Evinrude 9.8 HP Buying Guide: Specs, Prices and Best Models in Stock

Looking for a small, simple motor you can trust? Our Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale is the E10TPL4, a two-cylinder four-stroke with a 20 inch shaft, tiller steering, and power tilt. It has been tested and run in our shop, and we ship it to buyers around the world.

Small outboards get used hard. They push tenders, fishing boats, sailboats, and work skiffs, often in places where there’s no mechanic nearby. So I’ve covered this one properly: specs, how it runs, what it suits, how to look after it, and how buying from us works. The contents list will take you to any section.

Not sure this is the right size for your boat? Have a look at our full Evinrude E-TEC outboard for sale guide, which covers every model in stock.

The Short Version

It’s a 9.8 horsepower, two-cylinder, carbureted four-stroke. That means no oil mixing and very smooth running for its size. It has a long 20 inch shaft, tiller steering, and power tilt, which is rare on a motor this small. At the time of writing we list it at around $2,370.

Why 9.8 and not 10? Because a lot of places set licence, registration, or waterway limits at 10 HP. A 9.8 slides in just under those limits. That alone is why an Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale is so popular around the world.

Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale: Specifications

Two cylinders on a motor this size is a good thing. Single-cylinder small motors shake and buzz. A twin runs smoother and quieter, especially at trolling speed. And being a four-stroke, it uses straight unleaded fuel, so there’s no mixing oil into your tank.

Why the 9.8 Is Such a Popular Size

It fits under common limits. Many countries and waterways draw a line at 10 HP for licensing, registration, or where you’re allowed to run. A 9.8 gets you as close to that line as possible.

It’s portable. Two people can lift it on and off a transom without much trouble, and it fits in the back of most vehicles.

It’s enough. On a light jon boat, an inflatable, or a small aluminum boat, 9.8 HP gets you moving at a decent clip. It won’t plane a heavy boat, but it’ll push most small boats well.

It’s frugal. A small four-stroke sips fuel. A tank lasts a long day of fishing.

How It Runs

Choke, a pull or two, and it’s running. Once warm it idles smoothly with none of the buzz single-cylinder motors have.

On a 12 foot aluminum boat or a small inflatable with one or two people, it gets up and goes. On heavier boats it’ll push steadily at displacement speed, which is fine for trolling or getting around a harbour.

Trolling is a strength. The four-stroke idles low and steady, and it doesn’t foul plugs at slow speed. It’s quiet enough that you can talk normally in the boat.

Power tilt is the luxury feature here. Most small motors make you lean over the transom and lift them by hand. With this one you press a button. When you’re beaching a tender or crossing shallows, you’ll appreciate it.

Which Boats Suit an Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale?

Check your capacity plate for the max horsepower and weight. The U.S. Coast Guard boating safety site explains this clearly.

Good fits:

• 10 to 14 foot jon boats and aluminum boats
• Inflatables and small RIBs, including yacht tenders
• Sailboats that need auxiliary power, where a 20 inch shaft suits the bracket
• Canoes and square-stern canoes rated for it
• Duck boats and small utility boats

The 20 inch shaft is the one to watch. It’s great for sailboats, taller transoms, and choppy water where the prop needs to stay deep. On a small inflatable or jon boat with a 15 inch transom, you’d want a short shaft version. Measure first, or send us the number.

The Sailboat Case

A lot of our 9.8 buyers are sailors. On a small keelboat, the outboard goes on a transom bracket and has to keep the prop in the water as the stern rises and falls. A long 20 inch shaft helps a lot there.

A four-stroke is also a nicer companion on a sailboat. No oil mixing, no smoke drifting into the cockpit, and good fuel economy for motoring home when the wind drops. If you’re thinking about an Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale for a sailboat, send us your bracket height and we’ll tell you if this shaft length suits.

The Tender Case

On a yacht tender, the 9.8 is a sweet spot. It’s strong enough to carry a few people and supplies ashore quickly, light enough to lift onto the rail, and it doesn’t make a mess of the tender or the swim platform. Power tilt makes beaching easy.

Who Else Buys It

Small boat anglers on lakes and rivers, especially where 10 HP limits apply.

Hunters who need a light, reliable motor for duck boats.

Buyers overseas. In many coastal and island communities, a 9.8 is a standard working motor. A tested Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale from us, shipped to port, often costs well under local prices.

