tophatyachts.com

G'day,
As i'm trying to keep the OB on a transom bracket, I should have got an ultra long shaft outboard instead of just a long shaft OB, looked into an extension section that is available to convert the LS to an ULS, but at over $500 I maybe better off just buying a new ULS & selling the LS.
I know the 2st 8hp does the job well, but AFAIK it doesn't come in ULS so it would have to be the 9.8hp 2st Tohatsu.
However I could be talked into the 6hp 4st Tohatsu sailpro, but haven't heard very many encouraging stories about them, have read more stories than I should of people having problems with starting them occasionally, the extra vibration of a 1cyl motor could also be an issue.
Anyone got any thoughts on these (or others) motors?,
cheers

Shaun, I am interested in what people say to you about it.

I don't have any thoughts or opinions.

For a change.

Some would say a positive change. : )


troppo

Come come Louis, that's not like you, have you had a bad day?

Haha Phillip, Sunday was the bad day with Windchaser looking like a duck with bum way up in the air and head down. Today was good. River still has some extra flow with a bit of weed but Windchaser and my friends various boats are all sitting fine and dandy. The best thing about the river at the moment is that being fresh, you don't need to flush the outboard after doing a run in it.

And sometimes I do try and keep my trap shut. Even if it is just so some folk think I have had a bad day. : )

Louis

Shaun, I think the 8hp 4 stroke and the 9.8hp 4 Stroke are all the same, just different porting and jetting to get the different hp rating. I looked at getting an extension for mine, and the girl at Cohoe Marine said all the bits were interchangeable. I have the 8hp and it's plenty. At full throttle calm water I can do just over 6 kts. Sometimes with just two on board and a clean bum, water comes in the cockpit drains as she buries her bum.

As for flushing. Mine sits vertically on it's bracket and is never tilted. It's also a standard shaft, so the prop is out of the water when the bracket is up. I've owned the boat for 8 years and only ever flushed it once when I took it home for a service. The only thing I wish is for an electric start and morse controls.......

As for the single cylinders, remember that Suzuki you used on the boat (name escapes me) we sailed together from Kogarah? That was a shocker..... go the 8 or 9.8 4 stroke. You won't be disappointed.

Hi Shaun,
Just picked up my 18hp Ultra Long Shaft 2 stroke Tohatsu on the weekend.
Ill be headed down to the boat over the weekend to fit it. Ill let you know how I go. I chose a 2 stroke for its reliability and simplicity. There not to much quieter than a 4 stroke.
When I spoke to the dealers from Tohatsu they told me that a 9.8 is a restricted 15 and a 18 is a dumbed down 20.

Aaron

Congratulations, Aaron, on your new outboard. I am sure you will get lots of hassle-free work out of it.

Hmm, going on the Tohatsu website, I am not sure I agree with what the Tohatsu dealers said.

The 2 stroke:
6 hp 169cc 26 kg
9.8 hp 169cc 26 kg

15 hp 247cc 41 kg
18 hp 294cc 41 kg

25 hp 492cc 51 kg

The 9.8 hp is a different capacity motor and different weight to the 15 hp so I think the 9.8 hp is not a restricted 15 hp.
The 18 hp is slightly bigger in capacity to the 15 but I have it in my mind that years ago the 15 and 18 were the same capacity.
The 18 hp can't be a dumbed down 20 hp because there is no two stroke 20 hp.

For interest, here's the 4 strokes:

4 stroke
9.8 hp 209cc 37 kg

15 hp 351cc 52 kg
20 hp 351cc 52 kg

Can be confusing at times.

troppo

Just a point on the difference between 2 and 4 stroke. Maintenance. Whilst the 2 stroke is more powerful and lighter for a given hp rating, it will use more fuel, and you will have to either pre-mix or keep the 2 stroke fuel tank full. 2 stoke motorcycles are harder to get passed for aust design rules because of their pollution rate compared to 4 stroke. The two main issues for maintenance issue on a 2 stoke is if you get your fuel mix wrong, and when the crank seals go. You'll know they're gone because oil will dribble down the leg. Keep 2 sets of plugs handy, you'll need them. Stinky, smokey and usually have a nice oil slick around them because the purpose of the 2 stoke oil is to lubricate and then get partially burnt on its way through. It doesn't all get burnt, it floats around in the water. Forget to mix your fuel and the engine is toast.

Whilst a 4 stroke for a given hp rating is a little heavier, (11kg for the 9.8) it is more efficient in fuel use and much easier to maintain. Mine is a 2004 model, I change the oil every 100 hours or so, or every two years. It can be done on the boat. Fuel filter and water pump only need servicing when they fail. Change plugs every 5 years or so. If you're worried about valves and camshafts, don't. They will only need attention if you run out of oil. the engine will run on unleaded, 85 and 98.

In know some people love 2 stokes, but in my opinion they're good on motorcycles, but on boats when you need to have a fail safe start, 4 stroke is a safer and more economical option in the long run.