Thread: 2 stroke vs 4 stroke outboard. 5-8 hp range

changing prop is easy..just buy different pitch model.
we had a 6hp mercury 4 stroke on the 13 ft tinny for years....awesome wee motor and mate did we abuse the hell out of it. some huge loads at duckshooting time and she just chugged along and got us there,never gave any issues...would push boat along well and plane if flying solo. top speed of close to 30kmph
kids left home,bit of spare $$ and 2 stroke 15hp merc comes up for sale for under 2k..we onsold the wee 6 for over half that!!!! after 15 years of use n abuse.
wife n I get up to lake with the 2 big dogs in boat,we lauch from ramp,putter out into lake past marker bouy,point out into lake and I open throttle a bit and pop it up onto plane..Mrs eyes pop out of head in shock "why did we fuck around with small motor for so long??" she says laughing...
goes good aye I reply....then twist throttle right open..she nearly poops jeans as boat rockets forward to 40kmph
duckshooting loaded to gunnels..4 people,drums of decoys,packs etc...get out onto lake,I twist throttle and the bitch pops up onto plane...farkin scarey having big weight like that up balancing so dropped it back into water and chugged along.
2 stroke is lighter,4 stroke SLIGHTLY quieter and less fumey if trolling.... go up in HP and fuel burn goes up noticably.....(dont believe stories of "someone" having to row boat back for last load of gear first duck season with new motor,then draining dregs from chainsaw to get back to boat ramp)... the bigger HP is great if wind comes up and need to boogie into safety quickly,it also means we skip over waves instead of surf along them...