Buying a new Outboard Overseas?

CloudDiver

CloudDiver

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Sep 8, 2014
2,551
Catalina 22 Swing Keel San Diego
This question is just out of sheer curiosity because I won't be buying a new outboard motor overseas anytime soon.
My 6 HP Tohatsu was $1400 new, best price I could find on-line. Has anyone purchased a new outboard for their dinghy overseas? A major label like Honda, Yamaha, Suzuki, Nissan?
(Keep in mind all 9.9hp and below Nissan/Mercury are manufactured by Tohatsu)
Did you experience any major cost savings over purchasing CONUS?

I guess we could also talk about diesel re-powers too... but lets stick to outboards at the moment!
 
njlarry

njlarry

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Sep 23, 2009
1,475
O'Day 34-At Last Rock Hall, Md
What a great idea! But there must be a reason there seems to be no hong kong dealers selling outboards on ebay.
 
C

Crazy Dave Condon

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Jun 8, 2004
10,373
-na -NA Anywhere USA
There are many considerations. First the shipping costs to the U.S. are not cheap. Secondly if there is a warranty issue, I would be concerned if any U.S. dealers would even want to work on them. As for the comment on Tohatsu,they do make a few of the larger engines as the 15 is the same as the 9.9 block but the carbureation is different. In fact, many parts are manufactured by Tohatsu that are used in the other major brands. In addition, Tohatsu I believe is now the oldest manufacture of outboard engines but I can be wrong since British Seagull is pretty much extinct and OMC is long gone. I use to sell many of the brands as a former dealer
 
agprice22

agprice22

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Aug 3, 2012
2,542
Performance Cruising Telstar 28 302 Watkins Glen
I wonder whether there would be safety, fuel, and emissions issues peculiar to the US that might preclude import? I imagine you could bring it in if you took delivery outside the US because, well, who would know?
 
Maine Sail

Maine Sail

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Feb 6, 1998
11,701
Canadian Sailcraft 36T Casco Bay, ME
The US sold engines are all EPA certified and legal for import.. A non-US certified engine may not have gone through the process nor have the paperwork required for importation. You would essentially need to smuggle the motor in.

It is not uncommon for cruisers to purchase say a Yamaha 10HP or 15HP TWO STROKE or a Tohatsu TWO STROKE in the Caribbean and bring it back to the States. Unfortunately a dealer can not ship one to you and get a non-US engine through customs, legally... When you add the cost of a trip outside the US to bring one in the motor gets pretty expensive.

I have a standing order in with one of my customers, who sails his boat back and forth to the BVI each winter, for a Yamaha 10HP Two stroke... Have not been able to get them in this country in years but they are still perhaps the most reliable 10HP motor ever built. I currently have a Tohatsu 9.8 Two Stroke, great motor, but it's no Yamaha...
 
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