My husband is considering purchasing a Tohatsu 8hp Four-Stroke Electric Start Outboard with 20" Shaft (lowest price we've found is $1724.99 at onlineoutboards.com). We have a Walker Bay Genesis we plan to use it on. Any comments on the choice? We are also wondering about availability of parts while cruising - any issues? Thanks!
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Tohatsu makes almost all of the outboards
out there except for Honda and Yamaha (maybe a few others). They make the Johnson, Nisson, Mercury, etc etc etc models for them. You might as well buy it from Tohatsu. You'll have no problems getting parts or service!
out there except for Honda and Yamaha (maybe a few others). They make the Johnson, Nisson, Mercury, etc etc etc models for them. You might as well buy it from Tohatsu. You'll have no problems getting parts or service!
8 or 9.8 hp?
Thanks for the reply! Now, what recommendations are there between the 8hp and th 9.8hp? Not much of a price difference so is it best to go with the 9.8?
Thanks for the reply! Now, what recommendations are there between the 8hp and th 9.8hp? Not much of a price difference so is it best to go with the 9.8?
Ann, what size engine does Walker
recommend for the boat? What are you using it for, dink? How are you going to store the engine when not in use? Keep the wieght of the engine in mind. You or your husband is going to have to hull it out of the water at some point. There is not much difference in the 8 and the 9.8 or 9.9 for that matter. They should both move the boat and get up on plane. They make the 9.8 to get the most motor they can under 10 HP, the limit in many states for registration or something. My advice get a light engine! I have the Honda HP-2 four stroke becuase it only weights 29 lbs. I can't plane off the dink but I still get where I am going, slowly!
recommend for the boat? What are you using it for, dink? How are you going to store the engine when not in use? Keep the wieght of the engine in mind. You or your husband is going to have to hull it out of the water at some point. There is not much difference in the 8 and the 9.8 or 9.9 for that matter. They should both move the boat and get up on plane. They make the 9.8 to get the most motor they can under 10 HP, the limit in many states for registration or something. My advice get a light engine! I have the Honda HP-2 four stroke becuase it only weights 29 lbs. I can't plane off the dink but I still get where I am going, slowly!
15hp
Walker Bay says it can take up to a 15hp. Yes, using it as a dink - have plans for cruising and would have to haul groceries, etc. Mostly storing it on the stern rail. We are considering using a Garhauer Motor Lift (our neighbors have one and love it)! The info I've read says the weight is the same for both the 8 and the 9.8hp. Thanks again for your advise!
Walker Bay says it can take up to a 15hp. Yes, using it as a dink - have plans for cruising and would have to haul groceries, etc. Mostly storing it on the stern rail. We are considering using a Garhauer Motor Lift (our neighbors have one and love it)! The info I've read says the weight is the same for both the 8 and the 9.8hp. Thanks again for your advise!
Tohatsu parts are available worldwide.
They are the largest outboard manufacturer in the world, and have parts available everywhere. I just bought a Tohatsu 9.8 through Porta-Bote. Best price, free delivery anywhere in North America, and no tax (unless you reside in California).
They are the largest outboard manufacturer in the world, and have parts available everywhere. I just bought a Tohatsu 9.8 through Porta-Bote. Best price, free delivery anywhere in North America, and no tax (unless you reside in California).
I would get the 9.8hp then
Garhauer Motor Lift is a must have to me but I know people lug them around without it. I only use the dink when crusing. The rest of the time it stay home with the engine. They are a pain in the neck to deal with.
Garhauer Motor Lift is a must have to me but I know people lug them around without it. I only use the dink when crusing. The rest of the time it stay home with the engine. They are a pain in the neck to deal with.
Suzuki..
Suzuki actually makes most of the small Johnson outboards, and some of the larger ones too, while Tohatsu makes the small Mercs and Nissan's. I don't understand the need for a 20" shaft. According to Walker Bay the Genessis takes a 15" short shaft and I also don't get the electric start. These motors start very easily and the added weight of a starter, battery etc. seem like overkill for a dinghy. Others are correct when they say to buy a 9.8 vs. the 8 hp. It is the exact same motor with a different carb and some other changes to limit it to 8hp. The 8 & 9.8 weigh the same so go for the 9.8..
Suzuki actually makes most of the small Johnson outboards, and some of the larger ones too, while Tohatsu makes the small Mercs and Nissan's. I don't understand the need for a 20" shaft. According to Walker Bay the Genessis takes a 15" short shaft and I also don't get the electric start. These motors start very easily and the added weight of a starter, battery etc. seem like overkill for a dinghy. Others are correct when they say to buy a 9.8 vs. the 8 hp. It is the exact same motor with a different carb and some other changes to limit it to 8hp. The 8 & 9.8 weigh the same so go for the 9.8..
