Tohatsu 9.8HP | MFS9.8BL

The Tohatsu 9.8HP MFS9.8BL strips out electric start entirely, running a 20-inch shaft with a manual pull-start only, at roughly 84 lbs. For boaters who don't need push-button starting or the alternator that comes with it, this is the lighter, simpler way into the same 209 cc, two-cylinder platform used across this engine family.

What you give up and gain

Without electric start there's no charging system wired in from the factory, so plan separately if you want to run electronics off this motor. What you gain is a few pounds less on the stern and one less system to maintain over the life of the engine. Full throttle still runs 5,000 to 6,000 rpm on the same carbureted, two-cylinder design as the electric-start versions in this line.

Fit and included parts

The 20-inch shaft suits standard transom heights; check yours before ordering since this length isn't adjustable after the fact. What ships alongside the engine: the propeller, fuel tank and line rated at 3.1 gallons, a cutoff lanyard, a tool kit, and an owner's manual — no charging system, since there's no electric start here to support one. Tohatsu's warranty on this unit runs 5 years.

Can I add electric start later? Not described in this listing; treat this model as manual-start only.

What starts the engine? A manual pull cord.