Performance: Which Motor Works Best? Yamaha or Tohatsu, 25/30/50-HP

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Author Topic:   Performance: Which Motor Works Best? Yamaha or Tohatsu, 25/30/50-HP

riverrat321 posted 08-01-2005 11:12 PM ET (US)
In the near future I'm going to buy a 25, 35, or 50-HP outboard motor, either a Yamaha or Tohatsu. I'm concerned with performance, reliability, and sound level; I would like an engine that does not sound too bad. Any recommendations? Are there independent tests available?
whalerlove posted 08-02-2005 12:03 AM ET (US)
Yamaha
riverrat321 posted 08-02-2005 05:05 PM ET (US)
Could you give me your reasons?
bullwinkle posted 08-02-2005 06:46 PM ET (US)
River,
I looked at the Tohatsu and then the Nissan which is the same engine. The local Nissan dealer gave me a much better price and threw in the installation.
Mike
bsmotril posted 08-02-2005 08:34 PM ET (US)
Get whichever one has the best local dealer support. Both are good solid reliable motors. I see plenty of Tohatsu motors in commercial service where I boat, and they take a lot of abuse and neglect in stride. In conventional carburetor motors, the Yamaha motors tend to be a smidge lighter weight for the same horsepower rating. BillS
jimh posted 08-02-2005 09:25 PM ET (US)
Yamaha certainly has a wider dealer network than Tohatsu, although both are not nearly as common as Mercury or Bombardier.
In my locale (SE Michigan, which has one of the highest concentration of recreational boats in the world), I do not believe there is a Tohatsu dealer to be found, and a Yamaha dealer with a good service department is very difficult to find. A lot of the retailers who sell these motors just sell them; they do not provide much service.
I do not have any testing data on these six motors. I do not know of any place where you can obtain independent testing data except for an occasional magazine test report. Smaller horsepower motors like these are seldom featured in most boating magazines.
riverrat321 posted 08-04-2005 02:06 AM ET (US)
Thanks for the input. I have both Tohatsu and Yamaha dealers nearby so that side is not a problem.
BOB KEMMLER JR posted 08-04-2005 09:10 AM ET (US)
nissan/tohatsu
rbruce posted 08-05-2005 12:01 AM ET (US)
My choice would be the two stroke Yamaha, however, the Tohatsu 40 is a TLDI (Two Stroke Low Pressure Direct Injection) which is a fancy word to say that it is a two star rated motor, which might be a good thing to have when the authorities start restricting the use of "legacy" two strokes.

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Author	Topic: Performance: Which Motor Works Best? Yamaha or Tohatsu, 25/30/50-HP
riverrat321	posted 08-01-2005 11:12 PM ET (US) In the near future I'm going to buy a 25, 35, or 50-HP outboard motor, either a Yamaha or Tohatsu. I'm concerned with performance, reliability, and sound level; I would like an engine that does not sound too bad. Any recommendations? Are there independent tests available?
whalerlove	posted 08-02-2005 12:03 AM ET (US) Yamaha
riverrat321	posted 08-02-2005 05:05 PM ET (US) Could you give me your reasons?
bullwinkle	posted 08-02-2005 06:46 PM ET (US) River, I looked at the Tohatsu and then the Nissan which is the same engine. The local Nissan dealer gave me a much better price and threw in the installation. Mike
bsmotril	posted 08-02-2005 08:34 PM ET (US) Get whichever one has the best local dealer support. Both are good solid reliable motors. I see plenty of Tohatsu motors in commercial service where I boat, and they take a lot of abuse and neglect in stride. In conventional carburetor motors, the Yamaha motors tend to be a smidge lighter weight for the same horsepower rating. BillS
jimh	posted 08-02-2005 09:25 PM ET (US) Yamaha certainly has a wider dealer network than Tohatsu, although both are not nearly as common as Mercury or Bombardier. In my locale (SE Michigan, which has one of the highest concentration of recreational boats in the world), I do not believe there is a Tohatsu dealer to be found, and a Yamaha dealer with a good service department is very difficult to find. A lot of the retailers who sell these motors just sell them; they do not provide much service. I do not have any testing data on these six motors. I do not know of any place where you can obtain independent testing data except for an occasional magazine test report. Smaller horsepower motors like these are seldom featured in most boating magazines.
riverrat321	posted 08-04-2005 02:06 AM ET (US) Thanks for the input. I have both Tohatsu and Yamaha dealers nearby so that side is not a problem.
BOB KEMMLER JR	posted 08-04-2005 09:10 AM ET (US) nissan/tohatsu
rbruce	posted 08-05-2005 12:01 AM ET (US) My choice would be the two stroke Yamaha, however, the Tohatsu 40 is a TLDI (Two Stroke Low Pressure Direct Injection) which is a fancy word to say that it is a two star rated motor, which might be a good thing to have when the authorities start restricting the use of "legacy" two strokes.