2 stroke kickers

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FishinGuy
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2013/03/20 07:35:14 (permalink)

2 stroke kickers

I'm in the market for a kicker motor for my 18' Lund Alaskan. Is an older 2 stroke kicker a bad investment? What are the chances of them being banned due to emissions? My two top choices are a used 2 stroke 8HP or a brand new tohatsu 4HP four stroke. I'm getting the motor to allow me to take my boat on pymie and Arthur. Would the 4 HP be enough to get me over 5mph?
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    Lovgren69
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/20 07:49:36 (permalink)
    I wouldn't worry about 2-Strokes being banned anytime soon...Mercury & Evinrude continue to expand their lines of big 2-strokes.  Contrary to what most people believe-these engines are par or better than 4-strokes when it comes to emmisions ratings.
     
    However, the smaller 2-stroke engines already have started to be phased out.  Most manufacturers don't even offer two-strokes in under 40hp versions nowadays. 
     
    I would definetely want a 4-stroke if I was buying a new kicker motor.  Ease of starting, no mixing oil, virtually no exhaust fumes, quieter, and smoother power delivery are all advantages of the 4-stroke.
     
    You probably would be better off with the 2 cylinder 4-stroke kickers, which I believe are the 8/9.9/15 hp configurations.  The small 2/4/6 hp single cylinder kickers vibrate more and are not as smooth.
     
    I would look for a 8 or 9.9 4-stroke kicker if I were you.  If you look around I'm sure you could swing a deal on a nice used/new one.  I think you'll be happier in the long run. 
     
    The 4hp model would probably would probably be okay-but it is going to be working really hard to push an 18 ft boat to 5 mph.  Throw in some wind and waves and it might not even get you there.   
      
    Not sure what price range that you're looking for- but here's couple I find on CL.
    http://dayton.craigslist.org/bod/3593503138.html
    http://cleveland.craigslist.org/boa/3682005001.html
    http://mansfield.craigslist.org/bod/3648340725.html
    http://pittsburgh.craigslist.org/boa/3650304818.html
    post edited by Lovgren69 - 2013/03/20 08:23:08
    #2
    FishinGuy
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/20 08:19:12 (permalink)
    I agree but money is an object here. The higher HP 4 strokes are out of my budget range from what I've seen.
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    Bogeyjoker
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/20 08:37:09 (permalink)
    FishinGuy

    I'm in the market for a kicker motor for my 18' Lund Alaskan. Is an older 2 stroke kicker a bad investment? What are the chances of them being banned due to emissions?

     
    I agree with what Lovgren said about the 2 strokes, especially about noise and fumes.  Add to that the problem with carbon build-up in 2 strokes, however this can be reduced/eliminated by using an additive.
     

     My two top choices are a used 2 stroke 8HP or a brand new tohatsu 4HP four stroke. I'm getting the motor to allow me to take my boat on pymie and Arthur. Would the 4 HP be enough to get me over 5mph?


    First, if I had to choose between the two of those, I'd go with the 8HP, as I don't think you'd be happy with the performance of the 4HP, especially in a moderate to stiff headwind or crosswind.  And no, I don't think the 4 HP would take you over 5 mph, although I don't think you'd get more than 6 or 7 mph with a 9.9.  The time to be looking for motors was last fall or winter, but you might be able to find a deal on a 4 stroke now.  I saw a deal in January for a 4 stroke 9.9 honda (around 2000-2001 model I think) for $750, and it looked pretty clean.  It didn't last long or I would've bought it just to resell it.  I bought a 2009 4s 9.9 yamaha this fall for $1500 and it's like brand new.  Pay now, or pay later.  Good luck, and I'll keep my eyes open for you.

    "Socialism...confuses the distinction between government and society.  As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. "
    Frederic Bastiat
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    Bogeyjoker
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/20 08:40:01 (permalink)

    "Socialism...confuses the distinction between government and society.  As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. "
    Frederic Bastiat
    #5
    FishinGuy
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/20 08:49:33 (permalink)
    Thanks for the quick thoughtful input guys. Budget is about $1000 tops. You guys turned up more good motors in less than an hour than I found in a whole evening browsing online. Thank you!
    #6
    bulldog1
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/20 13:09:23 (permalink)
    Agree with most everything posted above.
     
    Two stroke fumes have been responsible for lots of "sea sickness" that wasn't really sea sickness...
     
    Pennswoods.net is a great place to look, along with craigslist and even ebay.

    Curiosity killed the cat, but for awhile I was a suspect.
    #7
    willi724
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/20 21:13:45 (permalink)
    i have a tahatsu 4 stroke 9.8 kicker on a lowe 165fm and i'm glad i didn't go smaller. 6hp and smaller are 1 cylender (noisier, more vibration). check shaft size, mounting, and ect. kicker mounts can get pricey, i made my own for 150. get what you wan't the first time
    #8
    outfishya
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/20 23:15:09 (permalink)
    i have a 9.9 2 stroke kicker on a 17ft boat and i wouldnt want any less.  I actually would like a little more. 
    #9
    Bogeyjoker
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/21 07:21:17 (permalink)
    My 9.9 on my 16' Lund pushes me about 6 mph max.

