4 stroke or 2 stroke

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Shawn67

Totally agree, I have a 25" shaft on my boat too.

Shawn

The longer tiller would be nice to have though......some guys at my marina have tiller extensions which seem to work well

[Shawn67]

When I had a Sailpro the longer tiller might have interfered on my boat. The relocated shifter would have been fantastic though. Its original placement was a pain. On my Sabre I have remote controls, they are wonderful.

Shawn

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by Shawn67

When I had a Sailpro the longer tiller might have interfered on my boat. The relocated shifter would have been fantastic though. Its original placement was a pain. On my Sabre I have remote controls, they are wonderful.

Shawn

I wanted my setup to be as simple as possible so I got the smallest motor that would do the job decently.

It has no alternator or starter battery and the only time anything is hooked up to it is when I hook up the external tank for long motoring or motor sailing

The tank is out of site and out of the way in the Aft Lazarette locker with the hose coming out one of the cowling vent then to the engine

I'm thinking if I ever do a long ocean cruise I may pull the motor and mount it on the stern rail until I need it again especially in bad weather

[PirateBarnabus]

"2 stroke, starts first time."

What was the question?

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by PirateBarnabus

"2 stroke, starts first time."

What was the question?

Should I "upgrade" to a four stroke was basically the question, and the answer is yes if you want less stink and more efficiency

[Visarend]

May I add that newish 4st outboards tend to be stolen (my 6Hp 4st st Yamaha!) and to be more delicate in case of saltwater ingress (my 5 Hp 4 st Suzuki, even immediately serviced by a professional - total loss). I thereafter went back to old 4 hp 2 st Johnsons (have 2), very easy to repair and service even at sea, rugged and reliable, less weight (more fuel consumption and smelly). I remember when with my first sailboat, an Herbulot designed 7,5 m Caravelle, some 40 yrs ago, went from the S of France to Greece with a 7,5 2 st Mercury (in the Mediterranean you have often no wind in summer).

[CassidyNZ]

Interesting how different circumstances change viewpoints. I have a 15hp 2 stroke Mercury because I want to move a biggish dingy sometimes heavily laden but also want to be able to push the boat (12 tons) around if needed. So at this size, weight of a 4-stroke is telling. As it is I have to use a gantry to get the OB from the dink onto the back rail. I think a 4 stroke may be unmanageable.

Fuel consumption? I think my dink uses two 20 litre tanks a year, not exactly bank-breaking costs.

[thomm225]

Originally Posted by CassidyNZ

Interesting how different circumstances change viewpoints. I have a 15hp 2 stroke Mercury because I want to move a biggish dingy sometimes heavily laden but also want to be able to push the boat (12 tons) around if needed. So at this size, weight of a 4-stroke is telling. As it is I have to use a gantry to get the OB from the dink onto the back rail. I think a 4 stroke may be unmanageable.

Fuel consumption? I think my dink uses two 20 litre tanks a year, not exactly bank-breaking costs.

I thought that was a very good point about the weight but looks like the new Mercury 15 hp 4 stroke is 105 lbs and the Tohatsu 15 hp 2 stroke is 90.4.

Now a lot of difference

https://www.powerequipmentdirect.com/Mercury-Marine-1A15201BK-Engines/p97585.html?gclid=EAIaIQobChMI5IejpK_I4wIVh8pkCh3V EwnpEAQYAiABEgITkfD_BwE

https://www.maritimepropulsion.com/directory/product/tohatsu-15-hp-2stroke-15-hp-130891