All the 60hp outboard engines compared

It’s little wonder when you realise how versatile they are – a 60hp outboard engine can power everything from alloy fishing tinnies and runabouts through to inflatables and even houseboats.

The 60hp engines available runs from the latest in cutting-edge technology to the time-proven units with runs on the board. The 60hp four-stroke outboard engine category is a mix of three- and four-cylinder models.

But if you’re re-powering or looking to power a new boat, which one do you choose?

All the leading outboard engine brands have 60hp models on offer, with most looking similar in terms of on-paper specifications and features, making it difficult to pick the right one for your boating activity or application.

That said, when you buy a new production boat from a dealer, it may only come with limited outboard engine choices.

Most boat dealers will offer at least two outboard engine brands, but rarely will three be available.

Sometimes the choice of outboard engine will be determined by your nearest service centre, as Yamaha, Mercury and Suzuki outboard engines are more widely available across the length and breadth of our nation than the smaller players such as Honda and Tohatsu.

Honda has been quiet in recent years compared with rival outboard engine makers.

It has upgraded its big V6s and launched new 4hp, 5hp and 6hp portable outboard engines, but has otherwise been content to rest on its laurels.

That said, Honda has a loyal following with buyers often sticking with the brand when upgrading to a new boat or outboard engine.

Honda also has a solid line-up of outboard engines between 2.5hp and 250hp. It has resisted the urge to go bigger, leaving the mega-power outboard market to rivals.

Among Honda Marine’s range of four-stroke outboard engines is the evergreen BF60, launched in 2009.

Honda’s BF60 is a single overhead cam in-line three-cylinder outboard engine with a class-leading 998cc – a big displacement for a 60hp outboard engine.

Honda’s boosted low-speed torque – BLAST – technology also goes some way to compensating for the lower cylinder count compared with rivals.

There's also a high-thrust version of the Honda called the BFP60 (Power Thrust). This beefed-up model uses the lower gear case and gear ratio of the Honda BF75/90 to provide more low-down torque for pushing heavier loads.

Underway, the BF60 and BFP60 are notably smooth, economical and quiet. The regular BF60 is ideal for powering lightweight craft to around 4.6 metres, while the BFP60 (with its beefier lower unit and larger-diameter propeller) suits slightly bigger, heavier boats.

Key features of the BF60 include Honda's lean burn control technology (ECOmo), multi-port programmed fuel injection, a 22-amp alternator for running onboard electrics, variable idle (in 50rpm increments) for low-speed trolling, trim-limit switch, NMEA 2000 compatibility, and alerts for most engine issues.

In terms of weight, the BF60 is on par with its four-stroke outboard competition, weighing 110kg for the lightest model.

The Honda BF60 is available in longshaft (20-inch) and extra-longshaft (25-inch) configurations, and with Honda's multifunction tiller for tiller-steer applications.

Mercury's 40hp, 50hp and 60hp EFI four-stroke triplets arrived in the early 2000s but were given a major upgrade in 2007, and periodically since.

Differing only in power output, each of these engines has an in-line four-cylinder, 995cc powerhead with a single overhead camshaft operating eight valves.

Despite their age, all three of these Mercury outboard engines remain popular, particularly the 60hp model that has the same 112kg weight as its detuned siblings.

Given a choice between each of these Mercury models, many boaters spend a little more for the larger one given there is no weight penalty carried on the transom.

Similar to its rivals, Mercury also has a high-thrust model fitted with a larger gear case, bigger prop and lower gear ratio (2.33:1) suited to pushing large loads.

This "Command Thrust" model is immensely popular in the high-thrust 60hp engine category.

For commercial applications, there's also a toughened-up version of the 60hp outboard engine with the Command Thrust gear case, called the SeaPro.

The Mercury 60hp EFI is right at the top of the class for smooth, quiet, vibration-free operation via an inherently well-balanced in-line four-cylinder engine configuration, versus three-cylinder rivals from Honda, Suzuki and Tohatsu.

On the water, Mercury’s 60hp starts the first go every time and its power delivery underway is smooth and consistent. The four cylinders and a big displacement ensure plenty of torque to quickly get a boat onto the plane.

The Command Thrust model (with its big prop and low gear ratio) is quicker still, albeit with a slightly slower top speed when fitted to lighter-weight craft.

The leading features of the Mercury 60hp four-stroke include Mercury Smartcraft digital engine management compatibility, an 18-amp alternator, an idle trolling speed control (in class-leading 10rpm increments), freshwater flushing port, convenient oil drain and fill location, and a spin-on style oil filter.

Mercury’s 60hp four-stroke is available in longshaft (20-inch) and extra-longshaft (25-inch) configurations, and with two tiller-arm options – a standard version and a full-featured Big Tiller model.

Suzuki’s DF60A outboard engine was launched in 2010 to replace the rather weighty DF60 model based on the Suzuki Sierra automotive engine.

Upon debut, the in-line three-cylinder, twin-cam four-valve-per-cylinder DF60A was the lightest 60hp four-stroke available, tipping the scales at 104kg.

The DF60A shares the same powerhead and basic engine architecture as the detuned DF40A and DF50A, as well as the high-thrust version of these engines, the DF40AV, DF50AV and the DF60AV.

