outboard opinions

[duane]

I'll be shopping for a new outboard for a john boat my wife and I use on the small rivers in our area.

Some places on the river horsepower is restricted to 40hp, so we're looking at 40hp motors.

Got friends that swear by Yamaha (4 stroke) and some Mercury. I think their both good motors but wanted to get some of you guys opinions.

Thanks
Hoot

I have a 2 stroke 40hp Yamaha and love it. I always was a OMC person till this Yamaha. Plus the 40 hp Yamaha is the only 40 hp with 3 cylinders all other are all 2 cylinders.

Are you looking new or used?

[duane]

I'll be shopping for a new outboard for a john boat my wife and I use on the small rivers in our area.

Some places on the river horsepower is restricted to 40hp, so we're looking at 40hp motors.

Got friends that swear by Yamaha (4 stroke) and some Mercury. I think their both good motors but wanted to get some of you guys opinions.

Thanks
Hoot

best prices online I have found

http://www.edsmarinesuperstore.com/

[lovetofish]

I have a two stroke that I like very well. It's Paid For. Anyway, I have a couple of buddies that have bought new boats in the last year and they both bought 4 strokes. One has a Merc and the other a Yamaha. Both swear by them. I have ridden in both and the performance is equal in both. The Yamaha seems to be a little queiter. My buddy told me when he first got it he had cranked it up and got to talking to someone and turned around and hit the starter again before realizing that it was already running. They both claim that they burn alot less fuel with the four stroke. I have heard and read that from others that have them. The thing I like about them is no more mixing the oil and wondering did I put too much or not enough. My next one will definitely be a four storke. Good luck on your choice.

[crappieseeker]

Someone made the comment that fuel consumption was the same on 2 strokes as it is on 4 strokes. I find it hard to believe that. I have a Mercury Optimax and although it is a 2 stroke, it gets better fuel consumption than a regular 2 stroke, so the 4 strokes are bound to be even better. Within a few years probably all motors will be 4 stroke. States are cracking down on fuel regulations. People have commented on my Optimax being so quite, if the Merc 4-stroke is any quiter, you could probably sleep on it. I am not partial to Mercury because I own one, but I read alot of studies and comparisons before I bought mine. Mercury seemed to be as its motto states, number 1 on the water. Although this is the only boat and motor I've ever owned, what short time I've had it, I love it. I'd say if you got any of the top brand motors, you would be equally satisfied.

[TAE73]

[QUOTE=crappieseeker] Someone made the comment that fuel consumption was the same on 2 strokes as it is on 4 strokes. I find it hard to believe that. I have a Mercury Optimax and although it is a 2 stroke, it gets better fuel consumption than a regular 2 stroke, so the 4 strokes are bound to be even better. [QUOTE]

I made the comment, I read this in a artical that was wrote by bass, walleye boat magazine. That they compared a 225 optimax vers a 225 verado. The opti got 1 to 2 gallons per hour better than the verado @ wideopen throttle. But if you back them both down there was a point where they would be the same and then the verado took over on low rpms. On the same boat and setup and conditions. I just had a smartcraft gauge installed on my opti, and have not had a chance to run it. But it will give you a read out of gallons/hour consumption.

And I seriously doubt that you will ever see 2 strokes gone. Right now the newest motors have a better emissions rating that the 4 strokes on the market.

[Cane Pole]

I have heard nothing but praise for the 4 strokers. I have three 2 strokers,('99 50 hp Johson, 96 40hp Mariner, and '62 18 hp Johnson). Never had much trouble with any of them. I service them on a regular basis though.

This is the key to anything you get, keep 'em in good working order

I don't hear good, so noises don't bother me, and I ain't never snuck up on a fish...hahaha...But, this is something to consider. Also changing enviro laws.

If the 4 strokers hold up as long as my old Johnson, then they (manufacturers) have something special with these engines. What I would get would be something I am confortable with purchasing and have confidence (in the product).

[Shellback]

Two strokes like the Optimax, and the Yammie HPDI motors are as good or better on fuel as a 4 stroke. But then you gotta add the price of high quality 2 stroke oil into the cost too. Carburated 2 strokes don't even come close to the fuel economy of a 4 stroke. I've got a 50HP Honda main motor, and a Yammie 4 stroke kicker. My biggest beef with the Honda is when I launch the boat, tie it up, and then start the motor to warm it up, I never know if it's running? I gotta keep walking back to see if it stalled, never has yet. With the old Merc 2 stroke, all I had to do is look for the cloud of smoke! LOL! I had a Merc 4 stroke 30 HP on another boat, and it was also a fine motor. Personally, 4 stroke's have improved my boating pleasure 200%. Never could stand the smell of the smoke, and they never seemed to run real sweet unless wide open. My Honda will idle along quiet as a mouse and smooth as can be all day. JMHO

[crappieseeker]

TAE73 First of all, notice I said probably, I didnt say would. If the big guys in the gas and oil industry didnt have their hands in it, I'd say it would stand an even better chance. The way gas prices are going up, I'd say people are and will convert to 4-strokes. I spend more time on the water than most people and I talk more than most people and I read alot of articles. I am not going just on my opinion, I am going on what I've heard from others and what I've read. I started to put in my post about the different ratings per wide open and things like that. There are even more comparisons than that. My overall readings and questioning of other folks, tells me the 4-stroke is no doubt the best choice and overall the best fuel efficient. I talked to one guy on the water who looked to be in his sixties and he had a Honda 4-stroke and he said the gas mileage was so good on it that he would guess he is getting 40% better gas mileage than he did with any 2-stroke he ever owned. The man said he would never own another 2-stroke. I have heard several people say their next purchase will be 4-stroke after they experienced fishing with someone else who had one. I dont have a 4-stroke, so I am not backing them by experience. I am just going by what I've heard and read. I know some people like their speed "FATBOY", and will probably stick with 2-strokes. Notice I also said as long as you got a top brand motor you would probably be satisfied with it. I didnt say 4 or 2 stroke. I didnt mean to ruffle your feathers, just giving my 2 cents worth

[crap-king]

I have a Johnson 4 stroke 90hp - not as quiet as the yamaha but is still quiet - you can have a normal conversation without yelling going at full plane speed - I get better fuel economy on the 90 4 stroke than I did with a 50 2 stroke - much better - If you are getting as good a milage on a 2 stroke you better patent what you are doing because you are one of the only ones - My personal opinion Yamaha much better choice

[TAE73]

Crappieseeker, you in no way ruffled my feathers. We all have a right to speak our opinions. I would say yes your right in a 2 or 3 years the 4 strokes will get better economy. But for now they dont do it. Even if you figure the difference in cost, 2 strokes are better. I think that you can sure buy alot of the oil for them and still be money ahead. Yes your are right about someone having there hand in the cookie jar, so things wont change as fast as they should. Also I am talking about the new efi motors not the old carb motors, those do suck alot of fuel down.