I am planning on purchasing a trolling motor, the question I have is this, two stoke or four stroke, does anyone have an opinion they would share, and where would be the best place to buy?
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[
]hey how buttugly is your boat. As for the trolling motor i would really recommend that you buy a 4 stroke outboard. If you check in to it you will find out that in the year 2005 or 2006 they are going to start outlawing 2 stroke outboard motors on some lakes. IN california and some other states lakes you are only allowed to use 4 stroke motors on. They say that 2 stroke motors put out to much pollution into the lakes and the air.
The nice thing with the 4 stroke motors are that they have a seperate reservior for the oil so you don't have to mix your gas and oil like you have to do for your 2 stroke motor. 2 stroke motors are a little lighter and also a little cheaper to, but if they eventually outlaw 2 stroke motors on your favorite lake then you will be stuck with a 2 stroke motor that you can't use or sell. Hope this helps you out if not let me know and i will help you out if i can GOOD LUCK FISHING TRFISHIN
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it all comes down to how much money you want to spend. how big of a motor do you want. What is your boat rated at? and what brand are you looking for.
With the market the way it is right now is a good time to buy used motors. they are getting hard to move now and the prices are coming down.
I do agree that the 4 cycle engines are the way to go as long as you can afford them. if not there are alot of good used 2 strokes around
DZ
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thanks for the info, looking for a small kicker, 4 or 6 horse, long shaft. I've had such bad luck with used motors I'm probably looking at a new one. I have a 4hp mercury, it just will not troll. Yes I've done plugs, carb, and everything else I can think of short of pushing it overboard.
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[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]One nice thing about 4-strokes is you can talk over them. The 2-strokes have a tendency to be a little loud. I've owned both and they both do a good job. 4-strokes also weigh more than equal horsepowered 2-bangers.[/size][/font]
[font "Comic Sans MS"][size 3]I lean towards a 4-stroke because of the noise factor. All day sitting by a loud motor will have it's effects on you later than sooner. What? What did you say?[/size][/font]
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I have a 9.9 yamaha four stroke on a old 16' aluminum. It will troll at less than 1/2 mph, is quiet enough that you don't really notice that it's running. There is no smoke, no smell of half burned fuel, and you can troll all day without fouling the plugs.
On the down side they cost more and weigh a lot more.
FDG
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The great thing about four stroke is that you can hard pipe it to you big motor gas line eliminating you gas can
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If one has a two stroke for the main outboard (like I do) then a second two stroke kicker outboard can share the same fuel tank.
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I think I would also recommend a 4 stroke. All the strengths and weaknesses have been covered. Price is defenitely an issue. I've noticed that Briggs & Stratton now make a 5HP 4 stroke. I know they are new to boats, but they've been making motors for a very long time now. I've only talked to one guy who has one, and he really likes it. He says it runs good, and it was 1/2 the cost of the other brands to boot. If money is no object, I'd probably buy a Honda. Just my 2 cents. Let us know what you finally decide.
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I've been looking to buy a tank for my two stroke main and kicker motor so I can use one instead of two. Where did you get yours Kent, or is it the one that was in your boat already? Where did you buy a splitter to run two lines from your tank?
My partner, has a new 40 horse Merc that is a 2 stroke but it is oil injected so you don't have to mix the oil with the gas, it runs great with plenty of power, quite and the price was right. As far as the talk goes on banning the two strikes, I don't thinks so, what i've heard is they will stop selling two strokes but it will be a long time before they ban them. That is what I've heard and I'm sticking too it but it's just one more opinion. WH2
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I went from a 12 gallon steel tank to a 16 1/2 gallon plastic tank. The tank and the various valves and hoses were installed by Danny Reay and he purchased everything at Boater's World in SLC. One problem that I have encountered is that sometimes when I switch from outboard to outboard I have to get under the seat and prime the fuel line again.
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Kent, most big motor 2-strokes are injected, and take straight gas--no premix. That's why most people can add a 4-stroke and just T the gas line off the main line.
If you're having to pump the bulb when switching motors, chances are one of your bulbs is bad or a connection isn't tight and is allowing air into your system.
I wish that the oil was injected on my big outboard but alas my ancient motor requires the oil be mixed with the fuel.
If I have to prime a second time (both outboards share the same bulb and the same fuel line until the single fuel line reaches a valve that can be switched from outboard to outboard), it is only the first time that I switch from the first outboard to the second outboard, because the second outboard hasn't been fired up that trip and the little pressure that is in the line, from merely having the first outboard run, is not adequate to fill up the separate line and pump fuel into the second outboard. I know this all sounds like double talk, but at least I know what I am trying to say, which isn't always the case! Next time I think that I will try a new approach. I will prime the first outboard, turn the switch and immediately prime the second ouboard, before launching and firing up either outboard. I bet if I did this I would never have to prime a second time out on the water. BTW - Dan tried putting the priming pump on the outside of the stern, where it would be readily accessible, rather than behind the rear seat, but he couldn't create enough suction to suck fuel out of the tank. If you ever hear anyone scream it just might be me getting my leg crushed by the rear seat. The pain that we put ourselves through to go fishing!
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I've been thinking about going to an 11 gallon plastic tank,I'm glad to hear that I won't need two bulbs. I've got a 6 gallon main now and a 3 gallon for my kicker, so an 11 gallon tank will increase my fuel by almost two gallons and I hope give me more room. It sure will be nice not to have to mix fuel for two tanks. Do you know if this place in SLC has different size tanks? I've been looking at the tanks in Bass Pro but it is good to know that there is a place in the area that I can get lines and the other stuff I'll need. One more question, why do you need a switch between the motors? WH2
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[url "http://www.boatersoutlet.com/catalog/index.php?file=catalog&prod_pcategory=8149&clist=0,8145,8149&uid=359&gpoid"]http://www.boatersoutlet.com/catalog/index.php?file=catalog&prod_pcategory=8149&clist=0,8145,8149&uid=359&gpoid[/url]=
Try that one WH they have a store on 70th south and 5th west. DZ
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I'm no boat mechanic, but I assume that one has problems trying to keep two lines pressurized simultaneously, also I would imagine that the fuel would be drawn back from the outboard that is not being used and perhaps pull air into the fuel line. By installing a valve to direct the fuel to one outboard or the other, then only one line is pressurized at a time.
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One more question Kent do you have a water separator or filter on your tank? WH2
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No filter or separator in the tank. I know that the large outboard has a filter on it, and I am uncertain if the small one does or not.
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Dan, the link you put up does not work, is it a link to the store in SLC? I think I've been there is it close to Sugarhouse Aweing? WH2
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Kent, a better configuration is to run one line to your tank and T it, making sure the right angle of the T goes to your kicker and the straight-thru portion goes to your big motor. Then install one bulb a foot down from each motor's connection to the fuel line. The bulbs also prevent one motor from sucking the gas out of another motor's line. Or install a water separator that has one input and two outputs. Either way, you want one bulb per motor and positioned close to the motor.