Manufacturer Profile
Honda Marine
The four-stroke pioneer — clean, quiet, fuel-efficient outboards from a company that never built a two-stroke outboard.
Quick Facts
- Founded
- 1964
- Headquarters
- Tokyo, Japan (U.S. marine: Alpharetta, Georgia)
- Country
- Japan
- Ownership
- Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- HP Range
- 2.3 – 350 hp
- Fuel / Power
- 4-stroke gasoline only
The Offer
Honda Marine has built four-stroke outboards exclusively since 1964, long before the rest of the industry moved away from two-strokes. The range spans 2.3 hp portables up to the BF350 — Honda's first production V8 — and leans on automotive engine technology like VTEC, BLAST and Lean Burn. It suits buyers who prioritize reliability, low emissions, fuel economy, and quiet running over headline top speed.
Abridged History
- Entered the outboard market in 1964 with the GB30, and committed to four-stroke-only engines from the start — founder Soichiro Honda insisted watercraft should not pollute the water.
- The 1992 BF8B was clean enough to run on Germany's Lake Constance, one of the strictest emissions environments in the world, and Honda was an early adopter of programmed fuel injection (PGM-FI) on outboards.
- Launched the BF350 in February 2024 — a 5.0-litre 60-degree V8 (Honda's first-ever production V8) rated at 350 hp with VTEC, marking the top of the modern lineup.
Product Lines (4 families)
Signature Technology
- +VTEC variable valve timing (from automotive engineering)
- +BLAST (Boosted Low Speed Torque) for hole-shot
- +Lean Burn Control for cruise fuel economy
Heritage
Honda applies its automotive engine expertise directly to marine — the BF350 V8 borrows heavily from Honda car engine technology. The brand's reputation is built on reliability and emissions leadership rather than racing.
Company at a Glance
- Stock / Ticker
- NYSE: HMC — parent Honda Motor Co., Ltd. (also TYO: 7267)
- Employees
- ≈ 195,000 worldwide (entire Honda Motor Co.), not marine-specific
- Annual Revenue
- ≈ $137 billion (FY, Honda Motor Co., Ltd. — whole company)
- Manufacturing
- Global Honda manufacturing footprint
- Key Plant Locations
- Global HQ Tokyo, Japan • U.S. marine operations based in Alpharetta, Georgia
- U.S. Presence
- Sold and serviced in the U.S. through Honda Marine and its independent marine dealer network.
This is the revenue of all of Honda Motor — cars, motorcycles and power products. Marine outboards sit inside the small "Power Product & Other Businesses" segment and are not broken out separately, so the figure vastly overstates the size of the marine unit. Figures are point-in-time snapshots from company filings for the year shown; stock price and market value change daily — check the ticker for live pricing.
What Honda Is Famous For
Being the four-stroke pioneer. Honda never sold a two-stroke outboard, and the brand is known for quiet, clean, dependable engines — plus the headline-grabbing BF350, Honda's first production V8.
Where Honda Shines on the Water
Reliability-First Cruising
A default choice for boaters who value long-term dependability and low emissions over top speed.
Fuel-Economy Repowers
Lean Burn Control and four-stroke efficiency make Honda a strong repower option for economy-minded owners.
Pontoon & Family Boats
Quiet, smooth running suits pontoons and family day-boats where refinement matters.
Dealers & Service
Honda Marine sells and services through an independent U.S. marine dealer network backed by Honda's parts and warranty infrastructure. Honda does not publish counts of certified marine technicians.
Best For
Buyers who want proven four-stroke reliability, clean running, and fuel economy over top-end speed.
- ✓Four-stroke expertise dating to 1964 — no two-stroke legacy to carry
- ✓Automotive-derived tech (VTEC, PGM-FI, Lean Burn) for economy and refinement
- ✓Strong reputation for reliability, low emissions, and quiet running
Browse Honda Outboards For Sale
Official Honda Links
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