Tohatsu 25HP Jet | MFS25AJETETL

This is Tohatsu's jet-drive 25hp outboard, the MFS25AJETETL, which uses a 40hp powerhead to deliver 25hp at the jet pump, trading some efficiency for a lower unit with no propeller, better suited to shallow or debris-filled water. Displacement is 866cc across three cylinders, well above the engines used in Tohatsu's prop-driven 25hp line, because the jet pump needs the extra power to make up for lower propulsive efficiency.

Where a jet drive earns its keep

Jet drives suit skiffs and small boats run in rivers, flats or rocky shorelines where a spinning propeller would be at risk of damage; this is not the right choice for open water, where a prop-driven motor makes better use of the same horsepower.

Rigging parts to plan for

Rigging this one for remote steering still means buying a control box, a cable run, dash gauges, and a water/fuel separator on their own, along with a matching fuel tank and line; none of that rides along with the jet-drive powerhead.

What comes with the powerhead

Along with the jet lower unit and power trim and tilt, this engine includes the means to charge a battery, a modest set of tools and spares, a kill-switch lanyard, and the owner's manual.

At 234 lbs it is the heaviest 25hp Tohatsu in this lineup, reflecting the larger powerhead. Despite the larger powerhead, full throttle still lands at 5000 to 6000 rpm on EFI, with Tohatsu's 5-year warranty applying.

Common question

Why is the engine so much larger than other 25hp models? It uses a 40hp powerhead to produce 25hp through the jet pump, which needs more input power than a propeller does.