We just bought a one year old Tohatsu 4 hp 4 stroke for our hunter 20. We have a 2 year old Nissan 3.5 hp 4 stroke that works great but the Captain has short arms and she has all sorts of issues spinning the motor around for reverse. I am thrilled that Cindy sails with me and if a few hundred bucks for a different motor makes her happy then it was a deal.
That said. We both see the need for the longest shaft length we can get as when we are in following waves and one of us goes forward the prop cavitates. We were stuck with the long shaft on the 3.5 but the 4 -6 hp can be converted to a ultra long 25" shaft length.
I contacted customer service at Tohatsu today and they sent me the list of parts that I will need, which are:
3H6610120M drive shaft housing gasket
369Q611101 UL extension housing
9161130625M bolt
9401130600M washer
9152E30825M stud bolt
9401030800M washer for stud
9301030800M nut for stud
369651200M Water tube UL
369643030M driveshaft UL
369660142M cam rod UL
He said the following concerning the conversion,"The conversion can be done. The power head has to be pulled up to change the water tube and shift shaft. You will also have to pull the lower unit apart to replace the drive shaft. The other issue is there is no kit so you will have to get all the parts individually."
I took the parts list and just sent off to Tahatsu parts online to get the price for the required parts. Looking at the parts breakdown it seems to be a very straight forward job not requiring much more than would be required to change the impeller.
I know that I could get a 6 hp sailpro new but 1, we don't need 6 hp, 2 the internal tank works very well for our needs, 3 and assuming I can sell our 3.5 hp for what it is worth the swap has only set us back 250 bucks plus the parts to do the conversion. So for less than a grand we will have a one year old ultra long shaft 4hp with the internal tank that we can convert to a 6 hp should the need ever arise.
I will post updates as this project progresses. Of course if the parts are 500 bucks then the project just died before we ever got started.
Sam in IN, getting ready for next season already!
That said. We both see the need for the longest shaft length we can get as when we are in following waves and one of us goes forward the prop cavitates. We were stuck with the long shaft on the 3.5 but the 4 -6 hp can be converted to a ultra long 25" shaft length.
I contacted customer service at Tohatsu today and they sent me the list of parts that I will need, which are:
3H6610120M drive shaft housing gasket
369Q611101 UL extension housing
9161130625M bolt
9401130600M washer
9152E30825M stud bolt
9401030800M washer for stud
9301030800M nut for stud
369651200M Water tube UL
369643030M driveshaft UL
369660142M cam rod UL
He said the following concerning the conversion,"The conversion can be done. The power head has to be pulled up to change the water tube and shift shaft. You will also have to pull the lower unit apart to replace the drive shaft. The other issue is there is no kit so you will have to get all the parts individually."
I took the parts list and just sent off to Tahatsu parts online to get the price for the required parts. Looking at the parts breakdown it seems to be a very straight forward job not requiring much more than would be required to change the impeller.
I know that I could get a 6 hp sailpro new but 1, we don't need 6 hp, 2 the internal tank works very well for our needs, 3 and assuming I can sell our 3.5 hp for what it is worth the swap has only set us back 250 bucks plus the parts to do the conversion. So for less than a grand we will have a one year old ultra long shaft 4hp with the internal tank that we can convert to a 6 hp should the need ever arise.
I will post updates as this project progresses. Of course if the parts are 500 bucks then the project just died before we ever got started.
Sam in IN, getting ready for next season already!
