Tohatsu 8 HP MFS8BL Outboard Motor

Description

We have the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale new in the box and ready to ship. It is a 8 horsepower Tohatsu four stroke outboard with a 20 inch shaft, tiller steering and manual recoil start.

We sell new Tohatsu outboards to boat owners, fishing guides, sailing schools, resorts and dealers, and we ship worldwide. Tell us where you are and we send a delivery quote before you pay for anything. It is one of the reasons we keep the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale in stock.

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 MFS8BL 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 MFS8B page.

What the Model Code on the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale Means

Tohatsu codes are easy once someone explains them. MFS means a Tohatsu four stroke and 8 is the horsepower. The B after the horsepower marks the model series. The L at the end means a long 20 inch shaft.

Why Two Cylinders Matter on the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale

The 8 HP is where Tohatsu moves to a twin cylinder engine. The 209 cc four stroke runs much smoother than a big single, with less vibration through the tiller and the boat.

It still weighs under 40 kg in manual start form, light enough for two people to move easily, or one strong person with care.

You get forward, neutral and reverse, a separate 12 litre fuel tank, a thermostat controlled cooling system, through the prop exhaust and an oil pressure warning. You get all of that with the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale.

Boats That Suit the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale

RIBs and inflatables

Up to about 3.8 m.

Aluminium fishing boats

12 to 14 foot boats.

Sailboats up to around 25 feet

Smooth, quiet auxiliary power.

Kicker motor

Trolling on bigger boats.

How the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale Runs

The Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale is smooth and quiet. Two cylinders take away the thump of a single, and the motor feels more refined at every speed.

It planes small inflatables and pushes aluminium boats and small sailboats at a good clip.

Why Tohatsu

Tohatsu has built outboards in Japan since 1956 and is one of the biggest makers of small and mid size outboards in the world. Several other brands have sold Tohatsu built motors under their own name over the years. That tells you something about the engineering. Parts are easy to get in most countries and mechanics know these motors well.

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 MFS8BL for sale has a 20 inch shaft.

Mounting the Motor

Centre the motor on the transom and tighten the clamp screws firmly. Check them again after the first run, because they can loosen with vibration. Set the tilt pin so the motor sits straight up and down when the boat is moving, with the anti-ventilation plate roughly level with the bottom of the hull. Tie a safety line from the motor to the boat in case a clamp ever loosens. Ask us if you want photos of the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale before it ships.

Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale or the 9.8 HP?

The MFS9.8B uses the same 209 cc engine and weight with more power.

The Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale is the choice if your boat is rated for 8 HP or you want the lower price.

The People Who Order This Motor

We ship the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale to weekend boaters, yacht owners who need a tender motor, anglers who want a kicker and small businesses running boats every day. Some order one motor, some order several. We treat every order the same way: confirm the model, quote delivery and keep you updated.

Your First Day Out With the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale

Pick a calm day for the first run and stay close to where you launched. Clamp the motor on, fit the kill cord to your wrist or life jacket, open the fuel vent and squeeze the primer bulb until it goes firm. Then start it and let it idle for a minute while you look for the stream of water from the tell tale.

Spend the first hour getting a feel for the tiller, the throttle grip and the gear lever. Practise coming alongside a buoy or a pontoon at low speed. Most people are surprised how quickly a small motor like this starts to feel natural.

Getting the Hang of the Pull Start

A recoil start is one less thing to go wrong. There is no battery to go flat, no starter motor and no wiring to corrode. That is a big plus on a small boat that spends weeks sitting on a trailer or in a shed.

Neutral, throttle on the start mark, choke out when cold, then pull through the slack until you feel compression and give it one smooth pull. Do not let the handle snap back against the cowl. Owners who learn that rhythm rarely need more than two pulls. We are happy to answer questions about the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale by email or chat.

Steering and Throttle Feel

The twist grip throttle and tiller arm give you direct control. Set the steering friction so the motor stays put when you take your hand off, but still turns without effort.

Remember that an outboard steers by pushing the stern sideways, so the back of the boat swings out when you turn. In a marina, slow down early and use a short burst of reverse to stop. Practise this a few times in open water and the next tight berth will not feel so bad.

Day to Day Use

A good small outboard should not need much thought. The Tohatsu MFS8BL 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 MFS8BL 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 MFS8BL 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. The Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale handles this well.

The Water Pump Impeller

Every water cooled outboard has a rubber impeller in the lower unit that pushes cooling water up to the engine. Rubber ages, and sand wears the vanes, so it needs replacing every two or three seasons or sooner if you run in sandy water.

The first sign of trouble is a weak or missing stream from the tell tale. Stop the engine if that happens and find the cause. Running a four stroke without cooling water for even a short time can damage it. Changing the impeller is a straightforward job for a dealer or a handy owner.

Why the Anodes Matter

The small metal blocks on the gearcase and bracket are sacrificial anodes. In salt or brackish water they corrode instead of the aluminium housing. That is their whole job. This is where the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale earns its keep.

A quick look each time you flush the motor tells you how they are doing. Swap them when they are worn to about half their size, and keep the contact surfaces clean and bare. A set of anodes costs little next to a pitted gearcase, so keep a spare set with your tools.

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.

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. Plenty of buyers message us before ordering the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale, and we like that.

Fuel Use and Running Costs

The 209 cc twin is economical at part throttle. A 12 litre tank lasts a long day for most small boats.

