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Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Initially Posted - 03/20/2012 : 12:36:28

My new motor arrived today! Yay!

I bought a 2012 Tohatsu SailPro 6HP. It has a 25" long shaft, alternator for the house banks, high thrust prop, longer tiller handle and forward mounted shifter. It arrived in good nick, undamaged, packed very well. I was suprised at the brilliant black color, like a Mercury motor. It has very nice metallic silver graphics on blue shadow style backgrounds. Very pretty motor.

I won't get it out to the lake until this weekend. I don't have a reliable wind forecast yet, but it's looking like one of those beautiful spring weekends! Temps in the low 80's, sunshine, and overnight lows in the low 60's. Looks like I'm sailing this weekend and breaking in the new motor. I'll overnight in a cove at the north end of the lake. Sunday evening when I come back to the marina, I'll grab some more interior teak pieces to bring home. I'll also get some pics of the new motor on the boat and video of it running.

SailFlow has the winds forecast at very low levels, but I've found it to be quite unreliable any more than 2 days out.

Scott

When we left, we had just enough fuel to make it to San Juan. And now... we are out of fuel!

Edited by - on

JimGo
Admiral

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USA
962 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 12:57:29

Congratulations!!!

Edited by - on

dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 12:58:25

Sweeeeet!

Edited by - on

Prospector
Master Marine Consultant

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Canada
3159 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 12:59:26

Ooooh that is exciting. I think we are diverging paths or something. Last night I found myself tearing down the remote controls for our outboard.

Edited by - on

pfduffy
Captain

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USA
317 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 13:13:44

Can I assume you bought this from onlineoutboards.com? If so, how quickly did they ship the motor and were you pleased with the sales process?

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 13:28:51

Yes, I purchased from Online Outboards. I've been waiting and waiting for a sale, but didn't want to wait any longer and went ahead and ordered. So, they should have a sale any day now.

I ordered the motor Friday morning and it shipped out Friday afternoon, FedEx ground. It arrived today, so 4 days. I did get a $40 discount for being a forum member, but I had to call them to apply it. There was no place on the order form for me to make a comment about it.

Paid $1509.99 for it. I'll pay sales tax when I register it and title it. Texas requires a title for outboards, so I pay the sales tax then.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 14:24:32

Scott, Please let us know how a 6hp works out, Big time curious. I'm sure it will be fine in lite winds but I am really looking for how well it will do pushing into 20+ with waves.

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3477 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 15:32:53

It looks so nice...almost a shame to use it !

~ $1500 Sweet !

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 15:34:16

It will be interesting to see. 6 hp should be adequate with the right prop. I used a 4.5 on both a CM-21 and O'Day 23, and the 23 faced a few ugly times on Lake Erie with adequate HP. I only have a Mercury Bigfoot 9.9 for the features, not the HP.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 17:17:14

Remember guys, I'm on a smallish inland lake. Waves and current really are not a factor for me. "Big" waves are 3' chop (very rare) or a passing cabin cruiser wake. High winds are much more common, but if we have steady winds of 20+ they're usually accompanied by gusts to 40+, so I'm not out in those conditions. I'm usually only out in winds up to 15 with gusts no more than 20-25, and chop on the lake is 2'. If it's whitecapping most boats stay home.

That's why I chose this motor...for my needs at this location.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 17:29:26

I think that will be plenty of motor for your situation, but I'm sure follow up will be helpful for others' situations.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 17:54:46

I will be posting a full report to this thread.

Edited by - on

dmpilc
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4593 Posts

Response Posted - 03/20/2012 : 17:57:30

Very nice. That's the motor I would have bought, and saved $500, if the admiral had not insisted on electric start.
Had "fun" today pulling the 9.8 off the transom for a trip to the shop to change out the low idle jet, clean the carb, change oil and gear lube. Would have been a lot easier if it had been a 6.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2012 : 06:02:46

Specs say this one is 58#....sounds about right. It was really easy to get out of the box and move around the garage.

