Cruisers Forum
 


Reply
  This discussion is proudly sponsored by:
Please support our sponsors and let them know you heard about their products on Cruisers Forums. Advertise Here
 
Thread Tools Search this Thread Rate Thread Display Modes
Old 06-11-2014, 09:50   #16
Registered User
 
Tayana42's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2012
Location: Long Beach, CA
Boat: Tayana Vancouver 42
Posts: 2,804
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

MarkSF, I have the Tohatsu 3.5. Lovely engine. I always, always, always run the carb dry at the end of the day (not every time I stop the engine). I always add stabilizer and try to keep the gasoline no more then a month stored in Gerry cans with Sunbrella covers on deck. In CA I can't buy non-ethanol gasoline. Still, I've had carb problems after 6 months of almost daily use.


Sent from my iPad using Tapatalk
Tayana42 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 10:22   #17
Registered User
 
Mike OReilly's Avatar

Join Date: Sep 2011
Location: Good question
Boat: Rafiki 37
Posts: 14,572
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

I have a Tohatsu 3.5. Over a few years of seasonal use it has done very well. Reliable, efficient. Not as quiet as I'd like, but certainly better than the air cooled ones. In my 10' portabote I can easily plane with one large person and stuff. I've even had it planing the bote with two people in ideal conditions.


Why go fast, when you can go slow
__________________
Why go fast, when you can go slow.
BLOG: www.helplink.com/CLAFC
Mike OReilly is online now   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 10:33   #18
Registered User

Join Date: May 2013
Location: Bermuda
Boat: Heritage West Indies 36
Posts: 1,016
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

I have a 2-stroke Tohatsu 3.5 and I love it. Since you're a decent-sized bloke i don't think the extra weight would bother you. I weigh 147 pounds and find it very easy to heft around (picked it up from the shop on a pedal bike). It will plane my 8-foot walker bay dinghy with me in it.

In the first week i got it i managed to submerge it completely........while it was running at full throttle........... persuaded a little girl in Petit Martinique to let me use the tap in her parents garden (the population of the island was out to sea at the time for a funeral) and lend me a penknife and a pair of pliers. Using those tools i managed to take it apart and flush it out with brackish water. Then i set it on fire accidentally, put out the flames, put it back together and it has run beautifully ever since. That was 5 years ago :-) Highly recommended.
DefinitelyMe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 10:38   #19
Registered User

Join Date: Mar 2014
Boat: Sovereign 24
Posts: 72
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

Quote:
Originally Posted by DefinitelyMe View Post
In the first week i got it i managed to submerge it completely........while it was running at full throttle........... persuaded a little girl in Petit Martinique to let me use the tap in her parents garden (the population of the island was out to sea at the time for a funeral) and lend me a penknife and a pair of pliers. Using those tools i managed to take it apart and flush it out with brackish water. Then i set it on fire accidentally, put out the flames, put it back together and it has run beautifully ever since. That was 5 years ago :-) Highly recommended.
That's one heck of a break-in procedure.
Phantoms is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 10:51   #20
Registered User

Join Date: May 2013
Location: Bermuda
Boat: Heritage West Indies 36
Posts: 1,016
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Phantoms View Post
That's one heck of a break-in procedure.
Yea, the funny thing is i was trying to be really careful to break it in properly. After that i kind of gave up! I'll never forget the guy that picked us up out of the water. There were four of us treading water - three of whom were holding bags with laptops in them above their heads - next to an over-turned dinghy. A passing German stopped, pointed, laughed, said something that was probably along the lines of 'idiots! Morons! Imbeciles!' and then very kindly offered to give us (and the dinghy) a tow to shore.

Anyway, back to engines. You may also want to consider a mercury. I wouldn't normally say such a thing except that the Mercury and Tohatsu 2-strokes at least are pretty much identical (i heard they're built in the same factory) and the Mercury is just as reliable from what i can tell. A good friend has had the 2.5hp for about 4 years now and it has been very reliable for him.
DefinitelyMe is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 10:52   #21
Registered User
 
Terra Nova's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

My Avon 2.85 Roll-up will easily plane with one person using a Suzuki 4 hp 2-stroke (great motor). A Tohatsu 3.5 hp 2-stroke (another great motor) will just barely plane it, under ideal conditions, if I keep my weight way forward, but not reliably.

