2014 115/125 optimax vs 115 4 stroke

[Dusto]

Anyone out there go for the 2 stroke option? If you could do it over, What one would you pick?

Would the 125 opti give significantly more performance?

[bassn386]

Dusto, I'll give you my experience when I bought my Bennington. I have an 200 hp Opti on my bass boat and love it and was considering going with the Opti on the Benni. The dealer convinced me that most of the toons they sold were going out the door with a 4 stroke, most of them Yamaha's. Their wasn't that much difference in the weight and for resale value the 4 stroke might be easier to sell.
Those who have 2 strokes on their toons get on mine and ask if the motor is running as we idle out of a cove.
So far, all I've done is have the oil changed at the 20 hour interval and then again at about 90 hours (because it was the end of a season). I asked the owner of the local marina about when to change out the impeller and he said the Yamaha impellers are built of sturdy stuff and I may not have to change it out until at least 150 hours.

[Liberty MO]

I had a Mercury 4 stroke and now have a 200 Pro XS on my current boat. I've been very very happy with the performance of it, it's not smokey and loud as you would think many 2 strokes would be. It is throaty sounding at idle if that makes sense, but I actually enjoy that a bit. When underway it's not noticibly louder than the 4 stroke. I've had zero service issues or service problems. I do keep a 5 gallon jug of 2 cycle oil on board at all times, but it has been very efficient fuel wise. I think the performance is pretty solid, we hit 43 at WOT on a 28.5' tritoon with the family of 4 on board.

Aside from the oil, I've noticed nothing different from owning a 4 stroke. So to answer your question, I'd go with the best deal I could find.

[Dusto]

Thanks for the responses. I think we all can agreed they are all good.
How about performance. Would I see a noticeable difference with the 2 stroke?

[fergusmj]

I went with a 150 optimax for my tritoon. I was hesitant at first because of hearing that they're loud, smoke, blah blah blah. Older ones maybe, but not the newer ones. I will say though that my main reason was cost to get my 2 stroke vs. a 4 stroke. I bought used though.

My understanding is that the 2 stroke will have better performance overall.

[lightpants]

I also have a 115 optimax.
I am very happy with it. It is quiet, efficient, and has performed flawlessly.
It doesn't smoke, and uses very little oil (which is expensive, so that is nice)
I would buy another optimax if I needed a motor in the future.
Jim

[Bamaman]

I'm coming from a Yamaha 115 hp 2 stroke to the Yamaha F150. I think newer 2 stroke vs 4 stroke is a matter of how you run the engine. Most pontoon users don't run them flat out all the time. That's when a 2 stroke comes into its own. Most pontooners just prefer the 4 strokes because they're so smooth and quiet where they use their boats most of the time.

[Dusto]

Thanks for all the replies.
As I can see no one is seeing noticable or big gains in performance owning the 2 stroke.

I thought I would consider the 115/125 opti if other owners noticed a lot better performance, but I think I will stick with the 4 stroke 115.

[BobG]

I love my merc 115 4 stroke.

When I win the lottery, I'm going to have a new boat with a much bigger motor!