2017 Tohatsu 9.8 HP MFS9.8A3EFTL Outboard Motor

Power-operated tilt is not something every small outboard offers, but it comes standard on the 2017 Tohatsu MFS9.8A3EFTL, a 9.8 hp, two-cylinder, 209cc four-stroke on a 20-inch shaft with tiller steering and electric start. Weight for this unit is 104.7 lbs, and it carries a saltwater rating.

Tilt control from the tiller

Five trim positions, adjusted by a power-operated system rather than lifted by hand, make solo running easier on a boat where reaching back to lift the motor manually would be awkward.

Saltwater construction

Saltwater duty is handled by sacrificial anodes, a stainless pump housing and zinc protection inside the water passages, backed by the marine-grade block they sit on; electrically, a low-oil warning light pairs with digital CD ignition to flag trouble early. A forward-neutral-reverse shifter sits at the front of the motor, and the gear ratio runs 2.08:1 for solid low-end pull.

A 4-blade high-thrust propeller leads the included gear, backed by a 3.1-gallon fuel tank with its quick-connect line, the owner's manual and a tool kit.

Tohatsu's factory warranty on this engine runs 5 years.

Why a high-thrust propeller on a 9.8 hp motor? It trades some top speed for stronger pull at low rpm, which suits boats that need to push off a dock or hold position rather than run flat out.

Specifications