YAMAHA 15 HP F15SMHA OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

We have the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale, new in its crate and ready to ship anywhere in the world. It is Yamaha’s 15 horsepower four-stroke with a 15 inch short shaft, a 362 cc twin cylinder engine, tiller steering, a pull start and a full forward, neutral and reverse gearbox. It weighs about 111 pounds, making it the lightest version of the Yamaha 15, and it runs from a separate portable fuel tank.

The 15 is where small outboards start to feel properly quick. On the right RIB, inflatable or small aluminium boat, it gets two or three people onto the plane without fuss and cruises at a pace a 9.9 cannot match. Yamaha’s F15 has the largest displacement in its class, which gives it strong, relaxed power. If your boat is rated for 15 HP and has a 15 inch transom, the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is a smart, simple choice. Below are the specifications, the boats it suits, how it runs, how to fit it, how to look after it and how ordering works.

Yamaha F15SMHA Specifications

These match Yamaha’s published F15 specs, which you can see on Yamaha’s 25, 20 and 15 HP portables page. The Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is the short shaft, manual start tiller model.

Model Code Explained

F is four-stroke. 15 is horsepower. S is the 15 inch short shaft. M is manual start. H is tiller handle. A is the generation. So the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is the short shaft, pull start tiller motor. Other versions we stock include the electric start Yamaha F15SEHA, the long shaft pull start Yamaha F15LMHA, the long shaft electric start Yamaha F15LEHA and the long shaft power tilt Yamaha F15LPHA.

Why a 15 HP

For many small boats, 15 HP is the sweet spot. A 9.9 will plane a light inflatable with two people, but add a third person, some fishing gear or a bit of chop and it can struggle. A 15 has the reserve to keep the boat on the plane with heavier loads and in rougher water. It also cruises at a lower, quieter throttle setting for the same speed, which means less noise and often similar fuel use.

Yamaha’s F15 is a 362 cc twin. That is a big engine for 15 HP, and Yamaha points out that it has the largest displacement in its class. More displacement for the same power means the engine is not working as hard, which tends to mean smooth running, good low-down pull and long life. The Yamaha F15SMHA for sale gives you that engine in its simplest, lightest form.

The trade-off is weight. At about 111 pounds, the 15 is roughly 25 pounds heavier than a 9.9. If you lift the motor on and off the boat often, think about that. If it stays on the boat, the extra performance is well worth it.

Boats That Suit the Yamaha F15SMHA for Sale

RIBs and larger inflatables

Many RIBs and inflatables from about 11 to 14 feet are rated for 15 to 25 HP. A 15 on these boats gives a lively ride with two or three people and enough reserve for coastal conditions. It is a very popular tender motor for larger yachts.

Small aluminium and jon boats

On a 12 to 14 foot aluminium boat or jon boat with a 15 inch transom, the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale makes a quick, economical fishing setup. It gets you across a big lake much faster than a 9.9, then idles down smoothly for trolling.

Small skiffs and dinghies

Light fibreglass skiffs and sailing dinghies rated for 15 HP with a 15 inch transom also suit it well.

How It Runs

The pull start on the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is easy for a 362 cc engine. Yamaha has made the starting system smooth, and with a little choke on a cold morning the motor usually fires in one or two pulls. Warm, it normally starts first time. There is no battery to maintain, which keeps things simple and saves weight.

Once running, the twin is smooth and quiet. There is little vibration through the tiller and no smoke. Open the throttle and the boat pulls cleanly onto the plane. Shifting is through a lever, always at idle, and reverse is strong for docking and backing off beaches. The tiller has adjustable steering friction so the motor can hold a straight course.

Fuel

The Yamaha F15SMHA for sale runs from a separate portable tank with a primer bulb hose. A 12 or 24 litre tank on the floor of the boat gives you plenty of range and keeps the fuel weight low. Open the vent, squeeze the bulb until firm and start. Use fresh unleaded with no more than 10 percent ethanol, and add stabiliser if the boat will sit.

Speed and Performance

On a 12 foot RIB with two adults, a 15 typically planes quickly and cruises comfortably at a good clip. On a light 14 foot aluminium boat with one or two anglers, it gives a fast, efficient run. Real speeds depend on hull, load, trim and conditions, but the step up from a 9.9 to the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is noticeable on almost any planing boat.

