Abandoning the 4 stroke, returning to 2 stroke.

[s/v Faith]

I am tired of these high maintenance 4 strokes.

They vibrate, they are heavy, they are not so well maid....  I am just not happy with them.

I just located a 'like new' Yamaha 6hp 2 cly 2 stroke.... 20" shaft.  Just like what I had on Faith when we made the long trip.

I have the Tohatsu 4 stroke 6 hp that I have never fallen for....


...Just located a Yamama 6hp (2 cyl 2sptoke) that was out of production.

I will replace my 4 stroke 6hp with htis, an avoid going 4 stroke as long as I can.

They are heavy, they vibrate more, don't have the torque, and are more complicated then they need to be.

No more 4 stroke outboards!

[hearsejr]

 I have the same luck with a brand new A-4. it's got less the 24 hrs on it and it will stop running as soon as you get to far to swim back to the dock. every freaking time!

[Tim]

It's funny but my Cape Dory Typhoon came with a 7.5hp Evinrude 2cyl 2 stroke ???   I have a 2.5 hp Nissan that I am now using with it, but plan on using the Evinrude on the Ariel.

But I have to admit I have no problems with the Honda 5 4stroke that I have also.

[Chattcatdaddy]

My only experience with a 4-stroke is the Honda 2hp 4-stroke about a decade ago. It ran like a champ and was super smooth and quiet.

I have been thnking about when I do purchase a boat what outboard to use. I`m more familiar with 2-strokes, but like the smoth quiet sound of a 4-stroke(at least the honda was smooth and quiet).

So many choices...most likely just take the best deal I can find.

[CharlieJ]

We have thenYamaha 8 hp 4 stroke and love it. We have many many miles on it. No way I would go back to a 2 stroke.

We have 1/3 the fuel usage, and can talk to each other instead of yelling. I do wish it was ligther but otherwise it's a great engine.

We could do nicely win a 5 but 4's that size are all singlemcylinder which vibrate mmuch more. If they would sell a 2 cyl 5 hp 4'stroke I'd buy it.

[highestbid]

We used a Honda 10HP 4 stroke as the kicker on our boat for years in Alaska, never failed us in time of need and could push the boat against the strongest weather we ever encountered.  But man was it expensive :-)  Hey but the boat had a BMW inboard when we bought it :-) the previous owner liked that it had an automatic transmission  ;D

[CaptMac]

I'm with Charlie on this one, the four stroke has such great fuel economy and idles much better.

I think the main problem your having is that it is one cylinder instead of two, I have had both 2 & 4 strokes with one and two cylinders and always had more difficulty's with one cylinder (they seem to have a mind of there own).

[s/v Faith]

I think the main problem your having is that it is one cylinder instead of two, I have had both 2 & 4 strokes with one and two cylinders and always had more difficulty's with one cylinder (they seem to have a mind of there own).

Absolutely.  I agree the single cyl is the problem with the 4 strokes,   The problem is the market won't support the motor that would really be ideal for our boats (2 cyl, 4 stroke, at 75# or less).

The 2 cyl 2 stroke Yamaha 6/8 idle pretty smoothly, and make lots of torque at low RPM's...

The 2 stroke I have cruised with, and am now returning to is much smoother then the 4 strokes
available in the same HP.  The difference in the vibration is definitely the advantage of the 2 cyl
over the one... but having spent the time on the water with each, I have decided that the merits
of the 4 stroke (mercury, tohatsu, nissan) 1 cly 6 hp simply do not make it the motor of choice.  :P

Weight aft is no small thing on a small boat, and the jump from 1 to 2 cyl in a 4 stroke is just too much
for me.  The little 2 strokes are lighter, a 2 cyl yamaha 2 stroke is within 5 pounds of a 1 cyl 4 stroke....

BUT, the jump to 8 hp (in Yamaha, or merc/tohatsu/nissan) with the increase to 2 cyl carries a penalty of nearly twice the weight (and an oversized lower unit that will not fit the well without modification).

Right now (at this moment) my Tohatsu 6hp is on the boat.  It is no where near as smooth running as either the 6 hp yamaha it replaced, (or is being replaced by).  I purchased an hp honda to replace it... but it was over TWICE the weight!  It was really unfortunate the Honda did not work out... they are really smooth (as are the Yamaha's, I can see why you like yours Charlie.)  

I am sure the yahama 8 hp is a very smooth running motor aboard Tehani, I have sailed with those 2 cyl yamahas, and they are silky smooth... but probably not so much fun to heft in and out of the well though... they have the weight on the new ones down to #107 now... sure wish they would trim some more and maybe cut that lower cowl down some... I guess that when they do I will have to modify my well and try yet another motor.  The jump in weight is simply not worth it to get a 2 cly 4 stroke...  Not to mention the loss of the ability to steer with the outboard (helpful in backing down, or as emergency steering in a worst case steering loss).

