Hello from Alaska, need Tohatsu 9.8 tips and advice please

[AK.xplorer]

As titled, Hello from Alaska
I'm the new and proud owner of a 2007 9.8 Tohatsu short shaft outboard. I run freight canoes up here in Alaska. We run hull coatings, tiller extensions (so you can navigate while standing up), prop and skeg protectors, custom adjustable lift transoms, and other mods to help run the shallow rivers of alaska. we freighter canoeists run more horsepower than what the manufacturers recommend. Fast current, heavy loads, and pushing a boat across shallow spots all require this extra horsepower. When you are running up 20 mph. current and there is a blowdown around the bend....this extra power will get you out of the the hazard quicker too. We go where the jet-driven boats go. last year I shot a moose on the Tyone River. It was a total of 67 miles and was very remote. The suzuki dt6 did great hauling that moose. My new 9.8 will go on the other freighter and since it is a little more powerful I'll load that freighter with more weight (the cabin tent, or an extra caribou if need be.). The next trip that I go on will put me 300 river miles starting in the Yukon River, then up the Porcupine River, and finally....up the Sheenjek river. This trip is going to be very remote and I have to have some help determining the motors gallons per hour @ WOT, and spare parts that I should bring for this specific motor. Also.....the guy I bought it from said the motor shifted in a bush plane trip and was fouled out with oil. He said he "fixed it" could this have possibly damaged the motor? Darn four-strokes....I'm trying to force myself to like them.....at least this is the lightest one out there! We feighter guys like rubber hub protected props because they will still get you out of trouble when damaged, unlike a shear pin that gives you zero control when damaged.....big plus for the Tohatsu! Also.....what prop should I be running for top speed? an 8.5 pitch? Would the 8.5 pitch still carry a load well without loosing rpm's off the topend? I'll prob run an 8.5 the whole way but buy a 7.5 pitch just as a spare. Any advice and tips are welcomed. Thanks.

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Hello from Alaska, need Tohatsu 9.8 tips and advice please

Like all outboards you burn about one gallon of fuel per hour for each 10 hp at WOT. Prop selection is done by trial and error, but the 8.5 is as high as I would ever even suggest to try.

 

[pvanv]

Re: Hello from Alaska, need Tohatsu 9.8 tips and advice please

My 9.8's can use up to 1 GPH at WOT, as Elvin noted.

A prop selector chart is at http://www.tohatsu.com/accessories/prop.html

Prop selection will always be trial and error. High speed is diametrically the inverse of hole-shot thrust. On 4,000-pound sailboats, we use the Tohatsu/Solas High Thrust 4-blade props. Superb low-speed thrust and maneuvering, but these configurations don't go over 10 knots. Probably not the best for your application. Start around 8 pitch, and test. You may well want less pitch for heavier loads.

The 8/9.8 can only be laid down on one side, SHIFTER SIDE UP -- TILLER SIDE DOWN, or the crankcase oil will leak into the cylinders. This will cause liquid lock, and a host of related problems. To clear oil from the cylinders, have the motor upright, remove both plugs, and cycle the motor over to expel the oil. Of course, refill the crankcase. Then reinstall the plugs and start. Let it smoke until the oil is gone. Do not ever overfill the crankcase, not even a drop. It holds 0.8 quarts.

There's a parts catalog on Elvin's website http://www.internetoutboards.com/PartsCatalogMenu.htm

and an owner's manual at Tohatsu's website http://www.tohatsu.com/tech_info/own_man_pdfs/Toh_MFS8A3_98A3.pdf

These are great, light, strong motors. Enjoy.

 

[Expidia]

Re: Hello from Alaska, need Tohatsu 9.8 tips and advice please

I'd always have two props. One for a spare, since it sounds like banging a prop up every now and then is inevitable where you are boating.

So since it's good to have two, I'd have 1 prop pitched for heavy loads and the other pitched for top end speed.

Elvin has a link to a carb kit to get you some more HP's from that 9.8, I think.

 

[AK.xplorer]

Re: Hello from Alaska, need Tohatsu 9.8 tips and advice please

Took the family to hidden lake (kenai penisula/kenia nat. wildlife refuge) for some fishing, hiking and boating. The motor was so amazingly quiet! with the prop and skeg protector it seemed to plane out better too. I actually had to pull a guy in a sixteen foot v-hull boat with a brand new 30 horse honda back the the boat launch that was six miles away. I was doing 8.5 mph. according to the gps. what a great motor!