Yamaha F70LA 70 hp 4 stroke

Description

This Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard is for sale new in its crate. It is the 70 HP four stroke built on Yamaha’s one litre four cylinder, with a 16 valve head, fuel injection, power trim and tilt and a 20 inch shaft. It is one of the lightest motors you can buy at 70 HP, which is exactly why so many people want one.

We list this motor more than once because we hold different batches. It is the same as our Yamaha F70LA for sale page. Buy whichever is in stock. We ship worldwide.

Below you will find the full specs, what this version is good at, the boats it suits, rigging, care and the questions people ask us most. It is a long page because buyers ask a lot before they spend this kind of money. Read what you need.

Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard: Specifications

Figures can change slightly between production years, so treat the crate paperwork as final. Yamaha keeps the current numbers for this range on its official outboard page.

What You Get With the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

You get 70 HP from a motor that weighs about what many 60s weigh. You get a higher rev range than the 50 and 60, so it feels livelier when you push the throttle. And you get the same simple, proven Yamaha four cylinder layout that mechanics everywhere know how to service.

16 Valves and Why They Matter

The 70 head has more valves than the 50 and 60, so it breathes better at higher revs. In practice that means stronger acceleration and better top end. It does not make the motor harder to own. Service intervals and basic maintenance are much the same.

Boats That Suit the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

Family boats

Runabouts and deck boats that carry the whole family and still need to get up and go.

Fishing boats

Centre and side consoles from about 16 to 19 feet. The Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard gets you to the fish quickly and home again.

Ribs

Larger rigid inflatables where a heavy motor would ruin the balance.

Repowers

Boats that once had an older 70 two stroke. The weight is close, the noise and smoke are gone.

How the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard Runs

Four cylinders make a difference you can feel. Idle is smooth enough that you can hold a normal conversation at the helm. Shifts go in with a soft clunk rather than a bang. When you push the throttle, power comes in evenly instead of in a rush, and the boat gets onto plane without the bow climbing for ages.

At cruise the motor settles into a steady hum. There is not much vibration through the hull or the steering, which you notice at the end of a long day. Power trim and tilt lets you set the running angle from the helm: trim in to get up, trim out a little once you are running, and lift the motor when you come into shallow water or onto the trailer.

Who Buys the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

The people who order this motor from us are mostly practical owners. Families with a mid-size boat they use every weekend. Fishermen who run offshore a few miles and need a motor they trust to bring them home. Small charter operators, fish farm crews, marine park staff and water taxi drivers who put serious hours on a motor every year. A lot of them are replacing an old two stroke and want something quieter, cleaner and easier on fuel.

What they tell us after a season is simple. It starts, it runs, it does not drink much and it does not need much attention. That is what you want from the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard.

Rigging the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

This motor is set up for remote control unless stated otherwise in the listing. You need a control box with throttle and shift cables, a steering system, a key switch and wiring harness, a gauge or two if you want them, a battery and a fuel system with a water separating filter. If you are repowering, you may be able to reuse some of what is already on the boat. Check cables and steering carefully though. Worn cables make a new motor feel bad.

Mount the motor on the centreline with the anti-ventilation plate roughly level with the bottom of the hull. Run the boat, then adjust. If the prop blows out in turns, lower it. If you get a lot of spray and drag, try raising it a hole. Bolt it through the transom and use a marine sealant on the holes.

Pick a battery with enough cranking amps for a 70 HP four stroke and whatever electronics you run. The 17 amp charging output keeps a fish finder, a radio and nav lights going on a normal day.

Breaking In the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

Follow the break-in in the owner’s manual. In general, keep the revs low and varied for the first hour or so, then gradually raise them. Avoid long runs at full throttle in the early hours. Change the engine oil and filter at the first service interval. You can read the manual ahead of time on Yamaha’s owner’s manual site.

Maintenance on the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

Nothing on this motor is hard to look after. Most owners do the basics and leave the bigger jobs to a mechanic.

