Tohatsu 5HP | MFS5DL

This new Tohatsu MFS5DL packs a single-cylinder, 123cc four-stroke rated 5 hp onto a 20-inch shaft, running tiller steering and a manual pull start. On the scale it comes to 57 lbs, and a 3.1-gallon external fuel tank with its hose ships in the box.

What is new on this version

Tohatsu redesigned the top and bottom cowls on this motor with carrying handles front and back, making it easier to lift and move by hand than earlier versions of the same engine. The engine can also be set down in three different storage positions without oil spilling out, handy between trips when you want to stow it without draining the crankcase first. A 20-inch shaft like this one generally suits a taller transom than the short-shaft version of the same 5-hp block.

What comes with it

Beyond the propeller and the 3.1-gallon tank with its fuel hose, Tohatsu rounds the package out with the usual day-one items: a manual, a tool kit, and a lanyard cutoff switch. Full throttle sits in a 4500-5500 rpm range on this carbureted single-cylinder engine, and Tohatsu backs it with a 5-year warranty.

• Fuel tank: 3.1-gallon external
• Starter: manual
• Storage: 3 positions, no oil spillage

What storage positions does it support? Three, per the owner's manual guidelines. Is the fuel tank built in or external? External, with a hose included.