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 MFS8BL 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. Keep that in mind with the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale.

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 MFS8BL for sale you want to reach 5,300 to 6,200 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 6.5 to 9.5 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. That applies to the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale as much as any motor.

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.

Carrying and Laying Down the Motor

Four strokes have an oil sump, so they care which way you lay them down. Tohatsu marks the correct side on the motor and in the manual. Lay it the wrong way and oil can run into places it should not go, which leads to smoke and hard starting later.

Drain the carburettor or run it dry if you will store it on its side for a while. Carry it upright by the handle when you can, and use a padded bracket or stand at home. A motor stand is cheap and saves the cowling from scratches. Many repeat customers come back for a second Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale.

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.

Weak tell-tale stream. Clear the outlet. If still weak, have the impeller checked. The Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale is covered here too.

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

Oil warning. Stop and check the oil level straight away.

What to Carry in the Boat

A few spares cover most things that stop a small outboard on the water. A spare plug, a spare kill cord and a basic tool roll are the essentials. Add a spare propeller pin or prop hardware, a small roll of tape and some cable ties. It is worth remembering when you run the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale.

A second kill cord is the one people wish they had most. If the first one goes over the side with a person or gets lost, the motor will not start without it. Paddles or oars are worth carrying too, even on a short trip.

Carry These on Board

Life jackets, oars, a spare kill clip, a plug spanner and spare plug, basic tools, a bailer and a phone in a dry bag. Small boats can get caught out by wind and tide, so plan for the motor stopping, even though it probably will not.

On a Yacht Tender

For tender use, light weight and easy starting matter most. Keep a lanyard on the motor when you move it between boats, use a bracket on the pushpit to store it and flush it now and then with fresh water from the yacht’s tanks. That is a big part of why people choose the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale.

Kicker and Trolling Use

Many anglers run a small motor as a kicker on a bigger boat. It trolls slower and quieter than the main engine and saves fuel and hours on the big motor. A kicker also gets you home if the main engine fails. Link it to the main steering with a kicker bracket for easy control.

Matching the Motor to the Boat

The capacity plate tells you the limit. Within that limit, think about load, distance and water conditions. More power helps with heavy loads and wind. Less power saves weight and fuel. Ask us if you want a second opinion on the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale.

Two Stroke to Four Stroke

If you are replacing an old two stroke, expect less noise, no smoke, no oil mixing and lower fuel bills. Servicing changes to oil changes like a car engine. The trade is a bit more weight, which most boats handle easily.

Why Buy New

Second hand motors turn up all the time, often with stories attached. Some are fine. Others have hidden corrosion, a tired water pump or water in the gearcase that will cost money soon after you buy. Owners of the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale tell us the same thing.

With a new motor there is nothing hidden. You get the warranty, the paperwork and a motor that has never been abused. You also choose the shaft length and start type you actually need, instead of making do with whatever is for sale locally.

Avoid These Common Errors

Wrong shaft, stale fuel, laying the motor on the wrong side and loose clamps cause most of the trouble we hear about. Measure, use fresh fuel, read the storage page in the manual and check the clamps. That is it.

The First Year

Year one is simple: gentle break-in, first service on time, flush after salt, fresh fuel and a proper lay up at the end. Do that and the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale will give you many trouble free seasons.

How Delivery Works

We ship worldwide. Once you confirm the order, the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale is packed in its original box and booked with a carrier we trust or your own forwarder. You get the paperwork and a tracking number so you can follow it to the end.

About the Warranty

Tohatsu warranty terms vary around the world and between leisure and commercial use. We will tell you what applies in your country. Keep your receipts and service records safe.

Serial Number and Registration

Write down the serial number from the bracket label as soon as the motor arrives, and take a photo of it. Keep it with your receipt. You will need it for warranty claims, for ordering the right parts and for insurance.

Some countries need outboards registered or recorded with the boat. Rules differ a lot, so check what applies where you use the boat. A motor lock on the clamp screws is a good idea too, because small outboards are easy to carry away.

What Comes in the Box

• The Tohatsu MFS8BL 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.

A Short Checklist Before Buying

• Transom measured and matched to the 20 inch shaft.
• Capacity plate checked.
• Starting type decided.
• Fuel and battery plan made.
• Delivery address sent to us.

Send us that and we will come back with a full price to your door.

Buying the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale From Us

Every motor we sell is new and the price is on this page. Before we ship, we give you a delivery quote for your country so you know the full cost. When you order, we confirm the model and shaft length with you. Our refund and return policy and terms and conditions are on the site. You can read what other buyers say on our reviews page, learn more about us page, or go straight to the contact page.

Other Tohatsu Outboards to Compare

• All 8 HP Tohatsu outboards
• Tohatsu MFS8BEFL
• Tohatsu MFS8BS
• 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 MFS8BL for sale

Is the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale new?

Yes. New in the box, with Tohatsu paperwork.

What shaft length is it?

20 inch (L).

How heavy is the Tohatsu MFS8BL for sale?

About 37 to 41 kg (82 to 90 lb) depending on version.

What engine does it have?

4-stroke, 2 cylinder, 209 cc (12.8 cu in).

How does it start?

Manual recoil start.

What fuel tank does it use?

12 L (3.1 US gal) separate tank.

Do you ship the Tohatsu MFS8BL 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 MFS8BL 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.