Suzuki 20 HP DF20ATLW5 Outboard Motor

Description

The Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale here is the white version of Suzuki’s remote steered 20 HP four stroke, and it is new in the crate. You get a two cylinder fuel injected engine, a 20 inch shaft, electric start and power tilt, all under a white cowl. The price is shown on this page.

We supply new Suzuki outboards to private owners, charter and dive operators, rental fleets and boat builders, and we ship worldwide. Send us the delivery address or the nearest port and we give you a written delivery quote before you pay a cent. Ordering is straightforward and we answer questions quickly.

Everything about this motor is the same as the grey version except the colour. Still, colour is a real reason to buy, so we start there. Then you get the specs, the model code, rigging, running costs, care and the questions people ask us about the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale.

Why Buy the White Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

Plenty of buyers pick white without thinking about it. A white cowl looks right on a white fibreglass hull, a white inflatable or a pale aluminium workboat. The motor looks like part of the boat, and not a dark lump bolted to the back.

There is a practical side too. Dark cowls soak up heat in strong sun, and a hot cowl is unpleasant to touch when you reach back to check something. White stays cooler, fades less and hides scuffs and salt marks better. If your boat sits in the sun all summer, that matters.

Fleet owners like it for another reason. A row of matching white motors on rental boats looks tidy, and customers notice. The Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale gives you that look with no extra work.

Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale: Specifications

Check the paperwork in the crate for the final weight, as it shifts slightly with equipment. For a side by side look at neighbouring models, Suzuki publishes the small outboard range on its own site.

The Model Code Explained

Start with DF, Suzuki’s four stroke prefix, then 20 for horsepower. The A marks the current small motor generation. T is power tilt, L is the 20 inch shaft and W is white. The final 5 is the production series.

No H means there is no tiller, so this is a remote motor you steer from the helm. Drop the W and you have the standard colour Suzuki DF20ATL5. Swap the L for an S and you get the short shaft white Suzuki DF20ATSW5.

Where the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale Earns Its Keep

Inflatables and rigid inflatables

A white motor on a grey or white tube boat looks neat. A twenty horse unit is a good match for a larger inflatable tender or a small rigid inflatable, and the power tilt is a gift when you need to lift the motor to beach the boat.

Dive and charter boats

Operators hear complaints about noise and smell. A quiet four stroke with hub exhaust helps on both counts. The Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale suits a small dive boat that makes short runs to the site.

Rental fleets

Rental boats get used by people who have never driven one. Electric start, remote steering and a simple lever make the boat easy to hand over. Fuel injection means no choke to fiddle with.

Sailboat auxiliaries

Many cruising boats are white, and the long shaft keeps the propeller in the water on a tall transom. The power tilt lifts the motor clear when you sail.

Heavy jon boats and utility skiffs

Painted aluminium boats in pale colours take a white cowl well, and the motor has plenty of power for a loaded flat bottom hull.

What Makes the 20 HP Block Good

The engine is a compact in-line twin, 327 cc, with a single overhead cam. It is not trying to be exciting. Suzuki designed it to be light, quiet and frugal, and to make power in the middle of the range where small boats spend their time.

Battery-less fuel injection is the clever part. The electronic fuel injection runs its own power from the engine, so the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale still starts on the recoil backup if the battery has died. A carburettor motor needs choke and patience. This one starts the same on a cold morning as on a hot afternoon.

Why Twenty Horsepower Works on Light Hulls

A lot of boats in the 12 to 16 foot range are overpowered with a bigger motor and underpowered with a smaller one. Twenty horsepower sits in the useful middle. It gets a light hull on the plane with two or three people aboard, and it still lets the boat idle along quietly for fishing or sightseeing.

The Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale is also gentle on the transom. A heavier engine pulls the stern down, wets the transom and spoils the way a small hull rides. Keeping the weight modest is part of why this size is so popular for tenders and utility boats.

Power Tilt on the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

Press a button and the motor lifts. Press again and it comes down. For an owner who beaches the boat on a shingle shore or leaves it on a trailer, that saves effort and a bad back. It also means you can lift the lower unit out of the water on a mooring to slow marine growth.

Trim angle is still set with the pin on the bracket, so adjust it once for your boat and leave it. For most twenty horsepower hulls that is all you need.

Rigging Notes for the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

You need a control box with a single lever, throttle and shift cables of the right length, steering that matches your helm, a key switch panel, a harness and a marine battery. Order these before the motor arrives so the boat does not sit waiting for a small part.

