[Rhodes22-list] Outboards

[Roger Pihlaja]

Ron,

As Bill said, "Here we go again!"  About 14 months ago, I did extensive
research & wrote a lengthy FAQ regarding the subject of 2-cycle vs 4-cycle
outboard engines.  I submitted the FAQ; but, unfortunately, it was never
published on the FAQ web site.  I reviewed the effects of the emission
control laws that are going to kick in on Jan 1, 2006 & how each of the
major outboard manufacturers are going to meet those new regulations.  The
bottom line is: After Jan 1, 2006 the only new outboard engines that will be
legal to sell in the USA in the sub 20 hp class will probably be 4-cycle
type engines.  There will be larger 2-cycle outboards that utilize various
versions of a technology called direct fuel injection (DFI) and which do
meet the 2006 regulations.  In the FAQ, I predicted we would not see this
DFI technology trickle down to the smaller outboards appropriate for our
Rhodes 22's for various technical & economic reasons.  As of this writing,
we are about 15-1/2 months away from the deadline.  So far, no manufacturer
has introduced a small 2-cycle outboard that is 2006 emissions compliant.  I
may yet be proved wrong; but, the outboard manufacturers are going to have
to hurry.

You know, it's too bad your outboard didn't fail next summer.  I bet you'd
be able to get some really good deals on the last stock of 2-cycle outboards
in the late summer of 2005.

Bill & I don't agree on this issue of 2-cycles vs. 4-cycles & I have no
intention of getting into it all over again.  As far as I'm concerned, the
environmental science & government regulations are on my side & make the
issue a dead horse.  But hey, you're a big boy & this is still a free
country.  You can still legally purchase a new small 2-cycle outboard in the
USA for about 15-1/2 months.  I leave it to you to decide whether you want
to be the owner of one of the last 2-cycles.

I already voted with my pocket book in 1996 and 2000.

Good luck!

Roger Pihlaja
S/V Dynamic Equilibrium

----- Original Message -----
From: "Ronald Lipton" <lipton at fnal.gov>
To: "The Rhodes 22 mail list" <rhodes22-list at rhodes22.org>
Sent: Sunday, September 12, 2004 10:16 AM
Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Outboards


> Bill,
>
>       I agree that it might make more sense to find a used two stroke.
> In my brief internet
> search there do not seem to be too many used two stroke long shafts
> available.  I suspect
> that when all the manufacturers went to the four strokes the used two
> strokes became
> a lot more desirable.  In any case I will spend the week looking around
> for used two
> strokes before I go for the new Nissan.
>
> Ron
> On Sep 12, 2004, at 7:06 AM, Bill Effros wrote:
>
> > Ron,
> >
> > Here we go again, but...
> >
> > My electric starting 8 hp Tohatsu (Nissan) weighs 53 pounds, I think.
> > Whatever it is, I carry it around by myself.
> >
> > It is 14 years old, totally reliable, and maybe has 150 hours of use.
> >
> > It is a 2-stroke, and I'm sure you could get one like it for a song.
> >
> > Why spend $1,000, consume valuable resources, and pollute the
> > environment by encouraging the manufacture of unneeded outboards, when
> > you can pick up a completely reliable, low mileage, used 2-stroke
> > outboard for a fraction of that cost.
> >
> > The 4-stroke engines have not proved to be reliable on Rhodes-22s
> > because they are so seldom used.  People on this list pour massive
> > quantities of "additives" (read that to mean oil) into the gas tanks
> > of their 4-strokes to keep them properly lubricated.  The way we use
> > 4-strokes on our sailboats, they are no cleaner than the way we use 2
> > stroke engines on our sailboats.
> >
> > (There has never been a year when I used more than a quart of
> > oil--some people with 4-strokes are dumping that much oil into every
> > tank of gas.)
> >
> > I would highly recommend the Tohatsu/Nissan 2 stroke 8hp electric
> > starting engine with the Tohatsu remote throttle/start mechanism
> > (which can be purchased separately, and is easily installed.)
> >
> > Bill Effros
> >
> >
> > ----- Original Message -----
> > From: Ronald Lipton
> > To: The Rhodes 22 mail list
> > Sent: Saturday, September 11, 2004 11:14 PM
> > Subject: Re: [Rhodes22-list] Outboards
> >
> >
> > Thanks for all of the advice and comments.  I am mulling the options
> > over.
> > My Mercury 9.9 has electric start
> > and an alternator.  I hardly ever use the batteries except for running
> > lights and
> > my solar panel does fine in keeping the batteries charged, so I think
> > that the
> > alternator is unnecessary for me. The electric start is a real
> > convenience but
> > I would rather have a lighter engine that I can carry without a back
> > injury.  The
> > Honda 8 and 9.8 are about 100 pounds.  The Nissan 6 is 55.
> >
> > I sail from a mooring and, if possible
> > I try to leave and return so that if the engine fails I can sail in
> > without panic.
> > That has happened my last two  sails.  The harbor has a north
> > and a south entrance, so that can be done fairly easily.  It
> > helps if the wind is light, sailing in a crowded mooring with a stiff
> > breeze can
> > be a challenge.  The easily adjustable sail area of the Rhodes helps
> > control,
> > and I usually use the main only and furl it down as I approach the
> > mooring.
> >
> > thanks again for the comments
> >
> > Ron
> >
> > __________________________________________________
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