Gary's Five-year Plan

[gcapehart]

If I was to consider another outboard, we now have a 225 VRO, and it runs great, down the line, is a four stroke inevitbale? Should it be rated higher at 250hp? Does its weight and complexity, its reliability, economy, sound level make the 2-stroke a dinosaur. I get attached to things(objects). Maybe there's a bit of Navajo here. When needed does a rebuild on the VRO make sense when all the homework is done? Meaning, carburated, 1982, is she too much a dinosaur? Would even a EFI 2-stroke be much better? Any thoughts when you get them.  Gary

[GoneFission]

If it ain't broke...  

I'm keeping my "dinosaur" Mercury 2-stroke until it starts giving me problems.  I just can't see spending $4,000 ("newer" 2-stroke rebuild with a warranty) to $18,000 (new, big 4-stroke) on a motor when what I've got works so well.  Even at $3.00+ a gallon, it would take over 2,000 hours to make up the difference!  I usually only put a couple hundred hours a year on my motor.  

[John Jones]

You can't justify repower for gas savings unless you just want to help out with the gas shortage. ;)  I can justify it (if I had the  $$) for reliability.  On an older boat I would stick to the 2-strokes, just for the weight of the 4-strokes.  It's not so bad at the 115HP range but when you get into the V6 motors it's like adding another person in the stern.  I'm hearing good things about E-tecs.  Had a ride on a 29' Sea Vee with twin E-tecs a few weeks ago. What a ride.

[gcapehart]

And with the numbers crunched, the old VRO seems the ticket still,unless the lottery is kind to me.

[gcapehart]

Thanks for the logic. And I will get a shot of our girl in here soon. That's a beautiful boat.

[RickK]

For a second it looked like my 170 on the left - nice

[John Jones]

171 Mako