Tohatsu 20HP | MFS20EEFTL

Power tilt joins electric start on the Tohatsu MFS20EEFTL, a tiller-steered 20 hp EFI four-stroke on a 20-inch shaft, weighing 118 lbs. The extra weight compared with the non-tilt version comes from the tilt mechanism, which raises the motor at the dock without a manual lever to pull on each time.

Tiller steering with power tilt

Even with power tilt, throttle and steering stay at the engine on this tiller motor; the tilt switch only changes how you raise and lower it. A manual pull cord backs up electric start if the battery goes flat, and this 333cc EFI engine's throttle climbs as high as 6,100 rpm, bottoming out around 5,400.

What's included

Besides the propeller and the tilt hardware itself, the crate carries a 3.1-gallon tank plumbed with its own hose and the charging system wired in. What's left to unbox is a short spares kit, the cutoff cord, and the manual.

Q: Can I start it by hand if the battery is dead? Yes, the manual backup works alongside electric start, so a flat battery doesn't leave you stuck at the dock waiting on a charge.

Tohatsu's 5-year warranty covers the MFS20EEFTL. Give the tilt mechanism's electrical connections a periodic check for corrosion, particularly after running in saltwater, since that's the part most likely to need attention over time on this model.