The Outboard Expert: Two-Strokes Alive and Well — For Now (2023)

FAQs

Who made the best 2-stroke outboard? ›

Yamaha's 2-strokes received high marks for reliability from new boat/motor owners. Yamaha Marine builds the best 2- and 4-stroke motors, according to a new "engine performance index" compiled by J.D. Power and Associates. Last year was the first year J.D. Power rated boat-owner customer satisfaction.

The two stroke outboards are lightweight and compact yet deliver high power output. The engine structure is relatively simple and maintenance is exceedingly easy. Although we have lineup of four strokes, we also offer an extensive two stroke lineup to meet diverse global needs.

A 2 stroke motor's combustion cycle is faster, running at higher RPMs. Thus, they typically have a shorter life-cycle. 4 stroke outboard motors typically stand the test of time and offer greater reliability.

It's all down to changes to emissions laws for outdoor powered equipment that come into effect on July 1, 2020 that will ban them from sale.

Back From The Dead

Mercury actually quit building all of its traditional two-strokes, from 2.5 hp to 200 hp, following the 2005 model year.

Is the Air Resources Board banning two-stroke engines used for boats? No, the Air Resources Board has developed standards based on actual emission levels, regardless of engine type, for new outboard and personal watercraft engines. These standards do not ban two-stroke engines.

The new 2023 YZ125X offers a completely new, more powerful 125cc 2-stroke engine, revised suspension damping, improved brakes, enhanced ergonomics and a new look, which Yamaha says makes it the perfect option for young enthusiasts looking to move up to a full-size 2-stroke cross-country bike that is ready for ...

The world of two-strokes has done nothing but grow in the last decade. For 2022, there are more motorcycle companies offering more two-strokes than ever. Beta, GasGas, Husqvarna, KTM, Cobra, Rieju, GPX, Kawasaki, TM, Sherco, Suzuki and Yamaha are all in the game for keeps.

#1.

If you are looking for the best small outboard motor, be sure to check out Spirit 1.0 Plus, a 3 HP electric outboard motor designed for portability and easy maneuverability with less cost. This outboard motor features a lightweight and highly efficient battery that's integrated into the outboard.

While two-stroke engines run more simplistically, their need for maintenance is usually much higher. However, two-stroke parts are notoriously cheaper than four-stroke.

What is the most fuel efficient outboard motor? ›

Not only electric, silent, and durable: Candela C-POD is also the most efficient boat motor ever built.

2 years after the end of the Evinrude engine brand, the BRP group is back with a new outboard engine concept under its Rotax brand, invisible above the boat's deck.

The Wärtsilä RT-flex96C is a turbocharged, two-stroke reciprocating diesel engine designed to power large container ships and is the world's largest engine.

For 2022, Yamaha brings the factory ride look to the two-stroke lineup with the new Monster Energy® Yamaha Racing Edition YZ250 and Monster Energy® Yamaha Racing Edition YZ125.

According to some reports, the Yamaha Marine division accounts for approximately 18% of the company's total revenue, and its outboard motors are world leaders in terms of sales (about 40% of the global market). They are especially popular in the US market.

Mercury motors claim to last thousands of miles, but like all other motors, this depends on the care, maintenance, and use. With the proper care and cleaning, Mercury outboard motors could offer you over 2,000 or even 3,000 hours of use.

Mercury's proven TwoStroke engines deliver easy starting, gutsy performance, and great all-round reliability. Across the range you'll find an array of features that help keep your boating experiences more enjoyable and trouble-free.

Indeed until then, only two-stroke outboard engines had been sold. The GB30, as it was called, wasn't designed for use at sea, and didn't look very much like other outboards. Instead of the traditional bar there was a kind of steel ring that went right around the radiator grille and then a lever for the accelerator.

The “good old” outboards—the ones that were built in the 1950s and later—are even better than those early, antique outboards. They are just as reliable, and a lot easier and cheaper to fix than state-of-the-art motors.

