2024 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show: Outboard and inboard engines
All the outbaord and inboard engines we can expect to see at the 2024 Sanctuary Cove International Boat ShowThe engine powering your boat is just as important as the boat it is powering. Sanctuary Cove is always a showcase for the best and newest in petrol or diesel, and these days even electric, drivetrains.
Something box-fresh that’s expected to make an entrance at the 2024 Sanctuary Cove Show is the all-new 5.0-litre Honda BF350, the brand’s first-ever production V8.
We’ve already experienced this new engine at its global launch last year.
The new engine, featuring a benchmark-setting 60-degree narrow-angle bank, also incorporates Honda’s technologies that increase power while reducing fuel use, including VTEC (Variable Timing and Lift Electronic Control) that improves top-end performance on Honda’s 100hp to 250hp outboard engines by changing the camshaft profile and valve lift to suit conditions.
The engine also adopts Honda’s BLAST (Boosted Low Speed Torque) ignition advance system to produce more power at low revs.
We hear whispers that Suzuki Australia might be bringing something new to the Sanctuary Cove show.
Nothing is confirmed, but the outboard engine maker did reveal a new Stealth Line for the US market at February’s Miami International Boat Show featuring matte black finishes and redesigned cowlings.
One engine we likely won’t see, but we’re hopeful for, is the all-new 4.3-litre V6 Yamaha F350. Yamaha Australia has hinted the engine is unlikely to make it here in time for the show.
However, this year’s event will be the first one since Yamaha announced it was adding electric motor maker Torqueedo to its fold. This may be the first year that the Yamaha and Torqueedo stands are side-by-side at Sanctuary Cove.
On the subject of electric motors, Mercury is unlikely to have its new Avator 75e and Avator 110e battery-fuelled outboard engines on its show stands. These new motors are viable alternatives to conventional 10.0hp and 15.0hp outboard engines and would have been worth a closer look.
Staff on Volvo Penta’s stand at the show should be busy this year after it announced the rollout of a big software update that will allow owners of boats fitted with its compatible IPS systems to retrofit a joystick controller.
It means an owner can give their older boat an electronic helm-to-propellor facelift at a fraction of the cost of buying a new ride fitted out with all the latest in cutting-edge tech.
Other engine makers such as Scania, which last year showed its electric hybrid drive system, Yanmar, Cummins, Penske and more are also expected to be there.
When is it?
The 2024 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show runs from May 23-26.
Tickets are only available online, and if you buy them before May 8 they will cost $30, with children aged less than 16 admitted free with a paying adult.
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