Yam, Honda, Tohatsu 9.9 - 9.8 hp Comparison

[Grant Brown]

I am looking for a good used 20" kicker for my 20 foot fishing boat.
I am currently running a 1989 (or so) Honda 10hp and it's becoming problematic trolling at low idle.
I have been looking at Honda, Yamaha and Tohatsu as replacements. I can find lots of clean Yamaha and Honda motors in the $1500 - $2000 range, but I could buy a brand new Tohatsu for about $2000. I know Tohatsu provides small size engines for some of the other major brands so reliability does not seem to be a huge issue, although all the guides I know run Yammies or Hondas.
Does anyone know where I might find unbiased comparison reports?
Does anyone have the weights of each 9.9 longshaft model? I am looking in the 2004-2005 year range.
Grant

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Yam, Honda, Tohatsu 9.9 - 9.8 hp Comparison

No such thing as "unbiased" in the marine industry.

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: Yam, Honda, Tohatsu 9.9 - 9.8 hp Comparison

Yeah, so I guess I am going to have to go with the hard facts - if I can find any...
Tohatsu claims their 9.8 is the lightest 4 stroke 9.8 on the market at 81 lb. Lightest 9.8 hmm I wonder... Honda and Yams are 9.9hp, lighter?
Grant

 

[IslandTractor]

Re: Yam, Honda, Tohatsu 9.9 - 9.8 hp Comparison

Yeah, so I guess I am going to have to go with the hard facts - if I can find any...
Tohatsu claims their 9.8 is the lightest 4 stroke 9.8 on the market at 81 lb. Lightest 9.8 hmm I wonder... Honda and Yams are 9.9hp, lighter?
Grant

One of the British small boating magazines MBY did a fairly detailed review and in water testing report of 9.9 hp engines in May 2007. You can get a copy from www.ybw.com/copyshop for about ten bucks. It was quite useful but mostly to show that all these engines are quite excellent. Biggest differences were weight as I recall with the Tohatsu being 20 or more pounds lighter. All the engines were considered very good.

 

[Grant Brown]

Re: Yam, Honda, Tohatsu 9.9 - 9.8 hp Comparison

I think I just might spend the 10 bucks and get it.
Thanks for the tip.
Grant