Outboard
Roundup 2008

We’ve come a long way since the day that Ole Evenrude affixed a shaft and a rudimentary propeller to a two horsepower engine to speed trips across the lake to fetch ice cream. Today, EPA regulations and the consumer’s need for speed are obsoleting engines that debuted as recently as 2000. Here’s a look as the latest round of releases on engines of 9.9 to 350 horsepower from the major manufacturers now hitting showrooms.

Early outboards were nearly exclusively two strokes, but with increasing environmental concerns, many manufacturers switched to four-stroke engines. These come at a price, as the increased complexity of valve timing and other mechanical features tends to increase the weight. Bucking the trend, Bombardier, manufacturers of the Evinrude brand, has had great success with its E-Tec range of two strokes. Featuring direct fuel injection, these engines have won many admirers for their reliability and quiet operation. They also do not require any dealer maintenance for three years or 300 hours, thus reducing maintenance costs, which is a serious consideration if you have a couple of 200-hp engines strapped to the transom.
Yamaha is another manufacturer that offers engines in either two or four-stroke. Their new V Max series of two strokes come in a variety of outputs from 200 to 300 hp and weigh a good 50 pounds less than the equivalent four-stroke model.

Choosing a two- or four-stroke is a mattter of customer preference, the type of boating that you do, where you do it, and type of craft that it will power. Choosing a boat and motor separately requires attention to details so that you do not just end up buying an overstocked motor or one that is not optimal for your boat. Just because you can bolt it on doesn’t mean you are going to like it.

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