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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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CLARIFICATION OF YAMAHA T8 ORDERING CODES

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lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Initially Posted - 07/15/2004 : 19:45:45

I have finally received the "straight dope" on Yamaha's ordering codes for the T8 and T9.9 outboards. I am posting it here in case anyone else is about to order a new outboard.

The Ordering Codes consist of the Model designation, T8 or T9.9 (T means High Thrust),followed by a 4-letter code group, for example "PXHC".
The first character can be "M" for Manual Recoil Start Only/Non-Power-Tilt; "E" for Electric Start/Non-Power-Tilt (includes a recoil starter on the T8 but not the T9.9); or "P" for Electric Start/With-Power-Tilt (but does not include recoil start).
The Second Character is "L" for 20" shaft or "X" for 25" shaft. There is also a 15" shaft model, but you wouldn't buy that for a Catalina 25, so I didn't check what it is.
The Third Character is "H" for Tiller Handle or "R" for Remote Control without a tiller handle.
The Fourth Character is "C" for 2004 model year or "D" for 2005.

Catalina 25/250 owners are most likely going to order a T8-PXHD if you want Power Tilt, or the T8-EXHD if you DON'T want Power Tilt, or if "dual start" (Recoil and Electric) is a "must have". The T8-EXHD comes with both Electric and Recoil Start standard. The T8-PXHD DOES NOT INCLUDE THE RECOIL STARTER. The Recoil Starter is only available on SOME (not all) T8 models, and IS NOT AVAILABLE ON ANY T9.9 model.
CAUTION: The Power Tilt engine is VERY heavy, about 125 pounds, and the mounting bracket is larger to compensate. The Power Tilt bracket is intended for direct transom mounting, like on a Catalina 250, MacGregor 26, or Hunter 26, although it can maybe fit on the new HEAVY DUTY 4-spring Catalina 25 mount, if the standard mount plate has been swapped for an "extra-Large" size plate. The Power Tilt motor's Bracket will not fit properly on the standard original Catalina 25 factory mount plate (it's too small and will not properly support the larger motor bracket).
Personally, I would not buy a Power Tilt outboard if you are located in a salt water marina. Freshwater lake location, maybe. Salt water just does no good to electrical gear, and the power tilt mechanism is bound to be continually splashed whenever the boat is underway, as it is exposed, part of the bracket assembly, and not under the engine cover where it would get at least a little protection from splashes. Power Tilt is also going to put more load on the battery, and the T8 doesn't have much of an alternator.

Alternator output: All T8 models come with a 6 amp alternator. All T9.9 models come with a 10 amp alternator. The T9.9 alternator can not be retrofitted on to a T8 powerhead as the flywheels are different in both size and location. As for the engine itself, the Yamaha 9.9 hp and 15 hp are basically the same, and the 6 hp and 8 hp are basically the same, with the differences being in the carburetion and rev limiters built in to the ignition system.

My personal choice: T8-EXHC. Manual and Electric Start standard, Manual Tilt, 25" Xtra Long Shaft, High Thrust Prop with 3:1 gearing (ideal sailboat kicker), Extra Long Tiller Handle, with gearshift handle ON the tiller handle (no more bending like a pretzel over the stern pulpit to operate the shift lever!), Fresh water flush hose connector on the power head (no need for "Mickey Mouse Ear" type flushers).

Second Choice is the Yamaha T9.9-EXHC, which does not include the recoil starter but DOES have the 10 amp alternator. Personally, I think a 30 to 50 watt watt solar panel is more useful than the outboard motor's alternator, since it is charging the battery whenever the sun shines, whether you are on the boat or not. And it doesn't pollute the air or water, or need any fuel or maintenance.

Final word -
Purchase Price: sure, there are cheaper and lighter outboards from Nissan, Tohatsu, Susuki, and Mercury, but how much is your boating fun worth? The cost difference between the Yamaha (or Honda), and the "other guys", doesn't amount to even a small percentage of what you are already spending on that boat for slip fees, insurance, taxes, and everything ele. And the total "feature bundle" of the Yamaha T8 can't be found on on any other 8hp outboard, especially items like the gearshift on the tiller handle. And most of you will probably admit that the Yamaha "High Thrust" outboard series is well known and well regarded, which will count for something with potential buyers if the day comes that it's time to sell your Catalina 25 or 250 and move on to a new (larger! even more expensive!) "money-gobbling hole in the water".

Fair winds, and have a nice weekend, all!

Larry Charlot
Catalina 25WK/TR Mk. IV #5857 "Quiet Time"
Folsom Lake, CA

"You might get there faster in a powerboat, but in a sailboat, you're already there"

Edited by - lcharlot on 07/16/2004 10:31:20

megrier
1st Mate

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USA
55 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2004 : 09:49:12

Great information!

I am printing this one out so I can use it later this year if I decide I need to take the dive into a new motor.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2004 : 10:46:01

It is wonderful that you are such a Yamaha evangelist but the skinny on the new 9.8 Tohatsu/Nissan makes it the kicker of choice for me. The 9.8 electric start XL weighs 25lbs less than the Yammyhammer; that does it for me! Period story over.

