Tohatsu motor question-remote/tiller

[Heartbeast]

I have a 25 horse tohatsu that is old and I am getting tired of fixing it. It is a remote that is on a stick steer carolina skiff. I have a couple of 4 strokes that I looked at today. Two questions:
1) How much power loss can I expect going to an 18 horse 4 stroke from my old 25 horse 2 stroke?
2)Can a tiller motor be used on my stick steer boat that is set up for a remote motor? How much trouble would it be to convert?
Thanks..

-Bob

 

[Sea Rider]

Re: Tohatsu motor question-remote/tiller

1-If swapping for same Tohatsu brand, a 18/4T same 351 CC as 15 & 20. The 25/2T has 430 CC, would 25-30% loss sound right ?

Happy Boating

 

[TOHATSU GURU]

Re: Tohatsu motor question-remote/tiller

Hole shot would be a loss and top end would be about 5 mph slower....With the same pitch props.

 

[pvanv]

Re: Tohatsu motor question-remote/tiller

Agreed with both those postings. The HP ratings of today are all at the prop, so HP is HP. There are torque curve differences between 2 and 4 strokes, but it's not a huge difference.

Converting a tiller model to remote is often not cost effective. In addition to electric starter kit (if wanted) and cables for the RC box, you need an SRC kit for your model.

However, just attaching stick-steer cable steering can usually be done to a tiller model fairly reasonably.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Tohatsu motor question-remote/tiller

My rule of thumb has always to go up when going from a 2 stroke to a 4. 4's have less torque and more weight so you (IME) need additional HP to compensate. If it were me, I'd be looking at a 30HP 4 stroke ( which is what I have) to replace a 25 two stroke. ( Assumign the boat will handle it.)
Can't help on the conversion thing other than to note that my new tohatsu came as a basic motor and I had my choice of tiller or controls. I'd be surprised if conversion for stick stear was an issue.

You might be ok with the 18 on a carolina skiff as it's so efficient. That said, You also need to consider the effect of the extra weight of a 4 stroke on trim if you go there. Especially if you go with a 30. FWIW, I'm running my 30 4 stroke (09 Nissan) on a 16'x6', 600# Mirrocraft outfitter and get mid-high 20's with the 30 and a 10 pitch prop.

 

[Heartbeast]

Re: Tohatsu motor question-remote/tiller

Thanks for all the replies. My 2 stroke tohatsu was shot. Place that works on my boat had a used 30 hp tohatsu 4 stroke that would work. Also has a tilt/trim included. Should be in place by the end of the week. Cant wait to use it. Looking forwards to quieter operation and hopefully some better gas mileage.

 

[Wee Hooker]

Re: Tohatsu motor question-remote/tiller

I've got the 30 4 stroke. Fairly quiet although heavy. ( You'll appreciate the PT&T) Does sip gas though. I can fish for 6-8 hrs on 1.5 gal.

Give us a report when your up an drunning!

 

[Heartbeast]

Re: Tohatsu motor question-remote/tiller

Picked up my boat today with the 30 4 stroke and had it in the water in about 30 minutes after. Felt great. So quiet and smooth. Never had tilt/trim before so had to get used to it. My boat is a stick steer and I couldnt understand why the boat wanted to steer off course. I trimmed it up a bit and it went straight as long as I wanted it to. Lesson learned! Spend about an hour running up and down the river but it started to get real choppy and that aint good for my skiff. Only downside is that I should have ran by the house first and got a fishing rod as there were small 2 inch menhaden everywhere and fish were busting all over them.