Yamaha 30hp Outboard | F30LA | Jet Drive

Description

Shopping for a Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard? We sell it new, in the factory crate, and ship it to buyers all over the world. The F30LA is Yamaha’s 30 horsepower three-cylinder four-stroke with remote controls and a 20 inch shaft. Yamaha describes its 30 HP midrange motors as known for their small size and solid performance, and that is a fair way to put it. They are light, nimble and strong, and they suit skiffs, jon boats, inflatables, small pontoons and aluminium fishing boats.

I wrote this page as a buying guide. If you are trying to work out whether a 30 is right for you, and which 30 to buy, read on. If you already know, message us for a delivered price.

Specifications

• Model: Yamaha F30LA
• Power: 30 HP
• Engine: 3-cylinder inline four-stroke, single overhead cam
• Displacement: 747 cc
• Bore x stroke: 65 x 75 mm
• Fuel: Electronic fuel injection
• Shaft: 20 inch long
• Steering: Remote
• Controls: Mechanical throttle and shift
• Starter: Electric
• Weight: 214 lb
• Alternator: 17 amp
• Condition: New

This is the standard propeller-driven F30LA. If you are looking for a jet-drive motor for very shallow rivers, have a look at our Yamaha Jet Drive 30HP page instead.

Step One: Is 30 HP the Right Size?

The first question is not which motor, but how much motor. Start with your boat’s capacity plate. It tells you the maximum horsepower and the maximum weight the boat can safely carry. Never go above it.

Within that limit, think about how you use the boat. A 30 HP motor suits boats from about 12 to 16 feet, with one to three people and normal gear. It gets a light boat on plane easily and cruises comfortably. If you regularly carry four or more people, heavy gear or run in rough water, a bigger motor may serve you better, if your boat is rated for it.

If your boat is rated for 30 and you mostly run light, a Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard is a sweet spot. Enough power to be fun and useful, light enough not to weigh the boat down, and frugal on fuel.

Step Two: Shaft Length

Measure your transom from the top, where the motor clamps, straight down to the bottom of the hull at the centre. About 15 inches means a short shaft. About 20 inches means a long shaft, like the F30LA. About 25 inches means an extra long shaft.

Getting this right matters. Too short and the prop sits near the surface and ventilates. Too long and the gearcase drags, slows you down and throws spray.

Step Three: Tiller or Remote

A tiller is simple, cheap to rig and gives you lots of open space. A remote motor lets you steer from a console with a wheel, which is more comfortable on longer runs and keeps weight forward. The F30LA is the remote version. If you want a tiller, the F30LEHA is the tiller version of the same motor.

Step Four: Four-Stroke or Two-Stroke

Two-strokes are lighter and simpler, but most new motors sold today are four-strokes, and for good reason. A four-stroke like the F30 uses far less fuel, does not need oil mixed into the fuel, does not smoke and is much quieter. Fuel injection makes it start easily and run smoothly. For most people, a four-stroke is the better choice.

Step Five: Why a Yamaha

There are a few brands of 30 HP outboard. Here is why many buyers pick a Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard.

Parts and service. Yamaha dealers and mechanics are found in most countries. Filters, impellers and props are easy to get.

Reliability. Yamaha small and midrange four-strokes have a strong reputation for starting and running every time.

Corrosion protection. YDC-30 alloy and a five-layer paint system help in salt water.

Resale value. Boats with Yamaha motors are easier to sell.

Inside the F30

The Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard is built around a 747 cc three-cylinder engine with a single overhead cam. Three cylinders give a smoother feel than a twin, with less vibration through the boat. Yamaha uses a long-track intake and a single throttle valve, which help the engine make good torque at low rpm and respond quickly when you open the throttle.

Electronic fuel injection is the big step up from older carbureted 30s. It measures the air and the engine temperature and meters exactly the right amount of fuel. That means easy starts, a steady idle, clean throttle response and lower fuel use. An engine control module also lets the motor talk to Yamaha digital gauges, so you can see rpm, hours and warnings at the helm if you fit one.

At 214 pounds, it is light for a four-stroke 30. On small boats, that matters a lot.

Boats That Suit the F30LA

Here is where we see the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard used most:

• Skiffs. Small fibreglass or aluminium skiffs with a console, used for fishing in bays and estuaries.
• Jon boats. Flat-bottom aluminium boats for lakes, rivers and marshes.
• Inflatables and RIBs. Many 12 to 15 foot inflatables are rated for around 30 HP.
• Small pontoons. Compact pontoons used for cruising and fishing on quiet lakes.
• Aluminium fishing boats. 14 to 16 foot V-hulls with a side console.
• Tenders. Yacht tenders with a small console.