The rest of the story:
Alternator size? Who cares we run these things 10 minutes a day.
Gear shift? Yammy wins.
Exhaust? If you are stupid enough to ram a dock head on you deserve it.
Base engine? Nissan 8/9.8 Yamaha 6/8
Price? Nissan under 2k
Technology of engine? Nissan newest (lighter) Yamaha oldest (heavier)

Bottom line? If the Yammy were 25lbs lighter and under 2k it would win but it ain't. Honestly, I can horse an 85 lb. OB on and off the boat on land and in the water (my old Johnson weighs 85 lb.), but I don't think I could handle a engine over 100 lb. (Not to mention the weight off the transom issue for boat trim.) I hope my old Johnson runs until Yamaha brings out a more modern design, then maybe I would chose one over Nissan.

PS Honda is just too ugly. No real sailor would put a 4 stroke domestic labeled OB on a sailboat.

Edited by - Frank Hopper on 07/16/2004 10:48:32

JimB517
Past Commodore

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USA
3285 Posts

Response Posted - 07/16/2004 : 14:21:03

I really liked the Nissan 9.8 on Charlies new C250. The shaft was really long, the motor was light, and it was so quiet you couldn't hear it running (at idle).

Edited by - on

lcharlot
Master Marine Consultant

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Antigua and Barbuda
1301 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2004 : 01:32:30

If the Nissan is 25 pounds lighter than the Yamaha, you must be talking about a 2-stroke, non-electric-start model, I assume. Thanks to Cal-EPA and the California Air Resources Board (State government agencies that have run amok with over-regulation IMHO), you can no longer buy a new 2-stroke engine of any kind in California (except weed whackers and leaf blowers), and the 4-stroke Nissan/Mercury/Tohatsu motors I have looked at at West Marine were close to 100 pounds, if not more, for the electric start model. The closest Nissan equivalent to the Yamaha T8, with 25" shaft and electric start, is perhaps $300 cheaper, depending on where you buy it. For features and performance, the Nissan seems a lot like the old Honda 7.5 and 10 hp motors that were in production back in the '70's and 80's. Of course, no brand of small outboards (defined as under 25 hp), has any kind of "rocket science" technology, not even the Yamaha and Honda. Heck, the small outboards aren't even fuel injected - they still have carburetors that are about as fancy as the one on my old Tecumseh lawn mower. The boat came to me with a 25 year old Honda 7.5, that is running okay, but it is only a 20" shaft, meaning I have to drop the mount bracket way down to get the prop in the water. I am tired of having to manhandle that motor up and down and lean way over the stern pulpit to shift it. My "must have" list for the new motor was 25" shaft, electric start, High Thrust prop, and gearshift on the tiller handle, and only the Yamaha had all of that. Since I am not a racer, I don't care that much if the motor is on the heavy side - and no one in their right mind would race a wing keel Catalina 25 Mk IV anyway, since they are heavy even when stripped bare and the wing keel isn't optimised for performance. Once it's mounted on the boat, I never take it off anyway, unless it needs to be taken to the shop for waranty service, so the issue of wrestling it in and out of the truck doesn't bother me.
Sorry if I seemed to be a "Yamaha Evangelist"! I don't work for that company in any way - I am a California State highway department employee - so I guess I am just excited about getting this new motor. I have spent the last 6 months working on this boat to get it to the configuration I want, including all new electronics, new sails, the new motor of course, new standing and running rigging, and it is almost done - I am almost ready to finish "fiddling" with the boat and just start enjoying it. Only one major task left to finish, and that's the conversion of the trailer from "swing" to "wing" crossmembers, and add two aft jack stands to give more support to the rear 6' of the hull where the roller bunks don't reach.

Edited by - on

Gloss
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
1916 Posts

Response Posted - 07/17/2004 : 07:24:45

I have a Honda on my sailboat. I guesse I'm not a real sailor then.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2004 : 16:03:35

I used to work in high tech marketing, the term Evangelist is a complement. The new Nissan 4 stroke electric start 9.8 XLS is 85 lbs. that is why it is so significant to the kicker industry right now.

Edited by - on

Frank Hopper
Past Commodore

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Pitcairn Island
6776 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2004 : 16:17:38

<blockquote id="quote">quote:<hr height="1" noshade id="quote">Originally posted by Gloss
 I have a Honda on my sailboat. I guess I'm not a real sailor then.
<hr height="1" noshade id="quote"></blockquote id="quote">
No, re-read my quote. Your just a sailor who doesn't mind a bright silver, oversized amorphous looking outboard on your transom.

It is the domestic labeled OBs that seem odd, most are made buy asians so why not buy the original. I understand Johnson/Evenrude is reinventing themselves and their 4 strokes. I hope they keep we sailors in mind when they do it. It would be nice if there were an American product that met our needs.

Edited by - on

frogger
Navigator

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USA
184 Posts

Response Posted - 07/18/2004 : 21:10:43

I love my Nissan 9.8. If it were made by an American, I'd buy it; if made by any other nationality I' buy it. What I need is a dependable engine. Make a better one and I'd buy it whenever I need one.

Edited by - on

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