Tohatsu 30HP | MFS30CETS

The MFS30CETS brings Tohatsu's 30hp four-stroke to a 15-inch shaft with power trim and tilt, tipping the scale at 179 lbs as the short-shaft counterpart to the long-shaft MFS30CETL. Full throttle on the 526cc three-cylinder tops out between 5250 and 6250 rpm.

Who it suits

Boats with a lower transom that still want power trim and tilt, rather than adjusting running angle by hand, are the target for this configuration.

Mounting height is not a minor detail

Fifteen inches suits a lower transom than the long-shaft version carries, and getting that wrong changes how deep the propeller sits in the water, which shows up as lost performance and poor fuel economy over a season.

Electrical system check

Electric start with manual backup and power trim and tilt both rely on the boat's battery and wiring, so a quick check of battery condition before the season starts is worth the time.

What's included

This configuration bundles power trim and tilt with a means of keeping the battery charged, a modest set of tools and spares, plus a kill switch on its lanyard and the printed manual.

This one can be rigged with a tiller handle or wired for remote mechanical control instead. Induction is EFI, and Tohatsu's 5-year warranty applies.

Common question

How much lighter is the short-shaft version? A few pounds lighter than the long-shaft MFS30CETL, with the same engine and features.