New 9.9 4stroke Tohatsu vs Mariner

blootac · 17 November 2014, 10:18

I know a lot of people on here aren't fans of the portable 4 strokes but I've got my reasons!

I was happily set with getting a 9.8 Tohatsu but have now seen a Mariner 9.9 slightly cheaper (only £25 but still). Both are on extrememarine at £1649 (Toahtsu) and £1625 (Mariner).

A lot of people say Tohatsu and Mariner's are the same but the Mariner is an extra 2 KG so they obviously aren't exactly the same.

I'm after a recoil start, manual tilt with tiller.

So, which would you choose?
Ignoring the negligable price difference, the slightly lighter but 0.1 HP less Tohatsu or the Mariner?

Thoughts and opinions appreciated!

samt · 17 November 2014, 13:14

Mariner.

Better deal (larger discount) and higher resale value.

blootac · 18 November 2014, 08:34

Thanks samt

lightning · 21 November 2014, 19:27

Did you look at the Tohatsu 9.8 two stroke, still available new seemingly due to a loophole in the law?
It weighs 26kg, 10kg lighter than the four stroke. I have had mine for three seasons and it's been totally reliable.
It never stalls or complains, even when trolling along on the canal (where l was told it would "not be happy")
On the open water it will push my SIB to just under 20mph with two of us on board.

matt h · 21 November 2014, 20:10

Cool. Where.s the loophole?

beamishken · 21 November 2014, 22:10

Quote:

Originally Posted by matt h

Cool. Where.s the loophole?

I think but I could be wrong they are
Only for commercial use unless you buy from abroad & import yourself although I still think it's technically Illegal to import for private use

blootac · 21 November 2014, 22:24

New two strokes are only available for commercial or racing use. Which always seemed silly to me, surely the restrictions were put in place for emissions control and a commercial user is going to be using theirs significantly more than I would as a leisure user.
Or at least that's what I understood...

Fenlander · 22 November 2014, 00:33

I know some may not care about the law but if you do... the additional issue is that it's also illegal to sell one used with a serial number plate that gives the build date after the law came in unless it goes to a commercial user. So for warranty, insurance claim and secondary resale there are further hurdles to overcome.

Bombardc2 · 22 November 2014, 09:34

I bought a 5 year old mariner 9.9hp four stroke and ran it for 2 years, it never missed a beat, great little engine.

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