Outboard decisions: 2 vs 4 strokes

[Pepijn]

I got prices and weights for new 2 and 4 strokes. Trying to decide based on pros and cons.

Our plans are cruising fulltime in the Med 23/24 and in the Carib 2025 and further perhaps.

We have a Moody 425 and a new Highfield CL290 (9’6) at 59kg. We got a 2:1 dinghy OB lift.

I got the following:
Merc 9.9hp 2str @ 1999euro (26kg)
Merc 15hp 2 str @ 2399.euro (41kg)
Honda 10hp 4 str @ 2580 euro (42kg)
Tohatsu 9.8hp 4 str @ 2480 euro (37kg)
Tohatsu 9.9hp 4 str @ 2854 euro (43kg)
Tohatsu 15hp 4 str @ 2998 euro (43kg)
Note: most 4 strokes are EFI’s.

Considering our cruising plans and servicibility is a 2.stroke still preferred by liveaboard cruisers likely to use it on a daily basis?
In this time and age still “acceptable” to use 2 stroke?

Based on lots of other threads we feel that a 10hp may be a tad too light to plane for us (family of 4 with a combined weight of about 210kg)

Currently we are considering the 2str 15hp based on pros and cons.

Anyone else to add a few words of wisdom?

[George_SD]

2st are lighter/more powerful typically , but topping off oil and they way they burn is just not the same. I'm in a similar situation and will be going with a 4str.

Also you sure it's 2:1? I would swap that for 4:1 fiddle blocks.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Pepijn

I got prices and weights for new 2 and 4 strokes. Trying to decide based on pros and cons.

Our plans are cruising fulltime in the Med 23/24 and in the Carib 2025 and further perhaps.

We have a Moody 425 and a new Highfield CL290 (9’6) at 59kg. We got a 2:1 dinghy OB lift.

I got the following:
Merc 9.9hp 2str @ 1999euro (26kg)
Merc 15hp 2 str @ 2399.euro (41kg)
Honda 10hp 4 str @ 2580 euro (42kg)
Tohatsu 9.8hp 4 str @ 2480 euro (37kg)
Tohatsu 9.9hp 4 str @ 2854 euro (43kg)
Tohatsu 15hp 4 str @ 2998 euro (43kg)
Note: most 4 strokes are EFI’s.

Considering our cruising plans and servicibility is a 2.stroke still preferred by liveaboard cruisers likely to use it on a daily basis?
In this time and age still “acceptable” to use 2 stroke?

Based on lots of other threads we feel that a 10hp may be a tad too light to plane for us (family of 4 with a combined weight of about 210kg)

Currently we are considering the 2str 15hp based on pros and cons.

Anyone else to add a few words of wisdom?

Hoi Pepijn, mooie boot!

We had to make the same decision a couple years ago and the answer is easy: get the new Mercury 15 or 20hp with 4-stroke, EFI and the new multi tiller handle, see attachment.

We have the CL320 so we went for the 20hp. Seeing they are the same size and weight, you may consider the 20 as well.

There is one reason to go for the Tohatsu instead and that is the lower price. It is the same motor but it doesn’t have the new tiller arm which is really, really nice.

For a 2-stroke, you need to bring 3-4 times as much gasoline and mix oil into it etc…. and deal with carburetors

[Anders]

You list prices in Euro but where in euro land can you buy new two stroke outboards?

[Tin Tin]

It depends on how often you plan to take the outboard off the dinghy. If hardly ever I would get biggest engine possible for that dinghy, 20HP, with electric trim. You will appreciate the electric trim for shallows. A 290 with 20 will absolutely fly, but with 4 aboard and a load it will still work hard to plane on a standard propeller. It adds weight but if your davits are up to it go for the bigger motor. If you worry about weight then probably best power to weight would be 15HP 2 stroke and it should just plane with 4 with a finer pitch prop. 2 strokes are more bullet proof in harsh environments, they smell bad and use more fuel + mixing regime is a pain, but many old salts swear by them as relatively easy to fix. We have the following:
3.1 Air Floor Zodiac - 9.9HP Evinrude 2 stroke - went well but boat did not last.
3.1 RIB F/G Zodiac - 9.9HP Suzuki 2 stroke - went well - boat did not last either.
2.9 RIB alloy Highfield - 9.8HP Tohatsu 2 stroke - great for two people
3.1 RIB F/G Caribe - 20HP elect Tohatsu 4stroke - great boat, great motor

3.1 RIB Alloy - 15HP Yamaha 2 stroke - It's OK - not great going back to a 2 stroke - works hard to plane with 4 adults.

[Pepijn]

Yes, PO had only a 4hp 2 str. I will consider the 4:1

[Pepijn]

Originally Posted by Anders

You list prices in Euro but where in euro land can you buy new two stroke outboards?

