Carbed Motors...Wow

[Tuckman]

Hey guys,

I have been looking for a new boat for a while now. My 94' stratos 285pxl with a 150 'rude intruder on back has been a great boat for me but now I am finally out of school, have a solid job and am ready to move on to another boat.

I am not really interested in getting a larger boat, mostly just a more modern rig with updated electronics. With the trend in fuel prices I have decided I would be perfectly happy with a boat with another 150 on back and I will not go larger that a 200. (My 150 intruder is getting less then 3mpg)

Most of the lakes around here have 45 mph speed limits anyway 

The first thing I noticed in my boat search is how much more expensive boats with direct injected motors tend to run. I started to research the difference in carbed vs DI outboards and what I have found out has been a real eye opener to me. It seems that research shows that with a carb motor aprox 30% of the fuel is unused and is emmitted into the water. This number is staggering to me. I have decided that I will now gladly be paying the extra 2 grand for a DI motor to protect the waters that provide me with so much enjoyment.

Any thoughts on this?

[=Matt 5.0=]

Well, that explains why the water at our summer house smells like unleaded... 

I just picked up a 186XT with a 115 ETEC. Haven't run it yet.

[DINK WHISPERER]

HMMM................never heard that before. Glad i got a Merc EFI. Not bad at all on fuel, better than my old carb Merc 150.

[SDoolittle]

HMMM................never heard that before. Glad i got a Merc EFI. Not bad at all on fuel, better than my old carb Merc 150.

I've heard that the Mercury EFIs sucked fuel. I'm glad I got an Optimax.

[basspro215]

hey tucker happy b-day by the way you wanna sell your boat??

[DINK WHISPERER]

HMMM................never heard that before. Glad i got a Merc EFI. Not bad at all on fuel, better than my old carb Merc 150.

I've heard that the Mercury EFIs sucked fuel. I'm glad I got an Optimax.

Mine doesn't, even at WOT it is not bad at all.

[Tuckman]

hey tucker happy b-day by the way you wanna sell your boat??

Thanks Todd...Im actually giving my stratos 285 to my little brother...he turned 16 and got his permit this winter and should be driving by bass season and he loves to do tournaments so I'm leaving it up to him to keep the family name in the money at cayuta and waneta lamoka...I will be around for a few of the home tournaments but I will be out on the bigger lakes for the most part this season. Hows your new rig?

[Jig Man]

Go for the DI or 4 stroke because if EPA keeps going that will be all we are allowed to put on the water.  Carbs and EFI have been banned from some waters for the last several years.

[Fishing Rhino]

Go for the DI or 4 stroke because if EPA keeps going that will be all we are allowed to put on the water. Carbs and EFI have been banned from some waters for the last several years.

Reading this concerned me since my new boat has a Mercury EFI gasoline engine. So, I did a search, and this is what I came up with.

"The following engines are no longer legal on Tahoe Region lakes:

Any engine that does not meet the U.S. EPA 2006 or the California Air Resources Board (CARB) 2001 emissions standard, including:

Electronically Fuel Injected (EFI) or Rotax Fuel Injected (RFI) two-stroke engines purchased before January 27, 1999

Any carbureted two-stroke engines

Any engine that meets the US EPA 2001 standard only"

While EFI engines are on the banned list, it is those that are eleven years old, not the newer models.

And for California, it is only the pre 1998 EFI which are banned.

"Engine Requirements.

To be allowed onto the reservoirs, you'll need the cleaner burning models that comply with California Air Resources Board emission standards for model year 2001 or later (or the equivalent 2006 standard set by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency)

With the exception of personal watercraft, all four-cycle engines (regardless of year) are allowed on DVL and Lake Skinner.

If your engine is model year 2001 or later , and made by the following major marine engine manufacturers , it should comply:

Johnson and Evinrude.

Honda Motor Corp.

Yamaha Motor Corp.

Suzuki Motor Corp.

Tohatsu Corp.

Mercury Marine.

Nissan Marine.

If you are still not sure look for the stars New technology engines (model year 2001 and later) have a one-to-three star decal showing they comply with emission standards. Or check for the label EPA-certified engines from 1998 to 2000 display an Emission Control Information label that shows it complies with 2001 (or later) California emission regulations for spark-ignition marine engines.

For supporting details, check the owner's manual or the manufacturer's Web site.

What about pre-1998 engines?

Pre-1998 two-cycle engines that use carburetors or electronic fuel injection (EFI) technology, will not comply with the combustion engine requirements for use on DVL or Lake Skinner"

The others I've found which banned the EFI engines were the same. It is the pre 1998 EFI engines which are banned, not those manufactured after 1998.

[Tuckman]

The EFI motors are more efficient than the carbed motors, but not nearly as efficient as direct injection. The numbers I have found show that DI motors are able to burn effectively 97-99% of the fuel, leaving very little emiitted into the environment

[donmac]

Can you even buy a carbureted or EFI big block these days? Most, if not all, are direct injected or four-strokes.

The old carb'd motors do suck up a lot of fuel and smoke. I had a 200 merc on a 20' Ranger in the early 90's and, at WOT, I could literally watch my fuel gauge go down. I just picked an old Ranger with a similar 150 - I haven't seen it suck up the fuel too bad yet since I'm keeping the rpm's under 4k for now, until my confidence is greater in the motor. But the old blackmax isn't any where near as smooth as the efi.

I have a 200 merc efi on another Ranger and that motor has been good on fuel and rock solid since day one. I started using Cabela's low smoke oil 5 or so years ago and the sucker doesn't even smoke much any more. It is a great motor. Optimax had just recently come up when I ordered that boat and I was advised to go with EFI over Optimax since the new Optis on the pro circuit were blowing heads left and right - Mercury hadn't gotten the injection timing down 100% yet. They're obviously fine now.

My next big motor will very likely be a four-stroke.

[basspro215]

thats cool but i will feel bad taking his  money lol,but my boat is pretty good i just have to get used to driving it

[Fishbone]

There is no way a two stoke carbed engine is blowing 30 % fuel in the water. One cigarette would light up the whole boat and surrounding water.

[Tuckman]

There is no way a two stoke carbed engine is blowing 30 % fuel in the water. One cigarette would light up the whole boat and surrounding water.

I did not type it up as clearly as I should have. Not all of that 30% going into the water in raw fuel form,  but it is not being consumed by the motor either. Much of this unburned gas and oil ends up in vapor form so it isn't always left in the water, but it still ends up in the environment.

The 30% number was not just made up either...do some research.

[burleytog]

Gas and oil come from the earth.  Therefore they are good for the earth.

I'm just helping the environment with my 2 stroke.

[Bigs]

I have a 200 johnson gt motor on my stratos. Its from the early 90's and man does it suck gas down. I probably get around 1 mpg with it. Every time I go out and fish I use probably 5-7 gallons of fuel. It is reliable tho and runs well. This was my first glass boat and I wanted to learn on something older and cheaper. But more and more now I'm wanting something more fuel efficient.

[fishfordollars]

Lord, i love the smell of a 2 stroke in the mornings.

[=Matt 5.0=]

Gas and oil come from the earth. Therefore they are good for the earth.

I'm just helping the environment with my 2 stroke.

That's why I dump my used motor oil behind the garage. Back to the earth.