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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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mercury v. tohatsu

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cks
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126 Posts

Initially Posted - 09/22/2005 : 20:42:31

I need a new outboard. the mercury dealer that tried to fix my 93 mercury is willing to give me a $500 credit towards a new motor ( i was almost stranded my second time out with a "fixed" outboard). a new mercury 9.9 extra-long shaft with electric start and alternator seems to run around $2500 with tax. from what i can gather from the forum, i can get a new tohatsu for around $2000. which would you choose?

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atgep
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1009 Posts

Response Posted - 09/22/2005 : 20:58:55

It is up to you. The Merc tohatsu are the same now. Last year the merc was still using the heavy engine (120lbs). I just ordered the Nissan for 2000, free ship and no tax. The merc has one big advantage in my book. The shifter is integrated with the tiller. I really like this but not for the $500 premium. If your dealer would work with you and you do not feel like selling the old one, then the answer is Merc. If you can sell the hulk, you could get the total price down a few hundred by choosing the Tohatsu.

Tom.

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dlucier
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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 08:36:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by atgep
 ...The merc has one big advantage in my book. The shifter is integrated with the tiller. I really like this but not for the $500 premium...<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">

The integrated shifter/throttle is worth its weight in gold!

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Gloss
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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 08:54:59

I paid about 2300 for my Honda extra long shaft high thrust electric start motor. My Honda dealer was willing to deal. It has a large 4 bladed prop which works well to push our hulks around. The Honda shaft is 27" long.

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Ben
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USA
1234 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 09:38:01

I have a new Nissan and love it. that being said, I would love it even more if it had the gear shifter integrated into the tiller handle. Then it would be perfect.

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DanM
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USA
256 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 10:23:32

My vote is the same. Docking is very awkward when reaching back and down through the stern pulpit to the shifter and steering in a cross-breeze, looking forward for the slip pilings....and avoiding the other boat sharing the slip, which is practically invisible from that position. We miss the integrated shifter in the throttle handle of our old Merc so much that we plan to install the remote package on our new Nissan (which reduces the price advantage). Can't understand why they just don't build them in.
Still have the '87 Merc. 210cc which needs a stator (didn't need the new switch box and trigger). Will sell or swap.

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aeckhart
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USA
1709 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 12:50:53

This past spring I ran across an article which outlined an outboard motor survey regarding customer satisfaction. The survey found that customer satisfaction was very high for Yamaha, Taihatsu, Honda, in that order. Evinrude/Johnson and Mercury were dead last......in that order. My next motor will be a four-stroke 8 hp Yamaha after 16 years of good reliable two-stroke Evinrude service. Quality, gas mileage, relative silence, reliability, electronic tilt are my priorities.

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Designwiz
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USA
59 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 12:58:15

Good news from Tohatsu for 2006 if you look at the info for the new model (9.8 HP) they have moved the shift lever from the side to the front face of the motor. May not be as nifty as it being integrated with the handle but still a heck of alot better than the side face. Seems to me they only make the 25 inch xls leg in the 9.8 HP model. Also I have always seen these sold with a prop installed and not an extra cost.

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Auburn80
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60 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 15:02:09

Designwiz, what they mean is that you cannot substitute a different prop for the one normally provided; you'll have to pay for the additional prop. IMHO, no big deal since most people like the standard prop anyway.

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 15:28:12

I find the front-mounted shifter on my Honda to be reasonably convenient. It'll be a good enhancement on the Tohatsu/Nissan. Yamaha's tiller-mounted shifter is nice, and I like their flush fitting, but the lack of a pull starter was a non-starter for me. I've used the one on the Honda twice in three years and was glad it was there. It's also surprisingly easy to pull.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/23/2005 15:31:33

cks
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126 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 17:50:32

okay, would i go wrong in opting for a mercury 8hp with a 20 inch shaft to save a few hundred bucks?

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Dave Bristle
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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 09/23/2005 : 21:57:25

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by cks
 okay, would i go wrong in opting for a mercury 8hp with a 20 inch shaft to save a few hundred bucks?
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
Where do you sail? If it isn't a small lake, the answer is YES! The 8hp isn't the issue--it's the shaft length. I have a 27" 8hp Honda that has more than enough power... A C-25 puts that outboard on a very long "lever", so that any fore-aft pitching lifts the prop. The 22" Honda that was on my boat when I bought it would suck air into the cooling system if I went to the foredeck with the engine idling--not a good idea. I often hear small sailboats on Long Island Sound motoring along making the sound WAH!... WAH!... WAH!... as they pitch through the waves... If you consider your investment in an outboard to be amortized over 15 years, a few boat units to get it right doesn't mean much.

Edited by - Dave Bristle on 09/23/2005 22:04:11

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