Fitting the Motor

Check your boat’s capacity plate for maximum horsepower and engine weight. At about 111 pounds, the motor is a two-person lift. Clamp it in the centre of the transom so the anti-cavitation plate sits at or just below the bottom of the hull. Tighten the clamps firmly; for a motor that stays on the boat, through-bolting adds security. Fit a safety line. Set the trim rod so the leg is vertical when the boat is running with its normal load. Connect the fuel, check the oil, start in neutral and look for the cooling water stream before shifting into gear.

Break-In

Every new Yamaha needs a gentle break-in. For the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale, run at varied low and medium throttle for the first hours, add short bursts higher as the hours go on, avoid long full-throttle runs and check the oil before each trip. Change the oil at the end of the break-in. Yamaha’s manual explains the procedure, and copies are on Yamaha’s owner’s manual page.

Maintenance

Yamaha designed the F15 so that the oil and fuel system parts are easy to reach, which makes routine service straightforward. After salt water use, flush with fresh water and rinse the outside. Each season, change the engine oil and gear oil, check the spark plugs, grease the clamp screws, swivel and tilt points, check the propeller and anode, and inspect the fuel filter and hose. Every few seasons, replace the water pump impeller.

Before winter, run the carburettor dry or treat the fuel with stabiliser, change the oil, flush and store the motor upright somewhere dry. Stale fuel in the carburettor is the most common cause of starting problems after storage. Look after the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale like this and it will give you years of reliable use.

Troubleshooting

If the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale will not start, check the tank vent, hose connections, primer bulb and fuel freshness. Make sure the kill cord clip is in place. If it is flooded, push the choke in, open the throttle slightly and pull a few times. If it starts then dies, the tank vent is usually closed. If the cooling stream is weak, clear the tell-tale outlet with a thin wire, then check the intake and impeller.

Using It as a Tender Motor

On larger yacht tenders, the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is a favourite. It gets a loaded tender up and planing, which makes trips ashore quick even when the anchorage is a long way out. The weight means it is best left on the tender or lifted with a davit or tackle rather than by hand. At anchor overnight, tilt it up to keep the lower unit clean, and lock it to the transom in busy harbours.

Using It for Fishing

On a small aluminium or jon boat, the extra power of the 15 means less time running and more time fishing. Once you arrive, it idles down smoothly for trolling, and reverse helps you back off snags and hold position. A portable tank gives all-day range. Set the throttle friction so the grip holds at trolling speed.

Pull Start or Electric Start?

The Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is pull start. That keeps it lighter, simpler and cheaper, with no battery to buy or maintain. If you have a bad shoulder, start and stop often while fishing, or already carry a battery, the electric start F15SEHA may suit you better. For most owners who start the motor a few times a trip, pull start is perfectly fine.

Hot and Cold Climates

In warm, humid places, keep fuel fresh with stabiliser, keep cans shaded and tilt the motor out of the water when moored. In cold places, use a little more choke on cold mornings, drain all water before frost and change the gear oil before storage.

What Comes in the Crate

The motor arrives assembled with the propeller fitted, the owner’s manual and factory paperwork. Ask us whether a portable fuel tank is included with your shipment. Check the oil tag and level before the first start.

9.9 HP or 15 HP: An Honest Comparison

A lot of people looking at the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale are really choosing between a 9.9 and a 15. Both are Yamaha twins, both are portable in the sense that two people can lift them, and both are cheap to run. Here is where they differ in practice.

Power and load. The 9.9 planes a light boat with one or two people. The 15 planes heavier boats and bigger loads, and it keeps them planing in rougher water. If you often carry three people, gear and fuel, the 15 is the safer bet.

Weight. The 15 is about 25 pounds heavier. On a boat where the motor stays put, that hardly matters. If you lift the motor off after every trip, it matters a lot.

Rules. In some places, rules change at 10 HP. Some lakes only allow motors under 10 HP, and some countries require registration or a licence above that power. Check what applies to you before choosing the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale.

Fuel. At the same speed, a 15 running at a lower throttle setting often uses about the same fuel as a 9.9 working hard. At full throttle, the 15 uses more, but it is also going faster.

Our general advice: if your boat is rated for 15 HP, local rules allow it and the motor will mostly stay on the boat, the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is usually the better buy.

Common Mistakes With a New 15

The same small mistakes come up again and again with new outboards, and the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is no exception. People forget to check the oil before the first start, even though some motors ship with little or none. They mix two-stroke oil into the fuel out of old habit, when this is a four-stroke that needs plain unleaded. They shift gear at high throttle instead of at idle. They leave fuel in the carburettor over winter. They skip the freshwater flush after salt water. And they forget the safety line, which has cost more than one owner a new motor. Avoid those and you will have very few problems.

