6hp 4T Mercury or Yamaha, or even a Tohatsu 9.8hp 2T

[Baxter88]

Im new and have a specific dilema. I have read review after review and forum after forum, so i need a central collaboration of info. I need a new outboard for my fibreglass soft chine dinghy. And this is where I am stuck so help me out everyone please..
Was looking in to purchasing a Mercury 6hp 4T or Yamaha 6hp 4T as they are very close in price and wanted to get something quieter than 2stroke and less smoke so i have a comfy and peaceful ride. BUT i hear mixed reviews on noise and vibrations with these.. buzzkill. I mean is the lack of smoke enough to go for with a little vibration, which of the two is quieter though? or are they even that quiet...
Then this guy says he has a few Tohatsu 9.8hp 2 strokes new in storage he would sell me for the same price.. now of course these are all 3 in the same weight category so no debates there. my debate it will the 4 strokes actually satisfy my wants of noise and lack of smoke??..

 

[Sea Rider]

Welcome to Iboats,

If it would be my choice, would go straight for the Tohatsu 9.8 HP motor. There's a 2.8 HP difference to take advantage of compared to the other 6 HP motor. For me power is all, quietness and smoke free is secondary..

A 9.8 well propped will serve you much better if plan going in the near future for a larger boat than current one.

Happy Boating

 

[Baxter88]

Thanks. Yeah the extra power is a big temptation, but its classic dinghy I'm bringing back to life a season at a time. Plan to hold onto this for as long as I can. Just would be pretty pissed if I got a single cylinder 4 stroke and the noise just vexed me and wished i had just gone for 2stroke

 

[roscoe]

So how long will you be using this dingy?
5 minutes to ferry out to a larger boat or island? Or 2 hours of trolling at a time?



If using it for extended time, I would go for a 2 cylinder model, less vibration, more power.

 

[Baxter88]

At most 45 minutes but on average 10-15. Ive been looking everyone online for any Db readings of the 9.8 Tohatsu but cant find any.

 

[matt167]

Mercury 6hp is a Tohatsu built motor. It is mechanically identical to the Tohatsu branded outboard with cosmetic differences and a slightly different tiller and 2 less years of warranty ( Tohatsu 5yr, Merc 3yr ). If you went to a 9.8hp 4 stroke it would be about 30 lbs heavier.

I can tell you that a Honda 5hp 4 stroke is a dream to troll with as a kicker on a big boat. It creates just about no noise

 

[Sea Rider]

Although 4 strokes motors runs with less noise, won't hear a parade going on at back transom if going for the 2 strokes 9.8 HP motor. If going for a 6 HP, a 2 cylinder one vibrates much less than a single cylinder motor.

Happy Boating