Hi all, I have a 23' hunter and I am in need of a new outboard. In the past I have used a tohastu 6hp which was stolen. I have ok luck with it but it didnt want to start alot of the time. So I am looking for people with diferent brands or whom have knowledge of them for advice. Looking in the 6hp range long shaft. Thanks!
New Outboard help
- Thread starter SweetTrade
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I that size i would not say there is any great differance in Honda Yamaha Tohastu as they all have issues with E-10 fuel causing carb issues
Little Difference Between the Brands
Shop dealers instead. My personal experience is that Hondas are more tempermental than the other brands.
Here is an online source to compare with. Oddly a friend bought a small outboard last summer and the best deal he found was with West Marine.
Shop dealers instead. My personal experience is that Hondas are more tempermental than the other brands.
Here is an online source to compare with. Oddly a friend bought a small outboard last summer and the best deal he found was with West Marine.
They will all give problems
All the new four stroke outboards are gonna have problems with the fuel available these days. There are a couple of things I do that seem to help. First I use Sta-Bil religously. Have fuel that is six months old with no problems. Next, run the carb dry every time you run it. Any fuel left in the bowl will evaporate, and leave some of the crud thats in the fuel. Last but not least, I install a small inline filter in the fuel line. These steps are not a cure all, but certainly help with starting and running problems in my little Suzuki.
All the new four stroke outboards are gonna have problems with the fuel available these days. There are a couple of things I do that seem to help. First I use Sta-Bil religously. Have fuel that is six months old with no problems. Next, run the carb dry every time you run it. Any fuel left in the bowl will evaporate, and leave some of the crud thats in the fuel. Last but not least, I install a small inline filter in the fuel line. These steps are not a cure all, but certainly help with starting and running problems in my little Suzuki.
Re: They will all give problems
If all 4-strokes are having trouble, what about a 2-stroke?
Well...I just answered my own question...first of all...surprised to hear they gave up selling Johnson outboards completely. It just refers you to Evinrude. If you look at Evinrude...it looks like they gave up making anything under 15hp! Ouch. No long shaft option for the 15hp and its too darn heavy at 147 lbs.
All the Mercury's are 4 cycle now too. So much for a new 2 stroke long shaft sailboat outboard. There apparently aren't any any more.
How about a looking for a venereable but used Johnson Sailmaster 9.9? Seems llike they may suddenly go up in value LOL.
If all 4-strokes are having trouble, what about a 2-stroke?
Well...I just answered my own question...first of all...surprised to hear they gave up selling Johnson outboards completely. It just refers you to Evinrude. If you look at Evinrude...it looks like they gave up making anything under 15hp! Ouch. No long shaft option for the 15hp and its too darn heavy at 147 lbs.
All the Mercury's are 4 cycle now too. So much for a new 2 stroke long shaft sailboat outboard. There apparently aren't any any more.
How about a looking for a venereable but used Johnson Sailmaster 9.9? Seems llike they may suddenly go up in value LOL.
OMC was purchased by Bombardier a few years ago... Their recent products are reportedly pretty reliable.
I have an 8HP Yamaha 4 stroke. Runs great, starts on the first pull. very quiet.
It once sat for 2 years without being used (properly winterized), and still started immediately.
remember, nothing will run well on stale gas.
I have an 8HP Yamaha 4 stroke. Runs great, starts on the first pull. very quiet.
It once sat for 2 years without being used (properly winterized), and still started immediately.
remember, nothing will run well on stale gas.
If I had to buy a small OB today, I'd take a serious look at two strokes. I have to baby the heck out of my Honda 9.9 4-stroke, developing a true fetish out of clean fresh gas. One tiny little bit of whatever and the needle valves are blocked.
I had a rental compac 23 last summer in the keys with a two-stroke on it. No air or water polution issues that I could see, and just as quiet as my 4-stroke.
Tom
I had a rental compac 23 last summer in the keys with a two-stroke on it. No air or water polution issues that I could see, and just as quiet as my 4-stroke.
Tom
Got a '74 Johnson 6 hp. Bessis is about as old as I am and is as predicatable as the sun rising. Just gotta know how to get her motivated 
Pump the primer till she pressurizes and full choke. Usually 3 pulls, choke till she's smooth and from then on she's a 1 pull start.
