Best Place to Buy a New Motor
- Thread starter Doug J
- Start date
These guys seem to keep a fair marketshare. Everything's a crapshoot.
http://www.onlineoutboards.com
http://www.onlineoutboards.com
I bought my Tohatsu from onlineoutboards called and asked all kinds of questions. they were very friendly and it works great
I have a 2010 Nissan/Tohatsu 9.8 XL shaft with electric start and its been good so far, no problems. I don't bother looking for special gas, just always use Seafoam and Stabil and have not had any problems.
However, another poster here (Katana? I think) bought that outboard and thought it was too loud and vibrated too much. I don't know if he got the same prop that mine came with (four blade 5 pitch) but I really didn't like that prop, it was like being stuck in four wheel drive low all the time.. you had to run it at too high of rpm where it was obnoxious. The prop Ive been using is the three blade about 8 pitch which I have been happy with.
If you get that 5 pitch four blade prop.. be prepared to buy a different prop unless your only using it to get in and out of a slip or dock.
I was somewhat under the impression that you had to buy directly from a dealer to get a Honda??
However, another poster here (Katana? I think) bought that outboard and thought it was too loud and vibrated too much. I don't know if he got the same prop that mine came with (four blade 5 pitch) but I really didn't like that prop, it was like being stuck in four wheel drive low all the time.. you had to run it at too high of rpm where it was obnoxious. The prop Ive been using is the three blade about 8 pitch which I have been happy with.
If you get that 5 pitch four blade prop.. be prepared to buy a different prop unless your only using it to get in and out of a slip or dock.
I was somewhat under the impression that you had to buy directly from a dealer to get a Honda??
Walt, you mentioned you have the extra long, is that 25" ? I was thinking I'd get 20". I think my current 91 Honda is 20". I really haven't had any trouble with it coming out of the water too much in big swells. What is your opinion of the length? Would you recommend going with 25"?
Yep no Honda's but we bought two Tohatsu's from them (9.8 HP extra long shaft, 25" and a long shaft 3 1/2 HP) and were happy with the service and so far the motors both worked great. I just serviced them both with new impellers before heading to Florida and when I went to start the 9.8 after it had set for 3-4 years I hit the button and it started within a second. The 3 1/2 is pull start and didn't have any problems with it either.
I'm sure the Honda is a great motor also. I was a Honda/Suzuki motorcycle dealer in the late 60's and then preferred the Suzuki's over the Honda's but that was a long time ago :cry:,
Sumner
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Its not the length that matters but how... (ok..never mind_)
The 9.8 Nissan/Tohatsu won’t fully rotate in the transom like the old Honda's would.
Both Sumner and I made transom risers that raise the outboard a little allowing full rotation. You need the XL shaft in order to do this. I raised mine by 2.5 inches so the prop is still 2.5 inch lower than it was with the long shaft and Sumner raised his by 5 inches for easier access to the outboard controls and he can remove his and put on a regular long shaft. I didn’t really have much issue with the prop coming out of the water with the long shaft except when motor sailing on one tack – and that went away with lowering the prop by 2.5 inch.
Ive used that setup now for about five years.. Not everyone thinks the full rotation is necessary but I like it especially for tight maneuvering around slips - especially if its windy at all.
Sumner, did you get the Mac in water yet? Sounds like you did if you started it.. Mine also always starts right up with the electric start..
The 9.8 Nissan/Tohatsu won’t fully rotate in the transom like the old Honda's would.
Both Sumner and I made transom risers that raise the outboard a little allowing full rotation. You need the XL shaft in order to do this. I raised mine by 2.5 inches so the prop is still 2.5 inch lower than it was with the long shaft and Sumner raised his by 5 inches for easier access to the outboard controls and he can remove his and put on a regular long shaft. I didn’t really have much issue with the prop coming out of the water with the long shaft except when motor sailing on one tack – and that went away with lowering the prop by 2.5 inch.
Ive used that setup now for about five years.. Not everyone thinks the full rotation is necessary but I like it especially for tight maneuvering around slips - especially if its windy at all.
Sumner, did you get the Mac in water yet? Sounds like you did if you started it.. Mine also always starts right up with the electric start..
Sumner, I was looking at your website to find a picture of the Tohatsu long shaft hanging off the stern of your boat. I'm always amazed with all the work you do. You're quite the craftsman!