What lakes do not allow 2-stroke engines? ›

Ban on carbureted 2-cycle outboards: San Pablo Reservoir, Lake Tahoe, other than sailboats (with additional ban starting Oct. 1, 2001, for EFI, RFI and auxiliary engines for sailboats), Calero Reservoir (quota enacted) and Coyote Lake (quota enacted).

Two-stroke engines do not use fuel efficiently, so you would get fewer miles per gallon. Two-stroke engines produce a lot of pollution -- so much, in fact, that it is likely that you won't see them around too much longer. The pollution comes from two sources. The first is the combustion of the oil.

If you're mixing your own fuel mix for a two stroke in your fuel tank (eg. 50:1 or 100:1 fuel mixes), it's a good idea at the end of the day when you're flushing the engine to disconnect the fuel line and run it out of fuel. This way if the fuel evaporates out of the carburettor it doesn't leave the oil in the bowl.

For now, two-strokes aren't going anywhere. The current collection of dirt bikes from Beta, GasGas, Cobra, Kawasaki, KTM, Husqvarna, Suzuki, Sherco, TM, Yamaha and others includes two-strokes models for both off-road and motocross.

The 2023 RM85 continues to carry on the powerful tradition of racing excellence in the Suzuki motocross family. The reliable two-stroke engine produces smooth power at any rpm with an emphasis on low- to mid-range performance.

The bottom end of a two-stroke can usually last around 70-80 hours before rebuilding. It's always advised that when you rebuild the bottom end to also rebuild the top end.

Model S-125 (1948–1952)

Harley-Davidson Inc. The Model 125 or S-125 was introduced by Harley-Davidson in 1947 as a 1948 model. The 125 cc two-stroke engine produced three horsepower, which was sent through a three-speed foot-shift transmission.

The Aermacchi-built Harley-Davidsons became entirely two-stroke powered when the 250 cc two-stroke SS-250 replaced the four-stroke 350 cc Sprint in 1974.

Which is better Mercury or Yamaha? ›

Comparatively, we can say that Mercury would be a better choice, especially if you are repowering your vessel. Their range of new boat motors with easy-to-use, control and maintain designs puts them a step ahead of the competition. However, both Yamaha and Mercury have their merits and demerits.

For a family interested in spending the night on their boat, cruisers are a great option. To keep maintenance costs low, smaller cruisers with outboards and just the basic equipment are a good choice.

While a 2-stroke will never offer the torque of a 4-stroke, they come close enough for most weekend riders. Not only that, but they're lighter and tend to be easier to handle, which makes them great for beginners. In addition, 2-stroke bikes require less maintenance than most 4-strokes, saving you time and money.

For starters, 2-stroke engines are much lighter and also cost less to manufacture. In comparison to 4-stroke engines, they are also easier to repair.

A current garden variety 600 twin engine in the popular trail/sport category can deliver up to 12,000 miles (19,000 kms) of reasonable use. Reasonable use includes using good quality injector oil, regular servicing of the exhaust valves and annual clutch maintenance.

Current recommendations are to use a minimum of 87 octane, 89 octane is preferred. There is no additional benefit from using higher-octane fuels, in fact they may cause hard starting conditions in hot weather.

The full-throttle limit for modern marine gasoline motors ranges from 4800 to 6000 rpm. (By comparison, your car's engine probably turns less than 2500 rpm at freeway speeds.) Most mechanics and engineers suggest the best cruising speeds are achieved at 3400 and 3800 rpm respectively.

Choosing Boat Fuel. All of the current boat models that have outboard, sterndrive, and inboard gasoline engines use fuel with no more than 10% ethanol. Accordingly, this fuel is known as E10. You should never use E15, E85, or another type of fuel with a higher concentration of ethanol.

Elco electric outboard motors, Made in the USA, are available in a wide range of horsepower options, from 5HP to 50HP, with remote or tiller control and long or short shaft to fit boats of all shapes and sizes.

One of the world's leaders in outboard motor manufacturing will no longer exist. Evinrude motors parent company, Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP), announced last week that it would discontinue manufacturing of its Evinrude E-TEC and E-TEC G2 outboard engines.

