Tohatsu 30 HP MFS30DL Outboard Motor

Description

We have the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale new in the box and ready to ship. It is a 30 horsepower Tohatsu four stroke outboard with a 20 inch shaft, tiller steering and manual recoil start.

This is a new motor in the factory box, sold by us and shipped to your country. You get a written delivery quote first, so the full cost is clear from the start. It is worth remembering when you run the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale.

Everything is on this page: specifications, the model code, boats it suits, riding impressions, maintenance, delivery and an FAQ. Jump to what you need.

Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale: Specifications

Specs can change slightly between production runs, so the paperwork in the box is the final word. Tohatsu lists the current figures on its Tohatsu MFS30D page.

What the Model Code on the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale Means

Tohatsu codes are easy once someone explains them. MFS means a Tohatsu four stroke and 30 is the horsepower. The D after the horsepower marks the model series. The L at the end means a long 20 inch shaft.

The Lightest Three Cylinder 30: the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale

Tohatsu built the MFS30D to be the lightest three cylinder 30 horsepower outboard, at about 58 kg for the base model. It uses a 500 cc four stroke with electronic fuel injection and a digital ignition.

Manual start versions run without a battery. The tiller has a stop switch, throttle friction and a four step trolling control from 750 to 1,050 rpm. Electric start versions get a 17.5 amp alternator, the best in class.

A redesigned, torpedo shaped gearcase cuts drag, and the engine mounts are placed to reduce vibration. That is a big part of why people choose the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale.

Boats That Suit the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale

Aluminium boats

14 to 17 foot boats rated for 30 HP.

RIBs

Up to about 5 m.

Pontoons

Small to mid size pontoons.

Skiffs and work boats

Light commercial and fishing use.

How the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale Runs

The Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale has real punch. Boats that felt slow on a 25 come alive on a 30.

It is smooth and quiet for its power, and the trolling control makes slow fishing easy.

About Tohatsu Outboards

Tohatsu is a Japanese company that has specialised in outboards for decades. It is especially strong in portables and mid range motors, and its engines have powered boats under other badges too. For an owner, that means proven designs, wide parts support and a motor that is easy to service almost anywhere.

Short, Long or Ultra Long Shaft?

Measure your transom from the top to the bottom of the hull at the centre. About 15 inches needs a short shaft (S), about 20 inches needs a long shaft (L) and about 25 inches needs an ultra long shaft (UL). Sailboats often need a long or ultra long shaft so the prop stays in the water when the boat pitches. The Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale has a 20 inch shaft.

Fitting It to Your Boat

Place the motor in the middle of the transom, tighten both clamp screws and recheck them after a short run. Adjust the trim rod so the motor is vertical when the boat is under way. If you can, use a safety lanyard or chain between the motor and a strong point on the boat. It is cheap insurance. Owners of the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale tell us the same thing.

Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale or the 25 HP?

The MFS25D uses the same engine with less power, and is usually a little cheaper.

The Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale gives you more top end for the same weight. If your boat is rated for 30, take the extra power.

Who Buys the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale From Us

Most buyers are private owners with a tender, a small aluminium boat or a sailboat. After them come fishing guides, rental and sailing clubs, resorts and boat dealers. What they want is simple: a new motor, the right shaft length, proper paperwork and a fair delivered price.

The First Trip

On the first outing keep it simple. Check the oil level before you clamp the motor on, tighten the clamp screws properly, and tie a light safety line from the motor bracket to the boat. People do drop outboards over the side, usually on the day they skip that line.

Run at varied low and mid throttle for the first stretch, as the break in notes say. Watch the tell tale, listen for anything that sounds odd, and get used to how the boat turns. By the end of the afternoon you will know how the 30 HP motor behaves with your load on board.

Starting by Hand

Manual start keeps the motor lighter and simpler, with no battery to carry. The trick is technique, not strength. Put the gear lever in neutral, set the throttle grip to the start mark, choke on if the engine is cold, then pull the cord slowly until you feel it catch and give one smooth, firm pull. It is one of the reasons we keep the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale in stock.

Once it fires, ease the choke back in as it warms. A healthy Tohatsu usually starts in one or two pulls. If it takes many more, check the fuel vent, the primer bulb and the kill cord clip before anything else.

Handling the Tiller

Tiller steering puts you right next to the engine, with the throttle in your hand. There is an adjustment for steering friction near the swivel bracket. Tighten it a little so the motor holds its line when you let go to grab a rope, and loosen it for easier turning in tight spots.

Sit so you can reach the tiller with a relaxed arm. When docking, use short bursts of forward and reverse rather than steady throttle. Small motors respond quickly, and once you learn that, coming alongside gets much easier. You get all of that with the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale.

