Tohatsu SailPro First Impressions

[s2sailorlis]

Retired my M5B, circa 1995ush is my guess, for the SailPro ULS...

Some observations to anyone contemplating one...

I'm 5 hours into break-in. Had PDI done by local dealer. Running mix of ethanol and ethanol free for now.

1) Much, much quieter of course, more so at idle and under 3K rpm though. North of 3K it’s a bit loud.

2) Big handles are nice, but anyone using the Spartan motor mount beware. You can't easily tilt motor, requires some yoga moves to tilt clear of water.

3) The tilt sequence is a bit inconvenient. You have to throw the gear in forward first…then lift tilt arm to begin tilting the motor. Poor design choice…. But the forward mounted shifter is super convenient…

4) you’re unable to turn motor more than 100 degrees either direction. Makes on board maintenance tasks harder

5) has been running great at range of RPm's though i noticed it hunts between 2200 - 2500 at times, this is when set at 2500.

6) always double check each settings after PDI. i was surprised that the idle RPM was some 200rpm below spec. I didn't notice it until coming back to my slip after about a 2 hour run. When i was in idle, approaching slip, and tried to quickly kick up the RPM it stalled. Happened when trying in FWD or REV. Happened twice on approaching my slip. Both times i was able to immediately restart motor. After it happened i checked rpm on my Hardline Tach and that's how i discovered the low RPM. I then adjusted it so it idles around 1270-1310. Then tested and no stalling (at least for now....). Moral. get a tach/hour meter...

7) flush plug is ok but you can’t fully flush motor due to thermostat. The older M5 B 2 strokes didn’t have stats. From what I can tell you can flush about 75% of the water jacket surrounding the cylinder. Sure you can put it in a bucket to flush but being at a slip and doing that isn’t practical.

8) after 4 hours my WOT has peaked at about 4850 rpm. maybe it needs more breaking time to get more rpm's.. this weekend I’ll test as I plan to run wot a bit more.

9) reverse isn’t a significant step above the M5B with a 7 pitch prop.

10) surprised the scheduled first oil change is after 20 hours. i plan to change after about 8-10 hours, and I’ve gotten a ZDDP supplement I’ll add to oil after a 2nd oil change.

11) too early to tell burn rate per hour but expect it to be much better than .62 gph with my 2 stroke.

Overall I’m pleased. Runs cleaner, a bit quieter, and better gph so that opens up more opportunity for me. Only negative with CD22 is the ludicrously small fuel lazarette. There is ONLY ONE FUEL TANK that fits…. absolutely dumb design…

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I’m keeping the older outboard just in case this one gets fussy, these have temperamental carbs and I plan to bore out the low speed jet in the near future….

[Carl Thunberg]

I have the same engine. No. 7 confuses me. There is a hose fitting that screws into the drain plug. You can run it as long as you want with the hose on until the thermostat opens.

[keneasley]

I had an earlier model SailPro (around 2014) on my old Sea Sprite 23 and it worked very well for me for many years.

Two things -

I had to replace the carb after only a couple of months. Couldn't find the clog but bought a new carb and put it on myself. After that I always ran it dry by removing the fuel line from the engine and running it (and choking it at the end) until all fuel was used up. This could take 5 minutes or so. Also there was a drain screw on the carb bowl that facilitated draining out the last bit of fuel before winter storage. Never had another carb problem.

The impeller needed to be replaced every year or so.

I never flushed it with fresh water during the season. In fact, it was immersed in an outboard well for months at a time. I did run it in a trash can full of fresh water before storing it for the winter.

Overall it was very dependable.

[s2sailorlis]

Yes I know and use that when engine is not running. Tohatsu tech support highly discouraged me to do have eng8ne running when using the plug. Under some instances apparently they claim insufficient water will not get to impeller, hence causing other issues. They said some people do that but…. Now that might be due to liability issue where some knucklehead shifts into gear while prop is out of water….

I have the same engine. No. 7 confuses me. There is a hose fitting that screws into the drain plug. You can run it as long as you want with the hose on until the thermostat opens.

[s2sailorlis]

I run mine dry as well since it takes forever to put the sails/boat away…;).

It’s a common issue so I’m careful where I get fuel, cleanliness of tank when filling

Re flushing, I think you can get away with not doing it for maybe 5 or so years, but much longer than that risks engine overheating…

I had an earlier model SailPro (around 2014) on my old Sea Sprite 23 and it worked very well for me for many years.

Two things -

I had to replace the carb after only a couple of months. Couldn't find the clog but bought a new carb and put it on myself. After that I always ran it dry by removing the fuel line from the engine and running it (and choking it at the end) until all fuel was used up. This could take 5 minutes or so. Also there was a drain screw on the carb bowl that facilitated draining out the last bit of fuel before winter storage. Never had another carb problem.

