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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

General Sailing Forum

How long does a 2 cycle outboard motor last?

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willyd103
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Initially Posted - 06/27/2010 : 16:47:46

Folks,
My 14 year old 9.9 Hp Mercruiser is getting a new carburetor this week and has
clocked about 30 hours each season since 1996. The engine gets
the fall maintenance thing when I go on the hard and a tune up in
preparation for a spring launch. ( think winter in Boston,MA)
Is my outboard getting "long in the tooth"? Should I be thinking about a replacement?
-Will
SV Stardust
C250 WK #215
-waiting for parts in Hingham,MA

Edited by - on

Nautiduck
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3704 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2010 : 17:32:06

It should run for many years with good upkeep and your low hours. Two-cycles are mechanically simple and can last a very long time. I had a 1982 3HP Evinrude and it ran fine.

Reasons to replace your OB would be to get a cleaner running 4 stroke (better for the environment), avoid the hassle of mixing the fuel, or obtain some feature you want such as electric start.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2010 : 17:57:49

I used a 1951 or maybe "53 Johnson until about 1990, but I rebuilt it in 80"s.

. I get the years confused because I used a 1953 Lawnboy 2 stroke mower until I cracked the mower deck in the 80"s, but the engine was still strong. I wouldn't rebuild your engine if something broke since there are so many reasons to change to a four stroke, but there is no good reason to not expect it to last many more years. I sold my 1994 9.9 XLS Johnson about 2 years ago for 7-800 bucks.

Edited by - Dave5041 on 06/27/2010 17:58:24

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2010 : 18:18:33

I've got an '89 Suzuki on my C25 and it's still running good. (Knock on wood)!

When I was a teenager in the early 70's we had a 17' tri-hull with a 100 hp Evinrude (2 cycle). We ran that motor wide open all day water skiing year after year and when we sold the boat in 1989 it was still running like a top. We never, ever put that motor in the shop.

The one thing we always did was run the carbs dry and it always started and never let us down even though we rode it hard and put it up wet.

I'd guess it easily had 400 or 500 hours on it.

Edited by - on

Stinkpotter
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
9080 Posts

Response Posted - 06/27/2010 : 20:57:02

Hi Will... Would you like to have electric start and not have it now? would you like a quieter engine that makes no oily smells, particularly when you're motoring down-wind? Would you like to forget about mixing oil in the gas? Would better mileage be of any benefit? Is the shaft on your engine a little short for the seas you sometimes motor in?

If most of the answers are "no" or "not particularly", then keep your trusty 2-cycle going--it could out-live you! But I'll tell ya--my Honda (and I'm sure the Yamaha and Tohatu/Nissan 4-strokes) were like starting my car at the touch of a button, and ran smoothly and quietly with no smoke. "Even a cave-man could do it!"

Edited by - Stinkpotter on 06/27/2010 20:59:14

jbkayaker
Captain

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USA
299 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2010 : 08:32:50

If you switch from a 2 stroke to 4 stroke the motor will most likely be heavier. That matters if you race your boat.

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aeckhart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2010 : 10:27:12

I've been kicking around the idea of getting a new four-stroke the past few years. Can't seem to get pat the fact that my old reliable 1988 Evinrude starts every time on the first push of the starter button and runs smoothly all day if needed.

Edited by - on

djdurrett
Navigator

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124 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2010 : 16:05:35

How long does a two stroke last? Don't know how to answer that one. I have never had one go bad. I have a 1962 mercury 60 (6hp) that still runs strong and a 1989 Evenrude 50 (on my duck hunting boat) that runs like a champ. Just stay on top of the water pump and change the lower unit oil every season. As long as it starts easy it should be okay. They tend to let you know when they get tired.I am a dirt bike guy and from my experience with two stroke dirt bike motors is the rings eventually go bad and lose compression. For a dirt bike, it is called replacing the "top end." It is very easy to do and is pretty much just a process of replacing the rings. Due to the orientation on the chasis, outboards are a little harder to get to. When they lose compression they tend to be hard to start and lack power. If everything else is properly maintained, they could technically last a very long time unless you let it go too far and score the cylinder. I would assume it is the same for an outboard. Two stroke engines are easy to understand and work on compared to 4 strokes. Well, that is from my experience anyway... By the way, when an outboard mechanic says he is going to "rebuild carbs," most of the time that just means taking them apart and cleaning them. Use stabil in your gas and it cuts down on the gunk. Seafoam is also really good for them. I am not a fan of running gas out of a two stroke... it keeps the carbs clean(er) but as it runs out of gas, it also runs out of lubricant and the motor is hot by then. Again, just my opinion.