On every one of these boats, the motor needs to be light, dependable and easy on fuel. The F30 is all three.

On the Water

Start it with the key and it fires straight away. Idle is smooth and quiet. Push the throttle forward and a light boat gets up on plane quickly. The three-cylinder pulls cleanly through the rev range. At cruise, you can talk without raising your voice. There is no smoke and no fumes. Back at the dock, flush it with the freshwater flush device, which works without running the engine, and you are done.

That is the experience most owners describe after a season with a Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard on their boat. It is not flashy. It just does the job, every time.

Choosing a Prop

The prop is what turns engine power into push. You want the motor to reach its full throttle range of 5,000 to 6,000 rpm with your normal load. If the motor will not reach the bottom of that range, the pitch is too high. Drop down. If it runs past the top, go up in pitch.

On small boats, load changes a lot. Two people and a cooler is very different from four people and a full tank. Choose a prop for your usual load. Aluminium props are the norm on 30 HP motors and are cheap to replace. Yamaha’s propeller guide is a good place to start. We can suggest a prop and ship it with your Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard.

Rigging

A remote 30 needs a Yamaha mechanical control box, throttle and shift cables, a wiring harness, a key switch, steering (usually cable steering at this size), a fuel line with a primer bulb and filter, and a marine starting battery. A gauge is optional but handy. If you are replacing an older Yamaha remote motor, some parts may carry over.

Have a Yamaha dealer or qualified mechanic install it. They will set the mounting height, adjust the cables, set up the steering and test the motor on the water. Warranty terms depend on your country, so ask your local dealer once the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard is registered.

Break-in and First Service

Every new motor needs ten hours of gentle running. Start at low speeds, then gradually use more throttle while varying the rpm. Avoid long runs at full throttle until the ten hours are up. The owner’s manual in the crate lays out each stage. After the break-in, change the engine oil and filter and the gear lube. That first service clears out the fine particles from new parts bedding in, and it is cheap insurance for a new Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard.

Maintenance Routine

• Flush with fresh water after every trip, especially in salt or brackish water.
• Check the tell-tale stream every time you start.
• Change oil and filter at the hours in the manual or once a season.
• Change gear lube each season and look for water in the old oil.
• Replace the water pump impeller on schedule, sooner in sandy water.
• Check anodes and replace them when worn.
• Keep the fuel filter clean and use fresh fuel.
• Grease the fittings, the steering and the tilt tube.

Most of that you can do yourself with basic tools in under an hour. Owners who stick to it get many years of easy running.

Salt Water Care

Yamaha’s midrange motors use YDC-30 aluminium alloy and a five-layer anti-corrosion paint system. Combined with sacrificial anodes, that gives the motor a strong defence against salt. Your part is simple: flush after every saltwater trip, rinse the outside, check anodes often and tilt the motor up when the boat is moored. Spray electrical connections with a marine corrosion inhibitor every few months. Do that, and the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard will keep its looks and its reliability.

What It Costs to Run

A fuel-injected 30 is one of the cheapest motors there is to own. Fuel use is low, and you never buy two-stroke oil. Service parts are inexpensive and easy to find. Breakdowns are rare on a well-kept motor. Over several seasons, those savings add up. When you work out the true cost of a Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard, look past the purchase price to the years of low running costs that follow.

Resale counts too. Boats with a clean Yamaha on the back sell faster and for a better price. Keep your receipts and a simple log of hours and services.

New vs Used

Small used motors are everywhere, and they are tempting. But small motors often live hard lives. Run without flushing, stored with stale fuel, dragged over rocks, left in the sun. A used motor can look clean and still have a tired water pump, corroded cooling passages or a worn gearcase. A new Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard from us has zero hours and full paperwork. You know exactly what you are getting.

Add up what a used motor might need in its first season, like an impeller, a thermostat, plugs, seals and maybe a carburettor clean on an older one, and the gap to new often shrinks quickly.

Upgrading From an Old Two-Stroke

If you are replacing an old two-stroke 25 or 30, the four-stroke will feel very different. It starts easily, idles smoothly without loading up, uses much less fuel, makes no smoke and is far quieter. It is a little heavier, so check how your boat sits, and move the battery and fuel tank forward if the stern sits low. Replace old fuel hoses and fit a new water-separating filter, since old fuel systems can hold dirt and water that a fuel-injected engine will not like. Then the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard should drop straight in.

Fleets and Rental Operators

Fishing camps, boat rental businesses and clubs often run several small boats on 30 HP motors. For them, the F30’s easy starting, light weight and simple service make it a sensible choice. Keep the whole fleet on the same model and one spare kit covers every boat. Ask us about a quote for several Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard units at once. Shipping them together usually lowers the cost per motor.

