Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

[Keith Buchanan]

Any comments or experiences good or bad with the 50 Hp 2stroke engines..I would like to hear them before I part with my hard earned pennies..<br /><br />Regards All And Happy Crimbo.....Keith B....

 

[JB]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Tohatsu has a very good reputation for simplicity and reliability, Keith.<br /><br />If there is a downside it is lack of dealers and dealer service here in the USA. Don't know about the UK.

 

[Keith Buchanan]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Hi JB<br /><br />There are plenty of dealers here in England with Tohatsu UK just a couple of hours away. <br />I currently have a Merc 50hp 3 cyl ELPTOL 1989 which is getting a little tired. I aquired this engine second hand and it owes me nothing, I was looking at the 50 hp 3cyl Tohatsu and the price looks great at £2800. Can anybody enlighten me on the 2 year limited warranty they offer, ie. what is limited about it ?. Plus has anybody had any bad experiences with this product ? Please I would like to hear from you..<br /><br />Regards all Keith B...

 

[gss036]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Maybe you should post over on the Honda/Tohatsu forum or research it there. Just click on the move to other topic on lower right hand corner of this page.<br />Tohatsu/Nissan and lower HP Mercury engines are all the same. The small boat commercial fisher/crabbers seem to like them and use a lot of them, so they must be reliable.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

The 50D Tohatsu is a great little engine. The warranty is limited like all outboard warranties are: It doesn't cover waterpumps, accidental damage, loss of use, etc.

 

[JB]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

This is the correct forum for this post, Keith.<br /><br />The troubles fora are for getting help with troubles.

 

[mattsaks]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

I picked up an older 90hp tohatsu 2 stroke a few months ago and i love it. easy to work on and tough, it was on a commercial barge in japan for a few years and is still mint inside! only downside is parts can be a little expensive over here(nz)compared to other brands. This doesnt seem to be the case in the usa though. not sure about uk.

 

[Mercathode]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

I have a buddy who runs a 90 Tohatsu. He lost power in his 125 Evinrude after 20 years of service and found a great deal on a brand new '92 Tohatsu 90 (this was in '92) He lost a little power not much with prop rating butt has had great service. It is a loud engine though!

 

[Keith Buchanan]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Hi Guys,<br /><br />Am I correct in assuming the 50D model is the three cylinder carb engine.<br /><br />Still havent heard anything bad about these engines. Surely somebody has got to have a moan sooner or later.<br /><br />Thanks all. Keith B......<br /><br />P.S. What would you deem to be the reasonable expected serviceable life of one of these engines. Saltwater weekend inshore fishing 2-3 hours running per week with a good rinse afterwards.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

The 50 D is the three cyinder, oil injected model. I don't think the new TLDI three cylinder is available in the U.K. yet. Service life is right at 3000 hours before a major problem should occur. I've seen one go to over 4000 hours and it never had a failure...then it was sold off at an auction and we lost track of it.

 

[Keith Buchanan]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Unfortunately my budget wont stretch to a DI engine, nice as it would be. I know they are a lot more economical to run. The 50D ELPTO at £2800 is just in my price bracket but I am doing my homework first because this is quite a major purchase for me. Anyone know if it comes with remote cables or are these extra.<br /><br />Thanks Guys.....Keith B....

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

The control box assy and the electrical wiring harness comes with the engine, but the two 3300 throttle and shift cables have to be purchased separately.

 

[Keith Buchanan]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Cheers Elvin...<br /><br />I have been doing a search for used Tohatsu engines and haven't found many. I am still waiting for someone to give a good account of why you shouldn't buy a Jap.<br /><br />Regards all...............Keith....B....Not..so sunny Blackpool..(Englands Las Vegas)....

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Here's the standard story that gives the mindset of people that dislike Japanese engines:<br /><br />" I was down at the boat ramp the other day and a guy was just pulling his boat rig out of the water. It looked fairly new and turned out to be a 2003 Mercury 135hp. I asked him how he liked it and he said it was a wonderful engine, I just had it rebuilt last year and it runs great!"<br /><br />Owner loyalty runs deep...even when the product isn't that good. A side effect of loyality to one brand is the smearing of another brand(s). I wouldn't pay any attention to anyone who smears a brand, but if they have something bad to say about a particular model in a brand there may be something to it. No one makes a bad engine, but some models, in some brands, at some point, may have a problem in design or production.<br /><br />The story about the Mercury was true although I changed the dates from the early 80's to make it relevant.

 

[Keith Buchanan]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Cheers Elvin<br /><br />I understand completely what you say, this was the type of reply I was trying to foster. No one manufacturer has the whole model or type range sorted, I am a TV tech and work on late 1st year warranty stuff and you wouldn't beleive the crap that can emerge from the factories of even the bigger names. <br /><br />Anyway just this morning I replied to a for sale advert, it was a Yam F50 four stroke and the guy only lives 3 miles away. I hurried down for a viewing and it is 7 years old in exceptionally clean condition. I have already given a provisional bid to show I am serious, (One bidder is worth 20 lookers), and I am back there tommorrow to compression test and a little more tyre....I mean prop kickin. Should I find fault or get cold feet, from the feedback I have from you Guys my money will certainly be on the Tohatsu..<br /><br />Thanks Guys.....Keith B....

 

[swist]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

In the working commercial harbors in Maine, you see a LOT of Tohatsu engines on skiffs, tenders, even small lobster boats. And it sure isn't because of the extensive dealer network!

 

[BillP]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

Keith B.<br />Ditto on what swist says. There is a large aquatic biology company (Lake Doctors)here in Florida, USA that uses Tohatsu outboards (I think they are 8hp)on their fleet of small Carolina skiffs. They manage ponds and lakes statewide to keep the water quality balanced and safe. I talked to two different biologists about the engines. Both like them and had plenty of praise. Prior to Tohatsu they used Johnsons and like them too. I think cost was the reason for change.

 

[crab bait]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

i have a 40 hp nissan.. exactly the same motor.. i love it.. nary a problem.. i bought it new.. right outta the box ,, fired right up.. never one iota of an adjustment EVER to be made ..EVER..not nary i tool ever touched it 'cept for a routine pump an filter change..this summer will be 4 years old..<br /><br />they are/where a jap. commerical only engine at one time..jap. public could not purchase them at onetime..

 

[Trophy23]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

I agree with the non bashing of any brand. All outboards have pluses and minuses. Have to do your research to see if the pluses out weigh the minus. You can do a lot of research right here on iboats in the engine manufacture forums for each type. Then do youself a favor and do a web search on yahoo or google like "Tohatsu engine problems". You'll find out all have problems, Jap, Korean, Domestic, or etc. But you must realize most are just a very small percentage of that manufactures sales. So, don't stick to just one due to some one elses comments, do your own research and make a logical choice. Check on Dealer and Manufacture support and response to problems. Just my two cents worth. Happy hunting.

 

[phatmanmike]

Re: Thinking about a Tohatsu ?

stop thinking and get one, already <br /><br />if you ask ANY nissan/tohatsu owner, including myself, i owned 3 but i sold them all, its what i do... they will give absolutely NOTHING but praise..... heck, if you buy it, and it turns out to be a turd, can I have it?