Last of what we consider to be portable outboard motors is the 15 & 20hp group. In this market until very recently Suzuki was the runaway leader, as at 44kg their 15/20 was 8kg lighter than the nearest rival. And – uniquely – it has EFI (Electronic Fuel Injection) for easier starting (no choke etc), faster pick-up and better fuel economy. Yes, that’s double the power for only a 19% increase (7kg) in weight, compared with the (lightest-in-class) Tohatsu 9.8!
2019 RRP on the Suzuki 20 £2900 (for the manual start, tiller version, many other options available please call or email)
However in late 2017 Tohatsu announced their new 20hp four stroke, also with EFI, and weighing in at… 43kg. So only 1kg lighter, but once you get over 40kg every kilo really does count. We are also told it’s even more fuel efficient than the Suzuki, but to be fair the Suzuki is already astonishingly fuel efficient. (Neither motor would use up 12 litres – the size of tank supplied with both – of petrol during a typical day’s use.)
The new model Tohatsu 20 price is £2640. NB if you find a Tohatsu 20 listed cheaper, it may be the previous version – this was a very nice engine but does not have EFI and weighs 52kg.
If you were thinking about a 10hp motor the Suzuki 15 at £2445 may also be worth consideration. It has no weight advantage over the 20, but some boats have a 15hp limit, and with this motor you still get EFI and a motor that only weighs 44kg. The same logic of course applies to the new model Tohatsu 15, which we can do at £2160.
See also, Electric outboards