Since the introduction of the 4-stroke outboard engine, one of the main criticism's levelled at their manufacturers, particularly by those long used to using 2-strokes, has been their size for size horse power rating lack of performance. And nowhere more so than in the 60 hp category which is probably the main work horse on the small boat fishing scene. A 60 hp 2-stroke will get a boat the size and weight of a Warrior 165 up onto the plane with four persons on board. But the same has not been true with a 60 hp 4-stroke on the back. So would the Suzuki 4-stroke 60 be any different?

For the technical buffs, this is a fuel injected engine with twin overhead cam shafts and a cam chain instead of a belt for more durability and potentially less maintenance. There is also a built in warning for oil changes and servicing. At face value, a very smart looking compact piece of kit. And speaking of value, very competitively priced. But the most important feature, and the one Warrior Boats Paul Haynes and I were most interested in exploring was how would its performance compare to that of a comparable 2-stroke.

The short answer to the question posed is "amazingly well". It met the challenge head on and passed it with flying colours, flying being the operative word. It easily managed to get the boat up onto the plane with myself, Paul, the boats owner Alan Baxter and his son Michael on board. In fact it achieved an impressive top speed of 26 knots (approx. 28 mph) with its standard 14 inch pitch prop, which had it been swapped for a 15 inch pitch version, would almost certainly have reached 28 knots (approx. 30 mph).

With the evidence now very firmly in the public domain, it shouldn't be too long before the opposition finds ways of combining 2-stroke performance with 4-stroke running economy. The next logical question has to be, why has it taken so long.