Outboard engines to see at the 2023 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show

A number of outboard engine manufacturers have developed new products that will be showcased on boat transoms and in static displays at the 2023 Sanctuary Cove International Boat Show.

Related content: 2023 outboard engine buyer's guide: What new engine do I need for my boat?

What can we expect? Let’s have a look, brand by brand, at what we’ll be excited to see.

There's a new kid on the engine block: the all-new Rotax S. This not-quite-a-sterndrive, not-quite-an-outboard concept has pretty much overturned everything we thought we knew about boat engines.

The Rotax S – the "S" stands for "stealth", hinting that this engine is tucked away out of sight – uses two-stroke engine technology first developed for former outboard engine brand Evinrude. Rotax, the engine-making brand of outdoor powered adventure group BRP, has taken Evinrude's lightweight 1.9-litre three-cylinder outboard engine producing between 115hp and 150hp, and reinvented it.

The result is an engine that steers like a conventional outboard engine but sits low in the waterline like a sterndrive. The benefits of this are twofold, as the new generation of the boat being built around it (currently the Quintrex Freestyler X, but soon to be expanded to other models) has a much lower centre of gravity, and the Rotax S's low profile gives boat designers a huge, flat space aft in an area that is normally taken over by the engine pod on a conventionally designed outboard-engined boat.

The Quintrex Freestyler X features the MAX Deck, a huge, flat space down the back of the boat that increases the amount of room onboard by around 20 per cent. Owners can use it for everything from sunbaking to a swim platform, and even as cargo space for transporting water toys.

The new Rotax S is available in two states of tune; 115hp and 150hp.

After featuring on just a few boats last year, Mercury’s 600hp V12 Verado will be hanging off the transom of a larger number of boats at this year’s event.

One we’re keen to see wearing these unique engines is the twin 7.6-litre V12 Verado-powered Sea Ray 400 SLX, an outboard-engined sports boat that’s set up as a premium platform for socialising.

This boat includes a fold-down cockpit terrace that connects with the transom and vastly increases the amount of floor space onboard, as well as making swimming a much more social affair.

The boat is also made for overnighting, featuring a queen-size bed in the aft section of the cabin, and a forward bunk that also doubles as a social area.

The show will also mark the first public appearance of Mercury’s new 350hp and 400hp 5.7-litre V10 Verado, officially launched in Australia last month.

This engine is in high demand in North America, meaning Australia’s supply will be a drip feed rather than a flood. The engine is perfect for boats around 6.0 to 8.0 metres in length, so keep an eye out for the models that feature it.

Mercury will also have its Avator 7.5e electric outboard motor on display at Sanctuary Cove.

This new 3.5hp-equivalent motor features a hot-swappable battery that loads via the top of the unit, and easy portability meaning you can easily transfer it from the car boot to the beach and back again.

Last year, Suzuki announced it would add integrated steering to its flagship engines, the dual-prop DF300B and the DF350A.

Both 4.4-litre V6 models now have the option of dropping the conventional steering cylinder from the front of the engine and instead replacing it with an integrated rack and pinion system.

As well, the Suzuki DF300B, DF325A and DF350A now feature a redesigned lower gearcase that needs less oil and can move it around faster to cool it better, but significantly improves the aerodynamics of the structure, reducing drag and increasing fuel efficiency. 

The new lower profile also improves the engines’ top speeds by around 2.0 per cent.

The new versions of the DF300B and DF350A are due to arrive in Australia after the Sanctuary Cove show, but Suzuki will have a static display of the all-new DF3009BMD featuring integrated steering on display.

We believe Suzuki may also have a few product upgrades to announce at the show.

Taking centre stage on Yamaha’s Sanctuary Cove stand will be the new 450hp version of the Yamaha V8 XTO Offshore outboard engine.

This new engine is a tweaked version of the 425hp unit that launched the 5.6-litre V8 outboard engine platform to the world in 2018. The new engine has also been tweaked so that it produces more electrical power at lower revs, making it much more compatible with the growing need of the more advanced electronics now being fitted to boats.

Yamaha has also recently upgraded its V6 engine range to feature integrated electric steering. 

That means boats equipped with the Yamaha F150, F175 or F200 outboard engines could also feature the brand’s Helm Master EX system that allows limited joystick control over single-engine applications and full joystick control over multiple engine applications.

Tohasu has occasionally made waves at Sanctuary Cove. It appears it won't have a physical presence at the 2023 event, but there are a few engines worth keeping an eye out for.

The first is the new three-cylinder Tohatsu MFS25 and MFS30D outboard engines launched midway through last year, available as both tiller and remote steer configurations.

Last year, Tohatsu also launched its new BFT150D outboard engine featuring a new-look cowling, better waterproofing and a focus on making the engine easier to service.

There’s not much new from Honda since it significantly redesigned two of its most popular outboard engines, the BF115 and BF150.