For those who still have 2-strokes

[LikeLakes]

I just love the looks of those. CVX's and some other Carlson designs are still, to me, some of the best looking boats of their time. That has to fly with the 225, plus pretty much leave the water when you hammer it from a stop.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by LikeLakes

I just love the looks of those. CVX's and some other Carlson designs are still, to me, some of the best looking boats of their time. That has to fly with the 225, plus pretty much leave the water when you hammer it from a stop.

I think it would still be a good design today with a few mods, maybe stretch it like 3 - 4 feet, add a foot to the sides but keep the overall look and then add a U-shaped rear seat.

Everyone wants bow-riders these days, and they make sense in many ways, but having someone sitting in front of you while driving is not fun. I really prefer the closed bow/cockpit forward design. I find it interesting that Chris-Craft still keeps this design.

Well next time one of the boat manufacturers ask me for my opinion, I'll try to remember my own ideas

Oh, and I'll see if they can balance it out to use a heavy-ass 4 stroke on the back

[LikeLakes]

As long as you have twin 450 hp outboards ....

What you are describing, without the extra foot of beam, is pretty much a 24 Pantera or similar 24x7 boat. While I like bowriders for certain types of boats I'm in agreement with you about closed bow on performance and classic boats, also the practicality of not worrying as much about taking some water over the bow on a big lake like Winni.

Is your CVX a 20?

[LikeLakes]

One point I meant to add about modern 4-strokes .... and to be honest I don't know if this feature is available on 2-strokes, but I doubt it - a friend of mine with a Merc 150 4-stroke uses the trolling feature that lets him idle down to something like 350 rpm. The modern engine management systems are amazing.

[LIforrelaxin]

Originally Posted by LikeLakes

One point I meant to add about modern 4-strokes .... and to be honest I don't know if this feature is available on 2-strokes, but I doubt it - a friend of mine with a Merc 150 4-stroke uses the trolling feature that lets him idle down to something like 350 rpm. The modern engine management systems are amazing.

At this point it is likely that this can be achieve with a two stroke as well. The problem is companies don't want to keep adding new features to a market that is no longer their bread and butter....

4 Strokes are taking over the outboard Market, and that is something us 2 stoke fans have to live with. Companies aren't investing in research and development for 2 Strokes, it doesn't make sense. The Pontoon / Tri-toon market as well as the need for I/O motors to be CARB compliant, and have catalytic converters, has redirected R&D money into bigger stronger quieter outboards..... to drive the boating market forward........

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by LIforrelaxin

At this point it is likely that this can be achieve with a two stroke as well. The problem is companies don't want to keep adding new features to a market that is no longer their bread and butter....

4 Strokes are taking over the outboard Market, and that is something us 2 stoke fans have to live with. Companies aren't investing in research and development for 2 Strokes, it doesn't make sense. The Pontoon / Tri-toon market as well as the need for I/O motors to be CARB compliant, and have catalytic converters, has redirected R&D money into bigger stronger quieter outboards..... to drive the boating market forward........

And in truth those are the real driving factors in the current trend toward 4-stroke outboards. Other reasons stand farther down the line of justifications.

[Dave R]

I have a 2004 two stroke Mercury (pretty sure it's a re-badged Tohatsu) 15HP outboard on my 2020 RIB tender that runs great and planes out with two adults on board. I went with it because I already owned it (it came with my first tender) and it only weighs 72 lbs. A four stroke 15 HP to 20HP weighs over 110 lbs. I'd love to have the power of a 20HP four stroke, but I don't want the weight or complexity.

[AC2717]

Originally Posted by Dave R

I have a 2004 two stroke Mercury (pretty sure it's a re-badged Tohatsu) 15HP outboard on my 2020 RIB tender that runs great and planes out with two adults on board. I went with it because I already owned it (it came with my first tender) and it only weighs 72 lbs. A four stroke 15 HP to 20HP weighs over 110 lbs. I'd love to have the power of a 20HP four stroke, but I don't want the weight or complexity.

the smaller mercs are made by Tohatsu you are correct. and yes that is my issue is the weight of the 4 stroke vs if was a 2 stroke on such a small boat

[BroadHopper]

https://www.uti.edu/blog/marine/outb...ors-guide-2020

According to this article, it is pretty much a wash. It's all about personal preference and dealer support. Personally, I love the 2 strokes for my toys.

[LikeLakes]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

https://www.uti.edu/blog/marine/outb...ors-guide-2020

According to this article, it is pretty much a wash. It's all about personal preference and dealer support. Personally, I love the 2 strokes for my toys.

That has to be the most vanilla, no facts, no specifics article I've read in some time. It says each motor type has closed the gap on the other, but doesn't actually recommend anything. I think we already knew both tech's were improving.

