2 stroke vs 4 stroke Mercury

[dalefan4lyf]

I am looking in to putting a new motor on our pontoon. I am leaning towards a 4 stroke. It has a 40 2-stroke now. Its been nothing but trouble. What are the advantages and disadvantages of a 4 stroke vs 2 stroke. Is EFI worth the money? Thanks in advance for your help.

 

[fastjeff]

Two strokes are simpler, require less maintenace (oil changes, timing belt adjustments, etc.) and are more reliable, but they burn more gas (except the Optimax and E-Tech designs) along with oil. (ALL 2 strokes burn oil, all the time.) In addition, 4 strokes are heavier and have less mid-range torque but are quieter (usually). EFI is a great way to save gas in either, but it's complex and expensive to repair.

All life is compromise!

Jeff