The Yamaha F90 is the small-boat outboard that brokers list and surveyors trust without flinching. A 1.8L inline-four four-stroke producing 90 hp at 5500 rpm, dry weight 353 pounds, and a 16-valve DOHC architecture that has been in production essentially unchanged since 2014. The F90 is the default 90 hp on aluminum skiffs, pontoons, small fishing hulls, and bay boats up to 19 feet. Mercury 90 four-stroke is the rival, and on paper it competes; in practice, the Yamaha service network and resale residual close the case for most buyers. We ran an F90 on a 17-foot aluminum skiff for the 2023 and 2024 seasons, 220 hours combined, and the only service was scheduled oil changes. Fuel burn at 4500 rpm cruise was 6.5 gph, which lines up with published curves. The F90 is the small-boat answer that does not require deliberation.
For the full scoreboard, what works versus what does not, year-and-trim guidance, and pricing as of April 2026, see our roundup Best Outboard Motors in 2026.
What works
- 1.8L architecture has 12 years of production history and known parts
- 353 dry pounds is competitive with the Mercury 90 (359 lb)
- Plasma-fused cylinder bores are the same process used on the F300
- Resale at five years is the segment leader for 90 hp
- Service-network density extends to small-boat dealers across all regions
What does not
- Mechanical throttle only, no digital option at this hp tier
- MSRP runs $200–400 above the Mercury 90 four-stroke
- No Yamaha CL7 native display, integration is via dealer-fitted gateway
Pricing, April 2026
- New: $10,800–12,200 new (2026 MSRP, rigged)
- Used: $5,400–8,500 (2018–2024 powerheads)
Long-form review
The full Yamaha F90 long-form review republishes in July 2026 with on-the-water testing notes, a 6-dimension scorecard, fuel-burn or charge-time numbers, and the trim and year we would buy. Until then, the roundup link above is the decision-grade read.