The impeller needed to be replaced every year or so.

I never flushed it with fresh water during the season. In fact, it was immersed in an outboard well for months at a time. I did run it in a trash can full of fresh water before storing it for the winter.

Overall it was very dependable.

[Carl Thunberg]

I think I smell a CYA rat. Why have it if it only does half the job? How can there possibly be insufficient flow from a pressurized hose? I run my engine with the hose fitting in at the end of every season with no ill effects. I actually back the flow off until the propellor stops turning backwards. If you have flow from the telltale stream, the impellor is working.

[s2sailorlis]

Isn’t that why we have lawyers…;)

Seriously.. I flush after every use. And I’m sure that tech support is told what to say….and now that I think about it it’s probably because they fear some idiot will put the motor in gear and….

The water flows from telltale when flushing whether the motor is on or off. I don’t know what issue there could be as the water you pump flows down the water tube back to the water pump and impeller whilst it’s trying to pump it back water back up the tube towards the powerhead. Assume there’s no concern of a pressure lock that would flow air up from the water intake thus starving the impeller.. I don’t know hence the observation….

How do you flush when boats in water? Or are you tilting outboard out of the water?

I think I smell a CYA rat. Why have it if it only does half the job? How can there possibly be insufficient flow from a pressurized hose? I run my engine with the hose fitting in at the end of every season with no ill effects. I actually back the flow off until the propellor stops turning backwards. If you have flow from the telltale stream, the impellor is working.

[Carl Thunberg]

I do it on land on an outboard dolly. I let the salt do what it will for the duration of the season and let it run for a good long time with the hose at the end of the season. Plus, I'm on a mooring which makes flushing mid-season problematic.

Sorry to get lost in the weeds on No. 7. The rest of your observations are spot on. I don't have the Spartan motor mount, so I don't have that particular problem.

[LSD87]

I just got the Sailpro for my 22 on 7/16. I found the discussion interesting. I only bought my 22 last August and learned how to sail then too. The engine it came with was a 1994 Johnson Sail Master 8hp 2 stroke. The engine became unreliable for me in the Hudson River which has strong currents and the Esopus Creek has a fairly narrow entrance. The engine died and wouldn't start on 3 separate occasions. So the Sailpro was in stock locally and grabbed it.

In terms of maintenance there is quite a list of things to do after 20 hours and somethings every 50. I'm currently at about 10. Should I follow the instructs to the letter? Clean the tank, and cap, clean the plug, check and clean fuel pump, check ignition timing, change the oil, check valve clearance, replace gear oil, grease sliding and rotating parts and nipples, retighten nuts and bolts...and more... So I should take it in to the dealer? I can can do a few of the items, but I can't check and adjust valves, or ignition timing. I imagined that these things would be done at the end of the season. I don't mind taking it to the dealer, but never having owned a 4 stroke outboard I'm seeking advise... I'm using the engine more initially so I can break it in.

[LSD87]

I ordered the service, so advise no longer needed…

[wikakaru]

Sorry to be late to the game, but I think you did right to go with the dealer service. The break-in service is a good one to have the dealer do because a lot of stuff changes/vibrates/wears in during that first interval, and some of it is the kind of stuff (valve clearances, for instance) that the average Joe isn't comfortable doing.

Enjoy the new engine!

--Jim

[s2sailorlis]

Just saw the question. If your not handy so to speak, let dealer do it.

My SailPro after 5 hours is heading back to dealer as it’s stalling at idle, and has issues maintaining 2300 rpm. I knew these 4 cycle tohatsu’s have carb issues. But thought I’d at least get 20 hours before I would have issues. I am only using ethanol free fuel so it makes me even more frustrated….

[LSD87]

My dealer said wait for 20 hours for service. My idle was racing after use when in neutral and they adjusted it last night night for me. I’m using ethanol free too and running engine dry after use per dealer guidance. I was also warned to keep gas tank clean.

Thanks for the advise Jim and good luck Rick and keep us posted.

[s2sailorlis]

Def buy a tachometer/engine hour meter. Recommend TinyTach or Hardline, costs $30. You can then tweak idle as needed.

I plan on having dealer do the 20 hour service just to keep good relationship, and prevent any warranty issues down road

[LSD87]

Well my Sailpro stalled 3 times on the Hudson River today. I guess there is about 15 hours on engine. First time I started engine to drop headsail and sail into the wind while a barge passed. It just stalled at about 1/4 throttle. I had to choke it to get it to start then it quickly stalled. It then started again with choke. After barge passed I turned it off and sailed again. About 20 minutes later the wind died so I headed back under power. Engine stalled a 3rd time, this time while increasing throttle. I made it back to the dock and it ran fine. It idled fine while docking. Dealer will go over to my boat and check it out, but I don’t know what they will find if it’s not acting up when they inspect.