by Guest » Sun Apr 14, 2002 8:02 am
Tom, your 3.5 Hp Tohatsu will vibrate and shake the whole boat due to the lack of any vibration-isolation in it's mounting bracket. I originally had a 2.3 Hp Johnson on my DS II, it is basically the exact same motor as your Tohatsu. Most larger outboards (such as my 4hp Johnson) have some form of rubber vibration absorbing bushings between the motor and the clamp mount, the 3.5 hp Tohatsu does not. Perhaps using a rubber mat between the clamps and the transom will help?
By the way, this "problem" is also present on all of the following motors; Johnson 2 (1993-present), Johnson/Evinrude 2.3, 3.3, 3.5, Tohatsu 2.5, 3.5, Nissan 2.5, 3.5, Mercury/Mariner 2.2, 2.5, 3.5, Mariner 2, Yamaha 2, Suzuki 2, Honda 2, most if not all air-cooled outboards, all British Seagull outboards. Would I recommend NOT buying/using any of these? Heck no! THEY ARE ALL VERY GOOD MOTORS!
The manufacturer just has just devoted more emphasis to fuel efficiency, styling, and convenient features than to reducing vibration. One thing I will add, the Johnson/Evinrude, Mercury/Mariner, Nissan, and Tohatsu engines mentioned above all have a very fast idle, so finding one equiped with a neutral clutch is very helpfull!
Rod Johnson, "SUNBIRD" (rjohnson24-at-juno.com)