Looking to buy a Alumacraft 165 dominator, no out board with boat. In pa ha 20 hp limit where I want to take boat. Question , do I buy a newer 20 hp 4 stroke or a older hopped up 9.9 with a 15 carb? How do the newer 4 strokes run? Quite a bit of money Difference. Open to opinions.

I'd opt for a 4 stroke. Just so I didn't have to put up with the smoke and fumes.

I'd prolly look into a suzuki or yamaha engine 4 stroke.

I run a 20 hp Yamaha on my runabout and i love that little engine. Mine has electric start ... I thought I would need it because of the missus. But when I feel energetic I use the pull start and it fires up first pull. Use it for trolling and you can putter along for hours and then open it up with no stutter no smoke and not even close to the noise of a two smoke infernal combustion engine. If you can swing it, get a 20 Yamaha 4t you won't regret it.

Looks like the Dominator is a wide boat so motor weight probably isn't a concern but a 2 stroke is lighter than a 4 stroke.

After having a 4 stroke I'll never go back to a 2 stroke.

I just bought a yamaha 25 four stroke. I have maybe 2 hrs run time on it but can tell you its a great little motor. It is so nice to be able to carry on a conversation with the motor running and not have to yell to hear each other.

Get the 4 stroke, always use premium, non- oxygenated gas and you will love it. Quiet, clean burning and easy starting.

If you are worried about weight, look at suzuki....lightest 4-strokes in the smaller sizes. Excellent reviews on them as they are fuel injected without need for a battery. I run a Honda, love it, but would not hesitate on going Suzuki next time. Maybe more important is dealer service in your area for quality service after the sale.

Bought a new Suzuki 4 stroke a few months ago. I love it, very quite, starts great.

Bought a Yamaha 15 hp 4 stroke for the Freighter Canoe.....quiet, no fumes,sips gas, no mixing.....

If you're good with small motors and you don't have any dealer service near you then I'd go with the two strokes. You can always get them to run. however, if you don't like working on your own stuff and there is a good shop near you then go with a four stroke; they are pretty nice.

If you work on outboards, you will know which to buy. Or carry them.

One thing I forgot to mention. It has no carb to gum up as its fuel injected. So I run mine on straight 87 ethanol gas
I run mine every day as its my computer and work boat.

I just changed the filters and pumps on a couple of those maintenance free 4 strokes last year. Have fun working on them. I also worked on the neighbors two stroke and cleaned a plugged main jet in the carburetor.

Guess which was easier to diagnose and repair and was cheaper to repair by a lot.

I work on outboards and I would not go back to a two stroke. One exception I do like my old British Seagull. But I am glad I don't have to run it every day. It runs on 1:10 mix. Lets just say you don't get there by the noseeums when that thing is strapped to the back of your boat.

I have a 90 Yamaha on my 19 foot alumacraft and love it .

Four strokes are sweet until they stop running. Then about all you can do then is just stare at them.

I use two strokes on boats that absolutely must run (boats that I make money with). About 12 years ago I tried a four stroke for a short period of time. It pooped-out on me one day and cost me about $10,000 in lost fish. Computer glitch, you don't have that issue with carb'ed two strokes.

I use four strokes on boats that I just goof around in.