Outboard motors: how to choose and buy one
Choose the motor for the boat, not the other way round
The most common mistake is to buy “a more powerful one, just in case”. For every boat the maker states a maximum power, and it must not be exceeded. So first look in the papers or on the plate on the transom for how many horsepower are allowed. For a 3-metre inflatable PVC boat these are usually small motors, and for aluminium and fibreglass hulls the range is wider.
How it works through BlaBlaPrice
You write a request: type of motor, power, which boat it is for, condition, city. It is checked, and you are told what is missing. Shops, service centres and private owners reply: make, power, engine hours, price, warranty, delivery. Sellers see where their offer ranks and compete for your choice. Your phone number is hidden. Details are on the “How it works” page.
What to put in your request
- Type of motor — petrol outboard (two-stroke or four-stroke), electric trolling motor, inboard.
- Power — in horsepower, or thrust in pounds for electric motors.
- Make and model — Tohatsu, Yamaha, Suzuki, Mercury, Hidea, Parsun.
- Condition — new or used; for used, engine hours, compression, and whether it has had an overhaul.
- Shaft length — short S or long L, to suit the height of the transom.
- Starting and control — manual or electric start, tiller or remote, tilt (trim).
- Which boat it is for — PVC, aluminium, length and permitted power.
- Year, city or delivery, budget.
Example: “I need a new four-stroke outboard motor, 9.9 hp, short shaft S, manual start, for a 3.3 m inflatable PVC boat. Warranty from the seller. Courier delivery to Dubai. Budget up to AED 4,400.”
Two-stroke or four-stroke
Two-stroke motors are lighter and simpler, but louder, smokier and use more fuel, and they need petrol mixed with oil. Four-stroke motors are quieter, more economical and cleaner, but heavier and dearer. If you have to carry and remove the motor often, think about weight, and for fishing on quiet water, about noise. Electric motors suit lakes and places where petrol engines are banned.
How to choose and inspect
The shaft length must match the height of the transom: a shaft that is too short makes the propeller suck in air, one that is too long adds water drag. For a used motor ask about engine hours and how regular the servicing was, whether the gearbox oil was changed and whether there was water in it. Start the engine, listen for smooth running, and look at the propeller and the gearbox casing. Ask to see the compression of the cylinders and whether it ever overheated.
When you compare offers, check the kit: tank, hoses, propeller, papers, warranty. The price gap between similar motors is often explained by origin, year and kit. A new motor from an authorised dealer usually has a warranty, and a warranty on a used one is better agreed in writing.
Common mistakes
Buying a motor without knowing the permitted power of the boat. Not checking the shaft length. Buying without checking the compression and engine hours. Forgetting about running in a new engine, and that an old motor needs servicing after long storage. If you are looking for a boat for a motor, look at motorboats and inflatable PVC boats. An overview is in the “Boats and watercraft” section.