• Flush with fresh water after every trip in salt, brackish or muddy water.
• Change engine oil and filter at the hours in the manual, or yearly.
• Change the gear oil every season. Milky oil means water is getting in.
• Check anodes and replace them when they are half gone.
• Replace the water pump impeller every couple of seasons, sooner in sandy water.
• Change the fuel filter and keep fuel fresh with a stabiliser if the boat sits.
• Check plugs, belt and the tilt and trim fluid at the service intervals.

Treat it like that and a Yamaha four cylinder four stroke will run for many thousands of hours. We see plenty of them on work boats that have been going for well over a decade.

Living With the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard Day to Day

Owning this motor is mostly uneventful, and that is the point. You turn the key and it starts. You run your day. At the end you flush it, tilt it up and go home. Every so often you change the oil and the gear oil, and every season or two the impeller. There is no carburettor to gum up when the boat sits for a few weeks, which matters a lot if you only get out on weekends.

Fuel injection also means the motor behaves the same on a cold morning as on a hot afternoon. No choke, no hunting idle, no fouled plugs from trolling all morning. You stop thinking about the motor and start thinking about where you are going.

Fuel Use and Running Costs

A 1.0 litre class four cylinder with EFI is efficient at the speeds people actually run. On a sensible hull at a steady cruise it uses much less fuel than an old two stroke of the same power. We are not going to throw made-up figures at you, because hull, load, prop and how hard you push all change the result. What we can tell you is that owners who move from an older carbureted motor notice it at the fuel dock in the first few weeks.

Servicing is simple and parts are easy to find in most countries because Yamaha sells so many of these motors. Filters, impellers, anodes and plugs are all standard stock items. That keeps long term ownership costs low.

Repowering an Older Boat

Swapping an old motor for a new one is usually a day’s work if the transom is sound. With the old motor off, check the transom core around the bolt holes. Soft or wet wood needs fixing before you hang anything new. Check the steering and control cables too. If they are stiff or frayed, replace them now. A new motor on old cables never feels right.

On the first run, check the tell-tale stream, listen for anything odd and watch how the boat sits. Adjust trim and mounting height until it runs level and the prop holds in turns. After that, you will not need to touch it again.

Getting the Most From Power Trim

Power trim is one of those features people underuse. When you leave the dock, trim fully in so the bow stays down and the boat climbs onto plane quickly. Once you are up and running, tap the trim out a little at a time. You will feel the steering lighten and hear the revs rise slightly as the hull frees up. Stop when the bow starts to bounce or the prop starts to slip, then come back a touch. In rough water, trim in a bit to keep the bow down into the waves. In shallow water, trim up to keep the gearcase clear of the bottom, but watch the tell-tale so the water intake stays under. Get this right and the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard will be faster, drier and easier on fuel.

Gauges and Electronics

You can run this motor with a simple tachometer, or go further with Yamaha’s Command Link gauges, which show revs, trim, fuel flow, hours and warnings on one display. Many owners also wire in a fish finder or chartplotter. Keep the motor’s wiring separate from accessory wiring where you can, use proper marine connectors and fuse everything. A clean install saves you chasing electrical gremlins later. If you are not sure what fits the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard, ask us before you order.

Safety Gear Worth Carrying

Clip the kill switch lanyard on every time. Carry a spare lanyard, a basic tool kit, a spare prop nut and washer, spare plugs, a paddle and a way to call for help. None of it costs much and any of it can save a day on the water.

Warranty Notes

The motor ships with Yamaha factory warranty paperwork. Terms depend on your region and on how the motor is registered and used. Keep receipts and service records, use the correct oil and fuel and follow the service schedule. That protects you if you ever need to claim, and helps resale later. Ask us about warranty for the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard in your country before you order.

Common Problems With the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

Will not crank. Check the kill switch lanyard is clipped in, the control is in neutral, and the battery and terminals are clean and tight.

Cranks but will not fire. Squeeze the primer bulb until firm, make sure the tank vent is open and the fuel is fresh. Check the water separator bowl for water.