Measure the transom with a tape. A 20 inch shaft suits a transom of about 20 inches. If your measurement is nearer 15 inches, the short shaft version is the correct one, and fitting the long leg would drag the gearcase and waste power.

Run cables in a smooth curve and clip them every foot or so. Keep wiring away from fuel lines and the steering. Fit a battery switch if the boat sits for long periods, so nothing slowly drains the battery.

Matching the Bracket and the Transom

Before you bolt anything on, check the transom is solid. Press along the inside with your thumb and look for soft spots or hairline cracks near the bolt holes. A twenty horse motor is light, but it still pulls and twists the transom every time you turn.

Use backing plates or large washers under the bolts, and seal the holes with marine sealant. Fit the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale on the centreline, tighten the clamp screws evenly and add the safety cable if the boat has one.

Fuel, Battery and Charging

The Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale runs on regular unleaded, 87 octane. Fill from a clean can or a tank with a vent that works, and fit a water separating filter if the fuel in your area is poor. Water in a fuel system causes more trouble than any other single thing.

The alternator on this motor is a modest 10 amp unit. That keeps the starter battery topped up and runs a few lights, but it is not meant to run a big stack of electronics. If you add a fish finder, a chartplotter and a bilge pump, use a separate house battery or charge from shore.

Colour Care for the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

White cowls are easy to keep clean. Rinse with fresh water after each trip, then wash with mild boat soap now and then. A coat of marine wax every season slows chalking and helps salt rinse off.

Avoid harsh solvents on the cowl. They can dull the finish. If you get a scuff, a soft cloth and polish usually fixes it. Touch up chips on bare metal parts quickly so corrosion does not take hold under the paint.

Sun, Heat and Hot Water Use

In hot climates the cooling system works harder, and warm water carries more silt and weed. Check the tell-tale stream every time you start the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale, and replace the impeller a little earlier if you run in sandy or silty water.

Keep the motor tilted up when the boat is moored in warm water. Growth builds on the gearcase quickly in the tropics, and a clean lower unit cools better and drags less. A cover over the cowl helps too, as UV breaks down every plastic eventually.

Break In for the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

Read the owner’s manual and follow its break-in table. In short, vary the throttle, keep off wide open for long stretches during the first hours and watch the cooling stream. Change the oil at the first service. A careful start gives the rings and bearings the best chance to settle.

Servicing the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

• Flush with fresh water after every use in salt or dirty water.
• Change engine oil and filter every year or at the manual interval.
• Replace the gear oil each season and look for a milky colour.
• Inspect anodes and replace when half consumed.
• Replace the impeller every two or three seasons.
• Change fuel filters and inspect the fuel line.
• Check spark plugs and other items at the interval in the manual.

Genuine consumables are listed in the Suzuki parts and accessories catalogue. Most items are everyday stock for any outboard dealer.

Propeller Choice for the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

You want the motor reaching 5,300 to 6,300 rpm at full throttle with the boat loaded as you normally use it. A fully loaded boat with three adults needs less pitch than a light one. If revs sit below the range, drop a pitch. If the motor is over the top, climb.

Use a hand tachometer or a rev gauge on the helm. Give us your boat type and load and we will suggest a size to start with.

Handling Tips From the Helm

Do not slam the lever from forward to reverse. Come back to neutral, count a second and then select the new gear. Gears last for years if you treat them this way. Keep your weight balanced so the boat sits level, and move heavy gear forward if the bow rides high.

On a remote motor, check that the steering turns freely lock to lock before you leave the dock. A stiff steering cable sometimes shows up first as a boat that pulls to one side. Grease the cable and the tilt tube each season.

White Version or Standard Colour?

Mechanically the two are the same, so the choice is style and use. If your boat is dark or you like the traditional look, the grey and black Suzuki DF20ATL5 is fine. If your hull is light, if you run a fleet or if you spend long days in strong sun, the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale is the better choice.

White models also tend to be easier to resell on matching boats, because they look cleaner after a few seasons. We cannot promise resale value, but buyers do like a motor that looks fresh.

Remote Twenty Against Tiller Twenty

If you sit at the back of a small open boat, a tiller motor such as the Suzuki DF20ATHLW5 is lighter and cheaper to rig. If your boat has a console or a wheel, you want the remote layout. The Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale also leaves the back of the boat free, because you are not sitting beside the motor.