Day to Day Use

A good small outboard should not need much thought. The Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale starts quickly, runs cleanly and needs only basic care: a fresh water flush after salt, a quick look at the oil level and fresh fuel. Do that and it will keep going season after season.

The First Ten Hours

New engines like variety. Keep the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale below half throttle for the first hour and keep changing speed. After that, use more throttle in short bursts. Change the engine oil and gear oil at the first service the manual lists. It sets the motor up for a long life.

Keeping the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale Healthy

Small outboards need little, but they need it regularly:

• After every trip: flush, rinse and check the tell-tale stream.
• Before every trip: oil level, fuel, clamp screws.
• Every season: engine oil, gear oil, plug, grease.
• Every two to three seasons: water pump impeller.

Keep a note of hours and services. It helps with warranty and resale.

Keeping the Cooling System Healthy

The tell tale stream is your early warning. If it slows down or stops, the usual causes are a blocked tell tale hole, weed on the water intake, or a worn impeller.

Clear the tell tale with a bit of wire first. If the stream stays weak, the impeller is the next suspect. Plan to change it every two to three years anyway, and carry a spare on long trips. Never run the motor out of the water without a flushing attachment and the water turned on. Ask us if you want photos of the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale before it ships.

Anodes and Corrosion

Outboards used in salt water slowly lose metal through galvanic corrosion. The anodes on the motor are there to take that damage first. They are small blocks of zinc or aluminium alloy, and they are meant to wear away.

Check them every couple of months in salt water. When one is about half gone, replace it. Never paint an anode, because paint stops it working. If the anodes still look new after a full season in salt water, they may not have a good electrical contact, so clean the mounting points.

Changing the Gear Oil

The gearcase oil is easy to forget because you never see it. Change it once a season. Take out the lower drain screw, then the upper vent screw, and let the old oil run into a tray. We are happy to answer questions about the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale by email or chat.

Look at what comes out. Clean dark oil is normal. Milky oil means water is getting in past a seal, and that should be fixed before it rusts the gears. Refill from the bottom hole with marine gear oil until it comes out of the top, fit the vent screw, then the drain screw. New sealing washers each time are a good habit.

Fuel Use and Running Costs

EFI keeps the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale economical at cruise. The 25 litre tank covers a long day.

Tohatsu parts are cheap and easy to find, and most servicing is simple enough to do yourself. That keeps the cost of owning the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale low.

Keep the Fuel Fresh

Buy fuel from a busy station, use it within a month or so and treat it with stabiliser before storage. Water in fuel causes rough running, so keep tanks topped up and closed. A clean fuel filter and fresh fuel solve most problems before they start.

What It Costs to Own

Fuel is the main running cost, and four strokes are frugal. At part throttle a small Tohatsu sips fuel, so a tank lasts a long time. The Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale handles this well.

Servicing is simple and affordable. Oil, gear oil, a plug and an impeller now and then cover most of it. Flush after salt water use and keep fresh fuel in the tank, and the motor will not ask for much more. That is why so many owners keep the same Tohatsu for ten years or more.

Getting the Prop Right

With the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale you want to reach 5,500 to 6,500 rpm at full throttle with a normal load. Too many revs means the pitch is too low, too few means it is too high. Tohatsu’s range for this motor is 8 to 14 inch pitch. Heavy boats and sailboats often need a lower pitch than light inflatables.

Salt Water Care

Flush the motor with fresh water after every salt trip, using the flush port or a flushing muff. Rinse the outside and wipe the cowl. Spray a corrosion inhibitor under the cowl now and then. If you leave the motor on a tender, tilt it up so the lower unit is out of the water.

Storage and Transport

Store the motor upright on a stand when you can. If you must lay it down, follow the manual and lay it on the correct side so oil does not run into the cylinder. For long storage, drain or stabilise the fuel, change the oil, grease the fittings and keep it somewhere dry. This is where the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale earns its keep.

Moving the Motor Around

An outboard stand in the garage makes life easier. For the car, keep the motor upright if you can, strapped so it cannot tip. If you lay it down, use the side Tohatsu specifies. Close the vent and tap first.

Common Problems and Quick Checks

Will not start. Check the kill switch clip, the choke, the fuel tap and the tank vent.

Starts then stops. Usually old fuel or a blocked vent. Plenty of buyers message us before ordering the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale, and we like that.

Weak tell-tale stream. Clear the outlet. If still weak, have the impeller checked.

Loss of power. Check the prop for damage or weed, and the fuel filter.

Oil warning. Stop and check the oil level straight away. Keep that in mind with the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale.

