Tohatsu 6HP vs Honda 5HP

[MVDarlin]

I have a 6hp Suzuki that has provided reliable service for many seasons. It is stored outside in SE Alaska with a cover. I always start the season with fresh fuel.

[hgd137]

Originally Posted by JebLostInSpace

I have a tohatsu 6 and I hate it. It is the single piece of equipment I own that I loathe. Would not recommend to anyone.

It has never been happy restarting when semi-warm. Super finnicky about the choke position if it's between cold and hot - ie when you run a ~1hr errand in town and try to restart to go back to the boat.

I've had endless carburetor woes. I'm not sure what it is about the carb this engine uses, but I can't seem to keep it happy. Non-ethanol fuel only, I use a seafoam additive to theoretically help clean out the jets. I've replaced the carb twice and cleaned them out dozens of times. I still seem to have constant issues. Currently it's running, but idles way too high for some reason. Like maybe the high speed jet is pulling fuel even at idle? Not sure, but it's obnoxious and no doubt hard on the transmission when I have to put it in gear at a high rpm.

The little fuel lift pump to bring the gas up to the carb can't move fuel if it's dry. So if you run out of gas you have to take the fuel line off the carb and hold it below the tank to get the flow started.

Maybe I just have a lemon, maybe I do something to screw up the carb without realizing, I don't know. But I've been ready to chuck my Tohatsu 6 in the ocean dozens of times. I've been stuck rowing miles back to the boat against current several times. I would certainly never recommend this engine to anyone.

I had the same experience with a 9 hp Tohatsu. I gave up and practically gave it away!! I'll never buy a Tohatsu again!!!

[Tenedos]

Thank you all, ended up with a Honda with a boat show special. Tohatsu was tempting but we are a Honda shop and decided to stay as one. As always, excellent inputs!

[Shaneesprit]

Small Gasoline Engines - I don’t think anyone beats a Honda. No experience of their outboards, but been servicing 4 strokes.
If your not worried about the weight and it’s a Brand you already trust them go for the Honda.

[Ike]

The Tohatsu 6 is (I think) the same block as the Tohatsu 4 and 5 hp versions. Generally a good thing to NOT have the depowered version of a motor - you are carrying the weight for the higher powered version but not getting the power.

True. about 6 or 7 years ago I bought a Mercury 4 HP. The salesman explained that under the hood it was a Tohatsu and that the same engine came i 4, 5 and 6. It just had different carbs and tuning. Anyway, never had a significant problem with it. Yes the choke is fiddly but once you learn what it likes it always started on at least the third pull. And it was light. My 5' 2' 100lb wife could carry it. Of course the fact that I took it to the dealer and had it serviced once a year may have had something to do with it's reliability. It pushed my 2000 lb runabout at about 7 knots but it was obvious it was working hard. But it was ideal for trolling.

But I'm not getting any younger and managed to hurt my self on the boat so at my wife's insistence I replaced it with a fuel injected 9.9 Suzuki with electric start. What a difference. Very reliable, but it weighs 98 lbs. I had to have the dealer install it on boat and it's bolted to the transom.

Anyway the other thing I learned was that almost all low power outboards at actually Tohatsu engines. The major exception Honda. That alone says a lot.

[rslifkin]

Originally Posted by Ike

Anyway the other thing I learned was that almost all low power outboards at actually Tohatsu engines. The major exception Honda. That alone says a lot.

For the small outboards, as far as I know Yamaha, Suzuki, and Honda all make their own. 4 stroke Mercurys up to 30hp and all of the now-discontinued Nissan outboards are Tohatsus. And the newer big Tohatsus (60+ hp) are actually Hondas.

[Ike]

I should have included Suzuki. It's a great engine. I have the High Thrust model because it's really good for trolling. And having it saved my butt when the sterndrive on my boat lost all lubrication and destroyed itself. But that's another story.

