Northwest Fishing Reports

Hello
I have a 5 horse Johnson and a 7.7 Honda. The Honda is long shaft about 25 yrs old and the Johnson 2 stroke is early fifty's.
I was looking at the tahatsu 6 horse or the 9.8 that weights around 20 pounds more. I use the 14ft boast they rent at resorts. I like the 9.8 but am concerned it will go slow enough at idle for trolling. If I go with the smaller engine it will be lighter and likely slower but it will take me longer to get up lake. Please tell me what you guys would suggest.
Thanks
Rod

you may be able to enjoy the best of both worlds if you put a trolling plate on the back of the 9.8.

With a smaller motor you might complain the boat doesn't go fast enough at full throttle.

The final drive and prop size determine how slow the motor will push the boat. The final drive on the Tohatsu 6hp is 2.15 and the final drive on the 8 and 9.8hp is 2.08. The 6hp swings a 7.7" x 8p prop and the non-high thrust models of the 8hp & 9.8 swing an 8.5" x 8p. For slow trolling at or near idle, there will be very little difference between these 3 outboards, but the 6hp would troll slowest in dead calm water and no wind. The 8hp and 9.8hp weigh the same, and IMHO, the extra 1.8hp isn't worth an additional $200 in purchase price.

Tohatsu manufactures these outboards for Mercury and I've owned the 6hp and currently own the 8hp, both good outboards, but I disliked the single cylinder thump of the 6hp and for that reason only would never own another. My $.02.

Thanks for the replies. My only concern is im 61 and will an 80lb motor get to heavy as I age. Does not feel that heavy now.

Manual start short shaft Tohatsu 6hp is 57lbs and long shaft is 59lbs. The 8hp short shaft is 82lbs and the long shaft is 84lbs. I'm same age as you and would prefer not to hand carry an 80lb+ outboard. If the rental places have motor carts, or you have a helper, no problem.

hewesfisher wrote:Manual start short shaft Tohatsu 6hp is 57lbs and long shaft is 59lbs. The 8hp short shaft is 82lbs and the long shaft is 84lbs. I'm same age as you and would prefer not to hand carry an 80lb+ outboard. If the rental places have motor carts, or you have a helper, no problem.

Yeah, that lifting outboards thing is no good, and trying to carry one is way worse. You will need a cart, well worth any money you have to spend for them. Buy a cart or modify a hand truck.

I do have a cart but have only used it to store the motor. I think dealing with the extra weight would be worth a little more power. Im also thinking I could keep using the long shaft 7.5 Honda but it is a hassle with the prop so low since im using it on aluminum row boats.Its about the same weight as the 9.8 im concidering.