Get a used 4 hp 2-stroke.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
Terra Nova is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 14:06   #22
Registered User
 
Scout 30's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florida
Boat: Scout 30
Posts: 3,112
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

Before you disqualify the Honda 3 things to consider. The centrifugal clutch sounds weird but really works great. Being air cooled has it's advantages. Dinghies always get run into shallow water but with air cooled there's no worries. It is loud when you open it up but most of the time we're running at low rpms where it's not bad at all. Most importantly is the weight. 28 lbs to 40 may not sound like a lot but getting a motor on & off of a dinghy that's in the water is awkward at best. The difference in weight can mean you don't screw your back up or end up in the drink.
Scout 30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 16:29   #23
Registered User
 
Terra Nova's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

The Tohatsu 3.5 hp 2-stroke (same as Nissan) only weighs 27 lbs.
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
Terra Nova is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 16:54   #24
Registered User
 
Scout 30's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florida
Boat: Scout 30
Posts: 3,112
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

Personally I think going the used 2 stroke route is a smart move. Although the Honda is as light as a 2 stroke the carburetor can be a real pain in the arse! 2 strokes seem to be more tolerant of less than perfect gas. If you do get a 4 stroke it's important to have your non-ethanol gas drop shipped to you straight from the refinery. Whenever you turn your motor off you should run the carburetor dry, drain the bowl, break the carburetor down & clean the jets. The gas in the tank should then be drained & refilled with only with fresh non-ethanol gas that was refined that day. If you fail to follow these simple instructions & your motor fails to run correctly you have only yourself to blame.
Scout 30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 06-11-2014, 19:30   #25
Registered User
 
Compactorguy's Avatar

Join Date: Nov 2009
Location: Long Beach, Ca
Boat: Endeavour 32
Posts: 73
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

FYI Tohatsu makes all Mercury and Nisson small motors
I have a Tohatsu 2.5 on an old AB flat bottom I use as a tender/dive site transport. I've had three adults with three sets of dive gear here in Southern California and it got us out to the site and back ( that's just as important) no problems. I would go with the Tohatsu 3.5


Sent from my iPhone using Cruisers Sailing Forum
Compactorguy is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2014, 06:59   #26
Registered User

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: May 2011
Location: Miami Florida
Boat: Ellis Flybridge 28
Posts: 4,076
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

"To me the best thing would be a solution to the tiny carb jets that get gunked up from ethanol or from infrequent use. The little propane outboard looks attractive in that regard."

That's exactly why I replaced my 2 hp. Suzuki with a Lehr 2.5. The Lehr starts every time, even if it sits unused for a couple of months or more.
__________________
Retired from Hopkins-Carter Marine Supplies
HopCar is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2014, 07:19   #27
Registered User
 
Scout 30's Avatar

Join Date: Oct 2014
Location: Florida
Boat: Scout 30
Posts: 3,112
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

The Lehr sounds like an interesting option. Who cares how light or powerful an outboard is if it won't run right. I just put a new carburetor on my Honda so I'm back in love but who knows for how long. If the Lehr is more reliable with less hassle it gets my vote.
Scout 30 is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2014, 07:44   #28
Registered User
 
Terra Nova's Avatar

Join Date: Apr 2007
Location: Marina del Rey, California
Boat: President 43 Sportfish
Posts: 4,105
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

When cruising, isn't it a big hassle to provide propane for an outboard?
__________________
1st rule of yachting: When a collision is unavoidable, aim for something cheap.
"whatever spare parts you bring, you'll never need"--goboatingnow
"Id rather drown than have computers take over my life."--d design
Terra Nova is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2014, 07:47   #29
Moderator Emeritus
 
a64pilot's Avatar

Cruisers Forum Supporter

Join Date: Oct 2013
Location: Jacksonville/ out cruising
Boat: Island Packet 38
Posts: 31,348
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

The smaller the motor, the more logical propane is. I'm surprised the big boys haven't done it, that or go to fuel injection. How many little propane motors do you think Yamaha would sell?
I have several small engines, all with carburetors, and as long as I use the Sta-Bil I have no problems, I do use it at twice the recommended dosage though.
a64pilot is offline   Reply With Quote
Old 07-11-2014, 09:04   #30
Registered User

Join Date: Feb 2013
Location: Oregon
Boat: Seafarer36c
Posts: 5,563
Re: Yamaha 2.5 VS Suzuki 2.5 VS Tohatsu 3.5.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Terra Nova View Post
When cruising, isn't it a big hassle to provide propane for an outboard?
Making a propane run is something you get used to every couple of months. Adding an outboard would make you go much more often. There must be a way to fuel one of these things from a big tank? Those little green tanks are going to be hard to find sometimes.
model 10 is offline   Reply With Quote
Reply

Thread Tools Search this Thread
Search this Thread:

Advanced Search
Display Modes Rate This Thread
Rate This Thread:

Posting Rules
You may not post new threads
You may not post replies
You may not post attachments
You may not edit your posts

BB code is On
Smilies are On
[IMG] code is On
HTML code is Off
Trackbacks are Off
Pingbacks are Off
Refbacks are Off


Similar Threads
Thread Thread Starter Forum Replies Last Post
Outboard Dimensions (suzuki, tohatsu, Honda, Yamaha) Sailing fast Deck hardware: Rigging, Sails & Hoisting 6 24-03-2014 20:34

Advertise Here


All times are GMT -7. The time now is 06:06.


Google+
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.
Social Knowledge Networks
Powered by vBulletin® Version 3.8.8 Beta 1
Copyright ©2000 - 2024, vBulletin Solutions, Inc.

ShowCase vBulletin Plugins by Drive Thru Online, Inc.