2018 Yamaha F30 Midrange Mechanical 20 F30LA Outboard Motor

At 214 lbs dry, the F30LA is light enough for aluminum fishing boats and inflatables, built around a 747cc, three-cylinder SOHC four-stroke on a 20-inch shaft with cable-and-lever steering. Its Nitro Assist Tilt is meant to make tilting noticeably easier by hand than a plain mechanical outboard.

Setup checklist

Shaft length here is 20 inches, and starting is electric. An optional Multi-Function Tiller handle with a trolling-speed switch can be fitted to this model if you'd rather steer by hand than from a console, and power trim and tilt versions raise the bow for a better hole shot and higher top speed on the way up.

Power and feed

The single-overhead-camshaft, three-cylinder layout gives a compact, space-saving design shared with Yamaha's larger F40. Intake air passes through a single throttle valve before splitting into individually tuned tracks for even cylinder filling, and a vapor-reducing fuel return system paired with multi-point injection targets dependable starting in hot or cold weather. Alternator output is 17 amps. A sizable, on-engine fuel filter with a water sensor keeps contaminants away from the injectors, which matters most on boats that sit at a dock between short outings. The three-cylinder layout also keeps the overall package noticeably narrower than a four-cylinder motor of similar output.

Ask us about rigging and accessory compatibility before ordering, since control and trim options vary across this Midrange line, and let us know if you're moving this engine onto a boat it wasn't originally rigged for.