2024 Honda outboard engine buyer’s guide

The Japanese brand has significantly upped its outboard engine game in 2023, launching its first-ever V8 based on a 5.0-litre, 350hp narrow-bank block.

What's exciting, though, is that this engine also gains Honda's VTEC (Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control) system that significantly improves performance and fuel efficiency at higher revs.

The new V8 also adds Honda's BLAST technology that carefully controls the air/fuel mixture and ignition timing at low revs to increase the amount of torque produced.

Honda recently made some big changes to two of its best-selling engines, the BF115 and BF150, featuring new looks and a choice of mechanical or ‘iST’ digital shift and throttle controls.

Another big change introduced recently to Honda’s outboard engine range has been the arrival of Honda Marine’s range of revamped V6 engines.

The range, which includes the flagship 3.6-litre BF200, BF225 and BF250 V6 outboard engines, featured new looks, drive-by-wire controls, easier maintenance and more rigging options.

What’s the attraction of the Honda V6s? Plenty, because the fuel-miserly outboard engine range taps the smarts developed for the engines used in the Japanese brand’s car division to bring variable valve lift technology to the water.

The BF225 and BF250 outboard engines use Honda’s Variable Valve Timing and Lift Electronic Control (VTEC) to optimise the outboard engine’s timing, adjusting the cams to provide more power at high revs, and better fuel economy at low revs.

There’s also a more precise fuel injection system for all three engines, known as Programmed Fuel Injection, which is a boosted low-speed torque system that makes a more potent fuel/air mix at low revs to help with manoeuvres such as holeshots, as well as lean-burn control for low-rev fuel economy.

The updated V6s also are better at controlling corrosion, and maintenance times have reduced from an hour to about five minutes by rethinking how service points are accessed.

The Honda four-stroke outboard engine range starts with a 2.3hp single-cylinder 57cc four-stroke portable outboard and tops out with the BF250, a 3.6-litre narrow bank V6.

Other models in the Honda range include the 800cc three-cylinder BF40 and the same-weight-but-higher-tune BF50, the 1.5-litre four-cylinder BF75 and higher-tune BF80 (the engines also weigh the same), and the 1kg heavier 1.5-litre, four-cylinder BF90/BF100 pair.

Honda’s engine range has trimmed back from more than 30 variants to just 22 in the current range.

Honda has introduced its ‘iST’ drive-by-wire digital shift and throttle control technology across more of its engines, giving boat owners more precise control over the outboard engine. The iST system also allows the engine to be fitted with an immobiliser.

It has also recently launched HondaLink Marine, a smartphone app that can connect owners with real-time engine data over a number of selected engines.

Honda offers a seven-year warranty on its outboard engines. This includes a standard five-year warranty, and an extra two years if you continue to have the engine serviced at an authorised service centre.