21 September 2023 is no ordinary Thursday for Honda. On this day, the Japanese company will unveil the first V8 engine developed exclusively for marine applications. With around 30 million combustion engines, Honda is one of the largest engine manufacturers in the world, from brush cutters to cars, and is also represented in aircraft turbine construction with the HondaJet Elite II, among others. With a displacement of five litres, 32 valves and a SOHC (Single Overhead Camshaft) design, the engine delivers 350 hp at 6000 rpm. The four valves per cylinder are controlled variably via the VTEC valve control system developed by Honda. This makes the BF350 the most powerful engine that the Japanese have ever had in their programme. However, there has been an eight-cylinder engine before. Unfortunately, the racing engine developed for Formula 1 and the Indycar racing series never made it into another car, let alone into the marine division.
Until now, the company's philosophy has been to use almost all engines twice or even more than once. For example, the 1.5-litre engine of the BF 80 and 100 comes from the Honda Jazz and the 2.4-litre four-cylinder with 115 to 150 hp from the Honda Accord. Only the BF 60 is a purely marine development. However, six cylinders and 250 hp were the limit.
An eco mode is designed to reduce fuel consumption at constant speed. Trimming takes place automatically depending on the engine speed or boat speed. The 350 can be automatically trimmed up and down by pressing two buttons on the trim switch on the throttle.
Honda renews design
The design has also changed. The slightly longer engine makes it look narrower than its six-cylinder brothers. The underwater section has been somewhat renewed and modernised. Here, the resistance in the water should be even lower. The paint finish can be chosen between Aquamarine Silver and Grand Prix White. In addition to the 635 millimetre shaft length, there is also a 762 millimetre version.
The BF350 should be available from spring 2024. It will then be sold with a five-year warranty. Honda has not yet announced prices, but a price of 35,400 euros for the silver version and 35,700 euros for the white version was advertised at the trade fair stand in Italy.
Technical data
- Motor: V8 SOHC
- Valves:32 Valves
- Displacement (cm³): 4.952
- Bore x stroke (mm): 89 x 99.5
- Max. Speed range (rpm): 5000 - 6000
- Performance: kw (PS) 257.4 (350)
- Cooling: Water cooling (with thermostat)
- Fuel supply: PGM-FI (programmed fuel injection)
- Ignition: Electronic PGM-IG
- transmission ratio: 1,79
- Battery charging current:70 A
