2017 Yamaha F20 SEHA Outboard Motor

Badged SEHA, this 2017 portable from Yamaha puts 20 hp on a 15-inch shaft at 117 lbs dry, built around a two-cylinder four-stroke of 362cc. It suits jon boats, small sailboats and tenders where a buyer wants real power without loading down the transom.

Fit and rigging

Getting the wrong shaft length is the single most common reason a small outboard gets sent back, so hold a tape to your transom before you order rather than after the box arrives. This one tilts between 67 and 71 degrees across four trim settings, steers 45 degrees off center each way, and can be started manually or electrically, so match that detail to your existing wiring.

Under the cowling

The block runs a 2.08:1 gear ratio and 9.3:1 compression, with a 10-amp alternator, enough for basic lighting and a fish finder rather than a full electronics suite. Oil capacity is 1.8 liters when a filter is fitted, 1.6 without, and the engine carries a three-star emissions rating that matters if you're ordering into a restricted state.

Common questions

Is this a good first outboard for a small boat? At 117 lbs with manual-or-electric starting, it's a reasonable step up from a tiny two-stroke without the bulk of a midrange four-stroke, and light enough for one person to mount solo.

What's the warranty? Three years applies to pleasure use, with two of those years covering the jet pump assembly where one is fitted; government use gets three years, commercial use one.

Browse Yamaha outboards for other shaft lengths if 15 inches isn't right for your transom.