Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

[lakelover]

Getting closer to decision time...assuming use on an aluminum boat rated for max 10 hp:<br /><br />2004 9.9 HP 2-stroke Mercury used 1 season: <br /><br />Weight: 74 lb.<br />Disp: 262 cc<br />Max RPM: 5-6000<br />Gas tank: 3.2 gal.<br />Has shallow drive<br />Warranty: 3 years<br />Price: $1469 delivered <br /><br />2006 9.8 HP 4-stroke Tohatsu, new:<br /><br />Weight: 82 lb.<br />Disp: 209 cc<br />Max RPM: 5-6000<br />Gas tank: 3.2 gal. <br />Has shallow drive<br />Warranty: 3 years<br />Price: 1680 delivered

 

[JB]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Outboard non-repair topic.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

The 2-stroke will be a bit faster and may plane the boat, especially if it's a jon boat. The 4-stoke won't. The 4-stroke is quieter and runs much better at low RPMs than the 2-stroke.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Sorry, I thought it belonged here, but it says polling is disabled in this forum-at the bottom of the page. But then the question becomes, when is a poll not a poll? Right here it seems. <br /><br />Willy, it'll plane alright. It's a light utility boat that previously sported a 1969 9.5 Johnson that fairly flew in its day, and that's with the old hp rating. I hear the 4-strokes sip gas, more and more important now.

 

[Texasmark]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

You are worried about gas on a 10 hp? I used to run a 7.5 Merc and the stuff would go bad before the engine could get it all burned up. Grin.<br /><br />Your choice to me is a no brainer.<br /><br />Mark

 

[yater]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

I run a 9.8 tohatsu 4stroke on my 14' jon boat and it planes with PLENTY to spare. In fact, it'll plane with 2 guys, a dog, cooler, and enough fishing gear and do-dads for a small army. I would get the tohatsu without question. You'll also get a 3 year warranty on a new motor. It's a sweet runner too.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

it doesnt matter.... they are both made by tohatsu anyways!<br /><br />tohatsu makes all the motors for nissan, and they make all motors for merc under 30hp, so either way youd be getting a tohatsu, so you win either way !<br /><br />but i always say TWO STROKE!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

[Copespitter]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Both are good motors.<br />The Tohatsu seems to be a better deal so I would go with that.<br />If it was me I would throw caution to the wind and get a 15 hp.<br />I think the only differance between a 9.8 and a 15 is the carburetor.<br />Bigger is better when it comes to outboards.

 

[tashasdaddy]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Cope, he's rated at 10hp. there is a reason for that.

 

[WillyBWright]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Actually the 2004 Merc is still a Merc and among the last from the factory. They became Tohatsu's in 2005. You might also want to consider emissions. Some lakes are already banning carbureted 2-strokes, more will follow.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Originally posted by Texasmark:<br /> You are worried about gas on a 10 hp? I used to run a 7.5 Merc and the stuff would go bad before the engine could get it all burned up. Grin.<br /><br />Your choice to me is a no brainer.<br /><br />Mark

That sounds pretty sweet, but with my son sometimes going 5-6 hours a day, that gas adds up!

 

[lakelover]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Originally posted by tashasdaddy:<br /> Cope, he's rated at 10hp. there is a reason for that.

Agreed; the way that thing flew with the old 9.5, a 15 would be way too scary & unstable.

 

[Laddies]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

With anything you buy you you must consider service, some day it will break when you really need it. Up here in the sticks I have never seen a Tohatsu dealer. Can it be repaired by mail order or the clerk at some chain store repair it, I don't know but it's something to think about when purchaseing anything

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

The Mercury would not be a bad choice. It will get you up on plane a little faster and if you have to carry it you will appreciate the small weight difference. The Tohatsu should have the same top end speed and does have a better warranty. The fuel consumption differences may or may not be an issue. If you do a lot of 1/2 speed or less you will save on fuel with the Tohatsu. But, keep in mind that four-strokes lose their advantage in fuel savings as the RPM increases. <br /><br />They are both good, well made and high value engines. Toss a coin...You win with either one.

 

[cobra 3.0]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

That's a tuffy! If you troll a lot, go with the four stroke(no smoke and generally quieter operation). But for long term dependablity, you can't beat the 2 stroke. Outside of the occasional spark plug change and changing the gear oil every so often, the 2 stroke is almost maintenance free.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Originally posted by Laddies:<br /> With anything you buy you you must consider service, some day it will break when you really need it. Up here in the sticks I have never seen a Tohatsu dealer. Can it be repaired by mail order or the clerk at some chain store repair it, I don't know but it's something to think about when purchaseing anything

I checked this out & have both dealers/repair service pretty close by, although the Merc dealer is a little closer. Thanks for the thought.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Thanks for the comments so far, all good points to ponder.

 

[JB]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

I had a Johnson 9.9 4 stroke (1996) on my WeeBit (Whaler Tender 11) and loved it. It is really hard to plane an 11, and it got right up. I am sure that a 9.8 or 9.9 4 stroke will plane your tinny.<br /><br />You might look around for one of those OMC-made li'l 4 strokes from the 90s. They were very good engines.<br /><br />I would definitely go with a 4 stroke. Carbed 2 strokes are dinosaurs.

 

[lakelover]

Re: Mercury or Tohatsu - which would you buy?

Thanks for all the comments.<br /><br />Well, I went ahead and did it! Sorry, JB, I went with 2-stroke after lots of consideration, but you'll be happy to know it's coming from right here at iboats.<br /><br />I was really tempted and seriously considered the 4-stroke, but was swayed by a few things: proven, trouble-free (more of less, it's all relative) technology; hoping for a little better hole shot; cheaper & easier repairs in the long run; and lower price...also felt it was the last chance at a 2-stroke, and the last one gave us 37 years of service.<br /><br />Thanks again.