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pegasus
1st Mate

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USA
65 Posts

Initially Posted - 04/26/2006 : 13:35:25

Another question...I need to replace my outboard (Scrapped the '86 Johnson 2 stroke, 8HP as a cylinder was shot) and am looking at a number of 4-stroke options. Honda makes a 5 HP, Tohatsu makes a 6 HP (both are single cylinder) and then there are the 8 and greater HP models. I sail on Lake Murray, an inland lake near Columbia, SC, and won't really see extreme weather conditions nor will I take her to the ocean. Questions: can I get by with a 5 or 6 HP? I'm leaning towards a 6HP - a compromise between power and weight. The 8 HP, and larger units, seem awful heavy...

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 13:56:15

You can get by with a 5 or 6 just fine, the real issue is submersion, you really really want an extra long shaft and if you need to go to a bigger engine to get it then I would go with the bigger engine.
The new tohatsu/Nissans are much lighter than other engines, look at them and use our association discount at online outboards.

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 14:10:35

Good news! Tohatsu added a 25" shaft to the 6hp 4-stroke! That's your winner. Won't be as smooth and quiet as the 2-cylinder 9.8 (which is much lighter than my Honda behemoth), but 6 should take care of you on a medium-sized lake.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/26/2006 14:12:50

southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 15:22:43

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pegasus
 Another question...I need to replace my outboard (Scrapped the '86 Johnson 2 stroke, 8HP as a cylinder was shot) and am looking at a number of 4-stroke options. Honda makes a 5 HP, Tohatsu makes a 6 HP (both are single cylinder) and then there are the 8 and greater HP models. I sail on Lake Murray, an inland lake near Columbia, SC, and won't really see extreme weather conditions nor will I take her to the ocean. Questions: can I get by with a 5 or 6 HP? I'm leaning towards a 6HP - a compromise between power and weight. The 8 HP, and larger units, seem awful heavy...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

Pegassus-

We have the same problem. I sail on Lake Norman outside of Charlotte, NC. I just scrapped my 1981 Johnson 9.9 2 stroke. I have been weighing motor options for a few weeks now. Online outboards has a 6hp 4 stroke that sems to be the answer. Like Frank Hopper said, it has a 25" shaft option and this is an important factor. However, the 12 volt charging system option is another $140 and at that point you have almost spent enough for the 8hp 4 stroke Tohatsu. The 8hp has more torque, one more cylinder and a standard 12 volt charging system (at a relatively low weight limit). The only problem with the Tohatsu 8hp is they do not currently offer it a 25" shaft (only 15 and 20"). I have heard that Tohatsu might be coming out with a 25" model and this wiould be the motor for me. If anyone has any inside info on this I would appreciate it. I currently borrow my buddies extra Chrysler 7.5hp when I need to motor away from the marina. (with emergency pull cord only, what fun

). Beats buying a motor that is not the right one for me. The 6hp will work for your situation and mine, being on an inlad lake, I just would like the extra cylinder.
Again, if any of you guys have any inside info on a Tohatsu 8hp with 25" shaft. Please let me know. If they are not comingout with one will probably buy the 6hp 25" shaft.

Puravida,
Zach

Edited by - southern cross on 04/26/2006 15:27:02

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/26/2006 : 22:09:17

Looks to me like the 8 and 9.8 are the same engine (209cc), so for a couple of bucks, I'd get the 9.8 XLS if you want the smoother 2-cylinder unit, or the 6 XLS if you don't care or want to save a couple of boat units. On a little lake, it's probably just a matter of taste. In bigger water, I'd say 9.8, period, until they unveil the 8 XLS.

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pegasus
1st Mate

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USA
65 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2006 : 06:44:09

Any experiences/recommendations regarding shaft length? The Owner's Manual says any shaft length will do, but I tried a regular shaft 8HP motor and it was clearly too short. Is the 25" shaft a better choice than the 20" shaft?

Edited by - on

southern cross
Navigator

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USA
123 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2006 : 08:31:51

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by pegasus
 Any experiences/recommendations regarding shaft length? The Owner's Manual says any shaft length will do, but I tried a regular shaft 8HP motor and it was clearly too short. Is the 25" shaft a better choice than the 20" shaft?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

If you can get a 25", by all means GET IT. Even on these inland lakes, large wakes can get the prop out of the water. If you plan on having anyone onboard that may be hanging out on the bow then the prop can come out of water too. The 25"? ensures that she will stay wet 99.9% of the time.

Puravida, Zach

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2006 : 08:33:44

IMHO, you want to see the plate above the prop at least 5" below the surface with the boat at rest and the cockpit empty. At 5 knots cruising speeed, she'll squat a little and push the prop deeper, which can be useful when you encounter a big wake (or for those of us on big water, big chop). When a 25' boat pitches a little, the engine on a bracket another foot off the transom is going up and down a lot. Also, if you start the engine while heeling to port in preparation for dropping sails, it could end up sucking air. So, the bracket height in the down position is one issue, and the shaft length is the other--but you don't want to be dragging the mounting board or have the powerhead so low that it can be doused by a following wave, so it's best to solve the problem via shaft length. Longer is better.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 04/27/2006 08:36:08

cks
Navigator

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126 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2006 : 08:47:42

FYI-based on advice from members of this forum, i went for a mercury 9.9 with a 25" shaft. i have not tried it yet, but my understanding was that the new mercs are rebadged nissans with a tiller-shift (very convenient since my last outboard was a merc also).

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 04/27/2006 : 21:59:28

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cks
 ...but my understanding was that the new mercs are rebadged nissans...
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
...and Nissans are rebadged Tohatsus, so... Enjoy your Merc--it should be nice!

Edited by - on

haley
1st Mate

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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 04/28/2006 : 14:56:10

"However, the 12 volt charging system option is another $140 and at that point you have almost spent enough for the 8hp 4 stroke Tohatsu."

Browsing online outboards they say that the 6hp 25" shaft version includes the 12 volt. That plus free shipping and no tax outside of TN. A very attractive deal!

John

Edited by - on

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.