One more thing..
Yamaha, Tohatsu/Nissan & Suzuki are the most widely used motors world wide with Yamaha edging out Tohatsu/Nissan & Suzuki. If you really want to be able to fix your motor anywhere then don't buy a four stroke and instead buy a Yamaha 9.9 or 15 hp two stroke (yes they are still available new). Those two engines can be found from Labrador to Chile to Vanauatu and are very, very simple and easy to fix. Dinghy flips in a wind strom and submerges the motor... Flush it spray it with Boeshield and start her up.. Four stroke submerges good luck! Undeveloped countries are not using the four strokes like we are in the US. For US cruising and Northern Carib a four stroke is fine but for long distance traveling, to foreign countries, a two stroke is a wise choice..
Yamaha, Tohatsu/Nissan & Suzuki are the most widely used motors world wide with Yamaha edging out Tohatsu/Nissan & Suzuki. If you really want to be able to fix your motor anywhere then don't buy a four stroke and instead buy a Yamaha 9.9 or 15 hp two stroke (yes they are still available new). Those two engines can be found from Labrador to Chile to Vanauatu and are very, very simple and easy to fix. Dinghy flips in a wind strom and submerges the motor... Flush it spray it with Boeshield and start her up.. Four stroke submerges good luck! Undeveloped countries are not using the four strokes like we are in the US. For US cruising and Northern Carib a four stroke is fine but for long distance traveling, to foreign countries, a two stroke is a wise choice..
Sail Maine
Don't forget Honda. Honda is consider the best at everything they do. I guess that why noone believes you when they break! They have a complete line of 4-stokes.
Don't forget Honda. Honda is consider the best at everything they do. I guess that why noone believes you when they break! They have a complete line of 4-stokes.
Waffle - what are you smokin' tonight???
I bought 4 Hondas for our sailing school instructor boats - they were headaches from day one. Even the Mercurys I bought were easier to maintain. It really goes back to proper maintenance I suppose in the long run. The Hondas really needed special care to keep them fit.
I bought 4 Hondas for our sailing school instructor boats - they were headaches from day one. Even the Mercurys I bought were easier to maintain. It really goes back to proper maintenance I suppose in the long run. The Hondas really needed special care to keep them fit.
Honda 7.5
I don't know about new Hondas but I had an old 7.5 HP that ran very well for the time that I had it. The only time I had real trouble was when it was first bought. Then again I had the bright idea of heavey weight oil on a cold day. The Honda would push my Mac 26 D near hull speed at half throttle and it was very quiet. I probably should have kept it when I sold the boat. The engine seemed to weigh a ton and was difficult to put on or take off of the Mac's transom. It really sipped gasoline and a 5 gallon tank was usually enough for a year..but I sail a lot. I have a tohatsu 3.5 hp 2 stroke for my canoe. I put it on my walker bay 8' dinghy but it was too much and bent the transom at full throttle but the little WB did move faster. For our dinghy right now we just have the WB 8 and I like to row it around. When we get supplies we just take the big boat. At 32' with 4.5' of draft it will go most places that we want to go to. If we ever live aboard we will probably go with an inflatable and the 3.5. Wrestling a heavy outboard onto a small dinghy is not my idea of fun. 8' of hard dinghy is all that we can easily carry on our Pearson 323. With a rollup we will probably go a little larger. Wouldn't it be awfull to screw up your back wrestling a heavy outboard and dinghy once you finally get to go sailing???
I don't know about new Hondas but I had an old 7.5 HP that ran very well for the time that I had it. The only time I had real trouble was when it was first bought. Then again I had the bright idea of heavey weight oil on a cold day. The Honda would push my Mac 26 D near hull speed at half throttle and it was very quiet. I probably should have kept it when I sold the boat. The engine seemed to weigh a ton and was difficult to put on or take off of the Mac's transom. It really sipped gasoline and a 5 gallon tank was usually enough for a year..but I sail a lot. I have a tohatsu 3.5 hp 2 stroke for my canoe. I put it on my walker bay 8' dinghy but it was too much and bent the transom at full throttle but the little WB did move faster. For our dinghy right now we just have the WB 8 and I like to row it around. When we get supplies we just take the big boat. At 32' with 4.5' of draft it will go most places that we want to go to. If we ever live aboard we will probably go with an inflatable and the 3.5. Wrestling a heavy outboard onto a small dinghy is not my idea of fun. 8' of hard dinghy is all that we can easily carry on our Pearson 323. With a rollup we will probably go a little larger. Wouldn't it be awfull to screw up your back wrestling a heavy outboard and dinghy once you finally get to go sailing???
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