Choosing a 5 HP or 6 HP outboard
Some are specialized for sailboats
These 5 HP and 6 HP outboards are a step above their 4 HP siblings in price, power, and features. They are powerful enough to push 2000-3000 lbs of sailboat. Tohatsu and Mercury even target sailboats specifically with their Sail Pro and Sail Power variants. If your tender is small enough, you might even be able to get it planing under the right conditions.
Contents
- Compared to 4 HP
- Yamaha F6
- Suzuki DFA6
- Honda BF5
- Tohatsu MFS5
- Tohatsu MFS5LPG
- Tohatsu MFS6CS and MFS6CD
- Mercury 5
- Mercury 5 Propane
- Mercury 6
- More small outboards
Compared to 4 HP
The 5 HP and 6 HP outboards come from literally the same mold as their 4 HP siblings. For more money but about the same weight you get most of the 4 HP features and then some:
- More transom options: 5 HP and 6 HP outboards come in shaft lengths of 15, 20, and even 25 inch models.
- Propellors: you often have a choice of prop pitches.
- More fuel choices: All the big manufacturers sell gasoline-powered outboards. Tohatsu and Mercury also offer propane as an option.
Propane isn’t so bad
A lot of sailors look down on propane outboards, especially when they’ve never even seen one and they’re about to click Send on a forum post. I don’t have any experience with propane-powered outboards either, but propane has definite advantages:
- No choke: Unlike gasoline, there’s no need to vaporize propane before burning it. Even for a cold start propane is already a vapor by the time it reaches the carburator.
- No ethanol: Gasoline outboards, especially small ones, are susceptible to ethanol in fuel, which gums up the carburator. For example, Yamaha and Mercury explicitly state a maximum of 10% ethanol in the fuel for their engines.
- No need to carry gasoline: If you already use propane to grill or cook, you can use the same fuel with a propane outboard.
Yamaha F6
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 59/27, 20 inch: 61/28
Fuel: gasoline
Internal fuel capacity (US gal/litres): 0.3/1.1
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: 12V 6A (optional)
Carrying handles: front and rear
Storage/transportation: upright, front, starboard, port
Warranty (years): 3
Suzuki DF6A
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 52/23.5, 20 inch: 54/25
Fuel: gasoline
Internal fuel capacity (US gal/litres): 0.26/1
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: 12V 5A (optional)
Carrying handles: front and rear
Storage/transportation: upright, front, starboard, port
Warranty (years): 5
The Suzuki 6 HP beats everyone else on weight at 52 or 54 lbs. Unlike its 4 HP sibling, you can go 15 or 20 inches.
Suzuki has a few unique features. There are three locking positions when tilting it up. You can choose your color, black or white. You can also choose a prop size, putting this outboard in the same niche as the Tohatsu Sail Pro and Mercury Sail Power.
Honda BF5
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 60/27, 20 inch: 60.6/27.5
Fuel: gasoline
Internal fuel capacity (US gal/litres): 0.39/1.5
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: 12V 6A (optional)
Carrying handles: front
Storage/transportation: upright, starboard
Warranty (years): 3
The Honda has the highest internal fuel capacity, the same high alternator output as the Yamaha.
In some kind of April Fool’s joke, Honda recently reduced its warranty period from 5 to 3 years for outboards manufactured after April 1, 2023. If you can find a new (or used) outboard made before then, you might still get the 5 year warranty.
Tohatsu MFS5
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 57/26, 20 inch: 58/27
Fuel: gasoline
Internal fuel capacity: external only
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: 12V 5A (optional)
Carrying handles: front and back
Storage/transportation: upright, front, starboard, port
Warranty (years): 5
The Tohatsu 5 HP has a longer warranty and a shifter at the front of the engine instead of its side.
The 5 HP has no internal fuel tank but the Tohatsu MFS6CD does.
Tohatsu MFS5LPG
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20, 25 (Sail Pro only)
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 60/27.2, 20 inch: 61/27.7, 25 inch: 61/27.7
Fuel: propane
Internal fuel capacity: external only
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: 12V 5A (standard for the Sail Pro, optional otherwise)
Carrying handles: front and back
Warranty (years): 5
The optional Sail Pro configuration comes with a high-thrust prop, an alternator as standard equipment, and a 20 or 25 inch shaft.
The Tohatsu has a longer warranty and a shifter at the front of the engine instead of its side.
Tohatsu MFS6DD and MFS6D
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20 for regular outboard. 20, 25 for Sail Pro
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 56/25.6, 20 & 25 inch: 58/26.1
Fuel: gasoline
Internal fuel capacity (US gal/litres): 0.3/1.15 for MFS6DD. MFS6D is external only.
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: 12V 5A (standard for the Sail Pro, optional otherwise)
Carrying handles: front and back
Warranty (years): 5
Tohatsu has a longer warranty and a shifter at the front of the engine instead of its side. The MFS6DD has an internal tank and optional external tank. The MFS6D has only an external fuel tank.
The Sail Pro configuration includes a high-thrust prop, an alternator as standard equipment, and a 20 or 25 inch shaft.
Mercury 5
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20 (Sail Power only), 25
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 57/26
Fuel: gasoline
Internal fuel capacity (US gal/litres): 0.3/1.1
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: 12V 4A (Sail Power only)
Carrying handles: front
Warranty (years): 3
The optional Sail Power configuration comes only in a 20 inch shaft. It includes a high-thrust prop and an alternator.
Mercury 5 Propane
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20, 25 (Sail Power only)
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 59/27
Fuel: propane
Internal fuel capacity: external only
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: 12V 4A (Sail Power only)
Carrying handles: front
Warranty (years): 3
The optional Sail Power configuration comes only in a 20 inch shaft. It includes a high-thrust prop and an alternator.
Mercury 6
Shaft length (inches): 15, 20
Weight (lbs/kg): 15 inch: 57/26
Fuel: gasoline
Internal fuel capacity (US gal/litres): 0.3/1.15
Transmission: forward, neutral, reverse
Starting: manual pull
Alternator: none
Carrying handles: front
Warranty (years): 3
Unlike the Mercury 5’s many options, the Mercury 6 has no Sail Power, no propane, no alternator, and no 25 inch shaft.
Its only advantage is the extra 1 horsepower. Unless you have a specific need for this modest boost, consider the more flexible options of the Mercury 5 or Mercury 5 Propane.
More small outboards
Choosing a small outboard
A guide to choosing an outboard engine for your small sailboat
Choosing a 2.5 HP outboard
These gasoline outboards are the tiniest, including the price
Choosing a 4 HP outboard
Like its 5 HP and 6 HP siblings, just not as much
Choosing an electric outboard
Maybe electric outboards aren’t just for occasional use or short trips
At your service
Humbly yours,
Marc, Supreme Purser