New Out board

[HigherGround]

Just looking for a bit of advise on a new engine. I currently have a 1993 Johnson 115hp. Great motor, only done 280 hours and never had any problems. However, i went out on a mates boat today who has a Yamaha 100hp 4 stroke. We did nearly 100km round trip on 35 l of gas. This got me thinking, i am getting into a bit of outside fishing but the fuel consumption limits me a bit. I still like the 2 stroke more than the 4 for some reason. Could anyone tell me if the new 2 stroke engines are more economical now days? Or would the 4 stroke be more advisable.
Cheers in advance. Kurt.

[craigie]

Kurt,

The standard new 2 strokes are no match for the 4 strokes, chalk and cheese when it comes to economy (and most other aspects except price) !!!

The E-Tech Evinrude and Opti Mercury certainly give the 4 bangers a run for their money but expect to pay a similar price :-/

35L for 100K round trip is exceptional :o, my 115 Opti would use approx 45 - 55L for the same trip (18L per hr on 4000 revs) and dare I say it......the old Johno 115 might be looking at 75 - 80L ???

kurt, if you have only done 280 hrs in 12 years with your Johno then your future fuel savings offset against the extra purchase price of a 4 Stroke could be negated.
Worth keeping this in mind as the thousands you save on the motor will fill the fuel tank many times.

Buying a new Outboard is a bit of a coin toss at times, hope I've given you a look at both sides ;)

Regards
Craigie.

Cheers

Craigie.

[scuttlebutt]

Valid points by Craigie, though another factor to consider is that 4 strokes are much quieter, run much smoother, and there is no smell of burning 2stroke oil (which can really get a bit sickening if you're trolling for any length of time). I've got a 4 stroke Mariner 90 on an 18ft tinny and a 100k trip usually uses about 40 to 45 litres.

cheers,

steve

[chuss]

There is no way that they are quieter!

I have a Merc 2 stroke on my runabout and my old man has a 90 HP suzi on his runabout. At 3000+ RPM they are as loud as eachother.

At idle, my motor is quiet, so I don't know what people are raving on about the quietness of the motors cause i have to scream at the top of my lungs during conversation when you have either a 2 or 4 stroke at 4000RPM...

Smell and economy is the only thing, but with a $4000 price tag between the 2 motors... lets work it out...

50L per 100km @ 4 stroke = $60 worth of fuel (fuel @ $1.20 per L)
80L per 100km @ 2 stroke = $96 worth of fuel

So 100 x 100km offshore trips will cost you $6000 (4 stroke)
and 100 x 100km offshore trips will cost $9600 (2 stroke)

that's only $3600 which isn't even the cost difference yet between the 2 motors (more like $4000+). More like 110 x 100km offshore trips before you start saving on fuel..

That's 11 100 km!!!!

some food for thought...

[NQCairns]

Hi Chuss I agree with you 100% except about the noise statement because I dont know, anyway dont forget the oil used in the 2st or did you include it. cheers nq

[chuss]

4 strokes and 2 strokes use oil. You need to change oil in a 4 stroke every 6 months as well anyway...

Either way, you still have to do a fair few hours/kms before you start saving cash.

But when you have cash, nothing is expensive.. :-/

[Pual]

G'day Higherground.
I have recently traded the old 2 stroke (94) 120 Johnno (500hrs) in on a 115 4 stroke Johnno (suzi). Trade in difference about $9000, and I have not regretted it one little bit. Should add that the 120 J did not have oil injection so it was a real stinker. The 115 4 lacks a bit of power in comparison but makes up economy, smoothness, quieter ( noted above what Chuss has said but mine is quieter) and does not stink. Sure the 4 is a bit heavier, and the power comes on slower, but for me the advantages outway the price difference and for some reason I feal happier at the bowser. This could be that making one larger up front payment does not seem to worry me as much as the constant reminder every time at the bowser how uneconomical the stinky old 2 stroke use to be and how unenvironmentally friendly it was.
I would have also had to face the problem of upsizing the fuel tank if I had stuck to the 2 stroke. Not anymore. I'm getting approx. 1nm per litre, which I think is great. This equates to fishing at the Barwon Banks for about $40 - $45 dollars. I like that as the spot can really turn it on at times and is well worth the drive up from Brisbane.
I like yourself and many had to way up the differences and determine if it was the right step for me. I'm glad of my decision, and believe the 4 stroke has added more enjoyment to my fishing.
The monetary difference decision is not an easy one to make.
Cheers Pual

[chuss]

One thing for the 4 strokes is range.

If you do intend on doing a big offshore trip, the 2 stroke may struggle if your tank is small and deck space is a concern.

When I do get my new boat, it'll either be a new EFI/DFI 2 stroke or a traditional 2 stroke.

[HigherGround]

Cheers guys, Iam not too concerened about the noise or smell factor. I am just one who likes to be coming home with more than enough fuel and with the effiency of the 4 strokes i could go alot further. I tend to like the 2 strokes more because i also do skiing so the initial torque is better, also with the sea getting up on the odd occasion. I have 116l under the floor and always carry an extra 30l, if i was to go further and thought i needed it, i would go another 30l. So i know i have enough and i dont put the cost of things in front of a fishing trip, but how much it costs determines how far and how often you can go.
I agree with all the comments. Chuss, i find the older Honda four strokes are quiter than the rest but all the fours ive been on sound as though they are struggling at high revs.
I have disconnected the vro on mine as it was pumping too much oil so i mix it myself and i go about 2.5 every tank but i get the good stuff cheap so it doesnt hurt me.
Paul, im keen on getting up to the banks, how far off Moolooaba is it?
Thanks boys.
Kurt.

[Tassie_Boy]

I love the 2-stroke smell - I don't think boating would be the same without that powerfully evocative aroma. Maybe thats because my first ever engine was an ancient Seagull that, from beer faded childhood memory, used to run ( sometimes ) on a 50:50 mixture. I think Mum and Dad felt re-assured because they always knew where I was from the thick cloud of smoke that followed the dingy around the Bay. I think the Seagull is still in use in the area by the Grankids of the bloke I sold it to.

... What was the question?

[Runamuck]

I take hold of my new 115 Yamaha 4 stroke tomorrow, which i had installed on my old seafarer this week... and looking forward to it.
Will let you know what i think.

Adam