Is Tohatsu and Nissan really the same motors?
I started it at home in a barrel before coming down here.
I might finally be in the water the end of next week but then again I've been saying that for about 3 weeks now. Adding the additional solar and wanting to be able to move 120 watts of it between the 12 volt bank and the 24 volt bank and also wanting to be able to split the 24 volt bank in half so that is could also be the additional house bank has created a wiring/switching combination that if I ever loose the schematic I'll never know what I did. I think tomorrow I'm ready to connect the battery cables to the 24 bank batteries and try it all out and see if any of it goes up in smoke :cry: .
I still need to wire in the new radio with AIS and finish a little wiring to my second tiller pilot that hopefully works with a remote key fob and then start packing up both boats. One so I can leave it in the yard and the other, the Mac, so I can get it in the water. Taken longer than I thought but it has been a good time except for the nights it got in the low 30's and 40's here. No way to really heat the big boat those nights so it was cold. I finally went and bought an elect. blanket and that helped as long as I was under it.
Yes Tohatsu makes them along with the Mercs under I think 15 HP and also Evinrude (Bombardier) small motors...
So I guess if you go this route it comes down to how much more will you pay for a different name on the outboard?
On the depth having the extra long shaft at 'long shaft' depth so far has worked and there were two times I wondered if it would but so far the prop hasn't come out of the water. Those times were in 2-3 foot seas with the occasional wave twice that and the wave interval wasn't real short but once were following quarter seas that really lifted the boat with the waves coming from that direction. With the seas on the bow with the occasional spray coming over the boat there even seemed less chance of it happening.
I'd buy the Tohatsu again in a minute or a second :dance:.
Sumner
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I wouldn't worry about that myself. I think the Tohatsu is 90+ and the way I have mine a little aft of the transom itself that creates a lever arm and it might actually be more weight considering that vs. the Honda.
http://purplesagetradingpost.com/sumner/macgregor2/outside-25.html
I did put large backing plates inside and out with the new mount.
Do you think it will go in the well and still turn. As Walt said having that ability really helps. I found that with a small addition spacer on the transom (open the outboard mount screws all the way) I could get more travel and if slightly off center more yet in one direction,
Sumner
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I've only used it a few times so far and it's worked great . Also look at price difference between Honda and Tohatsu there's a lot of dinners out to smooze the wife when you spend $ on other things for your boat cause it's a disease that once you catch it it's almost incurable. Good luck
12 amp charging... you would be set with that. FYI, the Tohatsu/Nissan 9.8 hp also have a charging system that works fairly well in that it actually puts out the rated current over a fairly large rpm range. Its only issue is that the "regulator" cuts back charging at too low of a voltage (around 13.3V) but it still almost is all you need for most of our typical trailer boat needs.
Weight.. depends on why it matters. If you are lifting the motor on and off each time.. 90 or 108.. both are too heavy for my old back. I just leave mine on all the time (even trailering).
If its sailing performance, my opinion is that weight on the transom does matter (and is the worst place for weight) as these are over all light weight boats and sail best that way but if that is a concern, it’s not just the outboard, you have to go through every detail back there to make a difference.. and then sails.. and keeping the boat overall light. If you’re really concerned about the weight back there, you might consider a 6 hp. But.. I think that 12 amp charging might be worth the few extra pounds however. I have been reducing the weight on my transom in the last year or so to try and improve sailing performance but I’ve got used the electric start.. Ill make that compromise but I’m also pushing 59 now.. Younger me would rather have the 6 hp..
Weight.. depends on why it matters. If you are lifting the motor on and off each time.. 90 or 108.. both are too heavy for my old back. I just leave mine on all the time (even trailering).
If its sailing performance, my opinion is that weight on the transom does matter (and is the worst place for weight) as these are over all light weight boats and sail best that way but if that is a concern, it’s not just the outboard, you have to go through every detail back there to make a difference.. and then sails.. and keeping the boat overall light. If you’re really concerned about the weight back there, you might consider a 6 hp. But.. I think that 12 amp charging might be worth the few extra pounds however. I have been reducing the weight on my transom in the last year or so to try and improve sailing performance but I’ve got used the electric start.. Ill make that compromise but I’m also pushing 59 now.. Younger me would rather have the 6 hp..