CONTINUOUSWAVE

Getting closer to re-powering a [1973] Montauk. I use my boat for fishing. I am intrigued by the Tohatsu TLDI 90. It seems like a good fit for the classic hull and is a good value. I just don't see them around here . A couple of people I respect have had good success with smaller Tohatsu engines. I appreciate any input on [re-powering a Boston Whaler MONTAUK 17 with a TOHATSU 90 TLDI). Thanks--Joe

The Tohatsu brand has a good reputation but it is not a high volume seller in the US. I recall there could be a relationship to Nissan outboards.

I would not be concerned, a good choice.

The Tohatsu TLDI 90 is a fine choice - 337lbs, 1267cc, 5 year warranty. The technology is similar to a Mercury Optimax using an air assisted direct fuel injection system. As stated over and over on this forum - one of the deciding criteria should be your relationship with your local dealer.

Is there a big difference in price between the 90-HP Tohatsu and E-TEC, Mercury, and Yamaha?

I just re-powered a '79 Montauk with a Tohatsu TLDI 90. Also considered an E-Tec. Tohatsu was $1600 less and my marina is a Tohatsu dealer. I have about 6 hours on the new set up and I'm very happy. Obviously, it still has some breaking in to do before I really open it up.

I'll add that my marina has quite a few Tohatsu engines under 100 hp spanning 20 years and I hardly ever see any needing mid-season repairs.

Tohatsu as a brand in North America is relatively obscure. They just don't compete effectively here. But Tohatsu as a manufacturer of outboard engines, particularly smaller horsepower outboard engines, is very well known. Tohatsu makes many small outboard engines that end up being painted, decorated, and branded with other, better-known names, like Mercury and Evinrude. Tohatsu operates a large plant for manufacturing of outboard engines in Komagane, Nagano Prefecture, Japan.

TLDI stands for Two-cycle Low-pressure Direct Injection, and is a variant of the ORBITAL COMBUSTION PROCESS. I assume Tohatsu is licensing it from Orbital. The only other outboard brand to use the Orbital Combustion Process is Brunswick's Mercury OptiMax, which now has mostly been rebranded as Brunswick's Mercury ProXS line.

This article from a New Zealand magazine has good information:

http://www.jacksonbrown.co.nz/site/wp-c ... _MD90B.pdf

I appreciate the input ! Repower is not an easy decision for me.
Thanks. Joe

I had a 2005 Tohatsu 90 TLDI on my 1977 Outrage 21. The boat made over 100 trips out of the harbor every year for 9 years. It never went back to the dealer. I changed spark plugs twice and the water pump impeller once, that was it. It finally lost compression in one cylinder and I sold it and it still looked almost new. I only hope my new E-TEC 115 is that dependable.