What We Check on Every Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale

1. Cold start and warm restart.
2. Idle quality and throttle response.
3. Compression on both cylinders.
4. Engine oil level and condition.
5. Water pump output and tell-tale stream.
6. Gear oil drained and inspected.
7. Shifting and power tilt tested.
8. Visual check for corrosion, damage, and leaks.

Anything we find, we fix or tell you about before you pay.

Why Buy Your Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale From Us

Tested before it’s listed

We don’t list untested motors. You know what you’re getting.

Worldwide shipping

We ship to North America, Europe, Asia, Oceania, Africa, the Middle East, South America, and the Caribbean. Small motors are cheaper to ship, and we crate them properly.

Real answers

Message us through our contact page. See what past buyers said on our reviews page.

Fair price

See the current price on the Evinrude 9.8 HP E10TPL4 product page.

Other Evinrude 9.8 HP Motors We Stock

• Evinrude 9.8HP E10RGL4, our lowest-priced 9.8
• Evinrude 9.8HP E10PGL4
• Evinrude 9.8HP E10RG4, short shaft

Every Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale we have is on our Evinrude 9.8 HP category page. Also see the 6 HP and 15 HP ranges, or the full Evinrude collection.

Reading the Model Code

• E Evinrude
• 10 the 9.8 HP class
• T tiller
• P power tilt
• R rope start
• G graphite
• L 20 inch shaft. No L usually means 15 inch
• 4 four-stroke

So an E10RG4 is a rope-start, short shaft, graphite four-stroke. Handy when you’re comparing one Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale with another.

Four-Stroke Care Is Different

If you’ve only owned E-TEC two-strokes, note the differences. This motor has engine oil in a crankcase, just like a car. That means:

• Check the oil level before each outing.
• Change the oil regularly, typically after the first 20 hours and then roughly every 100 hours or once a season.
• Use 4-stroke marine oil, Evinrude/Johnson 5W40 Ultra or an equivalent marine grade.
• Don’t mix oil into the fuel. Straight unleaded only.

It’s simple stuff, and it keeps a small four-stroke running for many years.

Carburetor Care

Small carbureted motors have one weak spot: stale fuel. Leave fuel sitting in the carburetor for months and it gums up the tiny jets. That’s the number one reason small outboards won’t start in spring.

• Use fresh fuel and add stabilizer.
• Run the carb dry before storing it for more than a few weeks. Disconnect the fuel line and let it run until it stops.
• Drain the float bowl if there’s a drain screw.
• Fit a fuel filter to keep dirt and water out.

Do this and your Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale will start on the first or second pull every season.

Maintenance Checklist

1. Check engine oil before each use.
2. Change engine oil as scheduled.
3. Flush with fresh water after salt.
4. Check the tell-tale every start.
5. Change gear oil once a season.
6. Replace the impeller every few seasons.
7. Replace spark plugs as needed.
8. Grease the fittings and tilt mechanism.
9. Run the carb dry before storage.

For more general care tips, BoatUS has plenty of guides.

Getting the Prop Right

Aim for 5,000 to 6,000 RPM at full throttle with your normal load. On a heavy tender or sailboat, a lower pitch prop helps push. On a light jon boat, a higher pitch gives more speed. Some sailors fit a high-thrust prop for pushing a keelboat. Ask us what suits your boat.

Common Problems and Quick Fixes

Won’t start after sitting. Stale fuel in the carb is the usual cause. Fresh fuel first, then a carb clean if needed.

Starts then dies. Leave the choke on a little longer while cold. Check the fuel line connector and tank vent.

Won’t pull over. Make sure it’s in neutral.

Weak tell-tale. Clear the outlet with a bit of wire. If still weak, check the impeller.

Rough idle. Check the plugs, and make sure the fuel is fresh.

Power tilt slow or stuck. Check battery charge and connections first.

Every Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale we ship leaves us running right. These tips are just for down the road.

Using It as a Kicker

Many anglers run a 9.8 as a kicker motor on a bigger boat. Clamped beside the main outboard, it handles trolling at speeds a big motor can’t idle down to, and saves hours on the main engine. The 20 inch shaft on the E10TPL4 suits most transoms where a kicker goes. Tie the kicker’s steering to the main motor with a link bar and you can steer both from the helm.

