On Thu, 14 Jun 2007 09:22:12 -0700, Capt John
wrote:

They weigh less, which is always a good thing on a small boat.

Not significantly. It's generally at or around 100 lbs depending on
model.

Their far less complicated,

That is absoutely not true, unless you consider the Yamaha carbed
series as "uncomplicated" which they are not.

which helps for long term reliability

That's true enough in particular with today's oil injection/metering
systems.

What also helps long term reliability is new materials science and
just like four strokes, good service and maintenance regimens. Also
the new synthetic oils also help, but they are expensive.

and cost of repairs/ownership.

Eh. Repairs are as expensive as four strokes in terms of labor and
depending on what kind of two stroke (carbed vs injected) parts are
expensive no matter what kind of power system.

The fuel injected 2 stroke engines burn less fuel.

Mine does and is probably the most efficient two stroke on the market.
Yamaha HPDI are pigs on gas and Optimax engines aren't that far
behind.

They cost less to buy, and you run them at lower RPM's than a 4
stroke to get the same power, so the 4 stroke is probably going to
wear faster.

Eh - that's a problematic statement. Mine is a 90 degree engine block
with a lower gear ratio than Yamaha/Merc which is what produces the
power (plus a four blade prop).

OK, you do have to add oil to a 2 stroke, but you have to
check the oil, change it and change oil filters on a four stroke.

That's one area where we agree.

Is the yard going to let you do that? So you've probably got to pay for
that, and we all know how inexpensive yard bills are.

That's a very good point. Marinas up here don't allow four stroke
self maintenance in their yards and certainly not at the slips.

Two strokes have been around for a long time, you know their reliable
(I'd get a Merc over the Yamaha any day),

Their both pigs.

Buy ETEC. :)