We’ll be leaving soon for Malta where these were quoted. I verified twice.

[Pepijn]

Originally Posted by s/v Jedi

Hoi Pepijn, mooie boot!

We had to make the same decision a couple years ago and the answer is easy: get the new Mercury 15 or 20hp with 4-stroke, EFI and the new multi tiller handle, see attachment.

We have the CL320 so we went for the 20hp. Seeing they are the same size and weight, you may consider the 20 as well.

There is one reason to go for the Tohatsu instead and that is the lower price. It is the same motor but it doesn’t have the new tiller arm which is really, really nice.

For a 2-stroke, you need to bring 3-4 times as much gasoline and mix oil into it etc…. and deal with carburetors

Dank je!

Argh…the decisions one must make….
Have been eyeing that too, but EFI scared be a bit off if we would go “off the beaten path”. On the other hand….

If used often I guess the price of gasoline will earn back the price differences between the strokes over time..
Argh…

[Pepijn]

No attachment?

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Pepijn

No attachment?

Ja, stom zeg.

I’ll do better here with a video

I see that you can upgrade to this new tiller for a whopping €1.169,00 so better make sure you buy the motor with that handle already included!
https://www.allesmarine.nl/nl/mercur...er-handle.html

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d5fMEghBY1s

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Pepijn

Dank je!

Argh…the decisions one must make….
Have been eyeing that too, but EFI scared be a bit off if we would go “off the beaten path”. On the other hand….

If used often I guess the price of gasoline will earn back the price differences between the strokes over time..
Argh…

The EFI is better than a carburetor. The very best option is to keep a Yamaha 8hp 2-stroke with internal fuel tank as a spare somewhere deep down in a locker

[Pepijn]

That power tiller is sweet. I will check with them what the option will cost.

In the meantime I got the cost of a Mercury 15HP 4 stroke (without power tiller): 2599 Euro, 45kg.

[s/v Jedi]

Originally Posted by Pepijn

That power tiller is sweet. I will check with them what the option will cost.

In the meantime I got the cost of a Mercury 15HP 4 stroke (without power tiller): 2599 Euro, 45kg.

Weird… how can it be €400 less than the same Tohatsu?

These motors are the same, both from the Tohatsu factory.

In the US, the Mercury with the new tiller included, is $2,966.- which is just €2,700.-

[MicHughV]

niet so......

Get the lightest outboard you can.....manhandling a 100 lb ...43 kg outboard is a pain in the rear end..

You get another vote for the Yamaha 8 hp 2-stroke, probably my favorite outboard engine of all time. You can pick it up with one hand. Mine has run like a Swiss watch from the git-go. The perfect size for your dink, in my opinion. It will put two people on plane on your dink no problem. A 15 hp engine will be too much.

Outboards can (and will) suck a lot of gas, The small Yammie 8 is a miser on fuel consumption.

[Pegu Club]

Originally Posted by MicHughV

niet so......

Get the lightest outboard you can.....manhandling a 100 lb ...43 kg outboard is a pain in the rear end..

You get another vote for the Yamaha 8 hp 2-stroke, probably my favorite outboard engine of all time. You can pick it up with one hand. Mine has run like a Swiss watch from the git-go. The perfect size for your dink, in my opinion. It will put two people on plane on your dink no problem. A 15 hp engine will be too much.

Outboards can (and will) suck a lot of gas, The small Yammie 8 is a miser on fuel consumption.

We recently purchased a Yamaha 4hp 2 stroke, 46 lbs, has external tank capacity, planes our 10 foot porta-bote with my 210 lbs on board on board, and goes really well with both me and the admiral, the small displacement Yamahas are very good outboards, and as you said miserly on gas consumption.

Fair winds,