tohatsu?

[fishermanajcktb]

I've recently been researching looking for an outboard motor around the 10hp-20hp. i have been looking at either a 10hp honda or 20hp tohatsu. when i visited my dealer he said that tohatsu where no good and a honda would be much better?

i was wondering if people could tell me their views on this as i have been told that tohatsu's are very reliable outboards?

thanks jack.

[steco1958]

I have had both, Tohatsu 9.9 2stroke, also a Honda 20hp 4 stroke.

Neither of them missed a beat, just sold the Honda with my sib.

Tohatsu happens to be for sale

Steve

Sent from my iPhone using Rib.net

[lewsimm88]

I have a Tohatsu 15 four stroke I've had it for a while now and it's been great. I use it most weekends in the summer and every few weeks in the winter. I use it on a 3m rib and it has no trouble planing with two people both weighing around 10 stone. If I was you I would go for the tohatsu.

[kaman]

Sounds like your dealer might be a Honda agent and somewhat biased.
I have owned a 20hp four stroke for three years from new.
Cracking engine can't fault it apart from the weight of the damn thing.
It's a beast to lift single handed out of the car and onto a Sib.
The Honda 10hp is a fair lump as well.
Don't think any of the engines will give you much hassle if properly maintained.
Depends how fast you want to go as a 10 hp may struggle to get a heavily weighted SIB onto the plane.

[kaman]

Originally Posted by kaman

Sounds like your dealer might be a Honda agent and somewhat biased.
I have owned a 20hp four stroke for three years from new.
Cracking engine can't fault it apart from the weight of the damn thing.
It's a beast to lift single handed out of the car and onto a Sib.
The Honda 10hp is a fair lump as well.
Don't think any of the engines will give you much hassle if properly maintained.
Depends how fast you want to go as a 10 hp may struggle to get a heavily weighted SIB onto the plane.

Meant to add my 20hp is a Tohatsu.
Tohatsu also make all Mariner and Mercury engines upto about 30 hp.
They are all the same engines in essence just different paint jobs and logos, there is very few technical differences between any of these aforementioned engines,

[fishermanajcktb]

thanks for all the replies, my dealer did deal with honda. I was wondering if the 20hp tohatsu is manageable to carry to and from the water as i will not be able to use a trailer?

thanks jack.

[kaman]

Originally Posted by fishermanajcktb

thanks for all the replies, my dealer did deal with honda. I was wondering if the 20hp tohatsu is manageable to carry to and from the water as i will not be able to use a trailer?

thanks jack.

The engine weighs in excess of 50 kgs.
It's size and shape further complicates moving it.
It really should be a two person lift.
I am 6ft 3 and weigh 18 stone and find it an uncomfortable lift on my own.
I use a trolley to wheel mine from the garage to the car.
I lift it into the boot from the trolley.
As my sib is trailered I un hitch the trailer and swing it around so the boot is next to my transom.
Lift the Tohatsu from boot straight onto the transom.
Once secured I reattach the trailer and drive to the water.
You wouldn't want to carry one more than ten yards unless you have a chiropractor in the family lol!!!

[clydeoutboards]

Hi

well sell both and they are v v different engines. for light use the Tohatsu is a great option i.e. less than 100 hours per year and should be considered. If you want something bullet proof go for the Honda and the extra warranty ( they also never seem to argue in the rare cases something does go wrong) so you can keep it for longer without it loosing a chunk of money like all engines do when the warranty runs out.

if buying the tohatsu and your in no rush ask the dealer to check with them for special deals or call us and I will tell you when they have one on.

Oh tohatsu will aslo PDI ( pre delivery inspection) for dealers on small engines so you can buy from anyone. Honda only send to dealers who then deliver/fit up the engine.

Hope this helps

Dave

[kaman]

Looking at the stats on these two engines its a no brainer for me.

I own a Honda CRV, a Honda Honwave Sib and a Honda motorcycle so im fond of Honda as a manufacturer.

Tohatsu wins hands down for me on thus one though.
Tohatsu only weighs 10 kg more (42kgs vs 52kgs).
That's 1hp extra per kg!!!!
Tohatsu (Nissan) have an excellent reputation for their cupboards!
Tohatsu cheaper to buy and maintain too!

Sorry Honda!

[kaman]

Originally Posted by kaman

Looking at the stats on these two engines its a no brainer for me.

I own a Honda CRV, a Honda Honwave Sib and a Honda motorcycle so im fond of Honda as a manufacturer.

