YAMAHA 8 HP F8SMHB OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

We have the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale, brand new in its crate and ready to ship anywhere in the world. It is Yamaha’s 8 horsepower four-stroke with a 15 inch shaft: a 212 cc twin cylinder engine, tiller steering, pull start, forward, neutral and reverse, and a weight of about 87 pounds. It runs from a separate portable fuel tank.

The F8 is where Yamaha’s small outboards change character. Below 8 HP you get single cylinder motors. From here up you get a smoother, stronger twin. That extra cylinder makes a real difference on the water: less vibration, a quieter idle and noticeably more pull, especially when the boat is loaded. If your inflatable, jon boat or small aluminium boat is rated for 8 HP and you want something that feels like a proper engine rather than a portable, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is worth a close look. This page covers everything: specifications, the model code, which boats suit it, how it runs, fitting, maintenance and how to order.

Yamaha F8SMHB Specifications

These are Yamaha’s published numbers for the F8, which sits next to the F9.9 on Yamaha’s 9.9 and 8 HP portables page. The Yamaha F8SMHB for sale here is the short shaft, tiller, manual start model, which is the most common version for small boats.

What the Model Code Tells You

F means four-stroke. 8 is the horsepower. S is the short 15 inch shaft. M means manual start. H means tiller handle. B is the design generation. So the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is the 15 inch, pull start tiller motor. If your transom is about 20 inches, you want the long shaft Yamaha F8LMHB instead.

Why Two Cylinders Make a Difference

If you have only run single cylinder portables, the first time you start the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is a pleasant surprise. A single cylinder engine fires once every two turns of the crankshaft, which means a lot of shake at idle and a buzzy feel through the tiller. A twin fires twice as often, so the power delivery is much smoother. The engine idles more quietly, the tiller does not buzz in your hand and the motor feels more relaxed at cruising speed.

The twin also gives you more torque across the rev range. In practical terms, the boat pulls away from a standstill with more authority and holds its speed better when loaded or heading into a chop. On a boat that is right on the edge of planing with a 6 HP, the extra power and torque of the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale can be what gets it up and over the hump.

Yamaha redesigned this motor with about 7.5 percent more displacement than the previous F8, which gives it a bit more muscle than older 8 HP motors you may have used. It is a noticeable step up from the single cylinder 6.

Which Boats Suit the Yamaha F8SMHB for Sale

Inflatables and RIBs from 10 to 12 feet

Many inflatables and small RIBs in this size are rated for 8 to 15 HP. An 8 HP pushes them well with two people, and on lighter boats it will often get them onto the plane. It is a popular tender motor for bigger yachts that carry a larger dinghy.

Jon boats and small aluminium boats

On a 12 to 14 foot jon boat or a small aluminium fishing boat with a 15 inch transom, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is a strong, economical fishing motor. It gets you to the fishing spot quickly and trolls smoothly once you are there.

Small fibreglass dinghies and skiffs

Light fibreglass skiffs and dinghies rated for 8 HP are also a good match, as long as they have a 15 inch transom.

Where it is not the right motor

If your boat needs a 20 inch shaft, go for the long shaft version. If it is rated for 9.9 HP and you want the most power, the F9.9 is the same weight with more output. And if you need electric start or power tilt, look at the F9.9 and T9.9 models, which offer those options.

8 HP or 9.9 HP?

This is the question we hear most from people looking at the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale. The F8 and F9.9 share the same 212 cc twin cylinder engine and weigh almost exactly the same. The 9.9 simply makes more power, and it is also available with electric start and as a high thrust model. So why would anyone pick the 8?

There are three common reasons. The first is the boat’s rating. If your inflatable or small boat is rated for 8 HP maximum, the 8 is the most you can legally and safely fit. The second is local rules. In some lakes, reservoirs and waterways there are horsepower limits, and in some countries licensing or registration rules change above certain power levels. The 8 can keep you on the right side of those limits. The third is price: the 8 usually costs a little less, and if it does the job, there is no reason to pay for more.

If none of those apply and your boat is rated for 9.9, the Yamaha F9.9SMHB gives you more power for practically the same weight. Otherwise, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is a very sensible choice.

How It Starts and Drives

The Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is pull start only, but it does not take much effort. The twin cylinder engine has a smooth, even pull, and Yamaha’s starting system is designed to be easy on the arm. From cold, give it a little choke and expect it to fire within a couple of pulls. Warm, it usually starts first time.

