2 stroke obsolete?

[hipster_dufus]

i have been doing some research and am unable to find any motor mfgs making new 2 strokes. i was worried about the weght issue  of a 9.9 hp. johnson lists theirs at 74# a nissan or tohatsu 4 stroke lists at 81#. not much of a difference. the johnson was the only new 2 stroke info i could find. even the used motor prices on 2 strokes approached the price on new 4 strokes.  anyone been shopping out there? if weight is not that big an issue anymore, is the 4 stroke the bettr buy?

[Way2slow]

Other than a Johnson, about the only new two strokes you will find are DFI motors.  BRP is still able to make the carburated Johnson because with EPA numbers they are able to get with the e-Tec, they still have a low enough overall production average to produce the dirty carb motors.  However the Johnson carbed two stroke is short lived and Johnson will eventually BRP's fourstroke line.

As for worrying about a two stroke motor you buy now being obsolete and non supported with parts.  I don't think any Johnson, Evinrude, Mercury or Yamaha two stroke you buy today will be non repairable for a long, long, time to come, not gonna say about any of the other brands.

As for two strokes in the distant future, I look for the e-Tec to be around many years, Merc and Yamaha might keep their DFI motors going for years also it they can keep on meeting EPA requirements as they get tougher.  The rest of the companys have pretty much droped the idea of two strokes and went with the four strokes.  I would still take a two stroke any day of the week over a four stroke.  They have a much higher power to weight ratio, plus they are much cheaper and easier to maintain

[senile1]

This happened to dirt bikes in the 90s.  Even thought the two stroke was lighter and more powerful, they were unable to meet EPA requirements.  You can still buy them for motocross but that's about it.  

[Raul]

I 'm having the crazy idea of upgrading my outboard from 6.5 to 9.9 HP, sell my  6.5 milkshaker and purchasing a 9.9, the difference in price isn 't THAT great, 2 stroke $1675, 4 stroke $1800; but the difference in size and weight was quite noticeable, the 2 stroke looked like a toy right next to the 4 stroke and there was a difference in weight of over 20 pounds. I don 't have the problem of EPA regulations but I do have the problem of the weight issue since I cartop the boat while the outboard goes in the bed of my SUV, at 110 pounds the 4 stroke 9.9 becomes immediately in an unmovable object for me, the outboard weights as much as I do and I ain 't that strong.

[cart7t]

As way2slow said, they'll continue to make them till they can no longer effectively meet EPA requirements so that may be quite a while.  I still don't see any real advantages of the 4 right now.  The gas mileage aspect is just about out the door but that's somewhat negated in favor of the 2 stroke since the 4's weigh more.  Add in the added 4 stroke maintenance costs, many which MUST be performed by authorized factory mechanics and the only thing left those 4's have going for them is the noise factor.

Not worth it in my book.

[hipster_dufus]

Raul, i dont know if u have nissan/tohatsu dealers around they list their 9.9 @ 81 # i suppose the mercury weighs the same.the hondas, yamahas,and suzukis are quite a bit heavier

[RobDar]

... maintenance costs, many which MUST be performed by authorized factory mechanics  

and right there you get the very heart of marine dealers passion and push of the four stroke...service dollars!

[cart7t]

Don't forget the ancillary costs no one talks about.  

Since the 4 strokers weigh more, the boat manufacturers have had to push the beam width of the boats out a few inches to compensate.  Those inches result in more pounds to push for the engine AND more pounds to tow with the tow vehicle.  The gain in mileage with the 4 stroke is nearly eliminated if you took a narrower boat and put a newer, efficient, lighter 2 stroke OB on it, both in engine and tow vehicle mileage.  When you consider a 4 stroke isn't nearly as torquey as a 2 stroker, you're going to feel a performance degradation to a degree.  Don't forget the cost of that hull went up too when they had to bump the beam width out to compensate for the heavier 4 stroke motor.

What are you gaining?  Nothing.

[Raul]

Raul, i dont know if u have nissan/tohatsu dealers around they list their 9.9 @ 81 # i suppose the mercury weighs the same.the hondas, yamahas,and suzukis are quite a bit heavier

No dealers near, I made the comparison at Academy, they had both outboards, that 's why I said the 2 stroke looked like a toy right next to the 4 stroke, 75 pounds is what the 9.9 stroke weights vs 110 pounds of the 9.9 four stroke.