How Much Do Boat Motors Cost? [2023 Edition]

If you are looking to replace the outboard motor in your boat, you may be probably asking yourself, how much do boat motors cost?

We aim to provide boat owners with information that will help them to make full use of their boats.

To this end, we share a wide range of content pieces, including informational guides and product reviews. So, you can always trust us as your go-to source of boat-related information.  

About Boat Motors

There are three main types of engines used in boats. They include inboard and outboard. As its name suggests, an inboard boat engine or motor is fitted inside the boat, usually in the midsection part of the hull. 

These engines are usually sold with the vessel, meaning you can’t buy them commercially or separately.

An outboard boat engine or outboard motor, on the other hand, is an external power source, which provides propulsion for the boat. Unlike the inboard one, the outboard engine or motor isn’t built into the boat’s body. 

As we’ve pointed out above, you can’t purchase inboard boat motors separately. So, in this article, we will only focus on outboard boat motors for boat owners and boat motor pricing.

How Much Do Outboard Boat Motors Cost

If you are looking to upgrade your outboard motor, you may be wondering about the boat motor cost and the total cost for outboard motors. 

Well, the cost of an outboard boat motor will cost anywhere between $900 to $30,000 or even more. Like anything else, the actual cost will depend on several factors. 

Factors that Determine the Cost of Outboard Motors

As we’ve pointed out above, an outboard boat motor will cost you around $900 to $30,000. But, the actual cost that you will pay for the boat motor will depend on a wide range of factors, including:

Condition

When it comes to buying an outboard motor for your boat and the boat motor cost, you have two options to explore.

You can either buy a new boat engine or a used one. As you may expect, the new boat engine cost will be higher compared to the used one.

However, as much as you will spend more to buy a new motor instead of a used one, you will be in a position to purchase the exact type that you want.

It will also depend on the size of the boat. A jon boat motor will be much smaller than a pontoon boat engine.

Furthermore, when you go for a new motor, you don’t have to worry about its history of use, whether it has been well taken care of and properly maintained, or whether it has been neglected, abused, or poorly maintained.

Simply put, there are pros and cons to buying a new or used outdoor boat motor. 

Ultimately, the decision to go for a new or used one will depend on your budget and preferences.

Size and Power

Outboard motors come in different sizes and could include four-stroke outboard motors, four-stroke engines, and electronic fuel injection. However, they are mainly grouped into three main sizes. 

These are small, mid-range, and high-power. 

Small outboard motors are those with up to 35 hp. These outboard engines are ideal for smaller boats and water vessels, measuring up to 18 feet long and with a passenger capacity of three.

On average, you can expect to pay around $3,000 for a 15-hp boat motor, $4,000 for a 25-hp motor, and $5,000 for a 30-hp outboard boat motor. Anything below 15 hp will cost you around $1,000 to $2,500.

Mid-range outboard boat motors range from around 40 hp to 100 hp. These outboard engines are powerful enough to propel a pontoon boat or heavier boats with higher passenger capacities.

For this range of the outboard motors cost, boat owners will pay approximately $5,000 for a 40 hp motor, $6,000 for a 50 hp motor, $7,500 for a 60 hp motor, $7,000 for a 70 hp outboard engine, and around $8,000 for a 75 hp outboard boat motor.

Any motor with a horsepower of above 100 is considered high power. As you may expect, these motors will also come with a higher price tag, compared to the ones in the lower categories. 

An outboard boat motor within this category is going to cost around $10,000 going up, depending on its horsepower.

Mid-range and high-power outboard boat engines are designed for heavier boats. And, as we’ve highlighted above, these outboard motors cost more compared to the small engines. 

Brand

There are dozens of companies out there that manufacture and sell outboard boat motors. Some of the most popular boat brands include Yamaha, Honda, Evinrude, Mercury, Suzuki, Tohatsu, and Minn Kota.

And, each manufacturer follows their own design, manufacturing, and production methods. As you may expect, the different manufacturing methods applied will also determine the outboard motor pricing.

Available Features

Outboard motors come outfitted with various additional features, designed to enhance user experience. 

For example, some outboard motors may feature an electric start button, meaning you no longer have to use the pull-start method.

Also, some may feature a powered tilt function, which tends to be more convenient compared to manual tilt.

Consequently, the number of additional features present will also determine the cost of the boat. The higher the number of features, the higher the outboard engine cost.

Fuel Efficiency

Just like vehicle engines, boat engines also come with different levels of fuel efficiency. 

For instance, some will deliver better fuel economy than others. Consequently, the better the fuel efficiency, the higher the outboard motor cost.

Tips for Buying Outboard Boat Motors

Your options are almost endless when it comes to outboard boat motors. So, how do you ensure that you buy the right one? Well, there are two main factors to consider when buying an outboard boat motor.

First, you should consider the type of boat that you have. The type of boat that you currently have should determine the motor you purchase.

For instance, if you own a skiff or a small boat, then you don’t need a motor that has too much horsepower. 

If you buy a motor that has too much horsepower than you need, it will cost you more, and you will only be using a fraction of its power.

Second, you should consider how you will be using your boat. If you only go out to explore with your recreational boat occasionally, then you may not need as much power as other people with commercial fishing boats. 

Instead, you can easily get away with a small unit.

Key Takeaways

• Outboard motors are available at different prices
• The price of such a motor can range between $900 to $30,000
• The actual cost will depend on various factors
• Ensure you choose a motor that aligns best with your needs