Honda 20HP Portable Outboard | BF20D3LHT

Honda's BF20D3LHT adds electric starting, backed by a manual cord, and power tilt to the 20-inch-shaft, tiller-steered 20 hp outboard, which brings the weight to 133 pounds. The 350cc, two-cylinder, carbureted engine carries over unchanged otherwise, full throttle still between 5000 and 6000 rpm, the difference being the starter and tilt hardware bolted on.

What to check before buying

The 20-inch shaft still needs to match your transom height, the same requirement as the manual version of this engine. With electric start backed by a pull cord, a flat battery won't leave you stranded, and power tilt raises or lowers the motor from a switch rather than a hand lever.

What's bundled in

Included with this motor: a propeller, a charging circuit for the battery, 3 gallons of fuel in an outside tank connected by its own line, power tilt gear, a stop-switch lanyard, and the printed manual.

Keeping it running

Keeping the onboard battery topped up between trips matters more on this version than on the manual model, and running fresh fuel through the carburetor each season still helps it start easily every spring rather than fighting old gas.

Can I start it by hand if the battery is dead? Yes, the manual cord backs up electric start. Is a lanyard switch included? Yes. Does it have shallow water drive? Yes, for running in thin water.