Women hate outboards?

[Arminius]

Do girls and women dislike 4-stroke outboards as much as 2-strokes? I'm serious, I thought my 21' ski Hydrostream with the injected 220 hp Merc outboard was the functional ultimate. Light, easy to tow, planed instantly, started and idled well, smelled some, didn't hold a course well but we were just recreational. Still, Susan was late or called repeatedly about water conditions and frowned at occasional puffs of oil smoke (2 fuel pump system). Was a no-show too often.

Time has passed and I have this nice 2003 Bowrider w/ 5.0 injected. She is always out here and happy. Searay is very civilized, like a cross between a car and a Jacuzzi. Luxury is another reason she might like it besides the absence of oil smoke. I'm happy but just wondering. Suppose it were a 250 hp outboard hung on a new Searay or Chapperal hull. Would she still like it?

 

[ttmott]

Fickle they are....

 

[Chip S]

After 25 years of boating my wife will only own outboards now. She knows what she wants.

 

[Pirate Lady]

Sorry to say, but maybe it ain't the outboard, maybe its you.

 

[Bridog]

Sorry to say, but maybe it ain't the outboard, maybe its you.

Or the other brand boat?

 

[370Dancer]

Whatever makes her look good. Could be a row boat, could be the one you can never afford.
Think inverse of your natural tendencies, and you will be at home base.

 

[MonacoMike]

My admiral always loved the dinghy, but hated the two-stroke smells. The new four stroke Yamaha is exceedingly quiet and has no smell whatsoever.

Happy wife, happy life!

 

[Arminius]

This is what I was hoping to hear. The Chaparral with the VMax is attractive. My Mercury injected outboard pulse pumped fuel at the throttle determined ratio into a cute little tank, like a miniature gas tank, containing a high pressure electric pump for the injectors. This way they could use a proven system w/o any excessive, expensive engineering. Drawback was that the little tank got filled with 50:1 smokey fuel while skiing at nearly WOT. We settle down to switch or just stretch and it idles at what should be 150:1 but first it has to burn off that little tank of oily 50:1 fuel.
Then the enviro-nuts banned 2-strokes and Mercury has to find power in an inscrutable 4-stroke. They let Yammy build them for a while, now they have Chinese units, but, incredibly enough, they put superchargers on their crude efforts. Think Mel Gibson being pursued by Aussie rock and roll zombies and pulling the cute manual clutch spinning up the blower on his police special Gremlin with the AMC Rambler block.

Yamaha has been racing 4-stroke motorcycles forever and the Chaparral has the classy design the Searay used to have. I don't want another Mercury outboard.

As for the other theory, I'm older, uglier and meaner than I used to be so I think it is the boat.

 

[paulswagelock]

Mercury had low horsepower (15 and under iirc) motors built overseas, but all their higher hp motors are US made and have been for a long time. The supercharged Verado has been one of the most successful motors ever, US made. The new v8 outboards are off to a great start as well, US made.

 

[Arminius]

Lake WA was very crowded on the hottest day of the year and I had my eye out for newer boats in my 20' range with outboards. There were more than I expected and most all the cowlings were Merc black.

 

[Chip S]

Lake WA was very crowded on the hottest day of the year and I had my eye out for newer boats in my 20' range with outboards. There were more than I expected and most all the cowlings were Merc black.

Yamaha had problems with the mid-sections of their larger outboards corroding out. Supposedly Yamaha has corrected the problem, but a lot of people don't trust them anymore. Having to pay $4000 to fix an 8 year old outboard leaves a bad taste in a lot of people's mouths.

 

[Arminius]

Disaster! Wish I had an outboard. I got stuck on the muddy, potholed ramp while launching my heavy I/O and had to be towed! Kept backing but could not get heavy Searay off bunk trailer!

 

[Pirate Lady]

i have observed that in my portion of the Chesapeake, Yamahas are everywhere. still see Mercury but not like i used to, and surprisingly i hardly ever see Honda or Suzuki.

 

[carterchapman]

I've got a 40HP Evinrude ETEC on my tender, and it's been bullet proof so far. Sorry they went out of production.

 

[krs616]

I have twin White 4-stroke 250 Yamaha's on my boat now (not a SR)...wife calls them the 'jewelry' of the boat so I think that's a good thing . No smoke, and I have to make sure they're peeing water when I start them they're so quiet!

 

[GypsmJim]

All the Gofasts around here sport 3 or 4 outboards, with a blonde bombshell sitting next to the captain. I guess they must like outboards.

A few Yamis, and very few Hondas. The dealer ratio is about 15 Mercs to 1 Yami and 1 Honda.

Our Searay has a big Black Max 4-stroke engine on the transom, and a little kicker right next to it. My wife says the kicker isn't an engine yet....but its learning to be one.

Whenever we are anchored on the sandbar next to other I'Os, its always the ladies that come over and ask about the outboards.

 

[blaster]

My admiral always loved the dinghy, but hated the two-stroke smells. The new four stroke Yamaha is exceedingly quiet and has no smell whatsoever.

Happy wife, happy life!

I love the smell of a 2 stroke at dawn. It’s like fresh cut grass to me.

Note I have two boats!

2010 205 sport 4.3 mpi alpha. Clean Soft comfortable SeaRay.

1996 Boston Whaler. Clean to me. Soft enough for me. I love the smell. NOT A LUX CRUISER!

Id like a giant cruiser when my college obligations to my oldest are fulfilled.

 

[ttmott]

This boat sits behind the house and is my river runabout. The previous engine (Evinrude Looper) was methanol and nitrox oxide injected with a raised and tuned exhaust; Loud, obnoxious, and dangerous but that smell of Klotz castor 2-stroke oil was magical.... My caretaker never turns down an outing on this boat especially when we had the "Rude" on it; but she is a bonified motorhead.

 

[Arminius]

It's September and the Lake is too low to safely launch my I/O. I was reminiscing fondly of the times we had an outboard that I could drop into a half-filled dog dish but she still objects it smelled bad!