Tohatsu makes most of the 4-stroke outboards under 25HP. Honda is the exception, they make their own. An 8HP and 9.9hp Tohatsu (and Mercury) are the exact same engine, the 9.9 might have a slightly different carburetor or it was rated at 6000 rpm while the 8hp motor was rated at 5000 rpm. You can save a few bucks buy buying the 8hp model. I have a 8hp Mercury (Tohatsu) long shaft electric on a Lancer 28 using a 6.5" pitch prop and it does just fine on the Sea Of Cortez, it will push the Lancer at hull speed.
The Tohatsu brand engine uses conventional controls, while the Mercury version uses a Micky Mouse "Twist & Shift" tiller control which is almost impossible to convert to remote controls. I did manage to convert my Mercury 8hp 4-stroke by first converting it to the Tohatsu shift and throttle configuration (using Tohatsu parts) THEN installing Tohatsu remote controls for a fraction of what Mercury remote controls would have cost...
The 9.9 hp "Big Foot" (Mercury) version uses the older style 15hp lower unit and prop and is not available on the 8hp rated engine. You need to carefully weigh the cost/benefit ratio on this one. They really jack up the price on this package..
The Tohatsu brand engine uses conventional controls, while the Mercury version uses a Micky Mouse "Twist & Shift" tiller control which is almost impossible to convert to remote controls. I did manage to convert my Mercury 8hp 4-stroke by first converting it to the Tohatsu shift and throttle configuration (using Tohatsu parts) THEN installing Tohatsu remote controls for a fraction of what Mercury remote controls would have cost...
The 9.9 hp "Big Foot" (Mercury) version uses the older style 15hp lower unit and prop and is not available on the 8hp rated engine. You need to carefully weigh the cost/benefit ratio on this one. They really jack up the price on this package..