Marine Engine
The Dream: Cleaner Water, Cleaner Air
"Because the water raises rice and the fishes live in the water, I don't want to contaminate it."
-Soichiro Honda
Environmental responsibility has never been something we viewed as separate from our business activities.
Today, 4-stroke marine engines are becoming the industry standard in response to government regulations. We produced our first 4-stroke outboard marine engine, the GB30, in 1964. And cleaner, quieter 4-strokes have been our focus ever since.
The emergence of 4-stroke engines represented a quantum leap in outboard engine technology. With a closed fuel system that eliminates the need to mix oil into the fuel, the engines burn gasoline much more efficiently. And since engine lubricating oil is no longer part of the combustion process, the exhaust doesn't expel oil into the water - a trait common among 2-stroke engines.
Make no mistake: 4-stroke marine engines might be environmentally responsible, but they don't lack performance. The first of our BF series outboards were released in 1990, featuring the same level of performance as the typical 2-stroke engines - while receiving high acclaimed for their fuel efficiency, quiet operation and clean performance. Honda now offers 18 models in our BF series of outboard engines, from the 2-horsepower BF2 to the 225-horsepower BF225. Each model maintains smooth, even power output through the entire speed range. The low levels of vibration and noise are further dampened by the addition of a large capacity intake silencer, resulting in one of the quietest operating noise levels in its class.
We're determined to help preserve the global environment, so we make concerted efforts to build environmentally responsible products. In fact, all of our current-production marine outboards exceed the rigorous California Air Resources Board (CARB) 3-star emission standards, the toughest standard in the world. This ensures that the environmental benefit is realized in all 50 states.
For more than 40 years, our 4-stroke marine engines have been proof that we care every bit as much about our clean oceans and lakes as we do about our air and roads.