I always use gas with no added ethanol and run the motor dry when I am done for the day.
Pump the primer till she pressurizes and full choke. Usually 3 pulls, choke till she's smooth and from then on she's a 1 pull start. I always use gas with no added ethanol and run the motor dry when I am done for the day.
outboards
I bought a new Tohatsu 4 stroke 8hp at the start of the 08 season. The dealer told me:
1. not use gas that is more than a month old. What I do is at the end of 30 days is I take whatever is left in the tank and dump it into my car. 2. add a capful of startron to the tank when filling up. 3. and finally do not use hi octane These motors seem to run better on regular or mid grade. 4. He also told me not to buy my fuel from a marina. He said they sell a lot less than a regular gas station and you cant be sure how old the fuel is. 5 when your finished for the weekend run the engine out of fuel I have followed his instructions to the letter and have had no problems for 2 seasons. The motor has never failed to start and given no trouble Sure Its a nuiscence to have to take fuel tank off the boat dump it in my car and refill the tank every month but its been worth it to me to have dependability.
I bought a new Tohatsu 4 stroke 8hp at the start of the 08 season. The dealer told me:
1. not use gas that is more than a month old. What I do is at the end of 30 days is I take whatever is left in the tank and dump it into my car. 2. add a capful of startron to the tank when filling up. 3. and finally do not use hi octane These motors seem to run better on regular or mid grade. 4. He also told me not to buy my fuel from a marina. He said they sell a lot less than a regular gas station and you cant be sure how old the fuel is. 5 when your finished for the weekend run the engine out of fuel I have followed his instructions to the letter and have had no problems for 2 seasons. The motor has never failed to start and given no trouble Sure Its a nuiscence to have to take fuel tank off the boat dump it in my car and refill the tank every month but its been worth it to me to have dependability.
The !st mate found an 78 Evinrude 9.9 not sure its a sailmaster, I had to clean the carberator and replace the propeller, next with be the pull start assembly. It seems to run very well for what I know about 2 stroke outboards this is my 1st.
I wonder with Honda outboard being a few miles from me if I can get a good deal on a new one?
I've given of hope of ever seeing my Chrysler 10 again.
I wonder with Honda outboard being a few miles from me if I can get a good deal on a new one?
I've given of hope of ever seeing my Chrysler 10 again.
Evinrude's equivalent of the Johnson Sailmaster is called the Yachtwin. Be sure to replace the water pump if it isn't indicating like a racehorse. It is easy to do, inexpensive and worth the insurance to do. Overheating is the #1 enemy of an outboard.
If you can buy 'recreational gasoline' (NO Ethanol, and hi octane & available at many marinas in the SE USA) in your area stick with the Tohatsu. Tohatsu now makes the 'powerheads' for many other outboard brands.
A 'secret' with Tohatsu's and other 4 strokers when using Ethanolated fuel .... always disconnect the fuel line from the remote tank AND then ALWAYS RUN THE ENGINE 'DRY' when shutting down. This will keep the carb MUCH cleaner. If the ethanolated fuel is OVER 30 DAYS old, send it (collect) to AL GORE ... or the eco-whacko of your choice.
Valvtek 'recreational gasoline' is THE fuel to buy if you have a 4 stroker ..... quite available along the SE USA coast, you just have to 'seek-out' the dealers. Its already fully 'stabilized' and can be stored for several months. "Normal gasoline" has a storage life of approx. 30+ DAYS.
Cheapest source for Tohatsu's is http://www.internetoutboards.com/product_list.asp?id=88
A 'secret' with Tohatsu's and other 4 strokers when using Ethanolated fuel .... always disconnect the fuel line from the remote tank AND then ALWAYS RUN THE ENGINE 'DRY' when shutting down. This will keep the carb MUCH cleaner. If the ethanolated fuel is OVER 30 DAYS old, send it (collect) to AL GORE ... or the eco-whacko of your choice.
Valvtek 'recreational gasoline' is THE fuel to buy if you have a 4 stroker ..... quite available along the SE USA coast, you just have to 'seek-out' the dealers. Its already fully 'stabilized' and can be stored for several months. "Normal gasoline" has a storage life of approx. 30+ DAYS.
Cheapest source for Tohatsu's is http://www.internetoutboards.com/product_list.asp?id=88
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