Tohatsu Outboards

cSickNick · #1 06-10-2003, 07:03 PM

Are they worth considering?

I am impressed with the local dealer, but uncertain about their product.

What's the good, bad and ugly?

- Nick

Finster · #2 06-10-2003, 07:10 PM

Made by Nissan. My buddy has one and he has no conplaints. Always runs good.
I haven't seen anything bigger than a 25hp, or there abouts.

sokinwet · #3 06-14-2003, 01:11 AM

My neighbor had a 50 or 70 hp (?) Nissan; same as Tohatsu; used and abused it for several years and ran like a top.

wantasea · #4 06-14-2003, 07:38 AM

I know that a couple of years ago, a buddy was looking at them and they offered up to 140 hp. Dealer claimed they've been around for more than 40 years in the outboard mfg.
Sorry, don't know much more than that.

wantasea · #5 06-14-2003, 07:38 AM

I know that a couple of years ago, a buddy was looking at them and they offered up to 140 hp. Dealer claimed they've been around for more than 40 years in the outboard mfg.
Sorry, don't know much more than that.

John R · #6 06-14-2003, 08:18 AM

I've heard a few good things from the few people I know that have them. Pretty reliable motors. But small and simpler. Their biggest models are still carbed - which may be good for some people. But they would need a fantastic price difference to get me interested...

Mark · #7 06-14-2003, 08:17 PM

Finster, you have it reversed: Tohatsu makes Nissan engines for the U.S. market. Much the same way that Izusu made small Chevy LUV trucks for Chevrolet at one point in the early 80's.

They are a company with a long tradition of supplying commercial engines to Japanese fishermen. The notion that they have been around for 40 years would not surprise me in the least.

I've had a smaller one on a dingy for ten years now and it is simply indestructable.

I fished with one person who had twin Tohatsu 140's on a 23' and could not say enough good things about them. No problems whatsoever.

Finster · #8 06-14-2003, 09:02 PM

Mark, whatever?

My buddies has a mid 80's tohatsu and it has Nissan stamped all over it. Not to say it much matters either way.

Mark · #9 06-14-2003, 09:48 PM

As someone above mentioned, they are rather simple machines without the bells and whistles that some engines have. This may have something to do with their heritage of being made for commercial fishermen overseas - less things to go wrong?

If they made a 4-stroke I would consider it just based on how reliable their 2-stroke versions are. I'm sick of thinking about oil though, so Suzuki it is...