Here are some of the motors I have tried (the 9.9 was on Ariel Spirit);

15" shaft (dingy) motors
Johnson 2 hp 1 cyl 2 stroke 30#(?) this one is sometimes called the 'canoe' motor.. would not want to go far with it but it will move the boat.
Yamaha 3 hp 1 cyl 2 stroke 35# (approx)
Johnson 3.5 hp 2 cyl 2 stroke (40#)  sweet little motor.  They also made a 4 hp that had an external tank connection... getting tough to find one in good shape though.

20" shaft motors
Mercury 5 hp 1 cyl 4 stroke (60#) same motor as my 6hp Tohatsu... had the wrong prop....  I borrowed it to try it out
Yamaha 6 hp 2 cyl 2 stroke (55#) cruised with my old one, and just bought a new one.
Tohatsu 6 hp 1 cyl 4 stroke (60#)  
Honda 8 hp 2 cyl 4 stroke (130? 140?) never even got it all the way in the well... too heavy, too big.
Mercury 9.9 s cyl 2 stroke (75#?) too much hp, caused stern to squat...

Yes, this quest has been something of a sicknesss.  ::)


I have never tried the Honda 5hp 4 stroke, but IIRC Tim has one... I recall talking to him about it
before I bought my Tohatsu...

[Tim]

I have never tried the Honda 5hp 4 stroke, but IIRC Tim has one... I recall talking to him about it
before I bought my Tohatsu...

I did use the Honda 5 a few times before pulling her out and it worked fine and probably would have even easier with a displacement prop.

[CharlieJ]

Two points. Well maybe three ;)

Our yamaha weighs 86 pounds and yeah it's a job to pull it. 30-40 minutes, a wrench and two people. Nobody is gonna steal it!!

The lower cowling is removable. Took it off day one. Two bolts and it's gone. It's just cosmetic.

[skylark]

I have the Tohatsu 6hp 4 stroke and will say that it is a thumper.  However it has been very reliable.

I did not want to go any heavier and the price was reasonable.  Originally I had hoped to use the motor for the boat and the dinghy too.  After hefting the motor to install it, I decided it is staying right where it is.

For me a big upgrade would be remote controls and electric start.  I have the hand start and reach over the transom to adjust the choke, shift, and lower/raise the outboard bracket.  Tiller throttle with a pvc pipe extension.  Bending down over the transom when the motor is in the lower position is do-able but not too pleasant, especially in big waves.

I have a 2hp 2 stroke Johnson canoe motor for my sailing canoe but have yet to try it out.  I expect to switch over to a Honda 2hp as soon as possible.

[lecker68]

I was using a Johnson 4 hp 4 stroke and pushed boat ok but could not tilt out of water now I have an 06 Johnson 15 hp 2 stroke and the upper cowl is low enough that I can get it out of the water and have power to spare.

[Mario G]

I can't complain about the Evinrude 9.9 2 stroke, it got the Chrysler 26 down to Florida, it did cost in fuel but even at 30 yrs old it ran fine all the way down when needed.

[Jim_ME]

One of the benefits of being on a shoestring budget is that upgrading to a 4-stroke had not yet become an option.

I did get a little project 2.5 hp Johnson outboard (2-stroke!) with a recent daysailer project. Pulled the cover off and by gosh it is a two cylinder. The lower cylinder piston is seized up tight, but maybe I can disconnect it and make it into a 1-banger, with a whopping 1.25 HP?

Maybe just mount it on the edge of the desk, remove the plugs, and make it into a spiffy nautical themed pen-and-pencil holder...   ;)

[s/v Faith]

One of the benefits of being on a shoestring budget is that upgrading to a 4-stroke had not yet become an option.

I did get a little project 2.5 hp Johnson outboard (2-stroke!) with a recent daysailer project. Pulled the cover off and by gosh it is a two cylinder. The lower cylinder piston is seized up tight, but maybe I can disconnect it and make it into a 1-banger, with a whopping 1.25 HP?

Maybe just mount it on the edge of the desk, remove the plugs, and make it into a spiffy nautical themed pen-and-pencil holder...   ;)

That is a nice little motor Jim,

  I hope you fix it, they are not making any more of them...

It is not unlikely that it seized because it was run lean (or without oil).  If you open it up you may find that it is not too bad. 

Good luck!

[Jim_ME]

Thanks, Craig,

I think that the total-immersion-and-then-let-sit method for seizing up a motor was utilized. Probably one piston was down past the port and let the water in, and the other was closed and spared. I tried soaking the cylinder with Marvel Mystery oil (poured into the sparkplug hole) for a few days with no luck. It should have continued to soak over the winter, so I should go check it again.

Also have a 6-hp Vire two-stroke "petrol" inboard, also seized up. Talk about the worst of both worlds...

-Jim