6HP Outboard for 2013 Beneteau First 20

[Infinity First 20]

Greetings,

After searching the forum for current discussions about the latest small outboard options I have decided to reach out for help - so thank you in advance!

After owning a larger sailboat for several years we have decide to scale-down and enjoy the freedom of trailing wherever we want and the simplicity of a smaller boat. After a long research we finally placed an order few week ago for the redesigned 2013 Beneteau First 20.

I need some help on picking the right and most reliable outboard. The boat comes with outboard bracket rated for up to 66 lbs or 30 kg.

The few models that keep coming up in my research are as follow:
MERCURY - 6hp 4-stroke 57 lbs - 15' or 20" Shaft Length
Yamaha F6LMHA - 6hp 4-stroke 60 lbs - 20" Shaft Length
The new 2013 Nissan - 6hp 4-stroke 58 lbs for the 20" Shaft Length and 59 for extra long 25" Shaft Length.

I will appreciate any advice/experience about the above options and the appropriate shaft length.

Thanks,
Dave

 

[FourPoints]

Nissan and Mercury are the same (and Tohatsu), they are good reliable engines.

Go with the longest shaft that will still tilt out of the water

 

[Jackdaw]

Nice boat!

On the old 210 (same basic boat) the motor mount slid up and down as well as well as tilting. The same? It's on the centerline too. If yes you might get away with a 15 inch shaft if you feel your conditions are not too crazy.

Enjoy the boat! Our 260 is the big sister, and is also coming to the states in the spring, now called the 25s

 

[Bosman]

I have been using Tohatsu 9.8 for the last 4 years with ZERO problems, after having Yamaha 9.9 for about 3 days and returning it due to problems with brand new unit. Tohatsu (Mariner/Nissan) is very quiet and I get about 1.2l/hr at 3/4 throttle fuel consumption pushing 3300kg / 7300lbs sailboat. Go for the longest shaft you can, you will not regret it. I agree with FourPoints on reliability on these motors.

Congratulations on your new boat!

 

[FourPoints]

On the old 210 (same basic boat) the motor mount slid up and down as well as well as tilting. The same?

no, the motor always tilts, the motor mount sometimes raises. My motor mount is fixed and doesn't raise or lower, but my motor still tilts up and out of the water.

Most adjustable mounts have an adjustment that allows you to adjust the motor angle, but that is not the same as tilt.

 

[Jackdaw]

no, the motor always tilts, the motor mount sometimes raises. My motor mount is fixed and doesn't raise or lower, but my motor still tilts up and out of the water.
.

FP, do you have a 210? If not I think you're missing my point. See pix below, The 210 had a rail mounted system that allowed the motor to travel up and down over a foot. In most cases it removed the need for a long shaft motor.

 

[Infinity First 20]

Thank you guys for the advice. Attached are pictures of a sister boat with the engine mount bracket. It looks to me that it can slide up and down but it can't be tilted

 

[FourPoints]

FP, do you have a 210? If not I think you're missing my point. See pix below, The 210 had a rail mounted system that allowed the motor to travel up and down over a foot. In most cases it removed the need for a long shaft motor.

no, but motor mounts commonly raise and lower about a foot, that doesn't mean a long shaft isn't still needed. Take your short shaft engine out in 4ft trailing seas and see how well it works.

Thank you guys for the advice. Attached are pictures of a sister boat with the engine mount bracket. It looks to me that it can slide up and down but it can't be tilted

it's not the mount that tilts, it's the engine.

 

[Jackdaw]

Take your short shaft engine out in 4ft trailing seas and see how well it works.

I'm not making a hypothetical point. A lot of the 210 owners USE short shaft motors. The original mount goes VERY low, and because the motor is almost on the center line of the boat it stays in the water more. As a motor moves outboard on the transom it gets father from the water even though the height remains the same. This is typical on single rudder boats but not on the 210.

 

[Infinity First 20]

Thank you again for the feedback. I ordered the 2013 Nissan 6 hp Four-Stroke Outboard (Sail Pro) and this latest model comes with alternator and charging cables for the battery. i

I ordered it from onlineoutboards they were very friendly and helpful with all my questions and even offer addition discount.