Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Alex65 · Mar 31, 2004

Hi All! I have a 10.5' Force Four RIB (aluminum hull) inflatable. Just love it! I use it as a tender to my larger boat but I like to play around with it when I tow it on extended weekend trips. There no longer sold in the US anymore. Anyway, max HP is 15. I currently have a 1996 6 HP Mariner on there & I really want to upgrade. I must admit the Mariner/Mercury 6HP has been very good to me. I'm not counting out a 4-stroke but I'm leaning towards the 2 stroke because of the weight issue. Here's a quick breakdown on prices & specs. Tohatsu/Nissan 9.8 2-Stroke 169cc Weight: 57 lbs. Cost $1489.00 (internet price) Yamaha 9.9 2-Stroke 246cc Weight: 79 lbs. Cost $1827.00 (internet price) Yamaha 15 HP 2-Stroke 246cc Weight: 79 lbs. Cost $2,027.00 (internet price) Mercury 9.9 HP 2-Stroke 262cc Weight: 74 lbs. Cost $1795.00 (local dealer price) Mercury 15 HP 2-Stroke 262cc Weight 74 lbs. Cost $1975.00 Ok....Now the new Tohatsu 9.8 Four Stroke has gained some of my interests. It's weight is 81.5 lbs. & I can purchase this locally for $1750.00 Also, there is a local Suzuki dealer selling a new 2003 Four Stroke 9.9 HP for $1750.00 but it's a little heavy (97 lbs.) What would you "expert" outboard guys do? Should I go for the cheaper & lighter Tohatsu 2 Stroke? I'm looking for some advise if the same scenario was upon you! Any & all insight would be appreciated!!!! Regards, Alex PS: I love Honda's but the 9.9 HP is too damn expensive!

Drowned Rat · Mar 31, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Hi Alex, I know it's the most expensive, but I like the Yamaha 15hp. I've always been partial to Yamaha. They've been making bullet proof 2 stroke motors for a long time. Although that Tohatsu 9.8 is a great motor at a great price. If you don't care about the extra 5 hp. I'd probably go with it. Does your boat plane with the 6hp? It's probably borderline huh? The 9.8 will plane it for sure with one person, but maybe not 2. If price wasn't an issue I'd go with the 15hp Yammy!

Alex65 · Mar 31, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Hi Alex, I know it's the most expensive, but I like the Yamaha 15hp. I've always been partial to Yamaha. They've been making bullet proof 2 stroke motors for a long time. Although that Tohatsu 9.8 is a great motor at a great price. If you don't care about the extra 5 hp. I'd probably go with it. Does your boat plane with the 6hp? It's probably borderline huh? The 9.8 will plane it for sure with one person, but maybe not 2. If price wasn't an issue I'd go with the 15hp Yammy! DR: It's funny. You're "dead-on" in regards to my Mercury/Mariner 6 HP. It will plane with "just" me & will get some speed going. The Mariner 6HP weight is the same as a Mercury 9.9 or 15 HP (74 lbs.) Usually, many 6 HP don't have 2 cylinders plus it's displacement is 210cc. Yes...The Yammy 15 really does look sweet. But sometimes I can be tight with the coin. Were talking about $500.00 more plus an extra 20+ lbs. Yamaha does have a wonderful rep & I do have a local dealer (3 miles) to service it. The nearest Tohatsu/Nissan dealer is anout 20 miles away. I guess I'm looking for someone to push me! Thanks for the reply!

cobra 3.0 · Mar 31, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

The 15 will make your boat fly on the water! For the same weight, the 15 outshines a 9.9 very significantly! I have a 1997 Evinrude two stroke 15 (somewhere around 72 lbs.). It will troll like a 9.9, but give you far more umph for the same weight making it darn right thrilling in your inflatable. I wouldn't be surprised if you hit 30 mph with a 15 on your boat. Speed isn't everything, but outside of costing a little more, there is no downside. (You only pay it once).

phatmanmike · Apr 1, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

that nissan is about the most simple-ist outboard ever made. thats all the japanese commercial fisherman ever use! they swear by them. lets see, cheepest, lightest, simple! hmmmmmmmmmmm.. yamahas are great and all, but your gonna pay extra for the name ive got two nissan five horses for sale, put em both on the back and have twins!

Navigator · Apr 1, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Alex65, I myself am a diehard Honda fan but in my opinion, one of the best little "most bang for the buck" outboards out there right now is the Tohatsu/Nissan 15 4 stroke. Its just a bit heavier than the 2 stroke, but gives you the fuel efficiency of the 4 strokes. The 15 is a 150% increase in performance over your old 6. You can even pull a kneeboarder if you so desire. Plus, the cost is very attractive. Also, if you look at the Tohatsu board here on the forum and look for repair issues, you will not find a huge amount. That has to count for something. Just my 2 cents. Nav

Luna Sea · Apr 1, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Hi Alex, No mention of a Johnson 9.9 or 15? I was "picking out" a new motor for a smaller inflateable a few weeks back myself. Theres a couple of good readings on here if you type in transporting a 4 stroke. I decided against the 4 stroke cause of storage issues, (should be stored upright-cant do that in my truck where Ill be storing it) ) not weight, as the 6 hp 4 stroke weighs less than the 6 2 stroke!? Back to your question, go for the 15. I cant see buying the same identical weight engine with less horsepower, to save a few bills. The Johnson 6 and 8 weighed the same, even though Im rated for a 6, I bought the 8. I consider it a high performance version of the 6. As would I consider the 15 to be a high performance 9.9. Better motor in both cases, better resale too I''d think. I want the most horsepower to weight ratio for my investment. Let us know what you choose, and good luck!

