Tohatsu 6 hp as Kicker for 22

T

Tortuga

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C Dory Year
1994
C Dory Model
22 Cruiser
Vessel Name
Tortuga
I'm thinking about buying a Tohatsu 6 hp as a kicker for my 22. It's a light engine -- admittedly with less power than may be optimal. But, I like the weight (55 pounds) and I like that I can use it on my dink as well.

Plus, a friend is selling it cheap (it's a 2006 and he wants $500). He got it for an inflatable kayak but (not surprisingly) it isn't working out -- too much flex.

It's a 20" so it would fit the boat well -- if a bit long for the dink.

Any thoughts? I've run a Ranger 26 sailboat all over the San Francisco Bay area on an old Evinrude 6 with no problem. The Ranger is heavier, though has less windage.

Anyone running a 6 hp as a kicker??

Matt
 
Hi Matt,

We have the exact motor on C-Daisy. It works great on the dinghy but is marginal on the 22. It is fairly easy to move from the 22 to the dinghy. We added a strap handle to make it easier. We have done some trolling with it on flat water and it gets by. Certainly not the optimal trolling motor though. Good luck. For $500 we'd certainly do it again.

Karl
 
I run that motor as a kicker on my 19. It will push the boat about 5 or 6 knots with no current or wind. I guess it depends on where you use your boat and what your needs are. If you want a "slow", lightweight kicker that you can mount on your dink, go for it. Great price!
Robbi
 
My thought is that it is plenty for a kicker--you will get hull speed. I have used an 8hp 20" shaft on a dinghy--it was OK--but if you are going to try to plane the boat, it will be a bit squirrelly, with the prop lower. Also it will be more difficult to get the lower unit to clear the bottom as you come to the shore--it will probably not be all of the way out of the water.
 
I have the exact same brand and hp motor you spoke of and it moves the boat at 5 mph and I too transfer it to my dinghy and it does well.

Had it two years now.

Jeff
 
Thanks for the feedback -- I appreciate all of the experience. I'm gonna move on to step two and borrow the engine to see how it pushes the boat. Seems like it will be a good fit -- and save some $$.

Matt
 
Be sure to check your local area for service folks. We have an 8hp Nissan, which is somehow related to Tohatsu...and there are darn few places here to have one worked on. We found a local gent who did some work for us. Just food for thought.

The 8hp is a great kicker.

Rick
 
416rigby":3257qcbc said:
Be sure to check your local area for service folks. We have an 8hp Nissan, which is somehow related to Tohatsu...and there are darn few places here to have one worked on. We found a local gent who did some work for us. Just food for thought.

The 8hp is a great kicker.

Rick
Click to expand...

Good point. We actually have several Nissan/Tohatsu dealers in So Cal. I've had good luck with Inflatable Boat Specialists in Ventura Harbor on price and service on the small outboards (I have an old 2.5 Nissan that they're keeping alive). In fact, I bought my new Yamaha 90 from them based on my experience with their service. The other Yamaha dealer in town (Pacific Marine Repair) couldn't be bothered to return my phone call after I told them I wanted to repower to the new 90. I suppose the economy is hitting some shops harder than others. That said, Pacific Marine does excellent work -- though pricey.

Matt
 
Good Evening, Folks. The Nissan and Tohatsu are the same motor. They are both made by Tohatsu and badged differently. (Think Chevrolet and GMC Trucks). I have a 6 hp Nissan on for my small boat. It runs great. :thup Just make sure that you change the impeller annually. :disgust
 
Tortuga":3g2jqaw5 said:
I'm thinking about buying a Tohatsu 6 hp as a kicker for my 22. It's a light engine -- admittedly with less power than may be optimal. But, I like the weight (55 pounds) and I like that I can use it on my dink as well.

Plus, a friend is selling it cheap (it's a 2006 and he wants $500). He got it for an inflatable kayak but (not surprisingly) it isn't working out -- too much flex.

It's a 20" so it would fit the boat well -- if a bit long for the dink.

Any thoughts? I've run a Ranger 26 sailboat all over the San Francisco Bay area on an old Evinrude 6 with no problem. The Ranger is heavier, though has less windage.

Anyone running a 6 hp as a kicker??

Matt
Click to expand...

