2018 Yamaha F6 Portable Tiller F6SMHA Outboard Motor

Yamaha's 2018 F6 Portable Tiller, model code F6SMHA, is the short-shaft, 15-inch version of its 6 hp single-cylinder portable, listed at 59 lbs dry. The tiller handle is shortened and the shift lever reshaped for a better one-hand grip than older designs offered.

Before ordering

Weigh the 15-inch shaft against transom height, since Yamaha also sells this engine on a longer shaft that will not sit the same way on a given hull. A twist-grip throttle, 180-degree steering and a large F-N-R shift handle give one-hand control from the tiller.

Storage and control

Front-mounted controls handle shallow-water drive and single-action steering friction adjustment from one spot near the tiller, and a 1.1-liter see-through fuel tank can switch over to a spare tank when the main one runs low. An auxiliary prime pump built into the fuel line helps restart the motor smoothly after long storage, and it can rest on either side or its front grip without leaking oil. Full throttle peaks close to 5500 rpm, and compression is 8.9:1.

What does it run on? Regular unleaded at 87 octane or higher is the fuel call, and the sump takes roughly six-tenths of a liter of oil, Yamalube 4-M FC-W by Yamaha's recommendation. Does it charge a battery? Only with the optional 6-amp alternator kit.

Specifications