Tohatsu 20HP | MFS20EEPTL

Power tilt joins remote mechanical steering on the Tohatsu MFS20EEPTL, a 20 hp EFI four-stroke with a 20-inch shaft, electric start, and a weight of 116 lbs. Like the other remote-steer models in this range, it needs a boat already wired for a helm control head rather than a handle at the motor.

Remote steering and power tilt together

Nothing in the crate covers a sidemount remote or a fuel supply for this one; remote-steer hardware has to match your boat's existing cable run, so that piece and the fuel tank and line get bought to fit your rigging rather than bundled in. Power tilt raises and lowers the motor from a switch at the helm instead of a lever at the engine.

Engine and equipment

Propeller, steering arm, and power tilt hardware share the crate, with the charging system wired in too; off on their own ride a tool kit, the cutoff cord, and the manual. Full throttle on this 333cc, two-cylinder EFI engine runs up near 6,100 rpm, down near 5,400.

Q: Will this fit a boat already set up for a tiller motor? Not without changes; remote mechanical steering needs a control head and cables a tiller boat doesn't have.

Tohatsu's 5-year warranty covers the MFS20EEPTL. Between the remote cables and the tilt switch wiring, there's more to check during setup than on a plain tiller motor, so budget a little extra time for the initial rig.