2 stroke Motors in Lakes

[roscoe]

In effect on some waters now.
New motors cannot be sold in CA unless they meet the CARB restrictions.
Most 2 stroke motors do not meet these new restrictions.


http://www.dbw.ca.gov/

Two-Stroke Engines
Carbureted and electronic-injection two-stroke engines are considered high emission engines and are prohibited on some lakes. Two-stroke engines are not "banned" for use on all waterways in California, nor is there any plan to do so.

http://www.dbw.ca.gov/TwoStroke/TwoStroke.asp


Two-stroke engines are not "banned" for use on all waterways in California, nor is there any plan to do so.
Carbureted and electronic-injection two-stroke engines are considered high-emission engines. Generally, these engines were manufactured prior to 1999.
A carbureted two-stroke engine can emit up to 25-30 percent of its fuel unburned into the water or atmosphere, which is why high-emission engines are prohibited on some lakes.
There are no salt-water or river restrictions in California on high-emission two-stroke engines, excluding personal watercraft (vessels such as Jet Skis) bans in some areas. For example, San Francisco has prohibited personal watercraft within 1200 feet of its shoreline. See "Local Restrictions" on our Web page for a list of lakes.
Direct injection two-stroke engines, made since 1999, are considered clean emission engines and can be used on every water body in California, with some exceptions not related to emission limits.
A new direct injection two-stroke engine will normally have a label sticker (with 1 to 3 stars) on its engine cover indicating that it meets California Air Resources Board emission regulations for 2001, 2004, and 2008 for vessel engine manufacturers.


http://www.dbw.ca.gov/TwoStroke/TSxp.asp
Boaters are concerned because their vessel repair shop, mechanic, or marine store has told them that soon they will no longer be able to legally use their vessel on California waterways.

The fact is, there is no statewide prohibition on the use of high emission two-stroke vessel engines statewide and there is no plan to prohibit them.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

As this moves throughout the US, direct injected 2-strokes will be allowed in general. Most burn slightly cleaner than 4-strokes. Old carbureted and EFI 2-strokes are the target.

 

[studlymandingo]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

So does this mean we can buy really cheap older 2-strokes???d8)

 

[SeaKaye12]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

Studlymandingo; you could have bought these Mercs real cheap. Last year, the Marina at Lake Casitas in Ventura County California scrapped their entire fleet of 2 stroke rental engines and replaced them with 4-stroke Yammies. The effort was subsidized ; the agreement being that the 2-strokes would be disabled; effectively taking them off the market. 2 stroke engines are still allowed on that lake and most other California lakes (Tahoe and other nearby lakes are a notable exception...) but when I re-power it will be with a 4-stroke or maybe an E-tec.

Take a close look...the blocks and lower units were punctured to prevent them from ever being "re-cycled"....except for parts.

Thanks for reading, Chuck

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

OH MY GOD! THEY BEACHED THEMSELVES!!!

 

[Bwalker]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

A little JB weld or a tig welder and your back in business?
Clearly the morons in Kalifornia didnt factor the pollution that goes into producing new negines to replace the ones they destroyed. They also didnt factory in that a small carberated four stroke pukes alot of unburnt fuel into the water as well, albeit less thana two stroke. Not to mention four strokes in general produce high levels of NOX, which two strokes do not.

 

[jake069]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

that pic is sickening

 

[MRS]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

I lake Skinner and New Diamond Lake you cannot run any 2 strokes.

 

[ricksrster]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

Our guns, our outboards!! Next will be our lawn mowers and leaf blowers.
There was an article in the paper here awhile back about why there aren't many smelt left in the Finger Lakes. It stated that we did such a good job of trying to keep the lakes clean, that the pollutates that the plant thrived on ( which actually cleans the lakes ) were lowered to the point where the plant life is disappearing which feeds the tiny animals that the smelt feed on which the trout feed on which we feed on.
We can politically correct ourselves out of existance.

 

[Chunder06]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

What's that white stuff on the legs of those motors????

