Tohatsu Outboard experiences

jswindel

jswindel

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Has anyone got experience of using a Tohatsu 6HP outboard? Are they reliable, good quality? I noticed that they are a bit lighter and cheaper than most other makes, but I don't have any experience of them at all.
 
I have the 5hp which is basically the same engine - no problems with it over the last 2 yrs

The mercury and mariner are the same unit but rebadged
 
Tohatsu 6

Until we returned to inboard power this summer our last boat was powered by a Tohatsu 6 sail drive. Replaced a 5 HP Johnson 2 stroke.

The Tohatsu was a joy - totally dependable and started first or second pull. Nice and quiet in comparison with the Johnson and never a problem.
 
What is the difference between the sail drive and the normal version? Is it just a different prop, or is there more to it than that?
 
jswindel said:
What is the difference between the sail drive and the normal version? Is it just a different prop, or is there more to it than that?
Click to expand...

Should have different prop and alternator/charging circuit.

My Friends boat has one that is a few year old now and he is quite concernd if if dosn;t start on first pull as it is just so reliable. I think he chose it for the weight.

Sail drive prop is great on 26' with superb control in the marina and plenty of go at sea.

flat water last wekend we were showing 5 knots with less than an knot tide, that was less than half throttle. 7+ at three quaters
 
No direct experience with the model you're asking about, but our little inflatable has a 2.5 Tohatsu we bought second hand off eBay.

It had been stood for 6 months previous to our buying it and another month after before we fitted it. We filled with fresh premix, pulled the choke out and it started first pull. Very happy!

On that experience, buy one!
 
I had a 4Hp long shaft on a First 18, it was a good engine. One pull with the choke, then it started next pull without choke, every time. It never ran as smooth as I would like but I had the restrictor taken out to make it a 5Hp and I don't think it was set up 100%

As I understand it the Sail Drive is long shaft, high thrust prop and charging circuit.

For a displacement boat, the high thrust prop is good. It's symetrical so it performs in reverse too, and has a bigger surface area.

The First was light and going into a sea it slowed down, I could tell when the engine slowed down that the motor was working harder as the prop took big bites of water.

When I was buying it the bolke said it was the same as a Mariner or Merc and they had better resale values, I bought it to use not resell.
 
We have a 9.9HP Tohatsu on our rib and it's great - lovely engine, smooth and relatively quiet as such things go, never let us down. I would buy another one, or say a Mariner under 10HP, again as it's made by Tohatsu anyway.
 
tohatsu's are irefutably (sp?) perfect for boating, reliable, cheap to maintain, cheap to buy and so simple to work on it's unbelievable! I have used the same head gasket on my old engine (3.5) 3 times after taking the head off for a clean and never had any problems they are that good, agricultural but modern at the same time!
 
I have a 5hp that has been totally reliable and even survived a two day immersion in the Med until I could get a diver to fish it out. Flushed, dried and wd40'd and it started straight away.
 
I have a tohatsu 6hp (new in 2003). It drives my hurley 22 without any difficulty. It starts easily and runs really smoothly. It's quite economical as well. By far the best small outboard I've owned.
 
SK700 said:
Should have different prop and alternator/charging circuit.

My Friends boat has one that is a few year old now and he is quite concernd if if dosn;t start on first pull as it is just so reliable. I think he chose it for the weight.

Sail drive prop is great on 26' with superb control in the marina and plenty of go at sea.

flat water last wekend we were showing 5 knots with less than an knot tide, that was less than half throttle. 7+ at three quaters
Click to expand...

What size engine and prop type do you have please?

I have a 9.8 2 stroke tohatsu s/drive on my 24 foot boat and the thrust is ok - until it gets slightly choppy and all thrust soon 'disappears', it manages 5.5 knots before hitting the stop.
 
I have finally bought a Tohatsu 6HP and so far am delighted with it. It ios powerful and quiet. what really surprised me was how easy it is to start. I just pulled it gently to turn it over and suddenly realised that it was running. It is much lighter than my Honda 2.3HP to start. Hope it carries on in the same vane.
 
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