[lestersails]

Originally Posted by Ike

(some stuff deleted) But I'm not getting any younger and managed to hurt my self on the boat so at my wife's insistence I replaced it with a fuel injected 9.9 Suzuki with electric start. What a difference. Very reliable, but it weighs 98 lbs. I had to have the dealer install it on boat and it's bolted to the transom. (some other stuff deleted)

Hi Ike -
Thanks for the follow up. Take my advice - I assume you are using that Suzuki in salt water in the PNW? If yes, be religious about flushing it with fresh water after use, whenever possible. I had to junk a 5 yo version of that very same motor because the head was clogged with god knows what. What I am told is that Suzuki does not do an internal corrosion/salting out protection coating and that the heads will slowly lose their cooling flow. Definitely not covered under warranty - Suzuki considers it "abuse" to not flush the motor after use. Of course it is insane to have to do that if you are at sea. What are you supposed to do - dock every time you use the outboard? I think these are primarily fresh water motors.
BTW, if you want a Suzuki 17400 99J02 impeller kit - I'll sell you my extra one. Cheap. Not sure if it fits a current motor, but thought I'd try. I can't bear to throw it in the trash and it just pisses me off every time I look at it./

[Forestalan]

Originally Posted by Tenedos

We have both a Honda 2.3HP and 9.9HP for our AB 9.5 ft aluminum inflatable RIB. 2.3HP is great to lift easily (admiral can do it herself, that she really likes) and gets us to shore and back. 9.9HP is great to move around in relative high speed. But it is way too heavy, since we need to keep putting it on and off. Sooner or later, we are going to damage something or hurt ourselves. So we are planning to move to a lighter outboard. Contenders are 5-6HP outboards in the 50-60 lbs range.

What are thoughts on new Tohatsu 6HPs (MFS6DD) and Honda 5HPs (BF5)?

Tohatsu is a little more powerful, a little cheaper (around $100) and a little lighter (~5 lbs so we can ignore it), so almost a no brainer. But we really love our Hondas (we also have a portable Honda generator), they keep working, easy to start etc etc.

Worth to switch to a Tohatsu?

Whatever you do, do not buy a tohatsu five or six horsepower 2 stroke outboard. They have no parts available at any U.s. dealer and they are not built by tohatsu but by Hangkai in China. They may last one season but they will fail for numerous reasons. I bought one from an individual thinking about tohatsu reliability. After setting sail I discovered hangkai stamped in the engine case and head with the Tohatsu logo. Ignition failure throttle cable snapped leaking lower unit oil, you name it. If you can find a lightly used 2 stroke yamaha the weight will be far less and the power will surprise you.

[Adelie]

5&6hp are marginal for getting a dinghy on a plane.

If the point of this motor is to get on a plane get the 6hp. If it will almost get you on a plane with 2 people there are several things you can do to help the situation
A. Larger flatter prop. Will help you with the hole shot getting on the plane but will cost you some in top speed. Losing top speed to get on a plane is worth it.
B. Cavitation plate Foils https://www.davisinstruments.com/pro...izer-fin-black
C. Longer fuel hose so fuel tank sits in the bow.
D. Tiller extension so you can sit further forward.

Push comes to shove you might want to get an ultralight RIB. An ultra light could shave 30lb off the all up weight.

[malbert73]

Right! The OP already bought another OB. Hopefully an air floor inflatable which can plane. Most RIBs need either 2-3 if no planing is required, or 9.9+ for planing, IMO. 5-6 HP is like no man’s land…

[Pegu Club]

We had a Tohatsu 3.5 hp, it was terrible, literally gave it away, purchased a Honda 2.3 started within three pulls each time we used it for five years, we now have a Yamaha 4hp two stroke, goes in at 45 pounds, way more power than the Honda 2.3, it will plane our ten foot Portabote with my 210 pounds in it, and cruises nicely with the two of us on board, nice little engine, starts easy. We purchased it in the Bahamas a few weeks ago. The key to a happy outboard is to never ever put ethanol fuel in it.

Fair winds,

[George_SD]

Originally Posted by Pegu Club

We had a Tohatsu 3.5 hp, it was terrible, literally gave it away, purchased a Honda 2.3 started within three pulls each time we used it for five years, we now have a Yamaha 4hp two stroke, goes in at 45 pounds, way more power than the Honda 2.3, it will plane our ten foot Portabote with my 210 pounds in it, and cruises nicely with the two of us on board, nice little engine, starts easy. We purchased it in the Bahamas a few weeks ago. The key to a happy outboard is to never ever put ethanol fuel in it.

Fair winds,

A complete opposite for us.
Bought a used 3.5HP tohatsu. Instead of cleaning the carb, bought a new 5HP version for $35, a new metal prop $12, oil, gear lube, sparkplug $15. Total about $400 for a fully serviced OB.

Best little engine ever. Planed Avon 310 (10ft) started first pull even when cold, light and portable. Even my wife, who does not like anything that doesn't work the first time and knows nothing about engines, was using it happily and noted how it made using dinghy so easy.