New Honda Engines

New Honda Engines
Honda have re-engineered their popular BF40, BF50, BF80 and BF100 marine outboards, making them more efficient, more durable and easier to maintain. Making their debut at the Southampton Boat Show, these new engines, though similar to their predecessors, have been reworked to keep them in the trend of modern outboard development.
So what is new? Fitted with a new upgraded ECU, these new outboards have the latest in Electronic Fuel Injection (EFI) technology, producing small improvements in economy and smoother power delivery.
To combat corrosion and extend the life of the engine, the water jacket and anode metal cover have been coated with an alumite treatment, while all the bolts in the engine have been treated with Honda’s improved corrosion coating material. They have added and redesigned several new features to make these engines easier to maintain. Subtle changes include wider hood clips on all four outboards, and the cowling shape has been altered to give easier access. The water jacket design has also been updated so that it doesn’t have to be removed to get to the anodes. The thermostat cover on the BF80 and BF100 has been moved from a sideways to an upward position to allow easier access.
In line with most modern outboards, the BF40 and BF50 now benefit from a freshwater water-flushing connection – essential for engine longevity. This is ideal for vessels that live in water. No need for engine muffs to flush fresh water through a running engine after use in salt water – just connect a hose to the engine flush point and turn on the tap.
Moving away from the traditional Honda ‘wing’ appearance, these engines now feature a ‘crouching’ look that unifies the design of Honda’s small and medium-sized outboards across the range.
Honda’s Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLAST) technology boosts engine torque at low RPM under hard acceleration. BLAST optimises the air/fuel ratio, resulting in increased torque, while sensing the maximum pre-ignition (knock) limit, in relation to the optimum air/fuel ratio and ignition advance.
Fitted to the BF100, VTEC varies the lift and duration of the intake valves to provide optimum performance both at low and high RPM. As one of the most effective forms of variable valve timing, VTEC provides an increased spread of power across the spectrum with a reduction in fuel consumption, while the increased valve lift at higher engine speeds increases top-end power delivery.
Like many of their competitors, Honda use a lean burn control technology known as ‘Ecomo’, which allows combustion to operate on a leaner air/fuel ratio when running at moderate cruising speeds, courtesy of O2 sensor control.
All the new outboards come standard with NMEA2000 connectivity, giving them the ability to share and display data with other compatible electronic equipment.
Prices remain the same as the outgoing engines, with recommended retail prices starting at £5,305 for the BF40, £6,205 for the BF50, £9,355 for the BF80 and £9,655 for the BF100 (all include VAT). All have a six-year domestic and two-year commercial warranty, and all customers are offered a free RYA Level 2 powerboat training course.