 2 stroke. I just bought a 50 yamaha last year it idles down just fine 1-1.5 mph all day and it is just as quite as the 75 4stroke on our pontoon. Maybe it's the smaller engine but the 90 yamaha was just as quite just didn't need that much power in a fishin boat.

[JoeTC]

Without a doubt a 4-stroke. I pull skiers with a 80 hp four stroke. The quietness and fuel economy make it the only choice in my book.

[yourresort]

I have had both on my rental pontoons and what a difference. At the end of a 8 hour rental cruising the whole lake it can make the difference between 20 Gallons being used and 10. Trust me, at $4+ / Gallon, this is a big difference if you are going to use it alot.

I would say the difference in upfront cost is now made up faster than ever.

4-STROKE all the way!

[fishinlocal]

Without a doubt go with the evinrude etec 2 stroke. It is the best motor available with all the benefits of a 2 stroke plus low idle speed, burns less fuel and very little oil. It also only needs maintenance once every 3 years, no oil changes, no lower unit oil changes, nothing. 4 strokes are heavy and have hearty maintenance costs if something should go wrong

[hhguide]

four stroke

[PDOGG]

 Originally Posted By: VahnTitrio

Plus you get a 3 year warranty on a 4 stroke as opposed to a 1 year on a 2 stroke (with Mercury at least).

Not sure where you got this info but mercury is offering a 5 year warranty on the Opti-Max and I believe Evinrude is doing the same on the E-tec.

Jaspernuts

As I said in your post on the south-central go with the boat you like better and if the choice is between a 4-stroke and a 2 stroke direct injection don't let that make the decision for you as they are both high quality motor's.

[Can'tFishEnuf]

The maintenance on a 4 stroke is easy. Only takes about 20 minutes of actual work once a year. I don't understand why the Etec shouldn't have it's lower-unit lube changed every year? It can't be that much different than any other lower-unit. It still has a chance to get water in it and the lube is still going to get dirty.

[Team Otter]

 Originally Posted By: fishinlocal

Without a doubt go with the evinrude etec 2 stroke. It is the best motor available with all the benefits of a 2 stroke plus low idle speed, burns less fuel and very little oil. It also only needs maintenance once every 3 years, no oil changes, no lower unit oil changes, nothing. 4 strokes are heavy and have hearty maintenance costs if something should go wrong

The weight difference between the two, nowadays, is hardly arguable and your purchasing decision certainly shouldn't revolve around the "ifs" of the world. What if an E-Tec breaks down? I'm sure that's not cheap either. And, just because E-Tec and others claim the "no oil change, no lower unit change, etc", doesn't mean some general maintenance and inspections don't need to take place. A lot of people use the above statement as a catch-all and end up getting burned.

Why am I low on oil?

Is the lower unit going to make it another year?

[Sandmannd]

Go four stroke. Quiter to run and idle is better. I think they will just be a better motor down the road and they way it's going to be heading in the future. Probably better for the enviroment as well with lest smoke.

[eyepatrol]

Quieter at idle, but both still scream a bit when going WOT.

Either choice will suite you fine.

[fishinlocal]

 Originally Posted By: Team Otter

 Originally Posted By: fishinlocal

Without a doubt go with the evinrude etec 2 stroke. It is the best motor available with all the benefits of a 2 stroke plus low idle speed, burns less fuel and very little oil. It also only needs maintenance once every 3 years, no oil changes, no lower unit oil changes, nothing. 4 strokes are heavy and have hearty maintenance costs if something should go wrong

The weight difference between the two, nowadays, is hardly arguable and your purchasing decision certainly shouldn't revolve around the "ifs" of the world. What if an E-Tec breaks down? I'm sure that's not cheap either. And, just because E-Tec and others claim the "no oil change, no lower unit change, etc", doesn't mean some general maintenance and inspections don't need to take place. A lot of people use the above statement as a catch-all and end up getting burned.

Why am I low on oil?