Edited by - on

Dave5041
Former Mainsheet Editor

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USA
3758 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2012 : 08:34:16

Mercury lists the 9.9 Big foot at 98# dry weight (with an asterisk denoting the lightest model available); that is a total joke. Other sources say 111# - 121# wet (oil and lower unit lube), and 121 is probably closer to the truth with electric start, alternator, and the bigger lower unit. I am fortunate in that I haven't had to remove it since the initial installation. A 58# spec probably means low sixties in real life, still a very manageable weight.

Edited by - on

CarbonSink62
Navigator

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USA
208 Posts

Response Posted - 03/21/2012 : 10:37:43

I can't afford to upgrade this year, but I'm going to be in the same situation of hp vs. weight. My river has quite a current and I don't think a 6hp is going to be enough. I'm looking at the 4 stroke Yamaha and the Honda 8-9.9 because they swing the biggest prop. I know that for the Honda the 8 & 9.9 share the same frame, I might as well get the 9.9.

Now I'm looking at 107# dry weight hanging off the transom.

The Honda charges at 12A; I like that.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 07:37:31

I had alot more to do on the boat yesterday than I anticipated, but did get her somewhat cleaned up. I'll bring the new galley cabinets out this morning to reinstall.

I did get the new motor mounted up and locked:

Today I'll start it up for the first time and head out for break in. It has a 10 hour schedule for break in....dang....but it's most restrictive the first 2 hours. After that it's reasonable.

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 12:17:49

Now why did you go and put that lock on there for.....Now I'm going to have to bring a hacksaw and bolt cutters.... Can't wait for the test results, Good luck!

Edited by - on

OLarryR
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
3477 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 17:07:55

58# Wow !!

You can practically sling that thing over your shoulder when you have to carry it off the boat. Well....maybe not quite but it's almost half the weight of my Honda !

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 19:56:53

Okay, here's an initial report:

Howard came out to pick up my old pop top cover and hang out for a bit. I installed one of my galley cabinets but I'm gonna have to do some trimming to get the other one in. Once finished, we got to the new motor.

After adding oil, carefully to the mark, I pulled the starter slowly 10 times to prime the oil pump. (manual said to) Then I connected the gas, started pumping the bulb. Took about 5 or 6 good squeezes to get the bulb firm. Pulled the choke and the motor started on the very first pull! (Howard is my witness)

Initially the idle was a bit high and I had to ease the choke in over a few minutes as things settled in. 10 minute idle complete.

First 2 hours, 1/2 throttle. hours 2-5, less than 3/4 throttle with 1 minute full throttle every 10 minutes. Hours 5-10, 3/4 throttle with 2 minute full throttle bursts every 10 minutes. After 10 hours, full throttle normal operation. This is the break in procedure by the manual. I don't have a tach, and I can only judge throttle position by the markings until I can hit full throttle the first time, then I can go by sound. I doubt I'll get it perfect but I'll do my best and try to get close.

Lake conditions: Calm. Little to no wind. No waves, but boat wakes present at times, sometimes large ones from cabin cruisers, many times wake converging from multiple directions so very unsettled.

Using "Dashboard" on my iPhone:

1/2 throttle - 4 kts
3/4 throttle - 4.5 kts
Full throttle - 5.0 kts
fast idle - 2.5 kts (marina slipway)

Motor in full up position - Half of propeller and gearbox in the water.
First position - about halfway up the shaft extension, propeller about 8" under.
Lowest position - Cavitation plate easily at bottom of boat, propeller probably 15+" underwater.

Trim position was optimal. Depth of motor made no difference in speed, sound, performance, unless a big boat wake hit from the side of course.

Gas Consumption - we ran the motor for 3 hours, covered 14.8 miles averaging 4.3 kts. Starting with a full 3 gallon tank, the level gauge was just lower than 1/4 of the tank used, so estimate we burned 1 gallon.