A Small Spares Kit

You do not need a workshop on board. A small waterproof bag with the right bits will get you home from most minor problems:

• A spare spark plug and a plug spanner.
• A spare shear pin or prop parts and a split pin.
• A spare kill cord.
• A short length of fuel line and a couple of clips.
• Pliers, a screwdriver and some tape.
• A spare starter cord if the motor is pull start.

Keep the owner’s manual in a zip bag with the kit. It has the torque figures and the fuse and plug details you might need.

Safety Gear Worth Carrying

Attach the kill switch lanyard every time. Carry oars or a paddle, a spare kill clip, a spare plug and plug spanner, a shear pin or spare prop if your motor uses one, a bailer, a torch and a way to call for help. Life jackets for everyone on board.

Is 30 HP Right for Your Boat?

Check the capacity plate on your boat for the maximum horsepower and weight. Light inflatables and canoes need very little, while heavier aluminium boats and sailboats need more. Do not go over the plate. If you send us the boat details, we will tell you honestly whether the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale is a good match.

Coming From an Old Two Stroke

A four stroke is quieter, cleaner and uses far less fuel than an old two stroke. There is no oil to mix and no smoke. It is a little heavier, so check how the boat sits. Most owners never look back.

New Versus Second Hand

A used outboard can look like a bargain, but you rarely know its history. Was it flushed after salt water? Was the gear oil ever changed? Has it been dropped or run without water? Those things do not show on the outside.

A new motor comes with a clean history, fresh seals, a factory warranty and a full manual. You run it in yourself, so you know it was done properly. For many buyers that peace of mind is worth the difference in price.

Mistakes We See Buyers Make

Buying the wrong shaft length is the big one. Next is leaving old fuel in the motor over winter. Then storing a four stroke on the wrong side and getting oil into the cylinder. And finally forgetting to tighten the clamp screws. All easy to avoid.

What a Typical First Season Looks Like

Follow the break-in for the first few outings, then get the first service done. After that it is just using the motor, flushing it and keeping the fuel fresh. At the end of the season, service it and store it properly.

Shipping and Delivery

The Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale ships in its factory box. We book freight to your door or nearest depot, and you get a written quote before paying for shipping. Once it leaves us you get tracking and the export papers your customs office may ask for. If you use your own forwarder, we can hand it to them.

Warranty Notes

The Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale comes with Tohatsu factory warranty paperwork. Terms depend on your country and on private or commercial use, so ask us what applies where you are. Keep receipts and a service log.

Keep a Record of the Motor

Note the model code and serial number on the day the motor arrives and store them somewhere safe. A photo of the label on your phone is fine. Parts suppliers ask for the serial to match the right components.

A simple log of hours, oil changes and services helps too. It makes warranty questions easier and adds value if you ever sell. A clamp lock is cheap insurance against theft from a dinghy or a shed.

What Comes in the Box

• The Tohatsu MFS30DL outboard
• Owner’s manual and warranty papers
• Standard Tohatsu fittings for this model

Fuel tanks, props and accessories vary by version and market. We confirm exactly what is included before shipping.

Before You Order the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale

• Measure your transom to confirm the 20 inch shaft is right.
• Check the boat’s maximum horsepower and weight.
• Decide between manual and electric start.
• Plan your fuel tank and battery if needed.
• Tell us your country for a delivery quote.

Questions now save trouble later, so ask anything.

Ordering Is Simple

Add the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale to your cart or message us. We confirm the model, shaft and starting type, then send a delivery quote. Once you approve it, we ship. Read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions first, and look at the reviews page to hear from other buyers. The about us page tells you who we are, and the contact page reaches a real person.

Other Tohatsu Outboards to Compare

• All 30 HP Tohatsu outboards
• Tohatsu MFS30DEFL
• Tohatsu MFS30DEFS
• Tohatsu MFS30DS
• All Tohatsu outboards
• Suzuki outboards
• The full shop

Our blog has more on looking after outboards, and you can browse the full Tohatsu outboard range on the maker’s own site.

FAQ: Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale

Is the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale new?

Yes. New in the box, with Tohatsu paperwork.

What shaft length is it?

20 inch (L).

How heavy is the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale?

About 58 kg (128 lb) for the base model.

What engine does it have?

4-stroke, 3 cylinder, electronic fuel injection, 500 cc (30.5 cu in).

How does it start?

Manual recoil start.

What fuel tank does it use?

25 L (6.6 US gal) separate tank.

Do you ship the Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale worldwide?

Yes. Send us your location and we will quote delivery.

Does it come with a warranty?

Yes, Tohatsu factory warranty paperwork. Terms depend on your country.

Ready When You Are

The Tohatsu MFS30DL for sale is ready to ship. If you are still deciding, tell us about your boat. We would rather spend a few minutes getting it right than sell you the wrong motor.