Hello Boys,

I'm in the market for a 9.9 to 15hp outboard (and a 14ft jon).  If I run across a really good used rig, it'll probably be a 2-stroke, I guess.  If, however, I can't find a good used one at a price I'm happy with, I'll need to decide between a new 2 or 4 stroke motor.

As I understand it; the 2-strokes are lighter and a fuzz cheaper to buy, the 4-strokes are smoother, quieter and cheaper on gas.  But how much smoother, quieter and easier on gas are they?

Since the 2006 EPA standards are so strict- if I wait until spring for a new outboard will my only choice be 4-strokes?

Thanks,

I have had 4 stroke motors since they first they first came out and would never go back to a two stroke. True, they are a little heavier but it's a good tradeoff for great gas milage, no noise, smoke, smell,  and they will troll forever without fouling you plugs, also they are easier to start. I have a 9.8 Nisson 4 stroke on a Lowe 14' Jon, with just me in it  I can run wide open as 25 mph, kinda spooky in such a small boat but not bad for the HP. At idle or trolling you cannot hear the motor run 10 feet away, wide open it also is very quite as compared to a two stroke. Also, many "greeny" lakes they are banning two stroke motors due to oil in the water could be the wave of the future, who knows...Bob

For what little gas that small of a motor burns, I wouldn't let fuel consumption influence my decission.

If it's a motor you're going to be taking on and off, Two stroke.

If you fish federal parks, Four stroke, I think two stroke everthing are banded in federal parks.

Cost of repair and maintenance, Two stroke

Quiteness, Four stroke.  However, a new two stroke is not going to be a noise maker.

Right now, you need to cnsider either one a disposable motor and I would go with a reliable name brand. Four stroke technnology is constantly changing so parts will probable be out of date/no longer available several years from now on these early motors. Two stroke are getting pushed out and manufactors are dropping/discontinueing a lot of parts as they are used up. In this area, I would have to lean toward the two stroke. There are so many and the little motors have changed very little over the past few years, someone will be making aftermarket parts for them for a long time to come.

i went through the same dilema a few months ago when i was outfitting my small boat w/a new motor.

i decided on the 2 stroke for a number of reasons, but, i guess the main one being that i've used 2 strokes all my life & "it's hard to teach an old dog new tricks!"  LOL

btw, either way, you'll be happy to have a new outboard!

I have a 9.8 Nisson 4 stroke on a Lowe 14' Jon, with just me in it  I can run wide open as 25 mph, kinda spooky in such a small boat but not bad for the HP.

I had no idea that a 10hp motor could push a 14' jon that fast!

As long as the motor can plane a 14' jon with me, the wife (300lbs combinded) plus our gear, I'm happy.  I guess a 10hp motor could do that?  ...Would I have to run it wide open to plane with the both of us in it?

9.9 will push a 14 ft jon pretty good with your load.  Don't know about 25 mph but no you won't have to run WOT to keep on plane.  However unless you're doing a lot of twisting and turning up a river, you'll find you will be WOT most of the time.  Keep in mind, these motors are built to run wide open all day long, especially a two stroke, so don't feel your'e hurting the motor running WOT.  On a couple of the small rivers where the state has a 10 hp limit, I run a 9.9 Johnson on mine and with over 300 lbs in it, you still have to slow down for some of turns.   The rest of the time I run a 25 Merc and the little sucker will haul butt with that one on it.   It feels like it's faster than my 16' Fisher with a 50 on it.

ben do you run that 25 on the 14 foot boat? If so how fast do you think it runs?

Hookless...My 150 lb (empty) 14Ft. Jon with me in it (220 lbs).electric troll motor, battery, fuel and to much tackle will do 25 mph on the dephfinder spedo, if I add my big butted 250 lb fishing partner in the middle seat speed is down to 15-18 mph, still on a plane and still will get you where you want to go. Fuel consumption isn't even a issue as it burns so little. At 25 mph you have to watch big boat wakes as the little tin can  boat will go airborne and has a rather rough bone shakeing landing with the flat bottom. Sure is a fun little bass killer and I can get way back in the swamps where the real bass live and the big glass v bottom hot rods can't get, also having the electric troll motor on the transom makes it pretty weed free as compared to a bow mounted unit.

FL_Fisher,

Yes, I run a 25 on a 14' jon.  I've run it on a 1432, 1436 and 1442.  On the narrower boats, it can get a little hairy, you don't make quick turns.   I have no idea how fast it pushes the 1436, I've never used my GPS to check it.  Don't even know how fast the Fisher is.  I run those in the rivers and upper end of shallow back waters where I can't run my bass boat.  When you get in narrow water, it seems like they are flying,  but get in big water, they all seem extremely slow compared to my bass boat.

just the thread iam looking for.i have a G3 1444 that weighs 270 empty, add me tackle tm batteries etc, probably 600 lbs. will a 9.9 or an8 hp push it pretty good? will a 5 hp push it? i thinking of maybe the b&s  5 hp, or saving some more bread and going to a tohatsu 8 or 9.9. i am not looking for speed, just the ability to fish larger lakes safely.

I htought the only way you could get a G3 was with a Yamaha, thought that was their package deal line.

I would not go smaller than a 9.9 on that boat, I seriously doupt you would be happy with anything smaller.  It's going to be somewhat slow with a 9.9.  A 25 would make a good little motor for that boat.  It would definetly pay you to ride in a similar boat with similar load with 9.9 before going that small.

As for the Tohatsu/Nissan, don't think I would go that route either.  Yea, you save a few bucks up front, but their parts will eat your lunch when you have it repaired.

If you want to spend two grand,buy the Yamaha 25 HP in 2 stroke with the tiller handle.You will be more than happy.It will haul butt.

Also the Evinrude E-TEC 25 horse is an Awesome Motor, i have read really good things about these motors.

Someone correct me if I am wrong but you did say portable small motor. You can't lay a 4-Stroke down in the back of your truck like you do with the 2-Strokes. Remember they have a oil sump with a couple qt's of oil in them, big mess in the truck or oil going by the rings and hydraulic locking the motor. They have to stand up during transportation. Like I said if I'am wrong correct me, not to old to learn.

i dont think my ideas got across. i fish mainly small reservoirs or electric only lakes. some have a hp limit. iam looking for a motor that will be cheap to run, that i can remove if i have to, that will allow me to fish larger lakes with safety. iam not a speed demon. now will a 9.9 do or maybe a fifteen? i prefer a 4 stroke for ease of maintenance, the 2 stroke would have to be a great deal.

 i prefer a 4 stroke for ease of maintenance, the 2 stroke would have to be a great deal.

Just curious...other than pre-mixing fuel, why do you think a 4 stroke is easier to maintain than a 2 stroke?

Age and size might play a role in this also. For a motor I was going to be taking on and off and having the man handle, I would get a 9.9 or 15 two stroke. Many of the 9.9 and 15's are the same weight motor, just have a little different porting, carb and intakes.

Once a motor gets into the 100 lb size, they get awful hard on the back and body unless you're young, 6'0 and weigh 200 pounds. I'm old, 6'1" weigh 210 and don't like lifting the 25 Merc or 9.9 Johnson on/off my jon, and use hand trucks to move the 25 around.

As for easy maintenance, I think you have it backwards, there's no motor any easier or cheaper to maintain than a two stroke. The key to both motors is not using old gas and purge the fuel system if they are not going to be used for long periods.