Alex65 · Apr 1, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Navigator: I love Honda's as well. I just bought a brand new Eastern 24' with the new Honda BF150. It cost my wife & I a lung ($12,900.00 rigged w/ controls, gauges & prop etc.) Anyway, the Honda 9.9 is just too expensive (roughly $2100-$2300) & not to mention the weight (92 lbs.) The Tohatsu looks very tempting but for an extra $500.00 the Yamaha is a better deal because of the resale value. I'm getting a little older & my back isn't what it used to be, so light weight does appeal to me. Luna Sea: I have a Johnson dealer about 10 miles away but I have never been a OMC/Bomb guy. I guess the issues OMC had a few years back just scared me away. I have a friend who has a small wood skiff with a 2001 OMC 20 HP & it's been a nightmare for him!!! Something is always going wrong, takes a while to get parts etc. I feel sorry for him & he usually "tags" along when we go fishing, when his OB is being repaired. Looks like it's between the Tohatsu 9.8 & the Yamaha 15 HP. I think I'll pull the trigger by early next week. I'll post what I decide to do but all of you guys have been great with your insight! Alex

Alex65 · Apr 2, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Hi Everyone: Well....I pulled the trigger. I bought the Tohatsu 9.8 2-Stroke! I was about to purchase it online, but then I decided to call all the local dealers within 100 miles. I found a dealer in New Hampshire (about 60 miles away & NO SALES TAX!) The had over 20 in stock & was offereing a $1250.00 price tag!!! I said to myself that's almost $250.00 less then the best price on the net! One hitch...Cash only. I said fine & took a drive the next day & the dealer ran it in the tank for 20 minutes or so. I think I'll be happy with this purchase. One thing I noticed right away is the weight @ 59 lbs. Very easy to pick up & put into the car. I was almost going to pull the trigger on the Yamaha 15 HP @ $2150.00 but I simply didn't want to spend that much coin. I hope this little Tohatsu will do the trick for the next 7-8 years. I really feel as if I scored one hell of a deal! Many thanks to everyone who posted their thoughts! Much appreciated! Alex PS: The Tohatsu/Nissan 9.8 HP 2-Stroke is now "offically" discountinued. After the inventory is gone, that's it!

phatmanmike · Apr 2, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

hey dude, im glad you got that nissan, nobody ever gets a nissan, but i have 2 right now, and they run like spooked bears on speed. they are the TIMEX of the water. every body who owns one, swears by em...... as i do, and i know youll be extremely happy !

Johnshan1 · Apr 4, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Those engines are discontinued in the USA due to not being able to meet EPA standards. I just bought a Tohatsu 40 hp 2 stroke a couple days ago and was told the same thing, they are still sold in canada and other countrys however. I assume this goes for all of Nissan/Tohatsu's line of 2 stroke engines (besides the efficent TLDI's) I got my dealer's last 40 hp for $3499 -John

Alex65 · Apr 5, 2004

Re: Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

Those engines are discontinued in the USA due to not being able to meet EPA standards. I just bought a Tohatsu 40 hp 2 stroke a couple days ago and was told the same thing, they are still sold in canada and other countrys however. I assume this goes for all of Nissan/Tohatsu's line of 2 stroke engines (besides the efficent TLDI's) I got my dealer's last 40 hp for $3499 -John Hi John: Yes, you're right. The Tohatsu/Nissan 9.8 HP 2-Stroke is discontinued for US distribution. It's really a shame because no OB manufacturer makes a 9.8 (or 9.9) that's weight is 58 lbs or under. One thing the dealer said about 2 Tohatsu engines...The 9.8 & the 40 HP 2-Strokes are damn near bullet-proof. Been in production for sometime now. In regards to the 2-Stroke 40 HP, this is "still" available anywhere in the US. It's "not" discontinued yet, at least in 2004. Maybe the 40 HP is "out of stock" in the Tohatsu/Nissan distribution center but they'll get more for 2004. One sign is if you go to: www.tohatsu.com Just a few months ago they had the 9.8 2-Stroke on their website...Now it's gone. Also, I have a 2003 & 2004 Tohatsu catalogs. The 2003 doesn't have the 9.8 in there anymore. The 40 HP is in both books. Tohatsu will keep the 40 HP in their lineup for as long as they can (2006?) because it's a money maker! The 9.8 is a low gross-profit engine, so I'm sure that's why they decided to pull it from the line-up. This is my first Tohatsu purchase. I have always bought Mercury 2-Stroke portable O/B's in the past. I have had good luck, but their simply too heavy once you go beyond 6 HP in the 2-Stroke class. What's your new 40 going on back of? Have you bought a Tohatsu in the past? I would love any insight! Regards, Alex

Need Advice on 9.9 + HP Outboard Purchase

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