New 2 stroke or new 4 stroke?

[Graham376]

Given that some of us sometimes sail outside EU waters so can legally buy new 2 stroke engines there, which would you choose for daily use based on the following - Advantages of 2 stroke, 11 kgs lighter, can be stored any way up or down, much easier to maintain with no camshaft, belt, tappets and valves to service or replace over time. Disadvantages I see are few, mainly higher fuel consumption and a bit noisier. Considering new Tohatsu 9.8, available as 2 or 4 stroke.

Forgetting the questionable legal and VAT position (if it's noticed)of bringing it back into the EC, by which time it's a used engine anyway, which would you buy?

 

[Pinnacle]

2 stroke.

 

[temptress]

Given that some of us sometimes sail outside EU waters so can legally buy new 2 stroke engines there, which would you choose for daily use based on the following - Advantages of 2 stroke, 11 kgs lighter, can be stored any way up or down, much easier to maintain with no camshaft, belt, tappets and valves to service or replace over time. Disadvantages I see are few, mainly higher fuel consumption and a bit noisier. Considering new Tohatsu 9.8, available as 2 or 4 stroke.

Forgetting the questionable legal and VAT position (if it's noticed)of bringing it back into the EC, by which time it's a used engine anyway, which would you buy?

2 stroke every time.

 

[t21]

2-stroke here definitely, but the choice of champions is apparently the Yamaha 15hp Enduro. Tohatsu seems to work fine but sounds like a bag of nails.

 

[Steve_N]

2 stroke. I haven't used my Suzuki 2.5 4 stroke since some kind soul left a 20 year old Yamaha 2 leaning against the boatyard skip last year.

 

[Davy_S]

2 stroke for a small engine every time.

 

[TQA]

2 stroke every time sub 40 hp.

Tohatsu 9.8 and 15/18 hp are widely used in the cruising community. Reliable and my 18 hp is surprisingly economical which maybe because it planes my RIB at 1/2 throttle.

Yams are good as well and are quieter. My Nissan/Tohatsu 18 hp does indeed sound like a bag of spanners.

 

[Graham376]

2 stroke every time sub 40 hp. Tohatsu 9.8 and 15/18 hp are widely used in the cruising community.

Maybe I should explain a bit more. I have had a second hand (or maybe 4th or 5th hand) Tohatsu 9.8 2/ which has run faultlessly for several years but has now started to give problems as can be read in the "seize" thread. I need an outboard to get to/from the mooring so not inclined to try and strip it (if the early 1990s head bolts don't shear) while aboard abroad. If at home with workshop would be different. Stu has kindly offered assistance but I'm more inclined to buy a new one and sell the old one off as "needing work" which may be a simple job or not or, keep it for spares as IIRC parts are still used on current production.

 

[BelleSerene]

2 stroke. I haven't used my Suzuki 2.5 4 stroke since some kind soul left a 20 year old Yamaha 2 leaning against the boatyard skip last year.

Oh so it was you, was it?!

 

[anoccasionalyachtsman]

Shockingly solid display of contempt for clean running 4 strokes. I wouldn't have one either.

 

[jwilson]

About 10 hp is in my opinion about the break even point for going 4-stroke. Below that 2-stroke every time.

 

[duncan99210]

No brainer. 2 stroke.

 

[vyv_cox]

Will 2-strokes be legal again after next March? Could be the only positive thing that comes out of Brexit.

 

[robertj]

Will 2-strokes be legal again after next March? Could be the only positive thing that comes out of Brexit.

Rest assured VYV all the negatives will be kept and the positives lost.

 

[Graham376]

Will 2-strokes be legal again after next March? Could be the only positive thing that comes out of Brexit.

With your web site and qualifications, you may well be able to tick the boxes for commercial use and buy a new 2 stroke now. Anyone doing a bit of work for payment on boats and having letterhead could claim the same. I'm exploring all angles at the moment

 

[ip485]

2 stroke without hesitation

 

[CAPTAIN FANTASTIC]

No brainer; 4 stroke every time; reliable, easy to start on demand, economical, clean, light (same weight as the 2 stroke). But the major advantage for me is that they are reliable when it comes to starting it.

 

[TSB240]

No brainer; 4 stroke every time; reliable, easy to start on demand, economical, clean, light (same weight as the 2 stroke). But the major advantage for me is that they are reliable when it comes to starting it.

I don't know where you get same weight from. Let's look at the most popular engines used by many long term cruisers around the world. Tohat/merc/derivationsy 9.8 2t 27 kilos. Just about maximum one can lift without a crane. How much heavier is a four stroke....... Another 10 kilos....... Not quite the same weight. The 9.8 is actually a similar weight to a 15 HP 2t also popular with small rib owners. Have you seen the weight difference at 15 HP! Take a look at the little Johnny/rude 4HP 2t and compare that with any 4 HP 4t (nearly all are strangled 6HP mitors) . Please don't post fake information about 4 strokes being the same weight.

 

[vyv_cox]

No brainer; 4 stroke every time; reliable, easy to start on demand, economical, clean, light (same weight as the 2 stroke). But the major advantage for me is that they are reliable when it comes to starting it.

I have owned a Tohatsu 3.5 two stroke for quite a few years now. It starts reasonably well and weighs 13 kg. The latest Tohatsu 3.5 four stroke weighs 18.4 kg. Not the same by a long way.

The weight of the four stroke would make it impractical for us, coupled with the fact that its oil would run out when on its side when lowered into the dinghy.

 

[Graham376]

No brainer; 4 stroke every time; reliable, easy to start on demand, economical, clean, light (same weight as the 2 stroke). But the major advantage for me is that they are reliable when it comes to starting it.

From my experience with both types, you're wrong on several counts. My 9.8 2 stroke weights about the same as the DF6 Suzuki 4 stroke it replaced. The Suzuki was unreliable and a pig to start whereas the Tohatsu and the Yam Malta 2 stroke I had for many years started mostly on first pull.