Honda Marine’s new V6 outboards come with subtle but significant upgrades over their predecessors.
The engines’ new styling is striking, but the real goodies are the electronic smarts. All designed to simplify your boating experience – and with better fuel efficiency.
Introduced to New Zealand late last year, there are three engines in the new V6 range — BF200, BF225 and BF250hp. Our introduction to the line-up — the 225hp model — was bolted to the transom of a 6.5m CSB Huntsman Centurion. It’s a happy marriage — effortless, smooth and quiet — and when you open the tap, a responsive, exhilarating ride.
Anyone who’s followed Honda’s outboard evolution will remember the 2024 launch of the flagship BF350 V8. It quickly developed an enthusiastic following and most of the features it debuted have now migrated to the smaller siblings. These new V6s were the first to receive the upgrades, followed by the four-cylinder models (BF115, BF135 and BF150).
Drive-by-Wire
There are far too many new features to explore within the confines of this article, so I’ll home in on my favourites. Chief among them is the new throttle/helm control unit that’s central to Honda’s Drive-by-Wire technology. It’s a side-mount model — slim, unobtrusive and ergonomically moulded for a snug hand fit. Below the throttle lever itself is a five-button multifunction panel, easily operated by your thumb.
These buttons offer Automatic Tilt, Trim Support and Cruise Control functions.
Automatic Tilt is designed for easily distracted boaties who forget to tilt the engine during retrieval. Trim Support helps deliver the best trim setting for optimum performance. It’s particularly useful during holeshot, automatically adjusting engine trim to the vessel’s changing attitude during the transition from standstill to planing speed.
A bit like a car, Cruise Control is a one-button operation for maintaining a constant speed. It can be set to either engine RPM or vessel speed — a useful feature for anglers who like trolling or carefully searching structure.
Selecting and adjusting Cruise Control parameters is easy with Honda’s new high-definition 7-inch touchscreen, replacing the earlier 4-inch and 5-inch units. The display also provides standard engine information including fuel consumption, temperature, RPM, alternator charge and battery status.
The helm unit’s multifunction panel also incorporates a prominent Neutral Indicator/Lock — a bright green LED reminding the skipper that the engine is actually in neutral and not quietly edging toward the jetty. That’s particularly useful given the BF225’s remarkably quiet idle.
What does it all mean?
Well, it’s another step along the easier-to-operate theme that’s increasingly prevalent in modern recreational boating. It makes running your vessel a lot simpler and stress-free. More freedom to concentrate on waypoints, sonar readings – and lure/reel selection. Features like Trim Support and Cruise Control also impact your wallet – a more efficient, smoother performance equates to better fuel consumption.
The Drive-by-Wire technology is plug-and-play and straightforward to configure, particularly through the touchscreen interface and its intuitive drop-down menus. I should point out that is an option with the new V6 engines. If you prefer mechanical controls, this is available (it’s a little cheaper). Even with the mechanical option, the engine’s integration with the new 7″ display remains seamless.
But, if you’re going to spend around $38-$40k on a new engine, however, I’d recommend embracing the Drive-by-Wire option – the installation is clean, crisp and free of any hoses/cables, and it brings silky-smooth gear shifting. Twin, triple or even quadruple-engine rigs are equally well served by Drivey-By-Wire. You’ll need more helm controls, but once installed/configured, you can adjust speed from a single controller.
The consumption/performance you can expect from the new 225hp V6 is reflected in data from sea trials with the 6.5m CSB Huntsman.
With a full tank (175 litres) and three crew, the V6 propelled the vessel to a top speed of just over 41 knots. At a 23-knot cruise speed (3,500 – 4,000rpm) fuel consumption was around 25 litres per hour (just over a litre per nautical mile).
The engine was fitted with a three-blade Lexor stainless steel prop (15 1/2″ x 17″).
| RPM RANGE |
SPEED Av KNOTS |
FUEL L/HOUR |
FUEL L/NM |
|---|---|---|---|
| IDLE | 3.0 | 2 | 0.6 |
| 1000 | 3.2 | 4 | 1.3 |
| 1500 | 4.8 | 7 | 1.4 |
| 2000 | 6.3 | 8 | 1.3 |
| 2500 | 8.1 | 14 | 1.7 |
| 3000 | 15.1 | 17 | 1.1 |
| 3500 | 20.4 | 22 | 1.1 |
| 4000 | 26.0 | 28 | 1.1 |
| 4500 | 30.1 | 34 | 1.1 |
| 5000 | 30.4 | 35 | 1.2 |
| 5500 | 38.2 | 64 | 1.7 |
| 6000 | 40.7 | 80 | 2.0 |
| 6100 | 41.3 | 80 | 1.9 |
Mechanical upgrades
The fuel-efficiency advantages of Trim Support and Cruise Control are complemented by a new O2 (oxygen) sensor in the V6’s exhaust chamber. By monitoring the oxygen level in the exhaust gases in real- time (identifying mixtures that are too rich/lean) the sensor instantly adjusts fuel injection settings to compensate. In effect, a clever ‘feedback loop’ that optimises fuel efficiency and reduces emissions.
There are several other improvements. While the new cowling style complements any hull design, it reduces noise and the smoother airflow enhances engine cooling. Inside the engine, a new cylinder head (with a re-engineered combustion chamber) maximises combustion for consistent performance. The new cylinder head gasket also provides better water drainage, inhibiting corrosion.
A new, stronger starter motor mount (with a more rigid starter motor seal) brings a sharper, more consistent starting performance, and there’s a new oil pump to boost lubrication. An upgraded fit-and-finish schedule benefits high-rigidity parts such as levers and handles, boosting protection against the elements.
All of these add up to servicing benefits: valve adjustment intervals have been extended, and the iridium spark plugs last a lot longer.
These upgrades support Honda’s existing performance technology (retained on all engines). Features such as Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLASTTM) that advances the ignition curve for better holeshot performance and Variable Valve Timing & Electronic Control (VTEC®) for smooth power delivery throughout the engine’s operating range.
DBW: X Type: 286kg, U Type: 291kg
Technology migration
Honda enthusiasts are probably aware that the brand’s outboard evolution has benefitted enormously from the cross- pollination of technology within the empire. Many of the high-performance developments from an extensive racing heritage (MotoGP, F1, MotoX) – and massive automotive production – have migrated to the outboard engine sector. The V6 upgrades are a good example.
The new engines are available in the signature Honda Marine colours of Aquamarine Silver and Grand Prix White. They are National Marine Electronics Association (NMEA) 2000® certified and come with a three-year (commercial) and seven-year (domestic) warranty. BNZ
For more information visit: Honda Marine
