What to buy now - 2 Stroke or 4 Stroke

[Rib Master]

OK, so you are about to buy a new RIB

The question is what outboard do you go for?
New 2 Stroke or a 4 Stroke?

What is the price differential?
What are the running costs?
What is good for all round use including skiing?

I have been to the boat show and different suppliers are promoting the benefits of both 2 and 4 stroke.. So what should one choose?

Specifically I am after an 8mtr rib, so what engine and HP to go for?

any ideas?

[ed2]

We have just bought ourselves a 5.5m RIB with a Suzuki DF70 Four Stroke engine. It seems very reliable and she runs really well.

Now, this engine is only a year old and has only just had its 20 hour service, and our two stroke engines have been quite old.

However, based on our experience, the new 4 stroke is a hell of a lot more fuel efficient. We managed to have the engine in idol tick over for about 3 hours and do around 14 miles flat out on only £6 of fuel. I knoe ablw your setup will be completely different no doubt (bigger engine, bigger RIB), and I am sure that somebody will be able to help you more specifically.

Cheers,

Ed

[Darren Bruce]

Hi,

I am in the same boat, so to speak. I will be purchasing a 6.5M as a safety boat for the company I work for and I did a similar thing at the Southampton Boat show of walking around asking peoples opinion. Some say 2 stroke as there are less moving parts to go wrong, but personnally I think 4 stroke because they are smoother and quieter. There are as many people prefering Honda than people prefering Mercury and although Mercury have been around for a long time I do like the Japanese for their motoring quality. Honda carry 5yr warranty as oppose to the standard 2 or 3yr. In the high power range (150-275HP) The Merc 275 Super charged was by far the quietest even at 2000rpm and the Merc 150 provided excellent performance on a 6.5M but I think the 4 blade prop mades a difference. so, who ever gives you the better deal... I don't think you would be disappointed with either.

I would like to know what you decide in the end...

:-)

[Lostboy]

I am a bit two-stroke fan as my Evinrude has been quiet, economical (10l/hour average for the past two seasons), is lighter than a four stroke (important on a light boat!) and is reliable. Given that this model is now superseded by the quieter, allegedly more economical and even simpler (and therefore perhaps even more reliable) ETEC then I don't see the point of going down the heavy, expensive-service-cost route of a 4-stroke.

[Jelly]

Putting it crudely it depends what you want your boat to do !
Safety / stand-by work where you are pottering around a lot then I would look at 4 strokes
If you want to play with water toys etc and need the hull shot then 2 strokes win every time.
If you are some where in between on your requirements thats were it gets a bit gray
James

[Ian M]

My cars have always been 4 strokes, my bikes have usually been 4 strokes (except the racing ones ), but it is 2 stroke every time for my outboards. Forget the arguments about fuel economy, there is nothing to choose in this area between a modern 2 stroke and 4 stroke. My reasons are the lighter weight of a 2 stroke, lower servicing costs, and they usually sound better ( and coming from someone like me who can remember the glorious sounds of various 4 stroke racing machines from the late 60's and 70's that is saying something).

[Rib Master]

Thanks for the feedback.

I think I am pretty much decided on an Optimax 225.

The Boatshow was an interesting yet confusing time.

I nearly went Suzi 250 with vvt but then the price is a bit painful...

Based on Optimax tried and tested engines and price at the moment, I don't think I can go wrong with this choice.

Currently I am at £10k all fitted to a new 8.3Mtr but that may be subsidised by the rib manufacturer..

[Lostboy]

Right decision regarding the number of strokes, wrong engine , IMHO!

[iainmartins]

don't worry the optimax is a good engine and it is well proven, and the spark plugs last more than 50hrs like they do on a lot of e-tec's. Were problems in the past with powerheads breaking, but I know loads of people with them that think they are the best.

[Roy Smith]

I am a four stroke fan but i would change if some one could tell me what i would gain by going 2 stroke, have you looked at Yamaha.
If you are looking at powering a 8 mt rib you need a good engine.
and in the real world we did Northney Marina to St Peters Port Guernsey
112 miles average speed 38 kt fuel used 177 lts
I think the Verado and the Suzuki are just as good just depends what you are happy with. there is also the resale value to take into account
I can only speak from my experience.