Matt,

Yeah, I do. But it is an 6hp envinrude twin and it moves the boat at about 4-6 mph wide open. I don't have it to get back to the dock, just to troll for salmon and for that it is perfect. I also use it on my dink which works out really well I think. But, if that 6 hp 4 stroke that you are buying is single cylinder, you may want to rethink what you're getting. I sold my Honda 5 hp (after one season) and bought the old evinrude twin because the single cylinder honda was a horrible shaker. Also, the honda was not particularly easy to start up but that is not why I sold it. It was because the shaking was that bad. From what I have heard, almost all the single cylinders outboards are that way. However, with all that said, I am sure that you will find the motor to be of excellent quality as they have been around for a long time. I have a friend up here that has twin 50s on the back of his cd 22 made by them that are DI 2 stokes and they have been very reliable. I am impressed with their power. However, bak to the subject; these motors are everywhere. Heck, even Cabelas sells them.....

Tim
 
I find the Tohatsu to be pretty smooth for a single. As I recall, I was told that the Honda and especially the Johnson were real shakers. Most new twin 6 hp are much heavier, I think the Yamaha is over 80 pounds, which defeats your dual purpose. Not sure what the older Evinrude weighs, but I do know that it is a highly sought after outboard at my husband's duck club.
BTW, I believe that the Merc 6 hp is also the same engine as the Nissan-Tohatsu.

Robbi
 
H i Matt,

Did you buy the motor? If so - how is it working out?

Thanks,
Steve
 
I did buy the motor, and it seems to push the boat pretty well -- about 5 knots in a modest breeze. I don't yet know how it will push in current or heavy wind -- but I'm pretty confident the engine will perform as I need it to -- as a backup that will get me out of dangers way. It really seems to push well. At 50 pounds it seems like a reasonable compromise.

I'm going out to the Islands again tomorrow so if I see anything surprising re the motor I'll post.

Matt
 
I have been running a 20" inch Tohatsu 6 HP on my 16 cruiser for about a year. No problems so far, its been easy to start, easy on gas and it even got me home safely once when I lost my main. While I know this is not exactly the help you were looking for, I thought I would share my experiences with this motor anyway. Good Luck! :smile
 
How would a 5 hp short shaft (15 in ) work on the cc-23 a little heavier then the c-22 .My concern is the short shaft I would put a garlick retractable eng bracket on the transom change the prop .
Boaters world has the tohatsu for $900 Just some c-brats thoughts
 
jennykatz":1xsepnuf said:
How would a 5 hp short shaft (15 in ) work on the cc-23 a little heavier then the c-22 .My concern is the short shaft I would put a garlick retractable eng bracket on the transom change the prop .
Boaters world has the tohatsu for $900 Just some c-brats thoughts
Click to expand...

I just bought one--- got it home and opened the box--- it is a long shaft. :x I wanted a short shaft to use on my inflatable. If you buy the short shaft and want to have a long shaft, let me know. I'll trade new for new. :lol:
 
I spent the day at Santa Cruz Island yesterday (Scorpion Cove) and I am just delighted my new motors. The main (a new Yamaha 90) did an outstanding job with seven aboard (I have a large bench in the cockpit). And, the Tohatsu 6 did an outstanding job both in trolling -- and on the dink.

I have the long shaft, and I was curious as to how it would handle on the inflatable. It not only surpassed expectations it blew me away. I have a West Marine Zodiac roll-up -- it is not really a planning boat since it doesn't have a hard bottom (just the slats that give some rigidity). But, when I throttled up and put my weight forward the boat instantly came on to a plane and zipped around the anchorage. It is a small boat and a relatively big motor, but it handled the weight really well. And when transporting people and gear it was smooth and reliable.

I can't imagine the boat handling any differently with a short shaft. You just have to be ready to tilt the engine when you get to shore and row the last few feet. I didn't have the nerve to race up the beach and pull my engine at the last second as some might. But, anything is possible I suppose.

I really like the 6 -- since the 5 is the same engine tuned slightly differently I can't imagine it would be any different. I'd buy it again.

Oh yeah... I almost dropped the motor in the water when lifting it back up from the dink. BE SURE TO TIE OFF BOTH BOW AND STERN! With my old motor (a Nissan 2.5 hp 2 stroke -- may 30 pounds) I would just lift the motor up and be done with it. The 6 hp weighs 55 pounds, so it takes more strength, and more time. Just as I was lifting the motor the stern of the dink began moving away from the boat -- so I was left leaning over the water with a 55 pound weight in my hands. Luckily, as my life (or at least my new motor's life) flashed before my eyes my friend (a big guy) was able to grab the motor and lift it onto the boat. I'll need to design a better alternative (or work out and build some muscle)...

Matt
 
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