Weak tell-tale stream. Clear the tell-tale hole with a bit of wire first. If it is still weak, have the impeller checked before you run it hard.

Will not reach full revs. Usually the wrong prop for the load, a damaged prop or the motor mounted too low. Check the prop first.

Alarm sounds. Slow down straight away and check the cooling stream and oil. Do not keep running with an alarm.

Choosing a Propeller for the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

The right prop lets the motor reach the top half of its full throttle range, 5,300 to 6,300 rpm, with your normal load on board. If it over-revs, go up in pitch. If it cannot get into the range, go down. Aluminium props are cheap and fine for most people. Stainless props cost more but hold their shape and give better grip and speed on heavier boats. Yamaha has a useful prop selector, or tell us your boat and we will point you in the right direction.

Salt Water Care for the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

Flush after every salt trip. Rinse the outside and wipe salt off the cowl. Spray corrosion inhibitor on the powerhead under the cowl now and then. Keep the anodes fresh. If the boat lives in the water, tilt the motor up when you leave so the lower unit is not soaking all week. Yamaha’s paint and alloys hold up well, but salt finds any gap if you ignore it.

Hot and Cold Climates

In hot places, check the cooling stream often and keep the water passages clean. Warm, muddy water is hard on impellers. In cold places, fuel injection makes starting easy, but you must drain or winterise the motor properly before a hard freeze. Use the oil grade the manual gives for your temperatures.

Storage Between Trips

After the last run of the day, flush the motor and let it drain in the down position. Then tilt it up if the boat stays in the water. Disconnect the battery or use a trickle charger if it will sit for weeks. For long storage, stabilise the fuel and run it through the system, change the engine oil, grease the steering and tilt points and put a cover on. Next season the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard will start on the first turn of the key.

What Comes With the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

• Yamaha F70LA powerhead, midsection and lower unit
• Owner’s manual and warranty paperwork
• Standard Yamaha fittings that ship from the factory

Controls, cables, gauges, propeller, battery and fuel tank depend on the stock we hold and are not always included. Ask us before you order and we will tell you exactly what ships with your motor.

Before You Order the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

• Measure your transom height to confirm the shaft length is right.
• Check the boat’s rated maximum horsepower and motor weight.
• Decide what controls, steering and gauges you need.
• Make sure your battery and fuel system suit a 70 HP motor.
• Tell us your country so we can quote shipping to your door.

If any of that is unclear, message us. Ten minutes of questions now saves a lot of trouble once the crate has landed.

Buying the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard From Us

Every motor we sell is new. The price is listed on this page. Before we ship, we give you a delivery quote for your country so you know the full cost. We ship worldwide and include the export and customs paperwork your side will ask for.

When you order, we confirm stock, the exact model code and the shaft length with you. The crate is strapped, protected and sent, and you get tracking once it is moving. Our refund and return policy and terms and conditions are on the site. You can read what other buyers say on our reviews page, learn more about us, or go straight to the contact page with your questions.

Other Motors to Compare

• All 70 HP Yamaha outboards
• Yamaha F70LA for sale
• Yamaha F75LB
• Yamaha F60LB
• Yamaha T60LB High Thrust
• All Yamaha outboards
• The full shop

Our blog has more on rigging and caring for outboards if you like to read up first.

FAQ: Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard

Is the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard new?

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

What shaft length is the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard?

20 inch (L).

Does the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard have power trim and tilt?

Yes.

How heavy is the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard?

About 253 lb, or 114 kg.

Is the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard fuel injected?

Yes, it uses Yamaha electronic fuel injection.

Is the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard the same as your other F70LA listing?

Yes. Same motor, different batch.

Does the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard need controls?

Yes, it is a remote model. Ask us about control boxes and cables.

Do you ship the Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard to my country?

We ship worldwide. Ask us for a quote.

Final Word

The Yamaha F70LA 70 HP outboard gives you real performance in a light, smooth package. If your boat is rated for 70, it is one of the best motors you can hang on it. Order now or message us with your boat details.