Tohatsu 250HP DBW | BFT250DUCDA

Drive-by-wire throttle and shift set the Tohatsu BFT250DUCDA apart from its cable-actuated counter-rotating sibling: 250 hp through six cylinders, a 30-inch shaft, an electric starter, and a weight of 635 lbs.

What drive-by-wire changes

Drive-by-wire swaps mechanical throttle and shift cables for an electronic link between the control head and the engine, which can smooth out shift engagement and throttle response compared with a cable-actuated setup; this build's steering is listed as console mechanical on its own, so confirm your rigging plan covers both systems correctly before ordering.

Counter-rotation and shaft length

Spinning the opposite way from a conventional engine, this counter-rotating lower unit is built to sit on a twin-engine boat next to a standard-rotation motor, canceling the pull each side would otherwise put into the steering alone. This configuration also carries the longest shaft in the 250 hp lineup, suited to a deep transom setback.

Power and equipment

This six-cylinder engine displaces 3583cc, with the throttle climbing as high as 6,300 rpm from a low of 5,300 at the top of its range. Standard gear brings together the counter-rotating lower unit, the charging system, a fuel line hose, an electric starter, and power trim and tilt, finished off by the owner's manual and a cutoff-switch cord. Tohatsu's warranty on this engine runs 5 years.

Q: Does drive-by-wire mean the steering cables are gone too? Confirm the full rigging setup with us before ordering; steering is listed apart from the drive-by-wire throttle and shift on this unit.