The Yamaha 8 shined in our test of four manual-start short-shaft four-strokes.

While engulfed in a dockside vessel inspection for an upcoming boat review, the owner of a nearby boat challenged a PBR editor with this question: “I’m looking for a new four-stroke outboard for my boat. What’s the best 8-hp to buy?” A seemingly simple question and certainly deserving of a forthright answer. Unfortunately, our editor had to politely beg-off the question—at least for the moment. He did not yet have a fact-based answer to give, but would soon.

Our group of four 8-hp four-stroke outboards was slated for testing the following week. …