4TEC or 2cycle ???

[edp]

I am new to Boating and looking at buying a 2003 sportster LE It has a 2-cycle and I has wonder if I should hold out for a 4-tec. Wondering the pros and cons of each. The other issue is that I am in Vermont and cannot water test it. It looks new and I was told it only has 10 hrs on it. Is there any way to check the hours, I did not see an hr meter. also can I perform and test to make sure I am not buying a problem. They are looking to get $4800. Is the 4-tec that much better?
Thanks.
Ed

 

[Coastiejoe]

Not being able to water test it is a HUGE deal... Let me say that again,,, HUGE HUGE HUGE...

Without a test, you will never know if the boat has leaks, how the shaft seal is, the scuppers, if it pulls to the right or left, if it only steers one way, if the engine revs as it should but you still don't go.

Everything I mentioned has common faults. Like if the engine revs but you still don't go then you have a pump (impeller) issue or a shaft issue as an example.

Hours can be checked by a dealer by plugging into the system.

If you absolutely can not do a test drive, at the MINIMUM you need to do a compression test of the engine and then post the numbers you get back here.

For me,, unless I was STEALING it I would only get a 4-tec. Reason, you can easily get 400 hours and you have no oil to deal with in regards to mixing or filling a separate tank.

The nice thing about the 2-strokes is, much easier and cheaper to work on by comparison. I just love the way the 4-tec engines run. I own two in the ski's I have.

2-strokes normally get around 200 hrs before you need to service them based on the averages. I have seen some go to 300 and 400, but that is not the norm. But again, they are much cheaper to service when the need presents itself.

 

[timeman]

EPA is cracking down on 2 strokes, some states, like CA have already outlawed any carbureted (incl oil injection) mixing of oil and gas inside the combustion chamber, (they stilkl alow direct injection, though I'm not sure how that's any different than oil injection) so the 4 tec may give better longevity. Personally I would go with the four stroke for it's reliability....

 

[Steve_Cay]

IMHO, 4-stroke all the way. Never had a bombardier 2-stroke, but I hated every other 2-stroke I had with a passion ... Hard to start, stinky blue smoke, hassles mixing oils, eternally fouled plugs, etc.

The 4-tec is quieter, more fuel efficient, less polluting, more reliable, starts instantly every time, does not eat spark plugs for breakfast, and does not demand rebuilds every few years.

If you want decent chances for trouble free ownership, get the 4-tec non supercharged. Seems the used listings for LE's always say "engine just rebuilt" and listings for supercharged say "supercharger just rebuilt" ... both of those will run you good $$$. Albeit the LE's go for about half the price of the 4-tecs (obviously for a reason) making them tempting in that respect.

As for 2-strokes being easier for DIY, as long as nothing major goes wrong with the 4-tec, just need to do the the oil/filter, antifreeze, spark plugs, and winterization, all of which are perfectly doable for mechanically inclined DIYer. Supercharged version will however need scheduled rebuilding every 100h which is probably something best left to the pros.

BTW, only 10h in 10 years can entail problems of its own due to long periods of non use.

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

I"d go with 4tec too. I have a 2stroke boat and can say that they're loud, problematic (especially if you have RAVE valves, which you will), gas guzzling, and sometimes smoky. The smoke is the least of the problems though. Also, all these 2-stroke boats came with very weak charging systems, so if you plan on getting an AMP to out-shout your motor at full throttle, better invest in a deep cycle battery like I did. Last thing you want is to put an extra load on these already finiky electrical systems. I'm actually thinking of stuffing a 4cyl dodge neon motor I have. The car is shot, but this motor would be a great economic upgrade

 

[cheappc]

I agree with everyone else here, please do yourself a favor and get a 4-tec. I loved my 2 stroke, but the rebuild i needed to do, constantly needing spark plugs, gas savings on my 4-tec is unbelievable, ultimately not being able to use it on my favorite Lakes did it in.

 

[IDoSeaDoo]

Just burned up another piston on my 2stroke POS. The carb probably wasn't calibrated for 70degF and 42F water. There goes another $100 and wasted weekend... I'm actively looking for a 4tec to stuff into my Challenger and turn it into a REAL boat.

 

[ken0276]

Always do the water test, you will feel how good and strong of the engine, and its performance.