Carl,
The Suzuki 20 and the Yamaha 25 are probably the lightest on the market. I actually entertained the idea of a DF20 for my Duck Invader 13 but really need the extra 5hp being I'm 220 lbs and one of my regular hunting buddies is like 250. I've seen guys running the DF20 on glass over cedar boxes here in NJ. Great combo if you ask me. People rag on Suzukis we just just sold a boat with a 2007 150hp. Never had a problem.
I'll probably give it a few more years with my Merc 25 and by then maybe the Yamaha 25's will be easier to get and even lighter. If, and that's a "questionable/debatable if" that DF20 would work for my DI13 I'd probably be ordering right along side you. Might be time for me to go on a diet lol.
Justin Aimone said:
It?s a nice motor I am happy with it so far I couldn?t justify spending what some of these guys were asking for a 90?s 15 two stroke for a little bit more money I could have something new with a 5 year warranty like mentioned I don?t have electric start on mine I didn?t want have a battery capable of turning it over in a sneakbox honestly it?s rather easy to pull over probably easier than my 15 two stroke
Depends on application. I have a mint 2005 Johnson 15hp 2 stroke. 76 lbs, manual everything, I could take it off and throw it on my shoulder if I wanted to. It sits in my garage corner, winterized, as a back up motor. Guys running really light boxes like all-glass Higbees and even some of the layout boats can't add another 50 lbs to the back of the boat. Between 15 and 20/25hp is where things really diverge in the new 4 stroke world. The Yamaha 25 is like 125 lbs. If you're running a boat needing a 25, the difference of 10-15 lbs between lets say my Merc 25 (112 lbs) and the Yamaha 25 4 stroke (125 lbs) isn't much. However, going from a 15hp Johnson 2 stroke (76 lbs) and a Yamaha 15 4 stroke (112 lbs) that's a 40 lb difference. Some of the older 4 strokes are even heavier. That's why those DF20's are showing up on sneakboxes here in NJ. I've seen 3-4 of them this season so far.
Really the new 4 strokes have 2 advantages over the older 2 strokes 1) Fuel injection (play nicer with ethanol fuels) 2) Better fuel economy.
An older 2 stroke, in good condition with a combo electric/pull start like the Yamahas, Mercs, and Johnsons are really hard to beat. In the next 10 years though, lets see.