Hello, I'm looking to buy a tender and the tender will take a 30 hp outboard engine (it's got a console). It's between the Honda or Tohatsu: Tohatsu MFS30: 30 hp EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) 4-stroke, battery-less EFI s 3 cyl VS. Honda BF30: 30 hp 4-Stroke SOHC 3 Cylinder - 2 Valves/ Cyl. 3 Carburetors One dealer said not to get the Honda as it's got carburetors and will cause me problem down the line (probably because he's not a Honda dealer?) Anyone have had experience or heard anything about the two? Thanks, Ron
Yamaha would be my first choice. EFI definitely over carberators. One boat I managed had a Tohatsu on it and it seemed to run good and is 3 years old now.
Is there a weight difference between the two motors? You really want the lighter one. Yes carbs do require maintenance so I would choose the efi if the weight is equal.
We have had the 30 Honda for 2 seasons with no trouble (50ish hours). I had considered Yamaha, Evinrude (Etec), Tohatsu and Mercury. Weight was my main concern when purchasing and the Honda. Compared against the others, it was roughly 20-30lbs lighter at 160 lbs. I believe the Tohatsu weighed around 190lbs. Max
Also, EFI runs a lot better than carbs. BUT the EFI fuel system can require expensive repairs also if they sit. The key to any tender is to use a good fuel stabilizer 100% of the time and to go through a tank of fuel with them at least every 3 months.
Both Honda and Tohatsu are good outboards. We have a 75 Honda on our tender and while i initially preferred Yamaha the Honda is just as good. I don’t think carbs are an issue. I ran a boat with a carb’d 50 Yamaha for almost 10 years, I had to clean the carbs once, by that time the engine was 12 or 13 years old..
I had a Honda 50 with carbs and it was quiet and very smooth and worked great until sold. Also had a 15 hp Tohatsu with carbs, but it was not as quiet or smooth as the Honda. Also the Tohatsu was a little hard to start where the Honda fired right up.
Thanks Capt J! That shouldn't be a problem with usage as I'm thinking I'll probably use the tender even more than the boat here in the ICW
Honda now own Tohatsu. Most new Toh's are just last gen Hondas, but built better and with less corrosion issues.
Thank you Fishtiqua. What do you mean by Honda now own Tohatsu? Is the last gen Hondas EFI like the Tohatsu are? Are the new generation Hondas better than the last gen Hondas?
Would you please link to your source for that statement as I have no knowledge of Honda buying Tohatsu and can't find any indication. What I am aware of is Honda building 8 larger models, 60 hp and above four strokes, for Tohatsu. But that's much different. Meanwhile Tohatsu continues to make smaller motors for many others.