Is Evinrude ever coming back? ›

Its last two-stroke E-TEC engines used direct-injection technology, making them as clean as four-strokes. And Evinrude touted its maintenance costs as 50 percent less than for a four-stroke. Two-stroke engines for motorcycles are making a comeback in 2022.

Venomous strike: The all-new 2020 Mustang Shelby GT500 will produce 760 horsepower and 625 lb. -ft. of torque, making it the most powerful street-legal Ford ever – with the most power- and torque-dense supercharged production V8 engine in the world.

Because combustion takes place with each revolution of the crankshaft with a 2-stroke, this format puts out more power than a 4-stroke engine and the power has more instantaneous delivery. This are some reasons why 2-stroke engines have a long history of use on many different types of motorcycles.

The two stroke outboards are lightweight and compact yet deliver high power output. The engine structure is relatively simple and maintenance is exceedingly easy. Although we have lineup of four strokes, we also offer an extensive two stroke lineup to meet diverse global needs.

Answer: Two-strokes left the market because they could not meet steadily-tightening EPA standards for vehicle exhaust emissions. The very feature that makes two-strokes attractive—the simplicity of having only three moving parts (crankshaft, con-rod, and piston—was also their undoing.

The world of two-strokes has done nothing but grow in the last decade. For 2022, there are more motorcycle companies offering more two-strokes than ever. Beta, GasGas, Husqvarna, KTM, Cobra, Rieju, GPX, Kawasaki, TM, Sherco, Suzuki and Yamaha are all in the game for keeps.

Over the years, we've heard some boat owners ask “Why are boats so unreliable?” The truth is, Yamaha outboards are incredibly reliable but require regular maintenance to stay reliable. This maintenance must occur at recommended service intervals.

Yamaha produced over-the-counter two-stroke TZ racers of various capacities throughout the '70s and '80s but its monster, straight four TZ750, which debuted in 1974, tops them all. A development of the TZ700 it was the go-to bike for privateers, manufactured up to 1979 and produced up to 120bhp.

Any fuel type between 87-octane and the 92-octane will work just fine depending on the type of motocross bike you own. If you own a 4 stroke, for example, the 82-octane works just fine, but for a 2-stroke, you should go for the ethanol-free higher octanes (92 and 93) because the lower octanes tend to detonate.

Which stroke engine gives more mileage? ›

Four strokes are more efficient because there is separation of fuel and engine oil, as well as intake and exhaust gases, leading to less pollution, and better mileage. Hope this helps answer your question somewhat. ENGINEERING.com does not provide engineering advice.

Two-stroke engines or motors running on hydrogen could be back in MotoGP by the middle of this decade if targets to make motorsport more carbon neutral are to be achieved.

The new 2023 YZ125X offers a completely new, more powerful 125cc 2-stroke engine, revised suspension damping, improved brakes, enhanced ergonomics and a new look, which Yamaha says makes it the perfect option for young enthusiasts looking to move up to a full-size 2-stroke cross-country bike that is ready for ...

As of 2019, the only 2-stroke motorcycles Yamaha makes are for closed-course competition and some models for export. Nonetheless, Yamaha 2-stroke products have a simple, lightweight construction and comparatively easy maintenance, and their high reliability keeps them popular in many regions.

Conclusion. Comparatively, we can say that Mercury would be a better choice, especially if you are repowering your vessel. Their range of new boat motors with easy-to-use, control and maintain designs puts them a step ahead of the competition. However, both Yamaha and Mercury have their merits and demerits.

The Yamaha F115 Four-Stroke Outboard Engine

The original F115 came out in 1999 and there are still plenty of these motors shredding the water today; both the original and new versions score high marks for reliability and longevity. The Yamaha F150 four-stroke ups the ante, as compared to the F115.

It has been alleged that the company's first-generation F-Series four-stroke outboard motors (model years 2000 – 2005) contain a serious defect that allows the exhaust passages to corrode and pit severely, ultimately resulting in premature engine problems and failure.

The Ford Motor Company has built nearly every kind of V8 engine we can imagine over the past century, but the biggest was the 1100 CID GAA tank engine of World War II.