Well, I have actually owned one of those little CHEAP “Tohatsu” outboard motors! J
It was one of the most reliable kickers I have ever owned! It just doesn’t have one of those cool names, I also admit I abused the **** out of that thing (on purpose) as I wanted one of those other cool names. I will also admit it was just as reliable if not more than any others I've owned even with the abuse it was givent. I just couldn’t kill that thing. Back then, the name was very unknown, but more people asked me about it than any other I’ve owned, right up until when it finally got stolen!
“Tohatsu” started out as Takata Motor Research Institute in 1922 and has been building outboards since 1935. OEM for Nissan outboards since 1984. Brunswick who owns Mercury formed a joint venture with Tohatsu in 1988 named “Tohatsu Marine Corporation.” Tohatsu Marine Corporation has been building small outboards under the “Mercury” label since. Tohatsu America Corporation also known as TAC was formed and started selling Tohatsu in the U.S., May 2002.
Personally, I would own another. J