First Honda four-stroke outboard motor released in 1964. 1967 saw the debut of the first Honda outboard in America. Customers could choose from a full range of four-stroke Honda models for the first time in 1985. 1990 The IMTEC Innovation Award goes to our BF45.
In This Article...
The Birth of BLAST
A market dominated by 2-stroke engines welcomed Honda’s first outboard engine in 1960.
Although 2-stroke engines are lightweight, have a simple design, and have the advantage of having a high output from a small displacement, 4-stroke engines have better environmental performance and fuel efficiency.
Honda has constantly created eco-friendly 4-stroke outboard engines since its inventor wanted to avoid contaminating the water we ride on.
The objective was to create a 4-stroke engine with acceleration comparable to a 2-stroke while preserving fuel efficiency and environmental performance in order to experience Honda’s distinctive delight of sailing. The solution was BLAST, a special ignition timing and air/fuel ratio system developed by Honda and originally installed on the BF90 in 2006. It is now a standard feature on the BF40-BF250 models*.
BLAST Mechanism and Advantages
The boat’s bow will be elevated (bow up) if there is insufficient power (torque) when accelerating from a stop, making the ride uncomfortable and preventing the boat from planing, which is the most fuel-efficient state.
2-stroke engines accelerate more quickly from a stop than 4-stroke engines because they are lighter and have more power (torque). With a 4-stroke engine, BLAST sought to achieve the same acceleration.
By regulating the air-fuel ratio and spark-advance control, BLAST increases torque for full-throttle acceleration while deciding ignition timing close to knocking restrictions.
BLAST improves acceleration from a stop and hastens the boat’s transition to the fuel-efficient planing mode.
In a 4-stroke outboard engine, BLAST achieves both the pleasure of sailing and greater fuel economy and environmental performance.
Honda 4-stroke outboard motors have fuel injection.
Lean Burn Control, PGM-FI (Programmed Fuel Injection), and BLAST (Boosted Low Speed Torque) Technology are features of the Honda Outboards BF50 and BF40. These features enhance fuel efficiency and boost acceleration at low speeds.
Which outboard motor—a 2-stroke or 4-stroke—is superior?
A 4-stroke outboard is significantly more cost-effective than a 2-stroke in terms of fuel efficiency. A 4-stroke motor’s fuel efficiency can be 50% higher than a 2-stroke motor’s with the same horsepower.
Regarding environmental considerations, 4 stroke outboards generate far fewer hazardous emissions—up to 90% cleaner than those from a comparable-sized 2-stroke motor. The 4-stroke is the “greener choice” since it uses less fossil fuels because it is more fuel-efficient.
A 4-stroke motor’s lubrication system makes sure that all of the moving parts are continuously submerged in oil, substantially extending the life of internal components and enhancing the 4-stroke’s dependability and durability. Although a 4-stroke motor uses four piston strokes to produce one crankshaft revolution of power, it works more smoothly and doesn’t misfire at idle or low RPM. Four-stroke outboards are ideal for bigger boats because they produce more torque as well. Because of the lower pitch of the motor, they are quieter than 2-strokes.
The most dependable 4-stroke outboard manufacturer?
The Yamaha F250 can be found on each dock in America that has saltwater fishing boats with outboard motors docked there. Once more, twice, three times, etc.
The ubiquitous Yamaha F250 is by far the most popular four-stroke outboard utilized to power mid- to large-sized boats across the country. In fact, it has evolved into something of a symbol, powering everything from fishing boats to cruisers to enormous pontoons. This 4.2-liter powerhead has been used in many circumstances on countless transoms for close to ten years and has consistently demonstrated unmatched dependability.
When did production of 2-stroke outboard motors end?
By implementing higher pollution limits in 2004 and then further tightening them in 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put an end to the 2-stroke’s hegemony. It became clear that the 2-stroke outboards would need to be redesigned in order to run more quietly and efficiently. Consequently, 4-stroke outboards have to reduce their weight in order to compete with the performance of 2-stroke engines.
It took a Yale engineering student called Cameron Waterman to create a gas-powered outboard that was economically viable, despite the fact that the American Motors Company produced roughly 25 of them before 1900. In 1903, Waterman began creating the “Porto-Motor.” The business had sold approximately 25,000 units by 1914.
Ole Evinrude, a Norwegian immigrant inventor, created the most popular and effective early outboard motor in 1909. The Evinrude Outboard Company had sold hundreds of boats by 1912. In 1913, Ole Evinrude sold his business to his partner in exchange for a 5-year commitment not to compete. Ole and his wife Bess established the ELTO (Evinrude Light Twin Outboard) firm in 1920 and unveiled a compact 2-cylinder outboard motor. Market decline eventually led to the merger of ELTO, Evinrude, and Lockwood Motor Company to become OMC (Outboards Motor Corporation), which later acquired Johnson Motor Company in 1935.
There were numerous outboard motor manufacturers producing primarily 2-stroke outboard motors by the 1940s. Even when some 4-stroke outboards were being produced, Homelite didn’t release a 55 horsepower 4-stroke outboard motor that was commercially successful until 1962. Fischer-Pierce, the firm behind the unassailable fiberglass and foam Boston Whaler, eventually acquired the Bearcat.
The Development of the Outboard Engine. By implementing higher pollution limits in 2004 and then further tightening them in 2007, the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) put an end to the 2-stroke’s hegemony.
Do 2-stroke outboard motors continue to be produced?
Direct injection increases power and efficiency in a 4-stroke engine. Although Yamaha and Mercury no longer make direct-injection 2-stroke outboard motors (Tohatsu still makes a few), the most recent 4-stroke models weigh the same as 2-strokes and feature the newest technological advancements.
