Engine weight

[QBhoy]

The last year of the Hydro-Electric gear shift. Back in those Days it was always a delight to see what new engines were being introduced and HP upgrades over the Previous Year. The V6s were still about 3 yrs from Production. These days the motors don't even have a Model Year. As for "New and Improved"? Todays Outboards are as exciting as a 3 hp Briggs and Straton lawn mower engine

Had a wee chuckle out loud there at the briggs and Stratton .
Are you not slightly taken by the idea of a v8/v10/v12 modern merc with a switched exhaust as standard on the touch screen dash ? Being able to afford one however…is a different matter for sure.
Said it before. This new merc i have now is an amazing thing…but I wasn’t the one that had to buy it new. Price of these things are eye watering to me.

 

[racerone]

I think the motors are just as exiting.------Your opinions and values have changed over 50 years.

 

[ahicks]

That and the fact about any motor you look at will be whisper quiet as compared the the one you have....

Unless this boat has a really wide or deep transom, there is no way I would bolt 360lbs to the back of it. Find a lighter option or a different hull.

 

[jimmbo]

The 4 strokes don't have the Sound the 2 Strokes had. The uneven firing order of the OMC Crossflows, certainly sounded unique, and the Merc V6 had their own Chugging. The OMC V4s also had their own sound as did the Merc Inline 6s.
When you ran the 2 Stokes on the Muffs, they Snapped, Crackled, and Popped, the 4 Strokes just sound like a well muffled Lawn Mower

 

[QBhoy]

The 4 strokes don't have the Sound the 2 Strokes had. The uneven firing order of the OMC Crossflows, certainly sounded unique, and the Merc V6 had their own Chugging. The OMC V4s also had their own sound as did the Merc Inline 6s.
When you ran the 2 Stokes on the Muffs, they Snapped, Crackled, and Popped, the 4 Strokes just sound like a well muffled Lawn Mower

Can’t disagree terribly with that and probably the same thoughts I had and still have about most 4 strokes. But playing devils advocate, those v8 and v10 mercs don’t sound too offensive to the ear. Even the merc 225 v6 4 stroke ain’t too terrible either. Was on a rib with one a few years ago. Jeez she went as well as most 200/225 v6 2 strokes I’ve known. Got to 60 mph in lightning quick time.
Here is a link to a video I took. Was surprised at its pick up.

 

[ahicks]

Properly propped, 4 stroke acceleration isn't something most will ever be sorry about/find lacking. They're torque monsters....

Picking out the right one is WAY more likely going to be about weight on the smaller boats.....

 

[racerone]

Picking the " perfect " motor depends on many factors.---------For me a perfect motor might be a 1966 Johnson 100 HP.-----Battery / points / coil / distributor.----With simple electric shift.----Easy to maintain.----But for some it might be a new 4 stroke 100 HP.----Invest big$ if you have that.----Save $400 on fuel.---Spend that $400 on annual service at the dealer.-----It is a different decision for everybody.

 

[ahicks]

Picking the " perfect " motor depends on many factors.---------For me a perfect motor might be a 1966 Johnson 100 HP.-----Battery / points / coil / distributor.----With simple electric shift.----Easy to maintain.----But for some it might be a new 4 stroke 100 HP.----Invest big$ if you have that.----Save $400 on fuel.---Spend that $400 on annual service at the dealer.-----It is a different decision for everybody.

Points? Elec. shift? OH NO!!!
If a 50hp 4stroke was out of the question for whatever reason, It would likely a low time 85hp Johnnyrude here...... :^)

 

[racerone]

Points and electric shift are NOT a challenge for some folks.---And do not require $100+ / HR shop support.---Just look at ECU prices and availability for some " modern " 20 year old motors.

 

[jimmbo]

Picking the " perfect " motor depends on many factors.---------For me a perfect motor might be a 1966 Johnson 100 HP.-----Battery / points / coil / distributor.----With simple electric shift.----Easy to maintain.----...

We had the 65 90hp. As you said it was easy to maintain, as long as you didn't mess with the Floats, all 4 of them. The 90 still had the itty bitty Prop, and almost no gear reduction, unlike your 100

1966 100hp, does't show the thumbnails

 

[QBhoy]

Picking the " perfect " motor depends on many factors.---------For me a perfect motor might be a 1966 Johnson 100 HP.-----Battery / points / coil / distributor.----With simple electric shift.----Easy to maintain.----But for some it might be a new 4 stroke 100 HP.----Invest big$ if you have that.----Save $400 on fuel.---Spend that $400 on annual service at the dealer.-----It is a different decision for everybody.