Edited by - on

djdurrett
Navigator

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124 Posts

Response Posted - 06/28/2010 : 16:08:31

i forgot to mention the best advice I ever got on two strokes was "use the mess out of em." They are like air conditioners and refrigerators, they go bad if you let them sit.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3465 Posts

Response Posted - 06/29/2010 : 03:36:00

I kind of agree with Dave in that if there are features that you desire such as not having to mix the gas with oil, want a cleaner running outboards, etc then maybe consider replacing the 2 stroke. Supposedly the 4 strokes also get much improved gas efficiency but possibly the later 2 strokes that was improved. The big thing for me would be reliability. Regardless if it were a 2 stroke or 4 stroke, if the outboard was getting on in years and was sometimes hard to start or would cut out occassionally and bringing it to a mechanic for a tune-up, etc did not fix the issue, then I would consider buying a new 4 stroke. There is nothing worse than an outboard that is unreliable and conversely just great when you have a reliable outboard and need it big time for say when the wind dies and you have a long way home. On the other hand, the outbopards these days have more electronics in them and sometimes when they act up, it can be hard to diagnose the fix....and new outboards cost quite a bit. So, if you have a reliable 2 stroke and it serves all your basic purposes, then I would keep using it and enjoy the fact that you have very little invested in it, it does the job and you are deferring a costly investment for sometime later. When the time is right for buying new, it will then be a 2011 or 2012 outboard versus a 2010 outboard.

Edited by - on

willyd103
1st Mate

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USA
49 Posts

Response Posted - 07/01/2010 : 14:26:56

Thanks everybody for the feedback. I'll use the my 1996 2 cycle Mercruiser outboard for a few more years. It starts on the second pull every time. I'm sure I can use the boating bucks somewhere else like a new GPS.....
Will Dawson
SV Stardust
1996 C 250 SR WK
sailing in Quincy Bay

Edited by - on

Drjohn71a
1st Mate

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USA
37 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 18:34:40

I know this is answering an old post, but to help those who may reference this thread I need to add that my boat has it's original, 1985 Johnson 9.9 Sailmaster which is still whisper quiet, starts well ( electric), and shifts smoothly. I think it's 27 years old now. I asked the mechanic who went thru it last year about getting a new outboard and he could see no reason to do so.

Maybe he's saving up for a new boat?

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 19:11:09

My boat has it's original '89 Suzuki 2-cycle and it starts on the second or third pull (knock on wood).

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 19:47:21

My last boat had a 22 year old Johnson that just flat out ran. My current outboard is a 17 year old Mercury that I've had for eleven years now and it generally starts on the first, easy pull. The way it runs, it'll probably outlast me.

Edited by - on

TakeFive
Master Marine Consultant

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2272 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 20:32:28

One significant advantage of 2-strokes is their significantly lower weight/power ratio vs. 4-strokes. This can significantly help weight balance, as well as making it a lot easier to remove for repair/maintenance.

2-strokes do get lower fuel efficiency, and are not as good for the environment. These would be big factors if you were a stinkpotter who used your motor 100% of the time. But on a sailboat, the limited use of the outboard makes these deficiencies less severe.

My Honda outboard is my first 4-cycle outboard. I am happy with it overall, but at 110+ pounds, I shudder to think what I would do if I had to pull the thing off mid-season for maintenance. Even standing on the hard, my son and I need to rig the boom vang to the catbird seat to block-and-tackle it into place every season. It's just too big and awkward to muscle into place unassisted. A 2-stroke would be significantly less, and I don't mind mixing oil manually - I do that for the Trophy boat all the time.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4304 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 21:06:50

My old Suzuki has oil injection so I don't have to mix oil and gas. Just make sure the oil tank is topped off and start it up.

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dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/26/2012 : 07:02:42

For the 9.9's, we found that the weight difference was not that much. The 9.9 hp 2-stroke elec. start Suzuki that came with our boat weighed 88 lbs. The 9.8 hp 4-stroke 25" shaft Nissan weighs 93 lbs. and seems to be a much more efficient motor.

Edited by - on

NautiC25
Admiral

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USA
957 Posts

Response Posted - 03/26/2012 : 07:48:45

My 89 Tohatsu 8hp M8B is still kicking just fine. I just found out that most of the parts are still readily available at decent prices. I also didn't know until recently that Tohatsu and Nissan use the same parts.

Edited by - NautiC25 on 03/26/2012 07:49:06

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