So far I'm very happy with the motor. It's about half as loud as my previous Yamaha 5HP 2 stroke and delivers alot more oomph. I was lucky to get 4.1 kts wide open with the Yammy 5, and only in optimal conditions. I got that at 1/2 throttle with the SailPro.

As soon as I get some adverse weather I'll report on that.

BTW - Howard...it was cool hanging out with ya today man...we should do that more often. I hope you can get your boat out to the lake for the summer (or some of it) so we can get out, Lonnie too...and sail, race, raft up and overnight.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 03/25/2012 : 20:05:00

Oh....and it's nice that my sailboat no longer sounds like a dirt bike....

Edited by - on

hewebb
Admiral

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USA
761 Posts

Response Posted - 03/26/2012 : 05:12:48

Scott took me to places around the lake that I did not know existed and showed me the shallow spots to look out for. Even though we were slipped there for three months we never ventured to the north end of the lake after I ran aground in one area north of the marina. I'll be out Wednesday to talk with Linda about a slip. Sure enjoyed the tour with Scott. It was wonderful to see the lake full. His cabinets look great.

Edited by - on

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2012 : 12:45:46

Over the weekend I completed the "break in" procedure, or came as close as I'm willing to put up with. I did about 8-9 hours total, and I'm done. I'm gonna start using it as normal now.

Saturday the wind was almost nil. It was a beautiful day though, sunny and mid 80's. I installed my teak pieces I worked last week, then Lowell (guy with an O'Day 25 next to me) and I motored across the lake to visit a friend of his in Lake Country Marina. Lowell bought a sleek new Honda 9.9, electric start, power trim, really nice motor....and he was breaking his in as well. I got to meet "Dave", the guy who launches boats at LC Marina. They have this giant warehouse, where boats are stored on 3 levels in racks. You call the marina, they launch your boat and tie it to the dock. When you're done, they pull it and put it back in the barn. This place is huge! I got to ride on the biggest forklift I've ever seen as we launched a customer's boat. It's capable of moving 7 tons. Pretty cool. Then I motored up to the north end of the lake, then back home. All under "break in procedure".

Sunday was a fabulous day. Winds were very strong and I got some great sailing in. At the end of the day I had about 1/2 mile to motor back to the marina. Directly into 20+ MPH winds, 2' chop with occasional whitecaps. The boat was splashing through, throttle wide open, 4.5 kts solid speed. Earlier in the day I had motored out through the chop and had some pretty good rolling around with big cabin cruiser wakes converging on each other....the motor has a nice deep bite so had no issues there.

All in all...I'd say this Tohatsu 6HP SailPro is perfectly adequate for my needs in my local sailing area. Any worse conditions I'm likely to encounter would be stuff I'm not gonna be out in anyway...like 30+ MPH winds....or a thunderstorm. I watch the weather around here carefully (we all do).

Edited by - on

islander
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4024 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2012 : 13:52:39

Thanks for the test results. Sounds like a 6hp is about as low as you would want to go. For me though maybe an 8hp would be the magic number only because I don't want to run the engine wide open to obtain 4.5 into the wind. Good luck with it. It has all the bells and whistles you need all in a small package.

Edited by - on

GaryB
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
4312 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2012 : 17:55:55

I've got an old 8 hp Suzuki on mine and it seems to be plenty adequate for my sailing conditions. I can easily hit 4.5 knots at just less than 1/2 throttle. Wide open I can get maybe 5.5 knots with a lot of noise and the stern squatting. This into 0 - 1-1/2' waves.

At full throttle it will maintain up to about 4.5 knots in 3 - 4 footers.

Edited by - GaryB on 04/02/2012 17:58:53

Joe Diver
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1218 Posts

Response Posted - 04/02/2012 : 18:42:55

There's not a big difference between wide open and 1/2 to 3/4 throttle. Running it around 3/4 throttle seems to be the sweet spot. I can get 4.5 kts on calm water.

I ran the motor over two days. 8 hours......14.8 miles the first day and 13.5 the next day. I used 2 gallons of gas.

Edited by - on

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