Gear changes are made with a lever on the motor. Always bring the throttle back to idle before shifting. Reverse is strong, which makes docking, backing away from a beach and holding position against current straightforward.

At cruising speed, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is quiet and smooth. The twin cylinder design and four-stroke combustion mean you can hold a normal conversation over it and there is no smoke or two-stroke smell. Tiller steering gives you good control, and the steering friction can be adjusted so the motor holds a straight course if you take your hand off for a moment.

Shallow Water Drive

Yamaha builds a shallow water drive setting into the tilt system of the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale. It lets you lock the motor at a partly raised angle so you can run slowly through shallow water without the lower unit digging into the bottom. On rivers, flats and sandy beaches, that is a genuinely useful feature. It means you can keep motoring into water that would otherwise force you to kill the motor and paddle. Use it at low speed only, and keep an eye on the cooling water stream, because in very shallow water the intake can pick up sand.

Fuel Setup

Unlike the small single cylinder portables, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale does not have a fuel tank built into the motor. It runs from a separate portable fuel tank connected by a hose with a primer bulb. That is actually an advantage for most users, because a portable tank holds much more fuel, so you can run for hours without refuelling, and the tank weight sits on the floor of the boat rather than on the transom.

To set it up, connect the hose to the tank and the motor, open the tank vent and squeeze the primer bulb until it feels firm. Then start the motor as normal. When you finish, close the vent and disconnect the hose if you are carrying the motor or tank. Always use fresh unleaded, no more than 10 percent ethanol, and if fuel will sit for a while, add a stabiliser.

What Speed to Expect

On a 10 or 11 foot inflatable with one or two people, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale will typically get the boat onto the plane, especially if the boat is light and the weight is well placed. With heavier loads, it may stay at a fast displacement speed. On a small jon boat with one angler and gear, expect a good, steady pace. As always, hull shape, load, trim and conditions all make a big difference, so treat any speed figures you see online as rough guides rather than promises.

Fitting the Yamaha F8SMHB for Sale

You can fit the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale yourself. Check your boat’s capacity plate first and make sure 8 HP and about 87 pounds are within the limits. At this weight, two people make lifting the motor onto the transom much easier and safer. Clamp it in the centre of the transom, tighten the clamp screws firmly and fit a safety line.

The anti-cavitation plate just above the propeller should sit level with or slightly below the bottom of the hull. Set the trim rod so the motor’s leg is vertical when the boat is moving with its normal load. If the bow rides high, move the rod in a hole. If the bow ploughs, move it out.

Connect the fuel tank, check the engine oil, put the motor in neutral and start it. Look for the stream of cooling water from the tell-tale outlet before you shift into gear.

Break-In

Every new Yamaha needs a short, gentle break-in. For the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale, that means varied throttle at low and medium settings for the first hours, no long full-throttle runs, and a check of the oil before every outing. After the break-in hours listed in the manual, change the engine oil. If you need a copy of the manual, Yamaha makes them available on its owner’s manual site.

Maintenance

After every trip in salt or brackish water, flush the cooling system with fresh water and rinse the outside. While the motor runs, glance at the cooling tell-tale. A strong, steady stream means the water pump is doing its job.

Once a season, or at the hours listed in the manual, change the engine oil (it holds about 0.8 litre) and the gear oil, check the spark plugs, grease the clamp screws, swivel bracket and tilt pivot, check the propeller, the anode and the fuel filter. Every few seasons, replace the water pump impeller.

Before winter storage, run the carburettor dry or treat the fuel with stabiliser, change the oil, flush with fresh water and store the motor upright in a dry place. Stale fuel in the carburettor is the most common cause of starting problems after storage on any small outboard, and avoiding it is easy.

If you are not comfortable doing the work yourself, any Yamaha dealer can service the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale. It is a very common motor and every shop knows it well.

Troubleshooting Basics

When the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale will not start or keeps stalling, the cause is nearly always simple. Check that the tank vent is open, the fuel hose is connected properly at both ends, and the primer bulb is firm. Make sure the fuel is fresh. If you have used a lot of choke, the engine may be flooded: push the choke in, open the throttle a little and pull a few times. Check that the kill cord clip is in place. If it still will not start, remove and look at the spark plugs. If the motor runs but the cooling stream is weak, clear the tell-tale outlet with a thin wire, and if that does not help, the impeller may need replacing.