    "Socialism...confuses the distinction between government and society.  As a result of this, every time we object to a thing being done by government, the socialists conclude that we object to its being done at all. "
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    Porktown
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/21 08:58:54 (permalink)
    If you do buy a short shaft and need a bracket, let me know.  My boat came with a homemade one, that it doesn't look like I will use.  I was planning to run it to the scrap yard in the spring.  Stainless with a wood block for thickness.  Yours for the scrap price.
    If you are using for inland lakes, I'd suggest 9.9 min.  I don't know anything about Erie trolling.  My boat is probably 200-300 lighter (guessing of course), and can get about 10 mph with a 15hp 2 stroke alone, 8 mph with an additional 200lb passenger, and 6 mph with the boat at full plate capacity.  You definitely notice the difference, especially when a 14' john boat blows by on plane.  That said, after a bunch of talk on this forum and on the lake, my boat "might" get on plane with a 20hp alone and no gear, MOST LIKELY would not with gear and passengers.  Likely only netting me 2 mph gain, from what most are guessing.  20hp in this region retain their value, and would be extremely lucky to find a used 4 stroke 20hp in your price range (maybe an old Honda, since I think they were the first to offer smaller 4 strokes).  Probably best bet is used 4 stroke 9.9 or 15 with 9.9 stickers.  I do troll with my 2 stroke, but not too often.  Erie would be completely different, but much of my trolling is using my electric motor, unless the wind and chop is too much.  That is about the only time that trolling with the fumes of a 2 stroke is bearable.  
    I always treat my gas with Sta-bil, hopefully that helps keep down the carburetor gunking?  Even if it does, I am not sure I could stand the fumes of trolling for more than an hour.  Days that the wind is blowing, I'll avoid trolling against the wind, with the fumes blowing back at us.  
     

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    #11
    FishinGuy
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/21 10:42:23 (permalink)
    Ok. The 4 HP is out. Top speed is not that important to me, as this will be a second motor on the boat. And i do most of my fishing on the three rivers and acoe lakes. I already have a 40HP 2 stroke and troll with that now. No troubles with fumes for me or the wife. And I'm an auto mechanic, so a little maintenance now and then is no big deal either. So I haven't ruled out 2 strokes. But the weight of a bigger (9.9+) 4 stroke is a concern I have.
    #12
    bulldog1
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/21 10:50:34 (permalink)

    Curiosity killed the cat, but for awhile I was a suspect.
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    psu_fish
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/21 22:18:09 (permalink)
    Get a 4 stroke Yammie 
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    willi724
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/23 19:00:01 (permalink)
    i have a 40 hp 4stroke yamaha and the 9.8 4 stroke tohatsu as the kicker beside it, plus i run a 50 # troller on the back of my lowe 165fm. i was worried about the weight to, but  it worked out well. then i moved my batteries to a front compartment and it made it real nice. i fish raystown mostly for stripers and you should to run an electric for trolling if you wan't to catch them. but this setup lets you run the smaller lakes to. allot of measuring and checking weights for it all to fit right. 
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    willi724
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/03/25 18:01:20 (permalink)
    Mercury 8 HP Boat Motor - $600 (Butler, PA) on pittsburgh craigslist today 3-25
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    leadmen
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/04/01 08:23:25 (permalink)
    go to a older 2 stroke make sure its a twin cyl a old 9.8 will get at least 5mph use syn oil will help on smoke and fouling the plug, you can go as high as a 15hp and be ok ive had a old 60year 9.8 merq it ran great and you can even flip the reeds if needed on the older ones and yes parts are still around tough parts to find are for chryl/ some old mariners /clintons just to name a few some times best to buy a whole package for the price good luck
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    leadmen
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/04/01 08:27:00 (permalink)
    i have a old 16ft rated for a 90 hp i had a 90 hp and a 10 hp and 2 ele bow and stern bangedd many of fish with that set up when you need the power its there so dont be afraid to get the max power but set the weight up right say batts in the front and fat man up front helps sometimes
    #18
    bulldog1
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/04/01 14:46:38 (permalink)

    Curiosity killed the cat, but for awhile I was a suspect.
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    Brad1
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    Re:2 stroke kickers 2013/04/12 21:01:34 (permalink)
    2 strokes banned ? ! ? !
     
    They'll have to pry my 2 stroke engines from my cold dead hands ! ! !
     
    All that emissions stuff is grandfathered and pertains to the manufactorers, not the owners.
     
    If anything, I'd be more wary of ethonal fuel
    #20
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