Accessories Worth Having

A 12 or 24 litre portable tank with hose and primer bulb is essential if one is not included. A breathable cover protects the cowling from sun and salt. A flushing attachment makes salt water care quick. A spare prop is cheap insurance in shallow or rocky water. And a cable lock deters theft at ramps and marinas. None of these change how the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale runs, but they make ownership easier.

Warranty Notes

Yamaha’s factory warranty terms vary by country and type of use. Ask your local Yamaha marine dealer what they honour, and keep the invoice and serial number for the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale somewhere safe. If you need help with paperwork, contact us.

A Season With the 15

Here is what a typical year looks like for an owner of the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale. In spring, the motor comes off its stand in the garage. The owner checks the oil, connects a tank of fresh fuel, gives it a pull or two and it starts. It goes onto the RIB or aluminium boat, gets clamped and through-bolted, and the safety line goes on.

Through the summer, it does a bit of everything. Weekend runs along the coast with the family. Early mornings out to the fishing grounds. Trips from an anchored yacht to a beach restaurant. The 15 gets the boat on the plane quickly and keeps it there, even with a full load. After salt water trips, the owner flushes it with fresh water, which takes five minutes with a flushing attachment.

In autumn, it gets an oil and gear oil change, a look at the plugs and anode, the carburettor is run dry and the motor goes back on its stand. Every few seasons, the impeller is replaced. That is about all it takes to keep a Yamaha 15 running well for many years.

Choosing the Right Propeller

The standard prop suits most boats well. If your boat is heavy or always loaded, a lower pitch may help the engine reach its correct full throttle range of 5,000 to 6,000 rpm and improve hole shot. If the engine easily hits the top of that range and wants more, a higher pitch may add speed. Yamaha’s online prop selector is a good place to start, and we are happy to help you choose for the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale.

Lifting and Transporting

At about 111 pounds, the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is best lifted by two people, one at the carry handle and one at the lower leg, keeping the leg pointing down. Disconnect the fuel and close the vent first. If you trailer the boat with the motor on, support the leg with a transom saver so the tilt mechanism is not taking every bump. A motor stand at home makes winter storage and servicing much easier.

Running Costs

The Yamaha F15SMHA for sale is economical. A four-stroke twin of this size uses modest fuel at cruise and very little when trolling. Oil changes need about a litre or less, and wear parts are inexpensive and widely available. No battery means one less cost.

Why Yamaha

Yamaha’s marine dealers and parts reach almost every country with boats. The F15 is a proven engine with the largest displacement in its class, smooth and dependable. Yamaha outboards also hold their value well. Those practical reasons are why we keep the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale in stock.

Compare Nearby Models

See the Yamaha F9.9SMHB if weight matters most, or the Yamaha F20SMHB for more power with fuel injection. Browse the 15 HP Yamaha section or the full Yamaha outboard range.

Ordering

Add the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale to your cart and check out, or contact us first. We confirm stock and delivery, pack the motor in its crate with extra protection and send tracking once it ships worldwide. International buyers pay their own import duty and taxes; we provide the paperwork customs needs. See our refund and return policy, terms and conditions, reviews and about us page.

FAQ: Yamaha F15SMHA for Sale

Is the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale new?

Yes, new and crated.

Is the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale pull start?

Yes. No battery needed.

What transom height does it fit?

About 15 inches. For 20 inches, see the F15LMHA.

How heavy is the Yamaha F15SMHA?

About 111 pounds.

Does the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale have reverse?

Yes.

Will it plane my RIB?

On most RIBs and inflatables rated for 15 HP, yes, with two or three people.

Is the prop included?

Yes.

Is it good in salt water?

Yes, with a freshwater flush after each use.

Final Word

One more practical point before you order: measure your transom, check the capacity plate on your boat and think honestly about how often you will lift the motor off. If the answers are 15 inches, 15 HP or more, and not very often, this motor is almost certainly the right one. If any of those answers are different, tell us and we will point you to the version that fits, whether that is the long shaft, the electric start or a lighter 9.9.

If your boat is rated for 15 HP and has a 15 inch transom, the Yamaha F15SMHA for sale gives you real planing performance from a big, smooth twin, in the simplest and lightest form of the Yamaha 15. Add it to your cart when you are ready, or ask us anything first. Everything else we stock is in the shop.