Tohatsu wins hands down for me on thus one though.
Tohatsu only weighs 10 kg more (42kgs vs 52kgs).
That's 1hp extra per kg!!!!
Tohatsu (Nissan) have an excellent reputation for their cupboards!
Tohatsu cheaper to buy and maintain too!

Sorry Honda!

Nearly wet my self reading my last post back!
Tohatsu make excellent 'cupboards' apparently!!!
It should have read outboards.
I hate predictive messaging phones.
And they hate my sausage fingers!

[Roflhat]

I would say tohatsu. they are just bulletproof, simple and reliable. Only brand I would choose over them is yamaha

[fishermanajcktb]

haha, thanks for all the reply i think ill go for the tohatsu as it will only be for light use in the summer and i will be buying wheels for the inflatable so i can mount the engine before going to the water.

jack

[willk]

Have you got a helper for the engine lift and fitting? That's a lot of weight...

[frankc]

As I recall, Tohatsu started out making salt water approved motors for fisherman while Evinrude, Johnson, and Mercury were making basically fresh water motors with little to no stainless parts.

Tohatsu has always made their motors simple to facilitate field repairs. They produce probably more units than any other manufacturer. It would be hard to go wrong with one of their motors.

For an inflatable boat user, don't forget the 9.8 and 18 HP motors which basically owned the inflatable boat market.

In the EFI field for small motors, they have engineered 25 and 30 HP motors which run without a battery.

[fishermanajcktb]

thanks all for the replies, one more question how fuel efficient are the tohatsu 20hp outboards?

thanks jack.

[lewsimm88]

My 15 is very efficient I used it on Sunday over a full day cruising around at full power and going against the wind I only used 5 litres.

[lightning]

I've had my Tohatsu 9.8 two stroke for two seasons now, and have been very happy with it.

The engine starts easily and runs well, even at extended canal use at pretty much tickover speed.

The 9.8hp only weighs 26kg, which is great, as it can be lifted easily with one hand. My 2.8m SIB goes like a rocket with this engine fitted, although it might not be enough for you if you are looking for the 20hp version.

[azzurro]

I do not undesrtand why are you comparing a 10hp 4 stroke Honda to a 20hp 4stroke Tohatsu.
BF20 4stroke Honda, short shaft, tiller handle, manual start is 47kg.
MFS20C 4stroke Tohatsu, short shaft, tiller handle, manual start is 52.5kg.

Honda lower weight is due to the engine being a 15hp block with a modified carburetor.

Honda was the firt 4stroke outboard manufacturer, many years before any other.
I have read many times Tohatsu is very reliable - on 2 stroke.
Honda is also pointed as the more expensive manufacturer. I do not know if this is true.

Just because of weight, I would choose between a 2 stroke second hand 18hp Tohatsu or a BF20 4 stroke Honda.
2 stroke engines are lighter and easier to handle because weight is mostly in the leg rather than in the head. Also, they can be laid on both sides: you cannot do this with a 4 stroke, as the oil gets out of the engine.

Even though...watch out for the weight. Even a BF20 4stroke Honda or a 18HP 2stroke Tohatsu can be too heavy to handle on your own.

[fishermanajcktb]

Originally Posted by azzurro

I do not undesrtand why are you comparing a 10hp 4 stroke Honda to a 20hp 4stroke Tohatsu.
BF20 4stroke Honda, short shaft, tiller handle, manual start is 47kg.
MFS20C 4stroke Tohatsu, short shaft, tiller handle, manual start is 52.5kg.

Honda lower weight is due to the engine being a 15hp block with a modified carburetor.

Honda was the firt 4stroke outboard manufacturer, many years before any other.
I have read many times Tohatsu is very reliable - on 2 stroke.
Honda is also pointed as the more expensive manufacturer. I do not know if this is true.

Just because of weight, I would choose between a 2 stroke second hand 18hp Tohatsu or a BF20 4 stroke Honda.
2 stroke engines are lighter and easier to handle because weight is mostly in the leg rather than in the head. Also, they can be laid on both sides: you cannot do this with a 4 stroke, as the oil gets out of the engine.

Even though...watch out for the weight. Even a BF20 4stroke Honda or a 18HP 2stroke Tohatsu can be too heavy to handle on your own.

thanks for the reply i am wanting to compare the different hp engines because they are in the same price range and am wondering if i would better buying a larger cheaper engine or a smaller engine

thanks jack.

[freespirit3]

I had a 70c two stroke Tohatsu, bullet proof, used for 8 years, never missed a beat.

Parts very reasonable, dealers very supportive

I guess ask any zapcat racer, Tohatsu are the only manufacturer who warrant their engines for racing plus all the baby mercury engines are made under license by tohatsu