2 or 4 stroke

[liammurraystrout]

Hey guys really need some advice!

I have a 3.8m sea search inflatable and i need a engine I'm looking at a 25hp but cant decide for 2 or 4 stroke!
I will be using my boat for fishing towing things and general cruising around, i live close the a harbour with a ramp..

Any advice would be great!
Cheers

[PeterM]

Do you have a trailer? I've a 3.8 with 25 two stroke.....you won't want to carry it far.....you won't carry a four stroke 25 at all.

[liammurraystrout]

Yes i do have a trailer

[PeterM]

Originally Posted by liammurraystrout

Yes i do have a trailer

Are you going to always have the engine mounted? If yes it's down to the usual arguments for and against each....

[9D280]

Liam,

Welcome to Ribnet.

+1 to Peter's comments. Do a search - there are plenty of discussions on this subject lurking in here!

[bartiny]

Originally Posted by PeterM

Do you have a trailer? I've a 3.8 with 25 two stroke.....you won't want to carry it far.....you won't carry a four stroke 25 at all.

+1 If you are leaving it mounted on the transom then a 4 stroke just about edges it on fuel economy and noise level.

But for removing it manually, simplicity, power to weight, better hole shot then 2 stroke would be (and is) my choice.

Just my opinion

[jeepster]

Originally Posted by bartiny

+1 If you are leaving it mounted on the transom then a 4 stroke just about edges it on fuel economy and noise level.

But for removing it manually, simplicity, power to weight, better hole shot then 2 stroke would be (and is) my choice.

Just my opinion

You forgot reliability...A 2 stroke will wear out the piston rings at least 2/3rds quicker than a 4 fourstroke, sometimes much quicker still, and the plugs get fouled with oil much quicker too...Not good to be left with no compression and a dead engine when your out at sea miles from land!
Suzuki DF 4 stroke outboards add even higher reliabilty and dependability than 4 strokes from other outboard manufacturers because they use ultra reliable timing chains, not the usual "Pray to god it never snaps" timing belts!...Lets face it, the consequences of a snapped timing belt at an inopertune moment could be absolutely disasterous...Just saying.

[beamishken]

For that size boat you cant beat a two stroke especialy if your towing toys as much better low end grunt
Forget wearing out rings they just dont do the hours! Most die of old age neglect or abuse
Power to weight is much better & less to go wrong & you wont need a laptop to fix it! & lets face it fuel consumption at that size is hardly an issue
A 25 yam or tohatsu would be ideal
Imho of course

[Nos4r2]

Originally Posted by jeepster

You forgot reliability...A 2 stroke will wear out the piston rings at least 2/3rds quicker than a 4 fourstroke, sometimes much quicker still, and the plugs get fouled with oil much quicker too...Not good to be left with no compression and a dead engine when your out at sea miles from land!
Suzuki DF 4 stroke outboards add even higher reliabilty and dependability than 4 strokes from other outboard manufacturers because they use ultra reliable timing chains, not the usual "Pray to god it never snaps" timing belts!...Lets face it, the consequences of a snapped timing belt at an inopertune moment could be absolutely disasterous...Just saying.

Haven't you had enough of being ridiculed?

Originally Posted by beamishken

For that size boat you cant beat a two stroke especialy if your towing toys as much better low end grunt
Forget wearing out rings they just dont do the hours! Most die of old age neglect or abuse
Power to weight is much better & less to go wrong & you wont need a laptop to fix it! & lets face it fuel consumption at that size is hardly an issue
A 25 yam or tohatsu would be ideal
Imho of course

I second what BeamishKen said.

[bartiny]

Originally Posted by jeepster

You forgot reliability...A 2 stroke will wear out the piston rings at least 2/3rds quicker than a 4 fourstroke, sometimes much quicker still, and the plugs get fouled with oil much quicker too...Not good to be left with no compression and a dead engine when your out at sea miles from land!
Suzuki DF 4 stroke outboards add even higher reliabilty and dependability than 4 strokes from other outboard manufacturers because they use ultra reliable timing chains, not the usual "Pray to god it never snaps" timing belts!...Lets face it, the consequences of a snapped timing belt at an inopertune moment could be absolutely disasterous...Just saying.

