Tohatsu 30HP MFS30CL Outboard Motor

This used Tohatsu MFS30CL skips the electric starter in favor of a manual pull start, which keeps this three-cylinder 30-hp four-stroke lighter at 161 lbs than its electric-start siblings. It carries a 20-inch shaft and is set up for tiller operation, though the handle itself ships separately from this particular unit.

Why it weighs less

Dropping the battery and starter motor is the main difference between this engine and the electric-start version of the same 30-hp block, and that missing hardware is most of the weight savings. Tohatsu also reworked the charging system into a lighter, more compact unit, so the motor can still keep a separate battery topped off for lights or electronics even without its own electric starter.

Rigging it correctly

Plan on sourcing or reusing a tiller handle before you can steer directly from the motor, since remote-steered rigging would be a different setup entirely. A 20-inch shaft suits typical transom heights on boats this size, and the EFI-fed three-cylinder four-stroke carries a 5250-6250 rpm full-throttle range worth aiming for once the boat is loaded and up on plane.

• Displacement: 526cc
• Three cylinders, EFI induction
• Steering: tiller setup, handle not included

Does a steering handle come with it? No, budget separately for a tiller handle with this unit. Is this new or used? Used.