Re: what 2008 4 stroke outboard
I assume you have good reason for your preference of 4 Stroke over Two Stroke.I work with many different motors and offer the following observations.
Two strokes are considerably lighter than 4's, They are quicker to respond to throttle and come up on the plane faster. They are generally heavier on gas but it is not so noticeable with smaller motors.
Four strokes use automotive type construction and they dont have the history from which we can determine their longevity. However I expect that they will not compare favorably with the two stroke motors.
Both type of motors are very reliable when serviced and used correctly.
I run a 15HP 4ST Yamaha on my 15 ft boat and a 140HP 2ST Suzuki on my 17 ft. Both are good motors. The Yamaha is a little heavy and tends to pull the stern down. Moving the fuel tank and the battery forward would compensate but that would take up deck space. The boat is rated for a 30HP but I think they had 2ST in mind when they did that in 2003.
The motor runs well as it has low hours but there is a good deal of vibration when it is wide open.
Suzuki 4ST motors tend to be lighter, size for size, than Yamaha.
As for the size you should use, and I know something about British waters (Ex Limey),power to weight is your issue. If you go with a 4ST it will need to be smaller than a 2ST to compensate. The size will be 20-30 HP.You need to compare motors.
Manufacturer preference is Suzuki with Yamaha 2nd.
Whatever you get be sure that your local dealer service department can do a good job for you.
I hope that this helps you in your quest.