Spare Parts Worth Ordering

If you live far from a Yamaha dealer, add a small kit to your order: engine oil and a filter, gear lube with drain plug washers, a water pump impeller kit, spark plugs, a fuel filter, a spare prop and a couple of anodes. That covers the first season or two and means you will not lose a weekend waiting for a small part. We can ship it all together with the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard.

Choosing Between Small Yamaha Motors

We get a lot of questions from people stuck between two or three sizes. Here is how I would think about it.

25 HP. A little lighter and a little cheaper. Fine for small boats with one or two people, where you mostly cruise and fish. If your boat is rated for 25, that is your limit anyway.

30 HP. The sweet spot for many 14 to 16 foot boats. Enough power to get on plane easily with a couple of people and gear, still light, still frugal. If your boat is rated for 30, the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard gives you the most you can legally run.

40 HP. Same 747 cc block as the 30, with more power. Worth it if your boat is rated for 40 and you often carry three or four people, run in rougher water, or tow a tube.

50 and 60 HP. A step up to a four-cylinder. Better for bigger boats, heavier pontoons and family boats with more people.

The biggest mistake is buying too little motor for a boat that is always loaded, or too much motor for a boat rated lower. Check the plate, think about how you really use the boat, and choose from there.

A Day With the F30

Here is a typical day. You launch a 15 foot skiff in a quiet estuary at dawn. The Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard starts on the first turn of the key and idles softly while you stow the rods. You idle past the moored boats, then push the throttle forward. The skiff jumps up on plane and you run a couple of miles down the channel to a flat where the fish feed on the rising tide.

You shut the motor down and drift. A couple of hours later, you start it again, move to another spot, and do it all again. By lunchtime you head home. At the ramp, you flush the motor while you load the boat onto the trailer, rinse it down and tilt it up. On the drive home, you realise you used barely any fuel. That is the F30 in a nutshell: easy, quiet and cheap to run.

When to Call Us

If you are unsure about any part of the purchase, from shaft length to prop choice to shipping, ask. Send us your boat’s make, model and length, and a photo of the transom if you can. We will tell you honestly whether the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard is the right fit or whether another model suits you better. A two-minute message now can save you from buying the wrong motor.

Winter Storage

If your boating season ends with cold weather, a little care before storage pays off in spring. Fill the tank and add fuel stabiliser, then run the motor long enough for treated fuel to reach the injectors. Change the engine oil and filter so used oil does not sit in the engine all winter. Change the gear lube and check it for water. Flush the motor and let it drain fully in the down position, so no water is left to freeze in the cooling passages. Fog the engine as the manual describes. Grease every fitting. Put the battery on a maintainer and cover the motor.

In spring, look it over, reconnect the battery, check the fuel filter and start it on water before your first trip. A Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard stored this way will be ready the moment the weather turns. If you boat all year in a warm climate, skip the winterising but keep to the service hours, because year-round use adds up fast.

How to Order

1. Send us a message through the contact page.
2. Tell us the model, how many and your country and nearest city.
3. Add any props, controls or spares.
4. We send a delivered price.
5. You confirm and pay.
6. We ship with FedEx, UPS or USPS and send tracking.

You can read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions any time.

Shipping Worldwide

We ship to buyers in the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the Pacific. The motor travels in its factory crate with tracking. Import duties and taxes depend on your country, so check with your customs office before the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard arrives. When the crate lands, inspect it before signing and take photos of any damage. Keep the paperwork for your local Yamaha dealer.

Other Motors to Compare

• Yamaha F30LA, our main listing for this model
• Yamaha F30LEHA, the tiller version
• Yamaha F40LA, if your boat can take 40 HP
• Yamaha Jet Drive 30HP, for very shallow rivers

Browse the 30 HP Yamaha range, all Yamaha outboards and the shop. Read customer reviews, learn more about us and check our blog. Yamaha’s official site has more on the midrange range.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard new?

Yes, brand new in the factory crate.

Is this a jet drive?

No. The Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard here is the standard propeller model. For a jet, see our Jet Drive 30HP listing.

How much does it weigh?

214 lb, or 97 kg.

What shaft length is it?

20 inches.

Does it use remote controls?

Yes, Yamaha mechanical remote controls.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes, with FedEx, UPS and USPS.

Get Your Price

If your boat is rated for 30 HP and you want a light, quiet, dependable motor, the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard is a smart choice. Send us your country and how many you need, and we will reply with a delivered price. Once you confirm, we crate it and ship it with tracking.

Ready to order the Yamaha F30LA 30 HP outboard? Add it to your cart above, or send us your location for a delivered quote. We ship worldwide with FedEx, UPS and USPS, crated and tracked, and we are always happy to help with rigging questions before and after the motor arrives at your door.