2017 Honda 20 HP BF20D3LH Outboard Motor

The 2017 BF20D3LH runs the same formula Honda still sells on this 20 hp tiller outboard: a 20-inch shaft, manual starting by pull cord, and both trim and tilt set by hand rather than from a switch. Built in Japan, the water-cooled, two-cylinder, 350cc engine uses PGM ignition, with its full-throttle band sitting somewhere between 5000 and 6000 rpm, carbureted from its 3.2-gallon tank on 86-octane unleaded fuel.

Why the shaft length matters

Twenty inches suits a standard-depth transom on this family of 20 hp motors; get that measurement wrong and the propeller ends up riding too deep or too shallow once the boat is moving, so check it against your hull first. A fully manual setup like this means no battery, no remote wiring, and no switches anywhere in the rig.

Features carried over from the newer model year

This engine still runs Honda's EZ Steer friction control for adjusting steering tension at the tiller, three-stage carburetion aimed at better fuel economy, and the manufacturer's 3-star CARB emissions rating, with FC-W 10W-30 oil in a wet-sump lubrication system. A 6-amp alternator tops off a battery for accessories even though the motor itself needs none to start.

Common questions

Does it need a battery to run? No. Will it hold up in saltwater? Yes, Honda rates it for that use. What's the warranty term? Five years, new from Honda.

Specifications