Kicker question

Hey guys.
I’ve only owned two outboards in my day.
95 Merc 50
84 Johnson seahorse 6

Both have been outstanding.

I’m losing the Johnson this year and have been looking at buying a used kicker locally.

Anyone feel great or hate 2004 Yamaha 4hp 4 stroke?

What are the thoughts on yammys from early/mid 2000s?

Thanks in advance

got an older T8 they are cold blooded but once they’re started your good to go I’d hate to know how many hours I got on mine bought it used. This motor is a four stroke with electric start and power tilt

I had a Yamaha 4hp 4stroke for several yrs. The only compliant I had was it vibrated a decent amount due to it being a single cylinder. It was noticeably different than a smooth twin cylinder. Other than that small consideration, I had no complaints and would buy another if I had the need.

Look at what your willing to spend on a 2004 Yamaha 4hp 4 stroke. Its 16yrs old.

Then look up a tohatsu.
You might find you can buy a brand new tohatsu for what you can buy a 16yr old used merc or yamaha.

I have a 2016 4hp tohatsu on the back of my boat.

Just another perspective.

My concern with a 4 HP would be the fact that the carburetor jets are tiny. The only trouble that I have ever had with my T-8 has been carburetor related. The jets on a 4 HP must be smaller than flea hair.

abster71 wrote:

got an older T8 they are cold blooded but once they’re started your good to go …

Cold blooded SOB, just waiting for the day that Yamaha puts out a 9.9 EFI kicker.

FishBlood&RiverMud wrote:

Look at what your willing to spend on a 2004 Yamaha 4hp 4 stroke. Its 16yrs old.
Then look up a tohatsu.
You might find you can buy a brand new tohatsu for what you can buy a 16yr old used merc or yamaha.

I have a 2016 4hp tohatsu on the back of my boat.

Just another perspective.

This. ^^^^

I know the Yammie boys are going to go crazy at this statement, but Yamaha isn’t the only company who can make a quality 4 stroke these days and Yamaha prices are just crazy, guys are willing to pay anything it seems.

Tohatsu is a quality make, they make outboards for other brands, they have a warranty and dealer/parts support, and they have much more reasonable prices. I’d buy one in a minute if I needed a small outboard.

Grouse

Mine runs like a top, 0 degrees and covered in ice all the way up to peak heat in the summer. Never seen a drop of ethanol though either.

I’d say the only major difference i see, and I know it isn’t worth the $1-2k difference in price (for me), but the tohatsu won’t hold RPM as good as the higher dollar ones.

So if you’re an absolute avid walleye troller – you might find the tohatsu lacking in holding steady RPM and at any RPM.
But, it does everything i need it to, just got to adjust throttle on occasion.

At only 50# it is fairly forgiving on weighing down one side of the boat too.
I recall having a brand new 4hp shipped to my door for under $1100.

RE: RPM issue –

Without a pro-troll (if that’s the correct name?) throttle controller, my yammys wouldn’t hold a smooth RPM either. The throttle controller solved that issue in an instant.

I am sure a tohatsu could be outfitted with one as well – if not a direct bolt on design, maybe with a little bit of finn-geneering……

I’m a huge Suzuki fan. You can get EFI without a battery on their motors. That is if you don’t want the electric start.