Checking Any Used Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale

• Cold start. See it started from cold.
• Engine oil. Right level, not milky.
• Tell-tale. Strong and steady.
• Gear oil. Clean, no water or metal.
• Shaft and skeg. Straight, no cracks.
• Power tilt. Smooth, full travel.
• Corrosion. Especially on saltwater motors.

We check all of these before any motor ships.

Stay Safe Out There

Wear a life jacket, carry oars or a paddle, clip on the kill cord, and check the weather. Small boats with small motors can get caught out by wind and chop. With sensible habits, an Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale like this gives you years of easy boating.

What’s in the Box

Setups vary a little between units, so confirm with us before ordering. Normally you get the complete motor with tiller handle, cowling, and power tilt, ready to clamp on. Most 9.8s run from an external fuel tank with a quick-connect line. If you need a tank, line, or a battery for the power tilt, tell us and we’ll point you in the right direction.

Transporting and Storing a 9.8

Two people can lift it into a car or truck without trouble. If you lay it down, use the side the manual specifies so engine oil doesn’t run into the cylinders or intake. At home, an outboard stand or wall bracket keeps it upright and out of the way.

Before long storage, flush it, run the carb dry, change the engine oil, and change the gear oil. Spray a little corrosion inhibitor on the outside if it lives near the coast. Do that and it’ll start on the first or second pull next season.

A Typical Day With the 9.8

Clamp it on, connect the fuel line, squeeze the primer bulb until firm, choke on, and pull. It fires quickly. Let it warm for a minute, choke off, and use the power tilt to drop the leg into the water. From there it’s a smooth, quiet run to wherever you’re going, on very little fuel. When you’re done, tilt it up with a press of the button. Simple, reliable, and exactly why so many people look for an Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale.

Parts and Support

Evinrude’s small four-strokes were built with proven outboard technology, and parts are shared widely with other popular small four-strokes. Impellers, plugs, filters, anodes, and gaskets are easy to find from marine suppliers worldwide. BRP said it would keep supporting Evinrude owners after production ended in 2020. For more on the brand, see this history of Evinrude outboard motors.

Checking Any Used Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale

• Starting. Should start within a few pulls cold.
• Idle. Steady, without hunting or stalling.
• Engine oil. Clean and at the right level, not milky.
• Tell-tale. Strong, steady stream.
• Gear oil. Clean, no water.
• Corrosion. Around the clamps and lower unit.
• Tilt. Power tilt should work smoothly.

We check all of this before shipping.

Ordering Your Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale

1. Go to the E10TPL4 product page and add it to your cart, or message us first.
2. We confirm and quote shipping.
3. You pay at checkout.
4. We crate it, ship it, and send tracking.
5. You clamp it on and go.

Please read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions first.

Shipping and customs

About a week for most of North America after dispatch. Overseas orders usually go by sea to the nearest port, or by air if you’re in a hurry. A small motor like this is far cheaper to ship than a big one. Duties are set by your country, and we provide the paperwork.

When it arrives

Check the crate before signing, unpack carefully, and check the engine oil level before the first start, since motors are sometimes shipped with the oil drained. Then clamp it on, connect a fuel tank, and run it on muffs or in the water to check the tell-tale. Any problems, contact us straight away.

FAQ: Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale

Is it a four-stroke?

Yes, a two-cylinder carbureted four-stroke. No oil mixing.

Is it rope start?

Yes, pull start with a tiller handle, plus power tilt.

Can two people lift it?

Yes, it’s portable. Ask us for the exact weight of this unit.

Will it fit my inflatable?

Only if the transom suits a 20 inch shaft. Most small inflatables need a 15 inch. Check first.

Do you ship the Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale worldwide?

Yes. Give us your location.

Why 9.8 and not 10?

To stay just under common 10 HP licensing and waterway limits in many places.

More Evinrude Guides

• Evinrude 6 HP outboard for sale
• Evinrude 15 HP outboard for sale
• Evinrude 3.5 HP outboard for sale
• Evinrude 25 HP outboard for sale

Browse our shop, accessories and kayaks, or read about us. New to boating? Discover Boating has good beginner guides.

Final Word on This Evinrude 9.8 HP Outboard for Sale

Smooth twin-cylinder four-stroke, long shaft, power tilt, and a size that fits under common limits. This Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale is a great all-rounder for tenders, sailboats, and small fishing boats, and it’s tested and ready to ship.

If it suits your boat, order it. Questions? Just message us.

Buy the Evinrude 9.8 HP outboard for sale today.