Clay Posted July 31, 2022 Report Share Posted July 31, 2022 A couple of before and after pics. Had a Mercury XR6 150hp carbureted 2 stroke of unknown hours when I bought her. Loads of power and thirsty. It had an Optimax cowling and I had Verado style decals custom cut so the motor looked more updated. Decided to pull trigger on a new 4-stroke and my timing was pretty good. Got a great price on a Tohatsu MFS-115 and then sold the Merc for an astounding $4500...used motor market in FL is crazy. I love the ‘Hatsu and I get a ton of questions and stares. My gas guy hates it. I also had leaning post upholstery rehabbed with double foam...perfect for the lower back. I’ve had the boat a couple years and she gets used on the St John’s for bass fishing mostly with just a little river running. Only complaint I would have is the big step down from the casting deck. Quite a step for my sore knee. Other than that, best boat I’ve ever owned. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lap it Up Posted August 1, 2022 Report Share Posted August 1, 2022 What kind of numbers are you seeing with the Hatsu? Those engines look cool! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Posted August 2, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 On 7/31/2022 at 9:46 PM, Lap it Up said: What kind of numbers are you seeing with the Hatsu? Those engines look cool! My electronics are pretty basic so I don't have exact fuel burn numbers. It sure burns a bunch less than the Merc. I'm running a 13.5" 17 pitch prop and get 5300 rpm at WOT. These motors are lower revving and rely on torque gains from innovative exhaust manifold design. I think I'm under propped. Will be trying 19P soon... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 With the motor shortages, that is some interesting info ! What is the weight difference with the big three ? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Lap it Up Posted August 2, 2022 Report Share Posted August 2, 2022 3 hours ago, Clay said: My electronics are pretty basic so I don't have exact fuel burn numbers. It sure burns a bunch less than the Merc. I'm running a 13.5" 17 pitch prop and get 5300 rpm at WOT. These motors are lower revving and rely on torque gains from innovative exhaust manifold design. I think I'm under propped. Will be trying 19P soon... Very interesting. I figured this would be coming to outboards, just didn’t think it would be Tohatsu to drop it first. Game changer for sure. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Posted August 3, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 12 hours ago, Moderator said: With the motor shortages, that is some interesting info ! What is the weight difference with the big three ? I think Suzuki still has the light weight championship crown with their 140. My Tohatsu weighs a bit under 400...about the same as my XR6 weighed and it had 35 more horsepower. That said, I still have to plug my scuppers when not underway. Only design flaw I’ve noticed (other than the tall step casting deck) is the backflowing scuppers at rest. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Moderator Posted August 3, 2022 Report Share Posted August 3, 2022 That 1806 is about the first bay boat ever made ! It is simple, open and light for its length. A lot of changes were made, but that boat was the best IMO. Have you tried adding a step ? A strong box of some sort to help with the knees..? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Posted August 4, 2022 Author Report Share Posted August 4, 2022 14 hours ago, Moderator said: That 1806 is about the first bay boat ever made ! It is simple, open and light for its length. A lot of changes were made, but that boat was the best IMO. Have you tried adding a step ? A strong box of some sort to help with the knees..? I really agree with that. In fact, it’s quite like a flats boat/bay boat hybrid. I can get into creeks that never see a bass boat. Id love to add a step and if anybody has any ideas, I’d love to see or hear them...Can’t figure out best way to go with it. I’m pretty big guy (275#) and it’s hard to find any steps that would work real good. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobo Posted September 4, 2022 Report Share Posted September 4, 2022 Clay,,, I concur with both you and Moderator about the little 1806 Pathfinder being great little boats... I've had the distinct pleasure of owning two of them and in my opinion, they are right behind the 22' and 24' Pathfinders as being my favorite Pathfinders... I hung a 150 HPDI on one of these 1806s and the performance was scary awesome! The best I can remember the 1806 PF was rated for 115 hp however it performed very well with even the 90 hp Yamahas but when using anything larger (weight wise) than the 90 Yamaha definitely changed these rigs from being a self-bailing boat... I easily solved this problem by installing a floor drain about 2" or so in front of both the transom drains... You just have to be extra special careful to remember to never leave both the floor plugs and the transom plugs out at the same time when sitting still or being stopped... Later I went ahead and added Rabud scuppers to both and they worked perfectly.. Another thing I did to both of my 1806s right after bringing them home was to completely enclose the back of the consoles by adding a Starboard door and frame just like what comes standard on the bigger PFs... I had a 24 vdc Minn Kota trolling motor on my 2001 1806 PF.. Rather than taking up space in the bow storage compartment by mounting the trolling motors inside there instead I build a battery box out of 1/2"-Starboard then mounted it on the floor right up next to the storage compartment front so it could also be used as a step up to the rather high front casting deck,,,, I also removed the included handrails mounted on top of each gunnel which to me were more of a tripping hazard when entering or leaving the boat... I could go on and on about these fine little boats, but I'll stop now... I have attached a few photos of my two 1806s... The light blue/white is a 2000 model and the all-white version is a 2001 model... Rabud Scupper on 2000 model 1806 Pathfinder... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hobo Posted September 4, 2022 Report Share Posted September 4, 2022 CLAY,,, I went back and read your last post again and noticed your comments about needing a step in your 1806 PF to access the rather high front casting deck... I too am rather large, also weighing in at 275 not to mention also being nearly 78 years old... I mentioned the way I solved the "step problem" in my previous post but I didn't include any photos.. I attached a couple below... This worked great!! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Posted September 25, 2022 Author Report Share Posted September 25, 2022 Nice! Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
mxf255 Posted December 21, 2022 Report Share Posted December 21, 2022 Clay- Thanks for the posting information on your new engine. It’ll be a good data point for me in the future. I’m the owner of the all white 1806 that Hobo posted above. They are great boats and there aren’t many of them around. I’ve only ever seen one other one in person. I like the platform that’s been added to transom area of your boat. I still have the 150 HDPI on mine so I need to access for the two stroke oil reservoir. I’m in the Jacksonville area and haven’t had mine on the St Johns yet. It spends its time in the ICW. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lurem Posted December 22, 2022 Report Share Posted December 22, 2022 I bought this for the step up on the casting deck. It is adjustable and stable. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Clay Posted January 2, 2023 Author Report Share Posted January 2, 2023 That’s a great idea. Hadn’t thought of aerobic type step. mxf255, looks like Palm Valley ramp…know it well. Many cold ones downed at the Fish Camp. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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