Comparative test of 30 hp outboard motors.

Description

Тhatsu 18 appeared on the market relatively recently, but has already become a bestseller. The extremely powerful and economical two-stroke unit immediately won leadership in its segment. The model can be installed in almost any boat with a power limit of 20 hp. (domestic versions - “Progress”, “Kazanka”). The durability, reliability and efficiency of the Tohatsu 18 guarantee a successful holiday on the water with many colorful and vivid impressions. This engine is universal, so it can be used for various purposes. Thanks to its compactness, the Tohatsu 18 is convenient for use on small boats.

The Tohatsu 18 outboard motor has many advantages. The model is equipped with a liquid cooling system that prevents it from overheating. Thanks to the economical consumption of fuel, you can stay on the water with this unit much longer. You will also be pleased with the reliability of the motor elements, which are ready to work in extreme conditions for a long time.

The improved maneuverability of the Tohatsu 18 motor will help when driving in narrow bodies of water. The engine is fast, which makes it possible to use boats with it in various competitions. In addition, the model meets advanced environmental standards and causes minimal damage to the environment.

The manufacturer treats most of the elements and the body of the Tohatsu 18 product with a special anti-corrosion coating, which protects the motor from aggressive influences, so corrosion occurs extremely rarely on it. The engine itself has a low noise level, providing maximum operating comfort.

The standard equipment of the Tohatsu 18 engine includes:

• repair kit;
• propeller screw;
• hose;
• fuel tank;
• instructions.

The Tohatsu 18 unit has repeatedly set sales records on the domestic market in the segment of two-stroke outboard engines with a power of up to 20 “horses,” which indicates the high quality of the model and its high consumer properties.

Test of 30 hp boat motors

The test involved outboard motors from Evinrude, Honda, Mercury, Tohatsu and Yamaha, which can most likely be classified as “comfort” due to their extended leg, electric start, remote control and trim system. They will look great on a four-meter boat or boat with hard seats and steering.

As standard, they are equipped with a gas regulator, a gear selector, a trim system that allows you to raise or lower the motor with one press of a button (Changing the tilt angle of a boat motor), a Quick Stop system to instantly stop the motor, and a 25-liter fuel tank. with level indicator, aluminum propeller, tool kit and instruction manual, which is very well laid out and has many illustrations. In addition, all engines are equipped with a warning alarm that can inform you of low oil level or engine overheating through sounds or light indicators on the cover. This system will also automatically reduce speed when overheating. The manufacturer also included a tachometer with a trim indicator as standard for the Evinrude engine.

For a long time now, on thirty-horsepower outboard engines, fuel is not supplied with air into the combustion chamber, but is injected using electronic injectors. In the future, we will see widespread use of the EFI electronic injection system, which should reduce fuel consumption and harmful emissions into the atmosphere, ensure ease of operation of engines and increase safety. Of our test family, only the Honda BF30 lags behind the locomotive and adheres to conservative views.

If you decide to buy a boat motor and the main thing in this matter is the price, then the Tohatsu MF30B is the first in line for you. The Mercury F30 is really not much different from its brother Tohatsu. Apparently, both of them are assembled on the same conveyor and they differ, by and large, only in the varnish coating and the type of casing. Both of these engines are three-cylinder 526 cc engines. volume equipped with electronic fuel injection.

As for the displacement, it is ahead of all the Yamaha F30 with a volume of 747 cc. Since this is a slightly “strangled” F40, it took over all the good things from its more powerful brother. It has a different electronic control system and intake manifold. Both the F40 and F30 engines are SOHC engines with single camshaft, valves in the head, with an electronic fuel injection system and a unique electronic auto-stop system.

The most outstanding engine can be called the Evinrude E30 for its design features. This is a two-stroke outboard engine with an electronic fuel injection system. But what sets it apart from everyone else is E-TEC technology . Thanks to it, all Evinrude two-strokes are economical, clean, lightweight and quiet during operation. Electronic engine control with stratified combustion, special spark plugs and injectors ensure an optimal, economical supply of oil directly to the crankshaft and pistons. Only the required amount of oil is added to the fuel at the required time. Evinrude outboard motors with E-TEC technology also require virtually no maintenance. For the first three years or 300 hours they require no maintenance at all. The engine prepares itself for winter storage. To activate the conservation mode, simply turn the ignition key to a certain position. E-TEC engines do not require valve clearance monitoring; there is no need to change oil and oil filters at strictly defined intervals of time or mileage. But here it should be noted that the maintenance of all four-stroke engines does not require any serious labor or financial costs. In all tested models, electronic fuel injection control ensures that the exact amount of gasoline is burned at the right time.

The only problem with all engines is that the injection parts are too sensitive to dirt, dust and water. Standard fuel filters that are installed at the factory are more of an alibi than real protection. Therefore, pre-filters should be installed on the boat before installation. Protection against galvanic corrosion is well implemented. Large anodes are well and practically placed.

The test boat used was a Zodiac Futura Mark I I , 4.1 meters long, whose weight without a motor does not exceed 100 kg. The boat is very comfortable, there is a control stand and a comfortable pilot's seat.

Speed ​​characteristics of motors.

