Looking to buy a new small boat/outboard combo before spring and was wondering what you all felt about the smaller Tohatsu outboards. I read elsewhere on the web that the smaller Merc's are made by Tohatsu...is that correct. If so, the Tohatsu motors can be had at a considerable savings over a Mercury. Probably looking to buy something in the 9.9 to 15 hp range....boat will probably be a 1448 jon in a MV form. Do you think I'd be alright with a 9.9hp 4 stroke on a welded 1448MV or should I look at something bigger. Thanks

Personally I would go with the Mercury. I can't find anything that supports the claim the Tohatsu builds Mercury's small motors. They may purchase the powerheads from Tohatsu (as they did from Yamaha for a while) but the motors are built and backed by Mercury. As far as size what is your boat rated for and what will you be using it for will help you determine the size of motor.

I read here at this FAQ http://www.onlineoutboards.com/m_help.html#p_2 that some of the smaller merc's are made by tohatsu along with all the nissan. The specs look the same to me between the 9.9hp motors...? Looks like most of the welded 1448MV jons call for a max of 25hp. All out speed is not important to me as much as reliablity and ease of operation....but I would like the sucker to at least plain out

I think what would be most at issue would be in warranty service should the need arise.  Just how many Tohatsu repair stations are there out there anyway?

If your lakes you fish are not Hp limited to 10HP and you can run a 25Hp I would get the bigger motor. A 9.9 Will push it good, but if you can use a 25 and its in your price range get it.

As for the difference and who is better. Up here is Pa. Merc is king, but there are a lot of Tohatsu's running around. Most of the State Park Lakes were 10HP limited lake. Alot of guys  would run 18HP 2 stroke Tohatsu's with 9.9 stickers. They are fast on a small 14 foot boat. Well the state changed to 20Hp limit and everybody is now runs 25HP Mercs with 20 stickers

i would look into how easy it would be to get the motors serviced. Mercs can be worked on almost anywhere. How many places can work on a Tohatsu by you? That is something to think about. i know from experience. One of my boats has a Suzuki outboard and for years there wasn't anybody close to me that would even look at one. Nearest place was a 3 hour drive. That went on for 10 years haveing to drive 3 hrs. to get the motor worked on. I am lucky I have a shop( A Merc shop) right next to my camp that will work on it now. I still have to get them Parts(From Jersey) I live by Pittsburgh) The only reason they will work on it is they are friends of mine, or it would be a 3 hr drive again. So look into how easy it is to get fixed.

I would go with the Merc. Don't get me wrong the Tohatsu is a great motor. I just know nomatter where I go in this great county to fish if my merc gets broken, there is a shop near by that can fix it.

I would agree with the previous post, Mercs are hard to beat and there is always someone around who can fix them. I am from PA as well and run my merc all year. My Merc is 18 years old and she starts on the first turn even in 33 degree water. Go for the Merc.

Price is a big concern as extra horses do add up quickly from what I'm finding out. A 2007 model 9.8HP Tohatsu can be shipped to my house for just over $1600.....a Merc,$2200? New 25HP motors look to going at $3000+ which sadly is getting out of my budget.....I still need a boat you know I may downgrade to something like a riveted 1440 jon in order to make a smaller motor work out :-/

I checked Tohatsu's webpage and I do have a service center within 10 miles from my location although their only listed as a service center...no new sales from what I understand. I've never delt with them before but they have been in business for at least 25 years.

Tohatsu's are VERY reliable and easy to work on, if you have a service center close by, I would prefer it over the Mercury four-stroke. They are GREAT little motors. I would prefer the biggest motor you can get, If you were looking at your best price to power ratio, the Tohatsu 18 HP would probably be your best best.

You may want to check with the BBB to see if there have been any complaints filed with that service place.  Perhaps a long shot but if there are, that may be the answer to your question -  Last thing you want is a motor with a cheap "buy in" if the service is then going to kill you-

Definately get the Mercury! I had a Nissan which are made by Tohatsu and had nothing but problems with it. It ran fine the fisrt year and a half I had it then I started having Carb problems. Granted some of them were my fault. But even after having the Carbs worked on I could not tell you how many times that motor left me stranded in the Intercoastal Waterway last year. It even broke down one day right in the middle of Carolina Beach inlet. I finally got rid of the thing this spring after what suspect was powerheads going bad.The motor was five years old,however it stayed in the shop more over the final two years I had than it did in the water. I upgraded to a four stroke Yamaha. If you could siwng the money I might would get a Yamaha over a Mercury. It's not that I do not like Mercury's, because I looked at buying a Mercury as well. I just like Yamaha's better. It didn't hurt that I found a brand new Yamaha 25 w/electric tilt and trim for $2995. It had no hours.on it. A local dealer sold a boat package and the customer did not want the motor. Dealer sold it to me for cost.

I owned a Tohatsu 40 hp 2-stroke for 5 years, never had to do anything but put gas in it and run.

A 9.9hp 4 stroke on a welded 1448MV will be greatly under powered