WOW Thanks for that I had better junk my 25 year old Mariner 25hp 2st 110psi per cly. never missed a beat (as far as I know) 2 str. for a more reliable 4 str.

[Poly]

Originally Posted by jeepster

You forgot reliability...A 2 stroke will wear out the piston rings at least 2/3rds quicker than a 4 fourstroke, sometimes much quicker still, and the plugs get fouled with oil much quicker too...

how many outboards fail from wearing out the piston rings? water, corrosion, electrics, overheating seem to be the factors that kill engines...

Not good to be left with no compression and a dead engine when your out at sea miles from land!

wear is not a sudden thing...

Suzuki DF 4 stroke outboards add even higher reliabilty and dependability than 4 strokes from other outboard manufacturers because they use ultra reliable timing chains, not the usual "Pray to god it never snaps" timing belts!...Lets face it, the consequences of a snapped timing belt at an inopertune moment could be absolutely disasterous...Just saying.

Chains do of course fail occasionally too - so you might be overestimating the reliability. At least with a belt you know there is a risk and therefore a maintenance schedule to manage that.

[matt h]

Originally Posted by jeepster

You forgot reliability...A 2 stroke will wear out the piston rings at least 2/3rds quicker than a 4 fourstroke, sometimes much quicker still, and the plugs get fouled with oil much quicker too...Not good to be left with no compression and a dead engine when your out at sea miles from land!
Suzuki DF 4 stroke outboards add even higher reliabilty and dependability than 4 strokes from other outboard manufacturers because they use ultra reliable timing chains, not the usual "Pray to god it never snaps" timing belts!...Lets face it, the consequences of a snapped timing belt at an inopertune moment could be absolutely disasterous...Just saying.

WTF!!!

[willk]

Originally Posted by matt h

WTF!!!

He's kinda nuts. People on here just need to be aware of that and give him a little "personal space", like they do with the odd guy on the bus with the multiple plastic bags who mutters about mind control rays...

He's harmless, except when he gets us all lathered up

[PeterM]

2 stokes do half as many stokes as 4 strokes...so they last twice as long...obvious isn't it?

[AMac]

Correct me if I'm wrong but I'm sure I was told to stay clear of Suzuki engines as they have a composite gear between the power head and the gearbox / drive that is known to fail

[Poly]

Originally Posted by willk

... like they do with the odd guy on the bus with the multiple plastic bags who mutters about mind control rays...

I only do that so I get a seat to myself.

[willk]

Originally Posted by Poly

I only do that so I get a seat to myself.

Oh I've heard you muttering:

"Among a fringe community of paranoids, aluminum helmets serve as the protective measure of choice against invasive radio signals. We investigate the efficacy of three aluminum helmet designs on a sample group of four individuals. Using a $250,000 network analyser, we find that although on average all helmets attenuate invasive radio frequencies in either directions (either emanating from an outside source, or emanating from the cranium of the subject), certain frequencies are in fact greatly amplified. These amplified frequencies coincide with radio bands reserved for government use according to the Federal Communication Commission (FCC). Statistical evidence suggests the use of helmets may in fact enhance the government’s invasive abilities. We theorize that the government may in fact have started the helmet craze for this reason."

[captnjack]

Originally Posted by PeterM

2 stokes do half as many stokes as 4 strokes...so they last twice as long...obvious isn't it?

Ah so that's the logic behind jeepster building a custom trailer with 1/2 as much steel, only 1/2 as much to rust eh?

[Sunstreaker]

Keep everyone happy and go for a 3 stroke!

[9D280]

Originally Posted by PeterM

2 stokes do half as many stokes as 4 strokes...so they last twice as long...obvious isn't it?