Inventor of the first four-stroke outboard?
Although four-stroke outboards, particularly Roness and Sharland models, had been available since the late 1920s, it wasn’t until 1962 that Homelite unveiled a 55-horsepower model that was based on a four-cylinder automotive engine. Due of the Bearcat’s benefits over two-stroke engines, Fischer-Pierce, the company that makes Boston Whaler, later bought this for use in their boats. Honda Motor Co. unveiled its first four-stroke powerhead in 1964. [19] Yamaha unveiled their first four-stroke powerhead in 1984. Only lower horsepower versions of these motors were offered. Honda introduced four-stroke models with 35 and 45 horsepower in 1990. Throughout the 1990s, they remained at the forefront of four-stroke engine development as four-stroke outboards proliferated as a result of US and European exhaust emissions laws like CARB (California Air Resources Board). Prior to creating their own four-stroke engines, North American producers like Mercury and OMC borrowed engine technology from Japanese producers like Yamaha and Suzuki. The intrinsic benefits of four-stroke motors included less noise, improved fuel economy, reduced pollutants (particularly oil in the water), and higher low rpm torque.
New four-stroke engines have been created by the Honda Marine Group, Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing, Nissan Marine, Suzuki Marine, Tohatsu Outboards, Yamaha Marine, and China Oshen-Hyfong Marine. Some engines, mainly the smaller ones, are carbureted. The remaining vehicles have electronic fuel injection. Modern technology, such as numerous valves per cylinder, variable camshaft timing (Honda’s VTEC), increased low end torque (Honda’s BLAST), 3-way cooling systems, and closed loop fuel injection, is advantageous for contemporary engines, depending on the manufacturer. The four-stroke Mercury Verado engines are distinctive in that they are supercharged.
Computer-controlled direct-injected two-stroke engines were created by Mercury Marine, Mercury Racing, Tohatsu, Yamaha Marine, Nissan, and Evinrude. Each brand boasts a unique DI technique.
When compared to typical two-stroke outboards, fuel economy on both direct injected and four-stroke outboards is improved by 10% to 80%. Plan on a 30 percent increase in mileage depending on rpm and load at cruising speeds. [20]
The fuel efficiency difference between two-stroke and four-stroke outboards is starting to close, though. Manufacturers of two-stroke outboard motors have lately debuted innovative technology that help to increase two-stroke fuel efficiency. [21]
What does a Honda 4 stroke cost?
$8,999.00. New 60 HP outboard motor by Honda is currently in stock. Electronic Fuel Injection on a 4-stroke (EFI). unparalleled convenience and maneuverability.
What outboard motor has the highest rating?
Top 10 outboard motors include:
- 527 Seven Marine.
- 450R Mercury Racing
- Sony F425 XTO.
- 400 Mercury Verado.
- DF350A Suzuki.
- Japanese F350C.
- 350-hp Mercury Verado
- Honda G2 300.
Idling a 4-stroke outboard is permissible.
Yes, it is detrimental for them to be idle constantly. Fuel builds up in the plugs and could perhaps wash out the cylinders as well. Because outboard motors were designed to operate at their recommended WOT, we prop our boats to accommodate that.
How many hours on a 4-stroke outboard are too many?
However, since the next person won’t pay top dollar for it either, the price should reflect its utility. Big 4 strokes have a lifespan of 5,000–6,000 hours.
Honda or Yamaha outboard motors are better?
Four-stroke engines are cleaner, more streamlined, and more effective than two-stroke engines, which are slightly lighter and simpler. Because of this, recreational boaters should consider four-stroke engines.
Despite the fact that both Yamaha and Honda produce four-stroke engines, the Honda outboard is only available in this configuration.
If you want choices, Yamaha might be the better choice. However, if four-stroke engines are more your style, you could like that Honda or Yamaha.
Both the Yamaha and the Honda outboards are four-stroke engines, although they come in a variety of horsepowers.
Yamaha often provides engines with a little bit more horsepower than Honda.
Thus, both the Honda and Yamaha outboard have rather powerful engines, with the Yamaha having slightly greater power.
However, while choosing an engine, power is not the only thing to take into account. Additionally, acceleration is crucial.
Although it is difficult to tell unless under load, the Honda outboard’s acceleration is a touch slower than the Yamaha’s. However, the change is largely insignificant in this case.
How long can a 4-stroke outboard engine operate?
Your outboard motor’s lifespan can appear a little mysterious, much like the lifespan of your car. Everyone has had conversations with other boat owners who report that their engine lasted 5, 10, or 20 years. There frequently seems to be too many variables involved in the life and maintenance of any motor to pinpoint a precise date. Despite the seeming uncertainty, there are some broad criteria for determining the expected lifespan of your outboard engine.
An outboard engine with two or four strokes typically has a 1,500 hour runtime. This will last 7-8 years if used 200 hours on average each year. However, you may extend the lifespan of your outboard engine by 10 to 20 years by changing the oil every 50 hours of operation and cleaning the engine frequently.
Outboard motors can perish early for a variety of reasons, some of which include how you use it and how meticulously you perform oil changes and maintenance. These factors have a direct impact on how long you may anticipate your motor lasting.
Who in the world sells the most outboard motors?
With a 40% market share and $2.6 billion in revenue from January through September 2019, Yamaha is the market leader globally. This is an increase of 4% year over year.
It has also been reported that in 2019, sales of high margin 200 horsepower outboard motors increased both in the US and in Europe.