Sounds like an expensive service there. Merc allow and encourage you these days to service your own. They even mark the service items now. Costs pennies and doesn’t void the warranty when using oem parts. Just log the maintenance on the vessel view and it records it on the database worldwide. Any dealer can then log in and see the history and service details. Very modern thinking, I thought !
We all love an old 2 stroke…but nostalgia plays a big part in this, I suspect

 

[racerone]

Most people if willing , can learn about maintaining / testing an older motor and simple systems.---Yes they do need attention.-----New 4 strokes start and run until they don't.----Then for most folks it is a trip to the shop. -----Scary for those who are on a budget.----Ecu / EMM units can be anywhere from $2000 ( beer tokens ) to $8000 on a 4 stroke Verrado.-----Many parts / components on 4 strokes can not be repaired.

 

[QBhoy]

Most people if willing , can learn about maintaining / testing an older motor and simple systems.---Yes they do need attention.-----New 4 strokes start and run until they don't.----Then for most folks it is a trip to the shop. -----Scary for those who are on a budget.----Ecu / EMM units can be anywhere from $2000 ( beer tokens ) to $8000 on a 4 stroke Verrado.-----Many parts / components on 4 strokes can not be repaired.

Fair comment for sure.

 

[jimmbo]

When it comes to 2 Stokes, I love em, except for the FICHT. I had a 98 150, and though it never Blew Up, it was in the shop for multiple Updates to the ECU, new Cylinder Heads, Indexing of Spark Plugs, and eventually a complete 2001 Powerhead. All this was during the Warranty Period so I wasn't too worried, however as the Warranty was about expire, I was wondering how long till it needs more stuff on my Dime. I decided to trade it in on an I/O and a fresh Warranty. When the 2001 Powerhead was being inspected, the Mechanic noted "a neat little Score" on one of the Cylinder Walls. It didn't affect the Trade-in Valve that was agreed to prior, but I was certainly happy to be rid of that Ticking Bomb. OMC renamed the FICHTs as RAM Ficht, but they were still the same Ticking Bombs.

 

[racerone]

Know of a dealer that REFUSED to order in the early FICHT motors.-----Long time Evinrude shop.-----They lifted his dealership status.-----No regrets on his part.----It was a corporate blunder to not support the small shops that gave OMC a good reputation in the 1960's

 

[airshot]

I’d normally agree for sure. But comparing the 115 version (same engine but ecu different) to the 2 stroke equivalent, the new 4 stroke is lighter, faster and the rest. There isn’t a 115 2 stroke on the planet that would come close to that new 2.1l 4 stroke 115. It even dusted the 125 optimax in a recent same boat test. On acceleration and top end. Incredible. Lighter too.

You may be correct, but so far....my research and talking to fellow boaters, many have not been impressed with the 4 strokes, especially when you consider their cost. Your comparisons are the first I have heard about where the 4 stroke out performs the 2 stroke. Fuel economy by all means yes, but overall performance..seeing is believing...

 

[jimmbo]

Are you not slightly taken by the idea of a v8/v10/v12 modern merc with a switched exhaust as standard on the touch screen dash ?

No.
I see a huge Heavy Monster hanging on the back of boat, as for 'Switched Exhaust', I see a Major Reliability Problem, remember the the old Heat Riser Valves on Auto/Truck engines? Those things seized up regularly, and weren't always easy to free up. If that exhaust is to dump the waste and noise above waterline, then a Ban on their usage closer than 8 miles from any shoreline

 

[airshot]

Sounds like an expensive service there. Merc allow and encourage you these days to service your own. They even mark the service items now. Costs pennies and doesn’t void the warranty when using oem parts. Just log the maintenance on the vessel view and it records it on the database worldwide. Any dealer can then log in and see the history and service details. Very modern thinking, I thought !
We all love an old 2 stroke…but nostalgia plays a big part in this, I suspect

Fancy electronics makes self service look quite simple, same with your auto...these new digital dashboards tell you everything you want to know about your vehicle and probably some things you don't want to know ...lol...
However, when that digital dash goes haywire...neighbors cost 2200 just for a replacement unit without labor !! Programming was another 400 bucks and you cant do that yourself !! While all these new fangled electronics appear to be great....when they go haywire...it is gonna cost you big time !!

 

[jimmbo]

Self Service sells a lot of Unneeded Parts. Car owners are prime examples of that. They see the Check Engine Light, hook up a Scanner, Scanner says Code*** saying a Sensor is reading an Engine Parameter that is out of Range, so the owner puts in a New Sensor. Sensor was likely not the problem... It was reporting a Condition caused by something else. But the Parts Suppliers love this cause they sell a lot more parts

 

[ahicks]

You may be correct, but so far....my research and talking to fellow boaters, many have not been impressed with the 4 strokes, especially when you consider their cost. Your comparisons are the first I have heard about where the 4 stroke out performs the 2 stroke. Fuel economy by all means yes, but overall performance..seeing is believing...

Hate to sound like a parrot, but working with a 16' boat, it's pretty hard to compare similarly rated 2 stroke performance with 4 stroke performance when you have a 250 lb motor in one hand and a 400 lb motor in the other. That's not going to work out well until you get into a larger boat, where the difference in weight between the 2 make less difference.