[C320-list] Zodiac

[Jeff Church]

Larry,

That's surprising, but the 3.5 hp engines do look to be exactly the same. As you say, the only difference in specs is the weight, with the Tohatsu supposedly being 3 lbs heavier.

Jeff   
  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: WindSwept 
  To: C320-List 
  Sent: Wednesday, December 20, 2006 8:56 AM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zodiac


  Sounds like what a Mercury dealer would say, and may be true in some of the 
  cases.

  However, I took this off the onlineoutboards.com web site:

        Does TOHATSU make NISSAN? Does TOHATSU also make MERCURY?
          Yes. Tohatsu makes ALL Nissan outboards and many smaller HP Mercury 
  outboards. We do not sell Mercury outboards as Tohatsu and Nissan are 
  considerably less expensive than the Mercury label.



  A quick comparison of the specifications shows all to be the same with the 
  exception of weight - and I bet the difference here is one weight is for the 
  15" shaft, the other for the 20" one.  Photographs look darn close too.

  Larry




  ----- Original Message ----- 
  From: <Orlando.Duran at AveryDennison.com>
  To: "Catalina 320 List" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
  Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 8:49 PM
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zodiac


  Tohatsu and Nissan are the same, Mercury is completely different...

  I just purchased a Nissan 9.8hp.     4-stroke w/ electric start for my 
  Caribe L9...
  ----------------------------------
  Regards,
  OD

  Sent from my BlackBerry Wireless Handheld


  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "WindSwept" [c320_windswept at sbcglobal.net]
  Sent: 12/19/2006 05:40 PM
  To: "C320-List" <c320-list at catalina320.com>
  Subject: Re: [C320-list] Zodiac

  I have a 1992 2 HP Yamaha (22 lbs) that I have used on a 8'6" inflatable
  without problems in wind and chop.  Not much experience with current though.
  This rig is called the "one-hour" dink.  It takes 1 hour to get anywhere,
  but if you are patient you will usually get there.

  The new 3.5 HP models from Tohatsu, Nissan and Mercury all weigh around 40
  lbs.  They are all the same except for the name on them.  Since it appears
  weight is the over riding factor, this seems like a better choice.  You will
  have more power, no 2-cycle gasoline mixing, much less exhaust and noise.
  And a new motor with a 3 year warantee.

  Check out www.onlineoutboards.com.  They have the 3.5 hp Tohatsu for 810 and
  free shipping.  I have a friend who purchased from this website with
  complete satisfaction.

  I plan on buying the 3.5 HP early in 2007.

  Larry
  WindSwept C320 #246

  ----- Original Message -----
  From: "Jeff Church" <jjemail at comcast.net>
  To: "C320" <C320-List at catalina320.com>
  Sent: Tuesday, December 19, 2006 7:20 PM
  Subject: [C320-list] Zodiac


  Greetings,

  I'm going to purchase an 8.5 foot Zodiac inflatable and I'm wondering how
  small a motor I can use. I'll mainly use the zodiac when we go cruising Lake
  Michigan and need to transport the 2 of us around an anchorage. I don't
  intend to bother with davits or a crane.

  I've got a few shoulder problems and I don't look forward to lifting a heavy
  motor off the dinghy transom and up to the stern perch. Anything much
  heavier than 40 pounds will probably be a bit uncomfortable, but I'm
  concerned that the smaller motors won't have enough power. A new 2 hp motor
  is around 27 lbs, 4 hp motors weigh about 55 pounds.

  Do any of you use a 2 horse motor on an 8 foot zodiac? Is it strong enough
  to push through some wind and chop in an anchorage, or do I really need a
  3.5 or 4 horse to do the job? What minimum horsepower would you recommend?

  The local Zodiac dealer has a 1996 Johnson 4 hp 2-cycle for sale. He wants
  $495 for it. I think it weighs 38 pounds. That puts it at about the same
  weight as a new 4-cycle 2.5 to 3.5 hp motor. It doesn't have a reverse gear,
  but that seems to be fairly common in motors that are under 5 hp. Maybe this
  motor would be a good choice?

  Thanks and Happy Holidays

  JeffC





  --------------------------------
  The information transmitted is intended only for the person or entity
  to which it is addressed and may contain confidential and/or
  privileged material. Any review, retransmission, dissemination or
  other use of, or taking of any action in reliance upon, this
  information by persons or entities other than the intended recipient
  is prohibited. If you received this in error, please contact the
  sender and delete the material from any computer.