Similar to other high-thrust models in this class, the AV series outboard engines have a larger gear case and lower gear ratios so they can swing bigger diameter propellers for pushing heavier vessels such as pontoon boats, larger RIBS and even barges.

For normal lightweight boat applications, the standard DF60 is the way to go, providing a higher top speed and decent hole-shot performance.

To achieve maximum speed and fuel efficiency, the Suzuki DF60A series utilises Suzuki's lean burn control system to predict fuel needs according to operating conditions, and to precisely adjust the air/fuel setting for optimum efficiency.

Accordingly, the DF60A is responsive through the mid-rev range, yet frugal on fuel.

Similar to its smaller siblings, the DF60 uses a self-adjusting, maintenance-free timing chain; there are no belts to adjust during annual servicing, saving you time and money.

Other notable features include a compact, space-saving powerhead and cowling, a tilt-limit system (to prevent top-cowl damage), a 19-amp alternator (with 11.5 amps delivered at 1000rpm), freshwater flushing port, and Suzuki's Troll Mode system that adjusts idle troll speed in 50rpm increments up to 1200rpm.

Similar to its competition, the DF60A has alarms and alerts for engine malfunctions, including over-revving, overheating, and low oil pressure.

The Suzuki DF60A is available in longshaft (20-inch) and extra-longshaft (25-inch) configurations and with manual and electric start tiller-steer configurations.

There's also a choice of colours; traditional black along with the more expensive cool white.

The Tohatsu MFS60A is the newest 60hp four-stroke outboard engine on the market, having made its debut internationally in 2019.

Derived and uprated from Tohatsu's smaller MFS50A, and sharing the same engine architecture, the new 60hp Tohatsu four-stroke is the lightest outboard engine in this group by a fair margin.

The lightest version of the Tohatsu 60hp (standard 20-inch longshaft leg) weighs just 98.5kg, roughly 5.5kg less than the next lightest 60hp engine, the 104kg Suzuki DF60A. It’s a substantial 11.5kg skinnier than the Yamaha F60.

Interestingly, the Tohatsu 60hp four-stroke is also 15 per cent lighter than the old 60hp Tohatsu two-stroke outboard engine, which shows how far engine makers have cut weight and boosted four-stroke outboard engine performance.

Similar to Honda and Suzuki, the Tohatsu MFS60A is an in-line three-cylinder outboard engine.

This single-cam, three-valves-per-cylinder engine is relatively small in capacity, displacing just 866cc against close to 1000cc for its rivals.

You wouldn't pick this on the water though, as this compact little unit is smooth, quiet, and surprisingly powerful.

I tested a pair of the Tohatsu 60hp outboard engines on the back of a Makocraft 531 Canyon Console. The two engines started instantly – hot or cold – and ran sweetly throughout the test.

Similar to its rivals, the Tohatsu MFS60A has a variable idle speed control. You can dial the engine speed down to just 650 rpm – lower than most of its competitors – to troll lures and baits at very slow speeds.

Other features include a built-in freshwater flushing port (no need to run the engine), a 21-amp high-output alternator; a low gear ratio for improved low-end torque, a side mount canister oil filter, bowl fuel filter, and easy access dipstick for servicing, and the option for a multifunction tiller handle.

The Tohatsu MFS60A is available in two colours; traditional Tohatsu aquamarine blue with gold lettering, as well as the optional beluga white.

There is a choice of longshaft (20-inch) and extra-longshaft (25-inch) shaft lengths, and the outboard engines come with a five-year warranty.

The Yamaha F60 is one of the best-selling four-stroke outboard engines on the market.

It arrived in 2001 as a carburetted engine, was upgraded with electronic fuel injection in 2004, and continues to be wildly popular.

Similar to the Mercury 60hp – its main rival in this class – the Yamaha F60A has an eight-valve SOHC in-line four-cylinder engine with a long piston stroke to provide excellent low-end power and torque.

The standard Yamaha F60 comes with a compact gearcase and 1.85:1 gear ratio making it ideal for powering light- to moderate-weight craft to around 4.8 metres in length.

The Yamaha F60 is a remarkably economical, smooth and vibration-free engine.

You can barely hear it running in idle, and whilst underway it is one of the quietest engines in this class yet provides ample power for smaller planing hulls.

For high-thrust applications such as powering pontoon boats and hefty RIBs, Yamaha's FT60 is the engine of choice.

The heavy-duty gearcase and revised 2.33:1 gear ratio allow for a larger diameter propeller to plane weightier boats.

For houseboat and barge-type applications, the bigger propeller also provides more bite in forward and reverse gears for better low-speed manoeuvrability.

Similar to the smaller Yamaha EFI motors, the F60 has a cold-start primer system for immediate cold starts and computer control of the warming-up procedure.

Underway, Yamaha's microprocessor-based engine control module (ECM) monitors all engine functions, receiving input from six sensors to adjust the fuel/air mixture in the combustion chamber for peak performance.

As with all Yamaha outboard engines, the F60 is brimming with features. They include a five-stage anti-corrosion paint system, variable trolling control to change the idle speed in 50rpm increments, a compact one-piece cowling, freshwater flushing system, 16-amp alternator, malfunction warning alerts, easy-access oil dipstick and spin-on oil filters, and more.

The Yamaha 60hp four-strokes are compatible with the NMEA2000 protocol for running third-party displays and with Yamaha's Command Link Plus digital instrumentation.