2017 Tohatsu 8 HP MFS8BEFL Outboard Motor

The 2017 run of Tohatsu's MFS8BEFL carries the same bones as the following year's build. Two cylinders, 209cc, 8 hp, rope-or-electric start: those figures stay consistent across both model years. Tiller steering is paired with a 20-inch shaft; on the scale this carbureted unit comes to 90.4 lbs, and Tohatsu rates it for saltwater duty.

Why keeping the pull-start matters

Electric start handles routine mornings on the water, and the retained manual pull-start is there if the 12V, 80W, 6A alternator or the battery ever lets the operator down, a backup worth having on a boat that is not always near shore power.

Corrosion resistance built into the block

Zinc coating over the internal water passages, sacrificial zinc anodes, and a water-pump housing made of stainless steel work together with the marine-alloy block, while a digital CD ignition and an automatic over-rev limiter protect the engine under hard use. The gear shift lever is mounted at the front of the motor for easy access.

Tucked into the carton: an aluminum propeller, the owner's manual, a tool kit, and the fuel system — a 3.1 gallon tank joined to its quick-connect line.

This model carries Tohatsu's 5 year factory warranty, and trim and tilt are adjusted by hand at the motor rather than through a powered switch.

Does the pull-start still work if the battery is removed? Yes, the manual starter is fully independent of the electrical side, so the motor can be started by cord with no battery connected at all.

Specifications