When buying an engine, it's not always easy to know which version is right for you. What's more, manufacturers have a way of classifying engines that may seem a little obscure, and which changes as technology evolves. A brand-specific alphabet that describes exactly which version of each engine you're dealing with.
To help you, we've listed the meanings of each letter for each outboard engine manufacturer.
Honda
- C Used here to indicate a centrifugal clutch model.
For power ratings over 150 hp, the C stands for counter rotation. - D Placed in 3rd position, it indicates a product group. For engines above 150 hp, the D stands for "Drive by Wire", i.e. a model with electric controls
- G If placed in 3rd position, means "tilt gas"
- H Handle (i.e. a tiller model)
- J If placed in 3rd position indicates a product group
- N If placed in 3rd position, indicates "No integrated load circuit".
- R Remote control
- S If placed in first position, means "Short" (for short shaft)
If placed in 3rd position, means "Electric starter" - T Trim / Tilt electric
- U If placed in 1st position, means ultra-long shaft.
If Placed at the end, it indicates European conformity. - X Extra long shaft
- Z Placed at the end, it indicates that the model is delivered without accessories.
Mercury
- AMS Advanced middle section (for Verado)
- C Counter rotation
- CT Command Trust
- CMS Conventional Middle section
- E Electric start
- GA Gas lift
- H Handle
- JPO Joystick piloting outboard
- L Long shaft
- M Manual start
- PT Power trim
- R Racing
- S Short shaft
- TM Subbase Torque master
Selva
- B Tiller bar
- C Short shaft
- DOHC Double overhead camshaft
- DW Electric remote control box (Drive by wire)
- E Electric starter
- EI Electric starter with built-in battery
- EFI Electronic fuel injection
- L Long shaft
- M Manual start
- O Overhead valves
- PT Power trim / tilt
- S Hydraulic servo assistance
- SI Built-in tank
- ST Remote control box
- SL Right-hand remote control box
- SC Single lever remote control unit
- SOHC Single overhead camshaft
- T Power tilt
- UL Ultra long shaft
- XL Extra long shaft
Suzuki
All Suzuki engines start with DF
- A / B / C This indicates the engine generation
- AV High-thrust engine
- E Electric start
- H Handle for tiller
- L Long shaft
- P Electric controls
- R For motors up to 30 hp: remote control + electric start
- S Short shaft
- T Trim / Tilt - If there is no H in the name, this also indicates that the motor is a remote control motor
- XL Ultra long shaft
- Z Counter rotation mechanical control
Tohatsu
Tohatsu names are generally indicated as follows
Example MFS20E-EFTL
- MF Tohatsu motor designation
- E generation (5e)
- EF Electric start + tiller
- T Trim or tilt
- D Placed after the dash, it indicates an engine with integrated tank
- E If placed in first position, indicates generation - If placed after the dash, indicates an electric-start motor
- EF Electric start + Tiller
- EP Electric start + Remote control
- L Long shaft
- P Remote control
- S Short shaft
- SP Motor with one thrust propeller + alternator (Sail pro)
- T Trim or tilt
- UL Ultra long shaft
- W White engine
- Z Twin-cylinder (6 hp only)
Yamaha
- A / B / C... Indicates engine generation
- CDI Electronic ignition
- DOHC Double overhead camshaft
- DES Electric steering
- E EFI Electronic fuel injection
- EP Electric start
- ET Power lift and trim
- ED / EHD Hydraulic power lift
- F Four-stroke model
- H Tiller bar
- L Long shaft
- L Left-hand counter-rotation (for large engines)
- MH Manual start
- N Motor sold without baseplate (choose at time of purchase)
- S Short shaft (up to 25 hp)
- S Electric steering (above 25 hp)
- SHO Super High Output four
- SOHC Single overhead camshaft
- TCI Electronic ignition
- X Extra-long shaft
- XTO Xtreme Thrust Output (more or less a trade name)