Is the lower unit going to make it another year?

The point is the eTec has improved upon the short falls of the 2-stroke that the 4-stroke "fixed", and it maintained the benefits of the 2-stroke which the 4-stroke has yet to conquer. When I bought my etec i got a 7 year warranty and asked sales and technicians many times what needs to happen for "winterizing". They showed me and it entails starting the motor, pulling up the winterizing lever, letter the thing run through its system checks and it shuts itself off after 2 min.

[Team Otter]

I understand but sales and technicians have also told me that I don't need to change spark plugs on my 4-stroke motor each year but I do. ~$30 worth of spark plugs is cheap insurance to me. I'm not willing to take any chances.

[Sutty]

Lots of misinformation in this thread.

Fuel economy is no longer a deciding factor Opti's and E tec's get as good of fuel mileage as 4 strokes.

Four strokes are quieter for trolling but not a whole lot differant zipping across the lake.

On one you have to change the oil the other you top off the reservoir every once in a while. Not really a big deal either way.

The newer dfi 2 strokes are heavier than an older two strokes

Get the one you can get the best deal on!

I think I got a seven year warranty when I bought my Optimax last year

[PDOGG]

 Originally Posted By: Sutty

Get the one you can get the best deal on!

I think I got a seven year warranty when I bought my Optimax last year

This is what I say. Wish I could get the 7 year warranty I am looking at an Opti now and they are only giving 5 years.

[fishgutz77]

I fish alot early and late and what I've noticed is how cold blooded some of the 4 strokes are for the first 10 min. in cold temps.

I typically burn about 300-400 gallons of gas through the

HPDI 250 and this means 5-6gals of oil in a season. This translates to about 250 dollars more this year for fuel. I'll gladly eat at home more often and save this much to keep on fishing the way I like on big water.

Getting their will cost more as well but won't stop me from finding other ways to save there as well.

There's no substitute for cubic inches and 2 stroke power and reliability because there are less moving parts.

put the hammer down.

[Can'tFishEnuf]

Flip a coin.

[PerchJerker]

 Originally Posted By: Sutty

Lots of misinformation in this thread.

Fuel economy is no longer a deciding factor Opti's and E tec's get as good of fuel mileage as 4 strokes.

Four strokes are quieter for trolling but not a whole lot differant zipping across the lake.

On one you have to change the oil the other you top off the reservoir every once in a while. Not really a big deal either way.

The newer dfi 2 strokes are heavier than an older two strokes

Get the one you can get the best deal on!

I think I got a seven year warranty when I bought my Optimax last year

I was going to post the same thing as Sutty, he makes a lot of good and accurate points.

Don't compare the old carbuerated 2-strokes or even the old EFI 2-strokes to the DFI 2-strokes you can buy today (Opti and Etec).

The DFIs are as fuel efficient as 4-strokes, sometimes even better. And the 4-strokes are quieter at idle speeds but are almost as loud at high rpms.

And a 4-stroke idles very smoothly, but it idles faster than a DFI (at least in bigger motors like 90s or 115s and bigger). A DFI will probably troll slower than a 4-stroke (lots of factors come into play like the prop, etc).

Also, the earlier 4-strokes were weak in hole shot and top end, but the 4-strokes you can buy today have improved to where they are very close to the 2-strokes.

I don't think you can make a bad choice. At the 90 / 115 hp range I am split 50/50 between 4-stroke and DFI. I'd say decide which one appeals to you more, or see which one you can get the best deal on. Have fun shopping.

[TUMBLEWEED]

I like my Opti 150 for the following reasons:

It is smaller in size and weight to a 4 stroke.

The fuel milage is great. From weekend tubing trips,

to blasting across some big water to get to your

"secret GPS " spots, and even some trolling (before

I got a kicker).

It starts right up, no matter the snow in the air

or Ice in the water. (Not so for my 4 Stroke, carbed

9.9 Pro Kicker!!).

Meets emissions and burns clean (no smoke)