 

[JB]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

CA is trying to limit emissions and oil pollution.

The key is the CA emissions regulations. If a new outboard doesn't meet them it is banned. That includes all carbed 2 strokes, many carbed 4 strokes and even some DFI 2 strokes. If it isn't certified, you can't sell it new in CA and can't use it used on many waters.

Destruction of carbed 2 strokes is, to me, a stupid move but they want all states to adopt their policy so they think they have prevented those engines from being used anywhere.

Might as well get a certified DFI 2 stroke or a certified EFI 4 stroke if you plan to boat in CA. Sell your uncertified engine on ebay now before it becomes illegal like 23 channel CB radios.

 

[seahorse5]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

If a new outboard doesn't meet them it is banned. That includes all carbed 2 strokes, many carbed 4 strokes and even some DFI 2 strokes. .

All DFI 2-strokes meet at least the minimum CA emission rating and are approved for all lakes allowing outboards in that state..

 

[Almeja]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

I wonder how much pollution was created in the manufacture of the replacement engines???

Refining the aluminum, creating the plastic parts, manufacturing, transport of materials (yada yada)... all that needs to be factored into decisions about 'reducing pollution'.

I wouldn't be surprised if the decision to scrap those engines resulted in a net increase in pollution. May be a case of not seeing the forest for the trees.

Along those lines, I read an interesting article the other day about the NET energy effeciency of 'hybrid' cars over their full lifespan (manufacture to scrap)... due to the complexity of the designs and materials needed... the 'big picture' wasn't as good as you'd think.

 

[Boatist]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

Many lakes have required 4 strokes motors since 1999 and continue to require it today.
These lakes are mostly lakes that supply drinking water to city's.
MTBE in motor fuels is what started the whole thing.
People could tast it in the drinking water so they band all 2 stroke motors
as they put more unburned fuel in the water than 4 stroke motors.

Today some of the 2 strokes are cleaner than 4 storkes but the 2 strokes are still band.
This includes Lake Tahoe.
See the link below for lakes for EAST BAY musipital utility district, EBMUD. This one is tipical.

Note in this 2006 update says 4 strokes are allowed.
Note also that it says 2 strokes are band.
It makes no mention of new motor standards for emission.
Today in California MTBE is not allowed in motor fuels and the tast and smell of MTBE was what started it all.

http://www.norcalfishing.com/sanpablo.html

 

[MrBigStuff]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

>Many lakes have required 4 strokes motors since 1999 and continue to require it today. These lakes are mostly lakes that supply drinking water to city's.

Wow. The drinking water reserviors in MA are off limits to any type of boat, even canoes. No swimming either. I kinda like it that way considering I'm drinking the stuff...

 

[Tony Hardwick]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

I can't find any information regarding older DFI two strokes. Specifically, did Mercury make a 90 hp DFI in 1997?

 

[F_R]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

It doesn't bother me one whit what they do in California. Just so they keep it there. Trouble is they keep trying to influence the rest of the nation to follow them. Buncha....

 

[SnappingTurtle]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

This is happening all over Germany right now and it is being pushed through at the best lakes.

Lakes where the wealthier have vacation homes and it is one way to keep the average “Joe” off “their” lakes. They have the money for the latest and greatest money can buy, so to them it is no big deal.

The Outboard industry, like the automobile industry, have also lobbied really hard to push these new changes in legislation through, as a way to force people to buy their new products in what is a very depressed market.

Anything the Government can somehow label as “Environmentally Green” is a easy sell, especially to those not effected, the non-boating public.

 

[mpsyamaha]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

Personally, Im hoping California really will slide off into the Pacific one of these days so all the yuppy liberals can stop making rules for everyone else.

 

[CATransplant]

Re: 2 stroke Motors in Lakes

Personally, Im hoping California really will slide off into the Pacific one of these days so all the yuppy liberals can stop making rules for everyone else.

Gosh, thanks. My parents live in California. I'll pass your wishes on to them.