New Tohatsu 50 on the Old 16 Angler

MikeR

After picking up our repowered Angler from Les yesterday, the break-in process began today with a 70 mile cruise through the San Juans. Launched in Fairhaven just before 1000 in light fog, which only got thicker as I continued up through Hale Pass, hoping to get to Sucia. So after passing Pt. Migley at the North tip of Lummi I changed course and headed Southwest to Orcas where it finally began clearing up around Pt. Lawrence, then finally blue sky as I broke through Peavine Pass and landed at Blakely. Blakely was out of gasoline and the store was closed, so I continued on to Friday Harbor, where it was warm and sunny. Topped off the tanks, picked up some food in town, ate lunch on the way back. By the time I got back to Peavine Pass, the fog was scary thick so had to take it slow again. Finally returned to Fairhaven around 1700 after crossing a calm but completely socked in Bellingham Bay (unusual for this late in the day!).

All and all an excellent first outing with the new Tohatsu 50 4-stroke. They accidentally sent the wrong prop (15"), so top RPM was around 5300 at 31 mph (not sure which direction the current was going, so that might be +/- a few mph actual speed). Les has a 13" on-order which I'll swap out to get higher WOT rpms. With the current prop, 3400 rpm is a very nice cruising speed.

Blakely fuel dock:

Watching a ferry arrive while fueling up at Friday Harbor:

At the visitor dock at Friday Harbor:

Brief blast of WOT:

Cruising speed, ~3400 rpm. Orcas in the background, heading home (East) towards Lummi:

Captains Cat · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 5:32 am Post subject:

Great break-in Mike! And nice pictures... currently working here on a Les fitted 22 that he did in 2005, he does a great job!

Charlie

potter water · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 10:45 am Post subject:

I've owned several Tohatsu's and have nothing but good to say about them. Looks like a perfect match for your 16. Good luck.

srbaum · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:08 pm Post subject:

MikeR,
All Tohatsu 4 strokes that are bigger than 35 HP are Honda's. Tohatsu sells their small 4 strokes to Mercury and Evinrude, also they also rebadge them as Nissan.

rogerbum · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:19 pm Post subject:

srbaum · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 1:56 pm Post subject:

Roger,
I stand corrected... Honda's are rebadged 60 hp and above... Tohatsu
Just started selling this new 50 .

MikeR · Posted: Mon Sep 29, 2014 3:39 pm Post subject:

Yes, this is a new Tohatsu model, I would have loved to get the Honda-based 60 hp, but obviously that's more than the rating sticker allows for the 16. It was almost impossible finding any first-hand reports of this new 40/50 model which is one reason I wanted to get this out there for anyone else considering this option. There's lots of positive reviews of Tohatsu products, so that helped make the decision (along w/ the big price difference and the reality this is the only option w/ EQ now).

Wefings · Posted: Tue Sep 30, 2014 3:48 pm Post subject:

We have hung a few of the new Tohatsu built 40/50 4 strokes . We like em , good power , sort of "Jetsons" looking cowling !
Tohatsu is a really good company .
Marc