Yamaha F20SMHB 20 hp

Description

We have the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale, new in its crate and ready to ship anywhere in the world. It is Yamaha’s 20 horsepower four-stroke with a 15 inch short shaft, tiller steering and a pull start. The engine is a 432 cc twin with battery-less electronic fuel injection, the same platform as Yamaha’s F25, and the motor weighs about 126 pounds.

Battery-less fuel injection is the headline here. Most small outboards use a carburettor, which works well but can be fussy with stale fuel and cold starts. The Yamaha F20SMHB for sale uses fuel injection that powers itself from the pull of the starter cord, so you get the easy starting, clean running and crisp throttle response of EFI without needing a battery. It is a modern, lightweight 20 that suits RIBs, inflatables, aluminium boats and skiffs with a 15 inch transom. Everything you need to know is below.

Yamaha F20SMHB Specifications

Yamaha lists the F20 alongside the F25 and F15 on its 25, 20 and 15 HP portables page. The Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is the short shaft, manual start, tiller model.

The Model Code

F is four-stroke. 20 is horsepower. S is the 15 inch short shaft. M is manual start. H is tiller handle. B is the generation. Related models we stock include the Yamaha F20SWHB with electric start and a pull backup, the long shaft Yamaha F20LWHB and the long shaft power tilt Yamaha F20LWPHB.

What Battery-Less EFI Means for You

Fuel injection measures and delivers fuel electronically. Compared with a carburettor, it gives easier starting, a steadier idle, cleaner running and quicker throttle response. It is also much less sensitive to temperature and altitude, and it does not gum up the way a carburettor can when fuel sits.

Normally, fuel injection needs a battery to power the electronics and fuel pump. Yamaha’s battery-less system is different. When you pull the starter cord, the engine’s own generator produces enough electricity to power the injection system from the first turn. So the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale gives you the benefits of EFI on a simple pull start motor, with no battery to buy, carry or maintain.

In practice, that means a motor that starts in one or two easy pulls, settles straight into a smooth idle without fiddling with a choke, and responds cleanly when you open the throttle. It is one of the reasons the Yamaha F20 platform has been so well received.

Why a 20 HP

A 20 HP motor is a real step up from a 15. On RIBs and inflatables in the 12 to 14 foot range, it gives brisk planing with three or four people and handles coastal chop with confidence. On aluminium boats and skiffs, it cruises faster with heavier loads. The 432 cc engine is big for the power, so it is relaxed at cruising speed.

The trade-off is weight. At about 126 pounds, the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is about 15 pounds heavier than a pull start 15, so it suits boats where the motor mostly stays on the transom.

Boats That Suit the Yamaha F20SMHB for Sale

RIBs and inflatables

Many RIBs and inflatables from about 11 to 14 feet are rated for 20 to 30 HP. A 20 gets them up and planing quickly with a full crew and gives a comfortable, dry ride. As a tender motor for a larger yacht, it makes long runs ashore quick.

Aluminium boats and jon boats

On a 14 to 16 foot aluminium boat or jon boat with a 15 inch transom, the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale gives fast runs to the fishing grounds and smooth, steady trolling thanks to the EFI.

Skiffs and small fibreglass boats

Light skiffs and small fibreglass boats with a 15 inch transom rated for 20 HP also suit it well.

How It Runs

Put the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale in neutral and give the cord a steady pull. The battery-less EFI powers up from the pull and the engine starts, usually first or second time, without the choke routine you would use on a carburetted motor. Yamaha also fitted automatic decompression, which keeps the pull light. Once running, the 432 cc twin idles smoothly and runs quietly with little vibration.

Open the throttle and the response is clean and immediate, so the boat gets onto the plane without hesitation. Shift at idle; reverse is strong for docking and backing off beaches. The tiller has adjustable steering friction so the motor holds a straight course. Because the EFI keeps the idle steady, slow trolling is smooth and comfortable.

Fuel

The Yamaha F20SMHB for sale runs from a separate portable tank with a primer bulb hose. A 12 or 24 litre tank gives good range. Open the vent, squeeze the bulb until firm and start. Use fresh unleaded with no more than 10 percent ethanol. EFI is more tolerant of fuel that sits than a carburettor, but fresh fuel is still best, and stabiliser is a good idea if the boat will sit for weeks.

