Engine Performance
In this post, we are going to talk about the engine performance of the Tohatsu 140hp on our Atlas Boatworks 23F bay boat. This is one of the crowning moments of our cataloging the build of our demo boat. If you’re unsure how we got here, this post can catch you up.
Why the Tohatsu?
We decided to go with the Tohatsu 140hp after a lot of deliberation. While Tohatsu may not be seen as often as other brands, they make great motors. They are beloved by commercial fishermen across the world and Tohatsu has made engines for some of the more popular brands in the past (You just didn’t know it).
One reason was value. The Tohatsu 140hp is a very economical option when compared with other 150hp engines. You will spend $3-$5K less than most 150hp’s and $10k less than 200hp’s.
Another reason was weight. The Tohatsu 140hp weighs 380-ish pounds. That’s 80-120lbs less than most of the competitors. We had feedback from existing owners that sometimes water came back in the scuppers onto the deck. We figured that with less weight in the back, that would help the scuppers ride a little higher.
Lastly, Tohatsu was friendly, helpful, and eager to work with a boutique builder like us. That matters.
Speed
Following the break-in period (The first 10 hours must be run at prescribed rpm’s), we put the Tohatsu 140hp through its paces. We wanted to determine what the engine performance was like to see if this is a viable option to offer our customers.
The chart below shows the speed at each 1000 rpm with the redline being 5700 rpm.
This test was performed on Jordan Lake, NC on a calm day with one person in the boat and a full fuel tank.
Conclusion
In our opinion, the Tohatsu 140hp is a great option for the Atlas Boatworks 23F bay boat. The engine is quiet and has no issues getting the boat up on a plane. With a comfortable cruise speed between 25-30mph, the engine performance is great.
Even with the boat loaded down with 4 people, and a full fuel tank we were still able to hit a 38mph top speed.
We know from other builds that top speeds with a 200hp are in the upper 40’s mph. So, you just have to ask yourself if an extra 10mph is worth an extra $10k. It might be to you, and that is where the beauty of custom-building a boat comes in. You get to decide.
Overall, we would recommend this engine to those who are looking for a budget-friendly option and aren’t concerned about screaming across the bay at 50mph.
In a future post, we will cover fuel mileage with this engine as well. Until then we will be cruising around at 25-30 living the good life.
