Tohatsu 50HP | MFS50AWETL

Fifty horsepower, a 20-inch shaft, and the flexibility of tiller or remote-mechanical steering describe this new Tohatsu MFS50AWETL, built around a three-cylinder four-stroke that displaces 866cc through EFI. Electric start is standard, and the motor comes in at 214 lbs, 225 lbs with the tiller handle attached.

What makes this 50-hp tick

The gear case runs a lower ratio that pushes torque toward the low end of the rpm band, right where a loaded boat needs it most to get up on plane. Idle is tunable between 650 and 950 rpm, useful for trolling or for holding steady without constant throttle input, which saves fuel over a long day compared with riding the throttle by hand. Boats with taller transoms are the usual match for the 20-inch leg fitted here, as opposed to the short-shaft version of the same engine.

Durability and running range

A stainless steel water pump housing liner is built for the long haul, and the engine carries a 5000-6000 rpm full-throttle range. Electronic fuel injection keeps fuel delivery consistent whether idling along a shoreline or running at speed out on open water, and three cylinders keep the ride smoother than a comparable twin.

• Shaft: 20-inch
• Build weight: 214 lbs, 225 with tiller
• Idle: 650-950 rpm

What steering does it support? Tiller or remote-mechanical steering. Is idle speed adjustable? Yes, from 650 to 950 rpm.