Remote Control Outboard Motors: Buy an Outboard Remote Control Setup
No engines match those filters
Clear a filter or two, or tell us what you are trying to power and we will find it. We can usually source a configuration inside two weeks.
Shop by specification
All 67 enginesHorsepower
Stroke type
Shaft length
Start type
Steering
Tiller handle16
Remote control51
Shop remote control outboard motors
Buy a remote control outboard motor and you steer from a helm rather than from the back of the boat. Order the engine in remote configuration and the outboard remote control comes matched to it, which is the cheaper and simpler route than buying an engine and sourcing controls afterwards.
Remote control for outboard motor setups comes in two forms, and the one you need is decided by your boat rather than your preference. Tell us the hull and we will confirm which before anything ships.
One thing to separate first. A remote control electric outboard motor means a battery powered engine with remote steering, not a petrol engine with a control box. If you are shopping an electric outboard motor with remote control or an electric outboard remote control, you want a battery motor and this is not the page for it. Everything below covers remote steering on conventional outboards.
Outboard motor remote control steering, binnacle or side mount
Binnacle controls sit on top of the gunwale beside the helm seat, with the throttle and shift on a single lever. This is the standard fit on most remote control outboard installations and the layout most buyers expect.
Side mount controls bolt to the inside of the gunwale. A Mercury outboard side mount remote control or a BRP Johnson Evinrude outboard side mount remote control is the common fit on older aluminum boats and smaller center consoles, where there is no room for a binnacle box.
Outboard motor remote throttle control is the third variation, and remote throttle control outboard motor setups split throttle from shift across two levers. Remote outboard throttle control of this kind is rare on recreational hulls and usual on workboats and some twin installations.
Outboard engine remote control also carries trim on most modern engines, so the trim switch sits in the throttle lever. Remote control outboard Yamaha trim setups put it exactly there.
Remote control outboard motor by brand
Yamaha. A Yamaha outboard remote control is the most commonly fitted setup we handle, and an outboard Yamaha remote control is the easiest to spec correctly, whether listed as a Yamaha remote control outboard or a Yamaha remote control box outboard. The Yamaha outboard motor remote control range covers binnacle and side mount, and a Yamaha outboard remote control kit supplies the box, cables and harness as a matched set. A Yamaha outboard remote control box bought alone still needs Yamaha outboard remote control cables cut to your run, and Yamaha outboard remote control parts are model specific. Older engines use the 703 and 704 boxes, so a Yamaha outboard 703 remote control and a Yamaha outboard 704 remote control are different parts and not interchangeable, and a Yamaha outboard remote control 704 listing means the same box. A remote control Yamaha outboard in the small range, such as a Yamaha 9.9 outboard remote control or a remote control for Yamaha 9.9 outboard, needs the engine to have been built for remote in the first place.
Mercury. A Mercury outboard motor remote control box is the standard binnacle fit, and Mercury outboard remote control box units are among the easiest to source because of dealer density. Mercury outboard motor remote controls cover side mount and binnacle, and a Mercury outboard remote control kit ships with cables sized to the run. Mercury outboard remote control parts stay available longer than most, which is why remote control Mercury outboard motors hold value. Mercury outboard remote throttle control setups appear on commercial rigs.
Honda. A Honda outboard remote control kit includes the box and cabling, and a Honda outboard remote control box can be bought separately where one has gone missing. Honda outboard motor remote controls fit binnacle or side mount, and Honda outboard remote control installation is straightforward on a Honda remote control outboard built for it. Honda outboard remote throttle control is available on the larger range.
Suzuki, Tohatsu, Mariner, Johnson and Evinrude. A Suzuki outboard remote control box, a Tohatsu outboard remote control box, a Tohatsu outboard remote control kit, a Mariner outboard remote control kit, a Johnson outboard remote control box and an Evinrude outboard remote control all follow the same pattern. Suzuki outboard remote control installation is no harder than the bigger brands. On the discontinued names the box is the part that goes missing, so Johnson outboard remote control parts are worth confirming before you buy, and take the engine complete where you can.
Shop the brands: Yamaha outboard motors, Mercury outboards for sale, Suzuki outboards for sale, Honda outboard motors and Johnson outboard motors.
What comes in an outboard remote control box
A universal outboard remote control box on its own is not a working installation, and neither is a branded one. The complete setup needs the control head, throttle and shift cables cut to the length of your run, the wiring harness, the ignition and key switch, and on most engines the trim wiring.
Buying an engine that already includes all of that is worth a meaningful premium over a bare powerhead. Sourcing outboard remote control cables, a harness and a box separately costs more than the difference and takes a day to fit.
Every remote configured engine we list states what is included. Ask before you order if the listing is not clear.
Converting tiller outboard to remote control
Converting tiller outboard to remote control is possible on engines that were built in both configurations, and not possible on engines that were not. The engine needs the mounting points, the shift linkage and the wiring provision from the factory.
Where it is possible, outboard remote control installation means a kit, cables, a harness, and a helm position to mount it. A DIY outboard remote control build using a universal or Vevor outboard remote control box rarely ends cheaper than buying the engine in remote configuration, and a wireless outboard motor remote control is a trolling accessory rather than a steering system. By the time that is bought and fitted, the cost usually lands close to the price difference between a tiller engine and a remote one bought that way. Buy the configuration you want rather than planning to change it.
Remote control outboard boat motors by hull type
| Boat | Usual control | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Tender, dinghy, small skiff | Tiller | No helm position, short boat, engine within reach |
| Jon boat, small aluminum | Side mount | Gunwale mount fits where a binnacle box will not |
| Bay boat, center console | Binnacle | Helm seat position, single lever throttle and shift |
| Offshore single or twin | Binnacle, digital on newer engines | Trim and shift integrated, twin levers on a twin rig |
| Workboat | Remote throttle control | Split throttle and shift for sustained running |
Frequently asked questions
What is an outboard remote control?
The helm setup that moves throttle, shift and usually trim from the engine to a control box at the wheel. It replaces the tiller arm on engines built for it.
Can I fit remote control to any outboard?
No. The engine has to have been built for it, with the mounting points, shift linkage and wiring provision from the factory. Tiller-only models cannot be converted.
What is the difference between binnacle and side mount?
Binnacle sits on top of the gunwale, side mount bolts to the inside of it. Side mount suits smaller boats with no room for a top-mounted box. Both do the same job.
Are Yamaha 703 and 704 remote control boxes interchangeable?
No. They are different parts covering different engine generations. Check which your engine takes before ordering anything.
Should I buy an engine with controls included?
Almost always. A box, cables, harness and key switch bought separately cost more than the premium on an engine that includes them, and the parts arrive matched.
How much does it cost to ship an outboard motor?
Freight is quoted by weight and destination. Outboards ship curbside on a liftgate truck rather than by parcel carrier.