[Gerry Zagorski]

The early HDPIs (say 1999 - 2001 ish) had some issues with blowing power heads. Just about every manufacturer who came out with a new pressure injected 2 stroke to meet the new EPA requirements had the same issues. Yamaha with their HDPI, Evenrude with Ficht and Mercury with their Optimax.

I think most have either overcome those issue or have gone to 4 stroke engines but some still offer both. That should tell you something and to prove my point, the same used boat with 2 strokes HDPI's typically sells for less than it's peers with 4 strokes.

In my mind the benefits of a 4 stroke are reliabilty, you don't need to burn 2 stroke oil ($$$$) and they tend to be quieter and burn cleaner than 2 strokes. The downside is you have to do oil changes and they usually weigh more.

The 2 strokes typically weigh less, have a better power to weight ratio and are uaully less expensive than the same horsepower 4 strokes.

If it were me, money aside, I would go with the 4 stroke.