Unboxing: Tohatsu 20 hp Outboard Motor (2023)

Unboxing a 2023 Tohatsu 20 hp MFS20E 15" ("short shaft") manual tilt, manual start outboard tiller motor. Tohatsu makes all of the Mercury outboard motors that are 30 hp and less. These motors are made in Japan, and come with a 5 year warranty! I did a lot of research of all the different manufacturers and finally decided to go with a Tohatsu, and I'm excited to try it out on the water.
If you have any questions about this motor, feel free to ask me in the comments section below.
Have a nice day!

[@anotherangleUK]

You'll not regret purchasing the Tohatsu 20. I have the same outboard with remotes and electric start. Absolutely cracking motor and very economic. Mine powers a 14 foot boat and gets 20 mph with my fishing gear aboard. Enjoy the new outboard and stay safe.

[@flyfishingtim]

@anotherangleUK Thanks! Great to hear you enjoy your Tohatsu 20 as well. I have found the same review as you have where it is super efficient and fast for my 14 foot boat. Happy boating!

[@capefear3297]

Thanks for producing the video. My 20hp Tohatsu is due to be delivered today. Will try it in the river by this afternoon.

[@flyfishingtim]

That’s great to hear! I’m jealous you will get to use your’s before I will haha. We still have a good few weeks until the ice melts on the lakes around here

[@capefear3297]

@@flyfishingtim Hey Tim.I finally tried my new engine a couple of days ago. Even at half throttle max during the first 10 hr. break in period, I'm very pleased with the performance of the Tohatsu 20. It pushes my 16/48 jon boat like a little bull. I think you'll find the same results. Regards, Cape Fear

[@flyfishingtim]

Hey Cape Fear, that is great to hear! I can’t wait to get this thing on the water. Thanks for the update! My jon boat is a 1440M, so it should fly 😅

[@محمدالاسدي-ع3ل]

كيف أحصل على واحدة من فضلك

[@ryanl2681]

Great choice! I have the 2022 model 20hp on my 14 foot skiff. Will get up to 22 mph full throttle on plane. Put about 14 hours on it and so far so good.

[@flyfishingtim]

Great to hear you are enjoying it as well! Thanks for watching

[@silviuflorescu6838]

Mercury 20 is made also with power tilt and trim. EPT is the model with short shaft.

[@flyfishingtim]

@@silviuflorescu6838 Good to know and thanks for watching!

[@largo6644]

It's a great engine. I have an 2013 model (carburated, not EFI) 20 HP 4 Stroke, and is very reliable and simply to mantain. Besides it's Japan made, not chinese as others low power engines. Greetengs from Patagonia, Argentina 🇦🇷

[@flyfishingtim]

Good to know your 2013 is still going strong! They appear to be well made, efficient engines. Thanks for watching 🙂

[@bradcooper8315]

got one with power start, love it

[@flyfishingtim]

Great to hear! I have had mine out just once so far, but what a great upgrade over the 9.9!

[@bradcranford2264]

I'm considering getting the same setup you have. How is it working for you so far?

[@flyfishingtim]

I managed to put about 12 hours on it this year, and I have been really happy with it. Starts on the second pull due to the fuel injection, purrs like a kitten, and barely uses any gas. I would say it is really comparable to Honda, which is what I had before this.

[@motobc2251]

Nice video, enjoyed the unboxing.

[@flyfishingtim]

Thank you! Glad you enjoyed it 😃

[@capefear3297]

Subscribed.

[@flyfishingtim]

Thanks! Much appreciated

[@ia6980]

Thanks for sharing! Is it very difficult to move it around and lift it? You ever regretted not getting electric and power tilt? I ordered that one, but with electric and power tilt, which is 20 lb heavier...at 116lb :/

[@flyfishingtim]

Thanks for watching! My old Honda 9.9 basically weighed the same as this motor, and had half the horsepower. I don’t regret it at all. For my application I don’t regret not getting the power tilt. The electric start might have been nice though! If I had my boat setup on the trailer all the time, then I would have got the power tilt though. That application has you permanently mount the motor on the boat, and I like to take the motor off sometimes to just use my electric motor in smaller lakes/ponds. Hope that helps!

[@callumfreebairn8082]

i did not know outboards came in a box🙂

[@flyfishingtim]

Haha neither did I! My very first shiny new outboard. I had always bought used prior to this one 🙂

[@bradcranford2264]

I'm considering getting this same engine but with electric start. How do you like it so far?

[@davidaguiar1387]

I've done some recent research in my current quest for a electric start 15-20 hp myself. and have had no less that 8 Tohatsu built motors ( Toatsu, Nissan, Mercury, Mariner,......) over the last 20years so know a bit about their quality.. They make good stuff including all the current small Merc's (which are identical in spec.). I currently have a 05' Tohatsu 15 but I now need electric start due to a shoulder issue. The 20 hp weighs as much as their 9.9 and 15 so its a no brainer to get the 20 for the few hundred more. I also found that the 20 can be had with electric power tilt for $150 more. Just ordered mine this week.

[@flyfishingtim]

I love it so far! Same weight as my Honda 9.9 outboard, but way more power and speed. Runs like a dream. If I had mine permanently mounted to my boat, I would have went with the electric start and power trim version for a few hundred dollars more for sure!

[@hankdeweever1880]

Will this have enough power to get me and you going across the lake?

[@flyfishingtim]

Haha definitely. We will have to test it out

[@chrisclemmons4631]

In all actuality you could have bought the 9.9 and put the 20 Ecu on it and had the same motor for about 1000 dollars less than what u paid for the 20. I bought the 9.9 sport thrust and did this and I’m under 3500 dollars and now have a 20 hp outboard

[@flyfishingtim]

I only paid $2900 CAD for the 20 hp 😎

[@ia6980]

But weight is the same, so its not worth hassle if you can afford it

[@dodgedakotacrazy1]

Does the fuel tank come with the outboard or is that an extra charge? Thanks.

[@flyfishingtim]

Yes, the fuel tank was included with the outboard

[@peoplemeater]

How much did that set you back? Seriously thinking of getting one, im from red deer area.

[@flyfishingtim]

www.freespiritmarine.com/inventory/2023-tohatsu-mfs20es-15-edmonton-ab-t6e-0k9-11543321i

[@Bald-eagle-tribe]

After watching your video, I found a problem! Your new motor is different from the one I bought last month in canada, my motor is MFS 20 EEFS, and the last series number is BC, which means it was manufactured in 2023. but the TOHATSO sticker and sticker positions are very different! Why? This is really confusing! Are some of them counterfeit goods?

[@flyfishingtim]

I’m not too sure, but maybe they changed the looks by the end of the model year? Mine was from early 2023. That’s all I could think of. I haven’t heard of knockoffs of these outboards, but never say never I suppose.

[@claytonmelchor9403]

Who did you order it through?

[@flyfishingtim]

I bought it from a local boat shop called Free Spirit Marine in Edmonton. Not sure where you are located, but they were great to deal with!

[@stevewilson3139]

Sukiyaki is made n Thiland

[@flyfishingtim]

I’m assuming you meant Suzuki?

[@stevewilson3139]

Smart boy

[@kirkwilliams2127]

Tohatsu now made in China

[@flyfishingtim]

I haven’t seen anything anywhere that suggests that?