Honda BF150 Outboard

Sunday, April 09 2006 @ 04:12 PM MDT

Most all of us can remember the days of hard starting, fouling plugs, irregular trolling performance and that stench of blue two stroke smoke. Last year we broke down and purchased a new Honda 150 four stroke for powering our 2005 1925 SK Jetcraft boat. Here is our review of what we found as pros and cons of this new technology.

If we were to be asked for the most impressive quality in the Honda BF150, I would have to say the remarkable fuel economy would be what has surprised us the most.

The new "Honda 4 Stroke Outboard Motor".

Honda Outboard Motors

Our first outing after the initial break-in period was an overnight trip to Halibut Cove Lagoon and the bays of Tutka and Sadie cove. The power produced by this outboard was obvious from the very first day. Smooth and linier from idle thru the primary rpm levels with a very noticeable hard hit as the tach passed through the 4000 rpm range. But this segment isn't about the power this outstanding engine produces but far more important is the lack of fuel it consumed in each of our outings.

Compared to the Honda BF90 that we initially ran on this boat, we had expected the 150 to consume quite a bit more fuel over the course of a two-day trip. This proved to be a false assumption and the difference was very surprising. Our actual fuel consumption was not calculated for the BF90 but a day on the same waters would require an additional 25% more fuel with the smaller motor then with the fuel miser BF150

The computed fuel consumption for this setup with the Jetcraft 1925SK and a Honda BF150 averaged 9.58 miles per gallon in fresh water and 9.31 miles per gallon in salt. Loads were similar except an added 75 pounds of gear were carried on the sal*censored*er trips.

Honda started the whole four stroke trend back in 1973 when it introduced its 40-hp four-stroke to the U.S. market. Since that day, Honda has been at the forefront of four-stroke technology and lead the way with many new and innovative technologies that have reclassified the outboard boating industry.

Honda Boat Motors and Accessories

Hondas BF150 hp four-stroke engine is based on a 2.4 L four-cylinder engine, the same proven engine used in Honda’s CR-V, Element and Accord automobiles. The power head incorporates Honda’s compact Engine Control Unit (ECU), which works with an exclusive variable timing and lift control plus a Dual Stage Induction system (DSI) to offer an incredibly wide powerband. The proven 16-valve VTEC dual-overhead cam design features an intake cam, while an additional lobe and rocker is featured for each cylinder. During operation below 4,300 rpm, the rockers and outer lobes allow the optimal air-fuel mixture to crank-out low end torque and the middle rocker arm floats up and down on a high lift, long duration lobe, offering increased valve lift and duration to increase air flow. This is where that great mid range punch is coming from.

Honda's 150, perhaps their largest sales volume model, represents the top power of the in-line four-cylinder series. The extremely quiet engine employs three separate cooling systems for the cylinder head, the block and the exhaust manifold. Honda delivers improved performance and torque, thanks to Variable Valve Timing and Electronic Lift Control (VTEC), which operates the valves, as well as its exclusive dual-stage induction system.

We appreciate the extremely quiet operation of this new outboard. Both vibration and sound had been addressed by the Honda Engineers and the results were a much smoother and quieter outboard then any we had been around this year.

As for durability and reliability, we put the new Honda outboard through its paces in lakes, rivers and at sea from Homer Alaska to the Kluane Lake in the Yukon, and not once did they miss a single beat.

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