Good deal but has a two stroke

[WildmanWilson]

I am looking for my retirement boat and found a 2018 z518 with a Merc 150 but it’s a two stroke. I had told myself I would only get one if it was a four stroke. It has 60 hours on it and owned by an 89 year old guy that only crappie fished out of it. Do you guys think it’s worth getting with the two stroke? Ive just heard a four is more reliable. Would you buy it with the two?

[mactlman]

love the 2 strokes-wish it was still an option. my 2 strokes ran great and got better mileage than my 4 stroke and way less parts to go bad! only did maintenance to the 2 strokes i had, never let me down

[PatriotAW4]

That is a great motor but I would pass because it is too small for that boat. A Z518 should have a 200.

[ssmithboats]

the reason it is a deal is because of the 2 stroke.

[gonnabe]

Yea those 2 strokes everyone has been running the last 60 years are horrible but I like mine just fine.

[WildmanWilson]

That is a great motor but I would pass because it is too small for that boat. A Z518 should have a 200.

I can get this one for 27k in mint condition and has pretty good graphs and spot lock. Ones with a 200 that Ive seen run considerably higher. I’m not a tournament fisherman. I don’t care if I only go 45.

[mflora98ss]

I can get this one for 27k in mint condition and has pretty good graphs and spot lock. Ones with a 200 that Ive seen run considerably higher. I’m not a tournament fisherman. I don’t care if I only go 45.

I would go for it.

I have a 2010 Z7 with a 150 Optimax and it does just fine hauling me around with way too much tackle in it. Even with a 4 blade 23 pitch prop it will do just shy of 60mph.

[PatriotAW4]

27K is not that great of a deal for an underpowered boat. I looked at one a few months ago with a 200 Optimax on it that was selling for 25K.

[WildmanWilson]

27K is not that great of a deal for an underpowered boat. I looked at one a few months ago with a 200 Optimax on it that was selling for 25K.

How many hours? This one is less than 60. I’ve been looking at boats for the last couple of years and I don’t see them any cheaper. I’m not saying one doesn’t pop up every once in a while but this boat is cheaper than any Ive seen. Even with the 150. Why do you think it’s undersized? It will go what? 10 mph slower than the 200 at 10,000 more at least in the used market? I’m not going to be skiing behind it. Will it not get on plane? What’s undersized about it?

[PatriotAW4]

How many hours? This one is less than 60. I’ve been looking at boats for the last couple of years and I don’t see them any cheaper. I’m not saying one doesn’t pop up every once in a while but this boat is cheaper than any Ive seen. Even with the 150. Why do you think it’s undersized? It will go what? 10 mph slower than the 200 at 10,000 more at least in the used market? I’m not going to be skiing behind it. Will it not get on plane? What’s undersized about it?

I made the mistake of buying an underpowered bass boat once and I will never do it again. A correctly powered boat does everything better, gets on plane quicker, carries a load better, faster, and gets better fuel mileage at the same speed as the underpowered one. If you load that boat down with 2 people, full fuel, livewells, tackle, power poles, etc it will struggle with a 150 on it.

[cosmoranger]

I am looking for my retirement boat and found a 2018 z518 with a Merc 150 but it’s a two stroke. I had told myself I would only get one if it was a four stroke. It has 60 hours on it and owned by an 89 year old guy that only crappie fished out of it. Do you guys think it’s worth getting with the two stroke? Ive just heard a four is more reliable. Would you buy it with the two?

i would definitely buy a Two stroke. Especially a 150 with such low hours. 150’s hold their value better than a 250.

You could get top dollar out of that motor and upgrade to a 4 stroke for not much money. That is if the boat is priced right.

[TopgunZ521C]

love the 2 strokes-wish it was still an option. my 2 strokes ran great and got better mileage than my 4 stroke and way less parts to go bad! only did maintenance to the 2 strokes i had, never let me down

I love my 2 stroke as well glad i still run one

[Gamblerman65]

Buy it before someone else does.

[zaprod71]

If it's reliable and performs well, who care what stoke it is or what brand for that matter. You can have a brand new Merc 4 stroke in the repair shop while someone else with a Evinrude Intruder is out fishing.
Go fo it if it's right for you!

[bwizard]

i would definitely buy a Two stroke. Especially a 150 with such low hours. 150’s hold their value better than a 250.

You could get top dollar out of that motor and upgrade to a 4 stroke for not much money. That is if the boat is priced right.

Buy it and upgrade if needed.

[SoonerFan]

The common outcry on this site is "not enough power". My personal experience is a 150 does everything I want. It depends on your style of fishing. I fish small stump field lakes a lot...no need for more power there. When I do fish my favorite clear water highland lake I can get my 18' Nitro with a 150 Opti up to 60 mph but I seldom feel the need to go that fast. I don't fish tournaments, so there's no reason to go faster, other than it's fun. My Nitro is way overloaded with tackle and batteries and it still gets up just fine.

Buy the 2 stroke and enjoy not having to do oil changes.

[Amistad Tackle]

150 will be fine on an 18 foot boat and you'll save a bunch of money on fuel over a 200. Go for it. I had 18 and 19 foot boats with 150 hp 2 strokes and they both performed just fine.

[PatriotAW4]

150 will be fine on an 18 foot boat and you'll save a bunch of money on fuel over a 200. Go for it. I had 18 and 19 foot boats with 150 hp 2 strokes and they both performed just fine.

If you run them both wide open you will save fuel, however a 200 Running at 5000 RPM part throttle going 55 MPH will use less fuel than a 150 running wide open at 55 MPH.

[FTC]

Can't say for sure but that boat maybe rated for a 150

[jimsch]

In this year, the Z518C is rated for the 200, the Z518 is at 150.
I've had my C at just over 70, but never caught any fish at that speed.
If you don't fish tournaments, the 150 will work great. Very stable platform and plenty of dry storage.
Good luck with your search and purchase.

https://www.boatguide.com/specs/rang...ries/z518.html