2018 tohatsu 9.8 Hp MFS9.8BEFS Outboard Motor

Short-shaft buyers get the 2018 Tohatsu 9.8 HP MFS9.8BEFS: a 15-inch shaft, tiller steering, and electric start on a motor Tohatsu rates near 88 lbs, making it one of the lighter four-strokes in its displacement class. It is built for jon boats and small skiffs where a long shaft would drag, and it doubles as dependable auxiliary power on a sailboat.

Why the shorter shaft matters

Shaft length decides how the propeller sits relative to the hull, and this short version is meant for lower-transom boats. Measure your own transom height before ordering, since the wrong shaft length causes cavitation or lets the prop ride too high in the water. A single carburetor feeds this water-cooled engine, and the forward, neutral and reverse shift sits up near the cowl.

What ships with it

The package includes an external fuel tank, a quick-connect fuel line, a three-blade aluminum propeller, an owner's manual, and a service tool kit. A factory warranty from Tohatsu runs 5 years. The fuel tank itself is rated at 3.1 gallons on both the spec sheet and the parts list, so plan fuel stops around that capacity rather than a rounder figure you might see elsewhere.

Who is this shaft length for? Boats with a lower transom, including many jon boats and small skiffs.

Is electric start the only option? No, a manual pull-start backup is retained as well.

Specifications