In terms of operating comfort, of course, four-stroke engines surpassed everyone. They start perfectly and confidently even when cold, after a few crankshaft revolutions, the frequency immediately stabilizes. When hot, they are sensitive to throttle movement. No vibration or smoke was noticed.

The two-strokes performed well as expected in acceleration from about to 35 km/h. Only Yamaha among the four-stroke bikes did not lose face and looked great in this test. The Mercury and Tohatsu engines accelerated the worst.

The large diameter of the propeller of the Mercury engine did not give it any advantage. Its structural twin brother, the Tohatsu engine, turned out to be both faster and more economical.

The Evinrude two-stroke engine, as expected, took the lead with a speed of 45.8 km/h, ahead of both Honda and Tohatsu. Unexpectedly lost to Yamaha. It turns out that large volume does not always give high speed.

The most economical engines were Honda and Evinrude. The carburetor engine and two-stroke outperformed engines with an electronic injection system. Suddenly. The most voracious engines were Yamaha and Mercury.

Reviews

Dmitry from Astrakhan purchased a Tohatsu 18 outboard motor in 2009. The engine was run in independently according to all the rules provided for in the instructions. I used the unit on a PVC boat of the Cayman 360 model. The couple turned out to be almost perfect. In terms of reliability, dynamics and efficiency, the Tohatsu 18 simply has no equal. I once forgot to add boat oil to the fuel mixture. As a result, the motor failed. The engine ran in the heat and without a drop of oil. Periodically it would shut down due to the overheating sensor tripping. The consequences could have been worse, but by evening the cause of the problem was determined. After adding mass to the gas tank, the unit started working perfectly again and did not experience any further difficulties. At the same time, no extraneous noise appeared, and the thrust remained the same.

Due to an oversight, diesel was filled into the Tohatsu 18 tank. However, this did not affect the operation of the motor. He “ate” the fuel mixture and worked until it was completely consumed. During 6 years of operation, practically nothing was replaced on the engine except consumables.

Owner reviews

• Nikolay, Smolensk. The engine was purchased in March 2017 specifically for fishing and hunting. In addition, the motor has proven itself to be an excellent vehicle for adventures and boat trips, although I rarely enjoy going for walks, since there is a lot of work to do. The Tohatsu M 30 HS produces an acceptable 30 horses, accelerates to 30-40 km/h, and consumes no more than 10 liters per hour under increased load. The engine has a tiller control system, electronic ignition and a liquid cooling system. Everything works great, as befits high-quality equipment from Japan. And I was also pleased that the engine was assembled in Japan, and not somewhere in a third country. The unit turned out to be quite noisy, but I cannot call this a serious disadvantage. It is reliable and unpretentious, you can service it yourself, although I only change the oil and fuel. I liked the motor and recommend it to everyone.
• Leonid, Saratov. A good motor for all occasions. The unit turned out to be very practical - light and compact, there were no problems with its installation. Fuel consumption is no more than 12 liters per hour. And besides, you can fill in 92nd grade fuel, and the type of transmission oil is only TCW-3. We fish with my father, the motor pulls two large people with a small load well.
• Igor, Zhytomyr region. The Tohatsu M 30 S engine turned out to be so light that I was able to install it on the boat transom myself. There were no surprises. The unit was purchased for 150 thousand rubles in May 2021. More than six months have already passed, and during this time not a single breakdown has occurred. I noticed other shortcomings - for example, Tokast sometimes refuses to start in cold weather, or in case of overheating (after driving at maximum speed). The problem goes away on its own after the engine cools down or cools down. Apparently, the defect lies in the cooling system. I didn't expect her to start acting up so quickly.

Fuel consumption Tohatsu 18

• Loop blowing ensures smooth engine operation and low fuel consumption

• Digital ignition system (CD) ensures quick start
Basics of convenience and comfort
• Propeller exhaust ensures quiet operation

• The thermostat stabilizes the engine temperature during operation

• Stainless steel water pump improves reliability

• Aluminum alloy guarantees long-term operation of the motor without corrosion

• Zinc coating provides good protection even in seawater
Warnings and protection
• Engine stop safety lanyard

• Start protection when the transmission is on

Retail price (excluding delivery)

From ₽ 113,500

Tohatsu Corp. reserves the right to change the specification at any time and without any obligation.

Tohatsu Corp. reserves the right to change the specification at any time and without any obligation.

Outboard motor Tohatsu M 18 E2 S characteristics and reviews from owners

The Tohatsu M 18 E2 S is a versatile outboard motor that is one of the best-selling Tohatsu models on the world market.
This model is in high demand in Russia and the CIS countries, largely due to its high performance characteristics and proven technical solutions. This unit demonstrates a sufficient level of performance, which is enough for most everyday tasks. Thanks to this, the Tohatsu M 18 E2 S model is in demand not only among ordinary users, but also among professional boaters. The model under consideration is one of the best options in the class. The engine power is 18 horsepower, we also note a large reserve of torque and a long power reserve, which once again indicates adaptation to long routes. The Tohatsu M18 E2 S two-stroke engine is reliably protected from corrosion thanks to the fact that it is made of high-strength steel panels, and a zinc coating is used to protect the cooling system. The average price for a two-stroke outboard motor Tohatsu M 18 E2 S is 108 thousand rubles.