Fitting the Motor

Check your boat’s capacity plate for horsepower and engine weight. At about 126 pounds, the motor is a two-person lift or a job for a hoist. Clamp it in the centre of the transom with the anti-cavitation plate at or just below the bottom of the hull. Tighten the clamps firmly and through-bolt it for a permanent installation. Fit a safety line. Set the trim rod so the leg is vertical when you are running. Connect the fuel, check the oil, start in neutral and confirm the cooling water stream before shifting into gear.

Break-In

Every new Yamaha needs a gentle break-in. For the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale, run at varied low and medium throttle for the first hours, add short bursts higher later, avoid long full-throttle runs and check the oil before each trip. Change the oil at the end of the break-in. The owner’s manual has the procedure, and Yamaha keeps copies on its owner’s manual page.

Maintenance

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 storage, treat the fuel with stabiliser, change the oil, flush and store the motor upright somewhere dry. In cold places, drain all water before frost.

Because the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is fuel injected, there is no carburettor to clean, which removes the most common cause of hard starting on small motors. The EFI system is sealed and reliable, but it does depend on clean fuel, so keep your fuel filter in good condition and avoid dirty fuel.

Troubleshooting

If the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale will not start, check the tank vent, hose connections, primer bulb, fuel freshness and kill cord clip. Make sure the motor is in neutral. If it starts then dies after a minute, 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. If the engine runs rough, check the fuel filter for water or dirt. For anything beyond that, a Yamaha dealer can check the EFI system quickly with their diagnostic tools.

A Day on a RIB

You walk down to the RIB with a tank of fresh fuel, connect it and squeeze the bulb. One pull and the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is running, idling smoothly without any choke. Four of you climb aboard and head out of the harbour. A twist of the throttle and the RIB climbs onto the plane quickly, running dry and level across the bay. You stop at a cove for a swim, then run along the coast to a beach café. Back at the mooring, you flush the motor with fresh water and tilt it up. A good day, and the motor never gave a moment’s thought.

A Day of Fishing

On a 14 foot aluminium boat, the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale gets you across a big lake quickly. At the fishing spot, you throttle back to trolling speed and the EFI holds a steady, smooth idle for as long as you want. When you snag, reverse frees the lure. You move several times through the day, restarting with an easy pull each time. Fuel use is low, and the motor is quiet enough that you can talk without raising your voice.

15, 20 or 25?

The Yamaha 15 uses a carburetted 362 cc engine and is lighter. The 20 and 25 share the 432 cc platform with battery-less EFI. The Yamaha F20SMHB for sale gives you modern fuel injection and noticeably more power than a 15, while costing a little less than a 25. If your boat is rated for 25 HP and you want every bit of performance, look at the F25. If 20 HP suits your boat or local rules, the F20 is a sweet spot of power, weight and price. Compare the Yamaha F15SMHA and the Yamaha F25SMHC to see the difference.

Common Mistakes

Check the oil before the first start, because some motors ship with little or none. Use plain unleaded, never two-stroke mix. Shift only at idle. Flush after salt water. Fit a safety line. Keep the fuel clean and the fuel filter in good shape, because EFI relies on clean fuel. And before winter, stabilise the fuel or run the system low, change the oil and store the motor properly.

Choosing a Propeller

The standard prop suits most boats. If yours is heavy or always loaded, a lower pitch can help the engine reach its 5,000 to 6,000 rpm full throttle range and improve acceleration. Yamaha’s online prop selector is a good starting point, and we can help you choose for the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale.

Hot and Cold Climates

EFI handles temperature changes better than a carburettor, so the motor starts reliably in both heat and cold. In hot places, keep fuel fresh and shaded and tilt the motor out of the water when moored. In cold places, drain all water before frost and change the gear oil before winter.

Salt Water Care

Flush after every salt water trip, rinse the outside, check the anode each season and spray the powerhead with a corrosion protection product now and then. Yamaha builds its portables for salt water, but salt left inside the cooling passages does slow damage over time.

Lifting and Trailering

At about 126 pounds, lift the motor with two people or a hoist, keeping the leg down. When trailering with the motor on, support the leg with a transom saver.

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. Check the oil tag and level before the first start.

