Which is a better boat for me?

[jimmy's marine service]

Re: repower

You guys are scaring me now with the whole transom strength and four strokes not being able to exhaust properly etc... I guess I need to rethink my options. One of the bigger reasons I wanted to re-power an older boat with a 4 stroke is the noise factor. Being a boater my whole life, having to scream at your buddy standing next to you in order to have a conversation has always been a pet peeve of mine. I also like the idea of not adding oil but anything beats not having to mix it with the gas like days of old!

My question to you then, (Jimmy, B-Faithful, Grog and Gradyfish-22), is what is a quieter engine of the ones you have noted above? Are the DFI's and HPDI's quite as well? Also, do you have a feel Jimmy of what year grady's can accommodate a 4 stroke? Is it only the last 4-5 years? Thanks

it's all about weight...these older rigs were designed for engines that weighed around 400lbs each...some of these new 4 strokes weigh 625lbs,big difference huh ??? the scuppers allready sit real low in the water on the gradys,do a search,quite a few guys complain about water coming in.add all this extra weight and you've got big problems...don't believe the know it alls that will tell you to go for a "flotation bracket",granted it will help the situation,however,the boat's still not designed to carry the extra weight...it's similar to overpowering a boat,adding more hp than what's reccomended on the capacity plate,it's a dumb move and you're asking for trouble...do a search of my posts,you will find an email i got from grady,it clearly states they do not reccoemnd to repower with the 4 stroke engines on the older hulls...if you're looking at an older grady repowered with 4 strokes,walk away from the deal,if you're looking at a grady that's been overpowered,walk away from the deal too... :wink: be smart,don't be led by the know it alls...call the factory and get the same answer i gave you... :wink:

 

[B-Faithful]

The OptiMax supposively is quieter now. Mine is no different than a traditional 2 stroke as far as noise levels. It just sips fuel and will spend hours at near idle without a hiccup yet still provide 2 stroke performance. The Etec and HPDI's are quieter than the OptiMax but merc has DTS and smart craft available over the other two. I also believe the OptiMax to be the most reliable DFI on the market today.


As far as heaters go, there is no need for an inboard. I use one of these in the pilothouse to take the edge off: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... _200307957

It works great!

 

[jimmy's marine service]

The OptiMax supposively is quieter now. Mine is no different than a traditional 2 stroke as far as noise levels. It just sips fuel and will spend hours at near idle without a hiccup yet still provide 2 stroke performance. The Etec and HPDI's are quieter than the OptiMax but merc has DTS and smart craft available over the other two. I also believe the OptiMax to be the most reliable DFI on the market today.


As far as heaters go, there is no need for an inboard. I use one of these in the pilothouse to take the edge off: http://www.northerntool.com/webapp/wcs/ ... _200307957

It works great!

last post before i go to the shop...
the optimax engines...the early generation optimax engines,they had serious problems in the high horsepower range...the lower displacement engines,these were great !!! the new optimax engines,these are bulletproof !!! the going rate is 45% less fuel and 50% less oil than a compared carb'd engine :shock: that my friend is pretty impressive stuff !!! there's absolutley no problem running the merc optimax engines...

 

[B-Faithful]

What Jimmy says is true about the Mercs. The early OptiMaxes were known as OptiBombs. This was up to about 2001 and some early 2002's. They have since worked out those bugs and the technology now has like 11 or 12 years on the market. If you look at an Opti powered boat that the motors are 2001 or earlier, make sure you have an Optimax certified mechanic go over the motor for all the updates (mostly injectors). Also make sure the owner has run OptiMax oil (doesnt mix well with fuel) and quickleen or other decarb solution.

 

[Grog]

The 4 strokes are scary quiet at idle, the direct injection models are much improved over the older carb models (you know it's on but it's kinda quiet). When cruising, there isn't a huge volume difference but a different sound with the 4 stroke.

If the only reason you wanted a 4 stroke is for the noise, take a ride in a dirct injection 2 stroke powered boat and see how you like it.

 

[richmake]

First of all...by no means am I an expert on this subject but here's what I know and live...
I've got a 92' sportbridge and it has new 200hp zuke 4 strokes on it...
Here's some info...
scuppers are almost all the way out of the water with half fuel...
weight is a little more than 2 strokes but their is also no oil resoviors in the stern so that helps...
The performance numbers are what counts for the way we fish up here.
We need motors that troll all at idle all day and the 2 strokes just don't cut it...
These zukes burn nothing and are super quiet with no smoke...which the clients love...
The bottom line I think is if the bracket is in decent shape...things should be fine...
One other thing that most guy's forget to mention...Even if a 2 stoke some how finds a way to burn less fuel than a 4 stroke...what about the price of oil it burns...that stuff is costly as well...

 

[catch22]

First of all...by no means am I an expert on this subject but here's what I know and live...
I've got a 92' sportbridge and it has new 200hp zuke 4 strokes on it...
Here's some info...
scuppers are almost all the way out of the water with half fuel...
weight is a little more than 2 strokes but their is also no oil resoviors in the stern so that helps...
The performance numbers are what counts for the way we fish up here.
We need motors that troll all at idle all day and the 2 strokes just don't cut it...
These zukes burn nothing and are super quiet with no smoke...which the clients love...
The bottom line I think is if the bracket is in decent shape...things should be fine...
One other thing that most guy's forget to mention...Even if a 2 stoke some how finds a way to burn less fuel than a 4 stroke...what about the price of oil it burns...that stuff is costly as well...

Good post and good information. That's the kind of stuff members are looking for.
No longer have to worry about being missled by the "X know it all'.