[mofn]

1) As to XCR-700 and a $200 diagnostic charge, it's worse than that! I Was told Thursday during yearly tuneup from the owner he asked to know the hours on the motor, that was a $100 charge on the bill!
I should not have any of these issues with my Vessel View, issues/faults come right up on the screen. My only complaint is the Mercury instructions SUCK, you needed Youtube to figure out how to max out options.
2) New 2-strokes you can get them...Australia, New Zealand and few other island nations in the region. Before you order and ship one, I mail an item world wide just under 4 lbs. w/ U.S.P.S. it's over $50.
3) Weights being noted...from Google:
My 85 hp Force 255 lbs. max only once (on a.m. glass) in Alton Bay @21 mph.
After the 3rd toon was added dropped to 14ish mph.
My 175 hp 460 lbs. max 26 mph, before it died was 19 mph one cylinder not firing part was on order.
My 150 4-stroke 455 lbs. Doing 29 to 30.5 mph at W.O.T. @4350? RPM off the Vessel View. RPM range off Google says 5000-5800 not sure on mine but well under any number.
Weds Shep's to start of Alton Bay 11-12 mph, ripped it down the bay to the docks. Docks to West Alton Marina (22ish mph) 5.85 gallons. This means less gas/weight now in 2nd tank than years before...additional weight savings. Going to lower that tank to 3 gallons this week as the backup.
As I stated prior, I was dead set against a 4-stroke before last years rental. The instant start up Thursday and getting out of where I was in that wind is a further reason I'm glad for the move.

[ApS]

Originally Posted by BroadHopper

According to this article, it is pretty much a wash. It's all about personal preference and dealer support. Personally, I love the 2 strokes for my toys.

A friend asked to borrow my puddle-jumper to test a motor he bought for $12.50. Would this be an engine from the 1970s? (Photo below).

Once we'd turned the gas line switch to "on" it started right up. (An easy pull, although the 2-cylinder is rated easier to start).

After a brief warm-up, we headed into a strong wind. Only after not knowing how much gasoline was in the integral tank, we turned back. All in all, I was impressed.

My 1970s 3-HP was far quieter, with less vibration. When I'd visited neighbors, they would ask "Is it running?" (When it was running). Very light, I'd made a bracket to adapt the engine to my 15-foot aluminum canoe.

[LikeLakes]

I used a few of those 2 HP on friend's sailboats. Amazingly light and very reliable, sipped gas. I found them a bit noisy as well, not so much loud as kind of buzzy. My older 3 is smoother and quieter, I assume that's because it has a full cowl.

[8gv]

Originally Posted by Dave R

I have a 2004 two stroke Mercury (pretty sure it's a re-badged Tohatsu) 15HP outboard on my 2020 RIB tender that runs great and planes out with two adults on board. I went with it because I already owned it (it came with my first tender) and it only weighs 72 lbs. A four stroke 15 HP to 20HP weighs over 110 lbs. I'd love to have the power of a 20HP four stroke, but I don't want the weight or complexity.

I have that same motor.

It is mounted to a 130# Starcraft SL 14' aluminum boat.

It flies!

When it's just me in the stern the light weight motor is better for getting up on plane and minimizing bow rise when doing so.

It's a keeper!

[Dave R]

Originally Posted by 8gv

I have that same motor.

It is mounted to a 130# Starcraft SL 14' aluminum boat.

It flies!

When it's just me in the stern the light weight motor is better for getting up on plane and minimizing bow rise when doing so.

It's a keeper!

Mine is on a 10' 6" aluminum/Hypalon RIB that I bought new from North Atlantic Inflatables in Portland, ME (a great business to deal with). I converted it to electric start, remote shift/throttle/steering, added an alternator, and added CMC power trim and tilt. It started life as a 9.9HP but I swapped to a bigger carburetor to bump the power to 15HP (the only differences between the 2004 Mercury two-stroke 6HP, 8HP, 9.9HP and 15HP models are the carburetor sizes). It was a fun project modifying the engine and rigging the boat last year and we use it all the time. It's been used as far south as Provincetown and as far north as Bar Harbor.

[XCR-700]

Originally Posted by LikeLakes

As long as you have twin 450 hp outboards ....

What you are describing, without the extra foot of beam, is pretty much a 24 Pantera or similar 24x7 boat. While I like bowriders for certain types of boats I'm in agreement with you about closed bow on performance and classic boats, also the practicality of not worrying as much about taking some water over the bow on a big lake like Winni.

Is your CVX a 20?

Yes its a 20'

Sadly its in need of a full rebuild and it will need to sit a couple of more years until retirement before I can get to it.