Best Outboard Motors in 2023 [Buyers Guide] Reviews

Best Outboard Motors in 2019 [Buyers Guide] Reviews

How To Choose The Best Outboard Motor: Buying Guide

Outboards range from small portable motors that clamp onto an inflatable or a jon boat up to V8s making several hundred horsepower. Price climbs with power, but horsepower is only one part of the decision. Engine type, shaft length, the weight your hull can carry and how you actually use the boat all matter just as much. Here is what to look at before you buy.

Type

The first choice is between a two-stroke and a four-stroke. The names refer to how many piston strokes it takes to complete one power cycle. Old-style carbureted two-strokes are disappearing from showrooms. They burn fuel less completely and put more unburned oil and gas into the water, and emissions rules have pushed most makers away from them.

Four-strokes run cleaner, tend to be more reliable and usually last longer. Some makers kept the two-stroke alive with direct fuel injection (DFI). DFI sprays fuel into the cylinder only after the exhaust port has closed, so far less of it escapes unburned. That makes a DFI two-stroke much cleaner and more efficient than the older design.

Also think about how the motor starts. Most small outboards are pull-start. Electric start is easier, especially on bigger motors, but you will need a marine battery to run it, which adds cost.

Torque Differences

A four-stroke delivers its torque more evenly across the rev range, so acceleration feels smoother and more predictable. A two-stroke has a sharper, punchier power band. Four-strokes used to carry a real weight penalty, but newer designs have closed most of that gap, and on the water the speed difference between the two types is now small.

Boat Weight

A heavier boat needs more power to get moving and stay on plane. Start with the boat’s dry weight, then add everything you normally carry: passengers, fuel, coolers and gear. If you regularly run loaded or want more top-end speed, size up. Match the propeller to the motor and load as well. Remember that a bigger motor is also a heavier one, which matters if you ever need to lift it off the transom yourself.

Hull Capacity

The transom has to carry the motor’s weight as well as its power. That is why every boat has a maximum horsepower rating, usually printed on the capacity plate and in the owner’s manual. Check it before you shop.

Many older hulls were designed around lighter two-strokes. A four-stroke can still work well on them as long as you stay within the rated limits. Going over can actually make the boat slower and less efficient, and too much weight at the stern can make it unsafe by pushing the transom down.

Fuel Efficiency

Fuel economy is the classic two-stroke weakness. In a carbureted two-stroke, the intake and exhaust ports are open at the same moment for part of every cycle. Some of the fresh fuel-and-oil mix goes straight out the exhaust without burning, which costs you fuel and raises emissions.

A four-stroke, and a DFI two-stroke, keep the exhaust closed while the fuel burns, so more of every gallon turns into thrust. Four-strokes also keep their oil in a separate system, like a car engine. Many two-strokes need oil mixed into the fuel or an oil-injection reservoir kept topped up.

Long Shaft or Short Shaft

Shaft length decides whether the propeller sits where it can do its job. Short shafts, around 15 inches, suit low transoms like those on inflatables and small tenders. Long shafts, 20 inches and up, fit most fishing boats and larger hulls.

To find the right length, measure straight down from the top of the transom, where the motor clamps, to the bottom of the hull. The motor’s anti-ventilation plate should end up roughly level with the bottom of the hull.

A shaft that is too short leaves the prop too shallow. It can suck air and lose grip, or barely reach the water. A shaft that is too long creates extra drag and can lift the bow. With a powerful motor that can make the boat unstable.

FAQ’s

Q: Are Four-Strokes Always Better Than Two-Strokes?

A: Not always, but for most boaters they are the better pick. They are quieter, more fuel-efficient and give you finer speed control at low RPM, which matters when you are trolling or cruising. The trade-off is weight, though that gap keeps shrinking.

A two-stroke of the same horsepower is usually lighter and responds faster to the throttle, which some people value for getting out of a tight spot quickly. Expect more noise, vibration and exhaust in exchange.

Q: Are Two Motors Better Than One?

A: Your boat’s horsepower rating caps the total, whether it comes from one motor or two. Two motors that add up to the same horsepower as one won’t make you faster, and buying and maintaining two usually costs more. The real advantage is redundancy. If each motor has its own fuel and power supply and one quits, the other can still get you home. Whatever you run, carry working flares and a radio.

Q: Is High-Octane Gas Best?

A: Not necessarily. Octane measures how well fuel resists igniting too early under compression. Early ignition, often heard as knocking, wastes power and can damage the engine. Your owner’s manual lists the octane the motor was designed for. Use that grade. Paying for higher octane than the motor needs won’t add power or efficiency; it only raises your fuel bill.

Q: Should I Rig With The Biggest Motor Allowed?

A: You don’t have to, but it often pays off. Extra power gives you more top speed and better handling, and it lets the motor work less hard at cruising speed. A smaller motor can be fine and saves money if your needs are modest. Just don’t undersize it. Plan for your heaviest loads and the roughest water you expect to run in, not the calm days.

Q: Are Outboards Maintenance-Free?

A: No engine is. Regular care keeps an outboard running properly and adds years to its life. Your owner’s manual will cover flushing, cleaning, inspection and seasonal service. Between trips, rinse the motor down and protect it from sun and weather with a fitted outboard motor cover. Some full boat covers are big enough to cover the motor too.

Q: What Speed Can You Get With Small Outboards?

A: It depends on the motor’s power and the boat’s weight. Most small outboards will push a light boat at somewhere around 5 to 10 mph. Larger motors can get the boat up on plane, where the hull lifts and skims across the surface. That cuts drag dramatically, so speed rises quickly.

Overview

The right outboard is one of the best investments you can make in your boat. Pick one that fits your hull, your loads and the way you use the boat, and it will run reliably for years. Weigh each factor in this guide against your own boat before you buy.