Running Costs

The Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is economical to own. Four-stroke twins at this size use modest amounts of fuel at a sensible cruise. Oil changes need under a litre. Plugs, impellers, anodes and gear oil are inexpensive and stocked by Yamaha dealers almost everywhere. There is no battery and no electronic control system to maintain.

Using It in Salt Water

Yamaha builds the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale with corrosion resistant materials, protective paint and a sacrificial anode. That is a good start, but salt water still needs a little respect. Flush after every use, check the anode each season and replace it when it is noticeably worn, and keep the outside clean. Spraying the powerhead with a corrosion protection product once in a while helps too. With that care, the motor will last many seasons in the sea.

A Day of Fishing With the F8

Plenty of the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale motors we ship end up on small fishing boats, so here is what a typical day looks like. You load the boat, connect the fuel tank, squeeze the bulb and start the motor in neutral. It settles into a smooth twin cylinder idle while you finish loading. You head out at a comfortable cruise, and on a light jon boat or aluminium skiff the 8 gets you to the first spot quickly without burning much fuel.

Once there, you drop the throttle to just off idle and troll along the edge you want to fish. Because it is a twin, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale idles more smoothly than a single, which makes slow trolling more comfortable. If the wind pushes you off the spot, a quick burst in reverse puts you back. At the end of the day, you run home, flush the motor if you were in salt water and disconnect the tank. Simple, quiet, dependable.

Using It as a Tender Motor

On larger yachts that carry a bigger inflatable or RIB, the 8 is a popular tender motor. It has enough power to get a loaded tender onto the plane, which makes long runs ashore much quicker. The main thing to keep in mind is weight. At about 87 pounds, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is a two-person lift between the yacht and the dinghy, or a job for a small davit or lifting tackle. Always clip a line on before you move it.

Accessories Worth Having

A larger portable fuel tank is the first thing most owners buy, if one did not come with the motor. A motor cover protects the cowling from sun and spray. A flushing attachment makes salt water care easy. A spare propeller is useful if you run in shallow or rocky water. And a cable lock is worth having if the boat is left in a busy harbour. None of these are needed to use the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale, but they make ownership easier.

What Comes in the Crate

The motor arrives assembled with a propeller fitted, the owner’s manual and factory paperwork. Depending on the shipment, a portable fuel tank and hose may or may not be included, so ask us when you order if you need one. Always check the engine oil level before the first start, because motors sometimes ship without oil in the crankcase.

Why Yamaha

Yamaha’s dealer network covers almost every country with boats, which means parts and service are easy to find. The 212 cc twin is a proven engine with a long track record. It is smooth, quiet and economical, and Yamaha portables hold their value well on the second-hand market. Those are the reasons we keep the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale in stock.

Compare Nearby Models

See the Yamaha F6SMHA if weight is your top concern, or the Yamaha F15SMHA if you need a lot more power. Our 8 HP Yamaha section and the full Yamaha outboard range have everything else.

Ordering

We sell new outboard motors online and ship them worldwide. Add the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale to your cart and check out, or contact us first with any questions. We confirm stock, your address and the delivery route, pack the motor in its factory crate with extra protection and send you tracking once it ships.

International buyers pay their own country’s import duty and taxes. We provide the paperwork customs needs. Please read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions. You can also see customer reviews and learn more about us.

FAQ: Yamaha F8SMHB for Sale

Is the motor new?

Yes. The Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is new, crated and never run.

Does it have a built-in fuel tank?

No. It runs from a separate portable fuel tank with a hose and primer bulb.

Does the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale have reverse?

Yes, forward, neutral and reverse.

Is it electric start?

No, the F8SMHB is pull start. If you need electric start, look at the electric start F9.9 models.

Will it plane my inflatable?

On many 10 to 11 foot inflatables with one or two people, yes. It depends on the boat and load.

How heavy is the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale?

About 87 pounds. Two people make lifting easier.

Is it good for salt water?

Yes, with a freshwater flush after each use.

Is a propeller included?

Yes.

How long will shipping take?

It depends on your location. We give you an estimate when we confirm the order.

Final Word

If your boat is rated for 8 HP and you want the smoothness and pull of a twin cylinder engine, the Yamaha F8SMHB for sale is an excellent choice. It is quiet, economical, easy to start and backed by Yamaha’s worldwide dealer network. Add it to your cart when you are ready, or ask us anything first. The rest of our motors are in the shop.