4 stroke or not
I have a 1996 Savage Scorpion 485 with a 50hp 2 stroke mercury outboard and have been considering repowering with a used low hours motor.
I know that modern 4 stroke motors are very fashionable and highly rated at the moment for fuel effiecency, low noise, reliability etc but my question is what were the 4 stroke motors like before EFI and all the new bells and whistles and are they worth considering for my situation.
The oil pump on my current motor is damaged in a way that would require it being pulled apart to fix and the mechanic said once you pull it apart then you might as well rebuild it. Currently the motor smokes alot at idle and the mechanic mentioned that because I am premixing the fuel at 50:1 while at idle the motor is actually getting too much oil and a correctly working oil injection system would stop this problem. The boat is slightly under powered and would take up to a 80hp according to the plate.
Thanks
fishcrazy
Posts: 1235
Date Joined: 27/01/07
4stroke
Four stroke over 2 anyday
Trailcraft570
Posts: 124
Date Joined: 06/11/13
go 4
4 stroke ...definitely
Oldbull
Posts: 179
Date Joined: 21/09/15
early 4 strokes
such as Honda were carby models not efi. Seen a few that had gummed up carbies if not used regularly. Other than that 4 stroke all the way and I favour yammy or suzy.
ranmar850
Posts: 2702
Date Joined: 12/08/12
Older 4 strokes can be good.
But can you find one that isn't already very well worn? They've been EFI'd for a long time now. As others have said, the older 90HP Hondas, for example, the first of the four strokes, have been excellent--I personally know of two that were installed not long after they first came out, and they are still going strong, but you really wouldn't want to buy one that old, would you? I bought a F115 Yamaha, 2007 model, with 1400 hrs on it for $5K. I've done over 200 hrs on it since, no issues. These things depreciate, dollar-wise, like modern cars. Ypu can get them almost new for less than 2/3 of new price.
opsrey
Posts: 1200
Date Joined: 05/10/07
Weight is your issue
be careful about the weight you have hanging off the rear. The early Savages don't do well with near maximum weight on transom.
a 75hp would be the most you need. I have the 525 Osprey with a 90 and it's just fine for the power.
+1 for the 4 strokes, but weight is the primary issue.
dodgy
Posts: 4577
Date Joined: 01/02/10
I had a savage osprey 4.8 as
I had a savage osprey 4.8 as my first boat. Virtually the same hull. I had a 70 yam 2 stroke and it was a good package. I think that the 60 Yamaha 4 stroke would be a good match for this hull as well. They have been on the market fairly unchanged for quite a few years and have proven themselves reliable. Can be had on the secondhand market quite cheap as well.
Does anyone know where the love of god goes, when the waves turn the minutes to hours?
carnarvonite
Posts: 8668
Date Joined: 24/07/07
Etec
Have a look at an Etec, plenty of grunt, less weight , less costs due to services every 300 hours and I think 500 with the newest models rather than every 100 for 4 strokes, and they don't have the oil smoke smell.
Rob H
Posts: 5797
Date Joined: 18/01/12
Interesting point that has
Interesting point that has been debated by many!
I just had a look on the Etec au website and the new warranty states
The following provides guidelines for inspection and maintenance to be performed by an Authorized Dealer.
And lists "impellor, anodes, and engine codes to be read" every 100 hrs/annual for both G1 and G2 among a list that looks quite similar to a 4 stroke at 100hrs beside the obvious.
There seems a fair bit of confusion with what the ads say and what the small print says?
Give a man a mask, and he'll show you his true face...
The older you get the more you realize that no one has a f++king clue what they're doing.
Everyone's just winging it.
MattG
Posts: 104
Date Joined: 09/09/09
4 Stroke
I run a late '90s model carbie 4 banger Honda. Great reliable motor. Wouldnt hesitate to repower with an appropriate motor from that era.
Johnnytheone
Posts: 11
Date Joined: 24/03/14
Four stroke vs two
The two strokes have a lot going for them; simplicity, instant power, light weight and price, but the smoothness, quietness and lack of smoke win you over pretty fast. Most of the ones you'd want are carbied, so they're fairly simple. I'd change if the money was do-able.