Warranty Notes

Yamaha’s factory warranty terms vary by country and type of use. Ask your local Yamaha dealer what they honour, and keep your invoice and serial number safe.

Pull Start or Electric Start?

The Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is pull start, and thanks to battery-less EFI and automatic decompression, it is an easy pull. For most owners who start the motor a few times per trip, that is ideal: no battery to buy, charge or replace, nothing electrical to corrode and less weight. If you start and stop many times a day, have a shoulder that does not enjoy pull cords or want to charge a battery for electronics, the F20SWHB adds electric start with a manual backup. Both share the same engine and EFI, so performance is identical.

A Season of Ownership

In spring, the owner of a Yamaha F20SMHB for sale takes it off its stand, checks the oil, connects fresh fuel and gives it a pull. With EFI, there is no carburettor to have gummed up over winter, so it usually starts straight away. Through the summer, it carries friends along the coast, runs to fishing spots and ferries crew ashore from an anchored yacht. After salt water trips, it gets a freshwater flush. In autumn, the oil and gear oil are changed, the fuel is stabilised, the motor is flushed and stored. Every few seasons, the impeller and fuel filter are replaced. That is all it takes.

Teaching New Drivers

With its easy pull start and smooth throttle, the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is a good motor for new drivers. Set a few simple rules: start in neutral with the kill cord clipped on, check for the cooling water stream, idle down before shifting, look behind before reversing and tilt up before the shallows. Once those habits stick, anyone in the family can run the boat.

Getting Better Fuel Economy

EFI already meters fuel precisely, but you can help. Trim the boat to run level, keep the hull and prop clean, cruise a little below full throttle and match the prop to your load. With those habits, the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale goes a long way on a tank.

Who We Are

We are an online outboard dealer shipping new motors worldwide. The Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is a regular stock item, and questions are answered by people who know outboards. Our blog has more buying and maintenance advice.

Running Costs

The Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is economical. EFI meters fuel precisely, so consumption at cruise is modest and very low at trolling speed. Oil changes are small, and wear parts are inexpensive and widely available. No battery means no battery cost.

Why Yamaha

Yamaha’s dealers and parts reach almost every country with boats. The F20 platform is modern, light and proven, and Yamaha outboards hold their value well. That is why we stock the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale.

20 HP Versions Compared

Browse the full Yamaha outboard range or the 25 HP Yamaha section if you need a bit more.

Ordering

Add the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale to your cart and check out, or contact us first. We confirm stock and delivery, pack the motor 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 F20SMHB for Sale

Is the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale new?

Yes, new and crated.

Is the Yamaha F20SMHB fuel injected?

Yes, with battery-less EFI.

Does the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale need a battery?

No. It is pull start and the EFI powers itself.

What transom height does the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale fit?

About 15 inches.

How heavy is the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale?

About 126 pounds.

Does the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale have reverse?

Yes.

Is the prop included?

Yes.

Is it good in salt water?

Yes, with a freshwater flush after use.

Using It as a Tender Motor

On larger yacht tenders, a 20 makes a big difference. A loaded tender planes quickly, so runs ashore take minutes even from a distant anchorage, and the extra power is reassuring when the wind picks up on the way back. The Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is heavy enough that it is best left on the tender or moved with a davit or a lifting tackle from the boom. At anchor overnight, tilt it up to keep the lower unit clean, and lock it to the transom in busy harbours. On beach landings, tilt up early and walk the last few metres so sand does not get drawn into the water pump.

Before You Order

Measure your transom from the top to the bottom of the hull, check your boat’s capacity plate and make sure the transom is solid enough for a motor of this weight. If the transom is about 15 inches and the boat is rated for 20 HP or more, the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is a good fit. For a 20 inch transom, choose one of the long shaft F20 models instead. Send us a photo of the transom and capacity plate if you would like us to check before you order.

Final Word

A modern four-stroke with fuel injection that does not need a battery is about as low-maintenance as an outboard gets. For owners who want reliable starts, smooth running and very little fuss, it is hard to think of a better combination in this size.

If you want a modern 20 HP with the easy starting of fuel injection and none of the hassle of a battery, the Yamaha F20SMHB for sale is a great choice for a 15 inch transom. Add it to your cart, or ask us anything first. Everything else we stock is in the shop.