Tohatsu outboards are made by Tohatsu Corporation, a Japanese manufacturer headquartered in Tokyo that has built outboard motors since the 1950s, alongside fire pumps and other engines. Tohatsu designs and builds its own four-stroke outboards, and it has also built smaller outboards sold under other brand names, including some Mercury and Nissan Marine models. That history is why small Tohatsu, Mercury and Nissan outboards of the same era can look so similar.
Who makes Tohatsu outboard motors?
Tohatsu Corporation itself. In the US the company is widely known for small and mid-size portable outboards: light, simple four-strokes used on jon boats, inflatables, sailboats and as kicker motors. Its current four-stroke range is sold under the MFS model prefix.
Where are Tohatsu outboards made?
Tohatsu is a Japanese company, and its outboards are generally described as built in Japan. Check the label or documentation on a specific motor if the country of manufacture matters to you.
Are Tohatsu outboards any good?
Tohatsu has a long-standing reputation among small-boat owners for reliable, light and easy-to-service portable outboards, and the shared engineering with some Mercury and Nissan models means parts and service knowledge are widely available. As with any outboard, reliability depends heavily on maintenance: fresh fuel, flushing after salt water, gear oil changes and a water pump impeller replaced on schedule. See outboard motor maintenance and outboard water pump impeller.
Choosing a Tohatsu model
Tohatsu model codes describe the motor: the MFS prefix marks a four-stroke, the number is the horsepower, and the letters that follow describe options such as electric start, power tilt, remote or tiller control and shaft length. Match the shaft length to your transom and the control type to how you steer the boat, and never exceed the horsepower rating on the boat’s capacity plate.
Tohatsu vs Mercury vs Suzuki in small outboards
| Brand | Notes |
|---|---|
| Tohatsu | Japanese maker of its own outboards; light, simple portables; has built small motors for other brands |
| Mercury | US brand with a wide dealer network; some small models historically built by Tohatsu |
| Suzuki | Japanese maker of its own outboards across the power range |
For a small outboard, the right choice usually comes down to weight, shaft length, tiller or remote control, electric start and the dealer support near you. See 4-stroke vs 2-stroke outboards and the outboard shaft length guide.
Tohatsu outboards we carry
Our Tohatsu range covers the popular 9.8 and 9.9 HP class through to larger portables such as the Tohatsu 20 HP MFS20EWEFS at $3,770.00 and the Tohatsu 15 HP MFS15EEPTS remote bundle at $3,968.99. Compare them with Mercury and Suzuki models on our Tohatsu outboards, 9.9 HP outboards and kicker motor pages.
More guides: what size outboard do I need? · Tohatsu vs Mercury · Suzuki vs Mercury · Suzuki vs Tohatsu · Tohatsu 9.8 vs 9.9.
Shipping is a flat $80.00 per order to US addresses, with 15-day free returns. Questions? Ask a parts specialist.