Choosing a 5 HP or 6 HP outboard

Some are specialized for sailboats

Motoring an Edel 665 with a Tohatsu 6 HP through Little Detroit, North Channel, Lake Huron

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

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:

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:

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

Manufacturer site

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

Manufacturer site

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

Manufacturer site

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

Manufacturer site

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

Manufacturer site

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

Manufacturer site

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

Manufacturer site

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

Manufacturer site

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

Manufacturer site

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