Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

[burnboyy]

A guy at boaters world told me the other day that the 2005 and 2006 tohatsu 4 strokes are awesome motors, he says they weigh 82 pounds which is very light for a 4 stroke, and they are very effecient and reliable. I currently have a 1971 mercury 9.8 and it is getting to be less and less reliable. Does anyone know how many years of service one could expect from a tohatsu, or how they pan out compared to the big names?

 

[swist]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

I have owned two Tohatsus - I would buy another one at the drop of a hat. They are on working boats all over the small harbors in Maine - with the nearest dealers far far away.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

Tohatsu is the second largest producer of outboards in the world. All outboards manufactured today are very well made and I would not say one brand is better than another. But that little 9.8 is the best bang for the buck of any brand.

 

[burnboyy]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

Wow, fast replys. I heard from the dealer the same thing as you guys say, but I needed another opinion, everyone says their motor is best and most effecient, only thing i found interesting on the internet about reliability was the story of the man who crossed the atlantic ocean using only a 2.5 tohatsu, around here tohatsu's are almost half the price of merc motors, usually i would expect price to reflect quality

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

Mercury's from 30 hp and down are now Tohatsu's. That make's Mercury an additional middleman who has to turn a profit.

 

[gss036]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

burnboyy, if you are planning on buying local, check out Clearwater Marine on Home Rd. Northwest/Bakerview area. They have been around many years and are good people to deal with. http://www.clearwater-marine.com/ <br />I think you probably can do better with Elvin / internetoutboards because of the 8.3% sales tax.

 

[burnboyy]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

I go to clear water all the time. **** is really knowledgeable. Looked to be $2500 for the merc pro kicker, never did see tohatsu's there but boaters world has them for $1690. I'll have to see what price clear water gives me when I go to get some parts from them, and try to trade an evenrude 15hp

 

[gss036]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

Nissan/Tohatsu and the small Mercuries are all the same motors.<br /> You need to compare the same motors for pricing. Not apples and oranges. The Merc prokicker is a little different, lower gears if I remember right.

 

[artburr]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

Just be sure that there are service and parts in your vecinity. Take it from one who found out the hard way!

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

Art, you are a pretty good distance from a Tohatsu dealer, 23 miles. But, your even farther from a Mercury dealer, 31 miles. You just need to move

 

[ratracer]

Re: Tohatsu 9.8, is it any good?

I've used my 2004 as a kicker for 2 seasons now. The quality of the fit an finish are at the high level you'd expect out of Japan nowadays. About the only knock I could make is that in the upper RPM ranges it vibrates more than my Johnson 9.9 2 stroke. At idle it is almost unbelievably qiet.<br /><br />Based on that sample of 1 I'll probably put Tohatsu on my short list next time I'm on the market.