Sir you will get as many opinions as there are motors! So heres mine tohatsu and mercury were the same builder as of a few years ago .prolly still are. Very good motors. Im running a 40hp yamaha that i love. As for as my mercury its 200hp which is a different animal but would buy the same if were doing over again. People running the tohatsu on the rivers really like them. There is a website that has free shipping no sales tax ( outside Tennessee) and hands down best price. There out of memphis.if i think of it ill pm it to you. I have purchased from them with good results. I guess i would buy the best deal out of those brands. Good luck