Tohatsu 40HP | MFS40AETL

Forty horsepower, three cylinders, 866cc of EFI-fed displacement: that is the core of this new Tohatsu MFS40AETL, carried on a 20-inch shaft with electric start and the choice of tiller or remote-mechanical steering. It weighs 209 lbs, or 220 lbs once the tiller handle is on.

Where the output comes from

Electronic fuel injection working with digital CD ignition is what gives this 40-hp its throttle response and fuel economy, rather than relying on displacement alone to make power. A high-output 21-amp alternator keeps a battery charged for lights and electronics, and Tohatsu designed the gear case here to hold weight down against other 40-hp four-strokes on the market.

Handling and routine care

An adjustable steering friction setting and a built-in trim tab cut down on the effort it takes to hold a heading, which matters most at speed or in a crosswind. A freshwater flushing system is built into the lower cowling, turning the post-trip rinse that keeps the cooling passages clear into a quick step rather than a full teardown. Tohatsu also packs in power trim and tilt, the charging hardware, a stop-switch lanyard, a small tool kit, and the owner's manual, so day-one setup needs nothing extra.

• Weight: 209 lbs (220 lbs with tiller)
• Model: MFS40AETL
• Shaft length: 20 inches

What is included? Power trim and tilt, the charging system, tools, a lanyard and the manual, alongside the freshwater flush fitting described above. What is the full-throttle range? 5000 to 6000 rpm.