Is Twenty Enough? Looking at 25

Twenty horsepower moves a surprising amount of boat, but heavy loads can ask for more. The next model up, the Suzuki DF25ATHLW2, has a three cylinder 490 cc block. Check your boat’s plate for the maximum horsepower first. Going over the rated limit is unsafe and can affect insurance.

Salt Water and Storage

Flush after every salt trip. Wipe the cowl and the bracket, and spray a light corrosion inhibitor under the cowl once in a while. Over winter, drain or stabilise the fuel, change the oil, charge the battery indoors and store the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale upright with a cover on.

Troubleshooting Quick Reference

No crank. Look at the kill switch clip, the neutral lever position and the battery cables.

Cranks, no start. Squeeze the primer bulb, open the tank vent and check the filter for water.

Weak cooling stream. Clear the outlet with fine wire. If it stays weak, replace the impeller.

Low top speed. Check the prop pitch and the mounting height first.

Alarm sounds. Slow down at once and check oil and cooling before you carry on.

Safety Kit to Carry

Clip the kill switch lanyard on whenever the motor runs. Carry a spare prop and nut, a basic tool set, a spare fuel filter, a paddle or oar, a bailer, flares or a VHF and enough lifejackets for everyone. A small spare kit on a boat with a Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale costs very little and can save a long tow.

Before You Order the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

• Measure the transom to confirm the 20 inch shaft is correct.
• Check the boat’s rated horsepower and maximum engine weight.
• List the controls, cables, harness and battery you need.
• Decide white or standard colour.
• Tell us your country so we can quote shipping.

What You Pay For and What Arrives

Every motor we sell is new, and the price is on this page. Before you pay, we send you a delivery quote for your country, so there are no surprises at the end. The Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale ships in the factory crate, packed on a pallet, with the owner’s manual and warranty paperwork inside.

Controls, harness, propeller and fuel tank depend on what we hold in stock, so ask us what comes with your motor before you order. We handle the export paperwork and give you tracking once the crate is moving.

How the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale Sounds and Smells

People who come from old two strokes notice two things at once. There is no blue smoke and no oily haze over the water, and the engine note is a soft, low hum instead of a rasp. At idle you can stand next to it and hold a conversation.

That matters on shared water. Marinas, lakes with residential shores and dive sites all get tired of noisy boats. A quiet white motor draws fewer complaints, and passengers enjoy the trip more. It is a small thing, but owners mention it more than almost any other benefit of the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale.

Fuel injection also keeps the exhaust clean at low speed. Trolling or idling for hours does not foul plugs the way it does on a carburetted engine. Run it hard for a few minutes at the end of a slow day if you like, but it is not a requirement.

Warranty

Suzuki factory warranty terms depend on your region and on whether the motor is used for leisure or work. Keep your receipt and service records, and ask us about warranty in your country before you buy.

Ordering the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale From Us

We ship worldwide and handle freight to your door, a port, an airport or a forwarder you already use. Read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions before you order. See what buyers say on the reviews page, find out about us, or talk to us on the contact page.

More Suzuki Outboards to Consider

• All 20 HP Suzuki outboards
• Suzuki DF20ATL5, standard colour
• Suzuki DF20ATSW5, white, short shaft
• Suzuki DF20ATHLW5, white tiller
• Suzuki DF20ASW5, white, manual
• Suzuki DF25ATHLW2, white 25 HP
• Suzuki DF30ATLW5, white 30 HP
• All Suzuki outboards
• The full shop

Our blog has rigging and care advice. You can also see Suzuki’s wider line at globalsuzuki.com.

FAQ: Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale

Is the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale new?

Yes. New, in the factory crate, with Suzuki paperwork.

What does the W mean on the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale?

It means a white cowl. The engine is the same as the standard colour model.

What shaft length is the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale?

20 inch, the long shaft, for transoms about 20 inches tall.

Does the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale steer by tiller?

No. It is a remote model, so you need controls and steering at the helm.

Does the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale have electric start?

Yes, with a manual backup if the battery is flat.

How much does the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale weigh?

About 120 lb or 54 kg. Check the paperwork for the exact figure.

Do you ship the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale to my country?

We ship worldwide. Send your location and we quote delivery before you pay.

Last Word

If your boat is pale, your days are sunny or your fleet needs to look good, the Suzuki DF20ATLW5 for sale gives you a quiet, fuel injected, remote 20 horsepower motor in white. Order it now, or send us your boat details and we will confirm the fit.