If you’re looking to repower your flats skiff, a new outboard from Honda Marine is well worth researching. Honda’s new BF60 offers the efficiency and quiet operation anglers have come to expect in a four-stroke, and at only 239 pounds, it is an extremely lightweight option that will help maneuver small boats into shallows waters.
Available in both remote control and tiller models, the heart of the BF60 is a 998 cc, in-line 3-cylinder, SOHC engine, which delivers optimal air/fuel mixture for maximum torque and combustion efficiency. The BF60’s patented Boosted Low Speed Torque (BLAST) technology advances the ignition-spark timing to within one degree of the knock limit when accelerating quickly. This dramatically improves hole shots and gets the boat on plane in short order. And the engine control module increases injector timing, creating a more potent air/fuel mixture for greater available torque at low rpm.
But performance is not limited to top-end speed. Honda’s adjustable trolling system allows for speed adjustment in 50-rpm increments from 750 to 1,000 rpm. And the engine’s Lean Burn Control (LBC) also maximizes efficiency at cruising speeds (3,000 to 4,500 rpm).
The BF60’s 22-amp alternator (with 17 amps of battery charging), ignition and other critical components are mounted near the top of the powerhead to ensure all are kept cool and dry. Compliant with all NMEA 2000 standards, the BF60 also boasts an engine alert system that uses visual, audio and rpm- reduction circuits to alert the operator of conditions that contribute to engine damage, such as overheating, low oil pressure and over-revving.
Tiller models feature a four-lamp warning system built into the tiller handle, while remote control models deliver alerts via messaging through Honda’s multifunction digital gauges or a special indicator built into the unit’s control box. Tiller models also feature a reversible shift lever, ensuring ease of use from both port and starboard seating configurations.
The BF60, available in 20- and 25-inch shaft models, also features a new gear case. A longer anti-ventilation plate helps trap water flowing to the propeller, while a streamlined front end reduces drag for enhanced acceleration and fuel efficiency. A front splash plate also reduces spray from the hull bottom, helping maintain a dry deck above.
Maintenance was considered in the BF60’s design. An automotive-type oil filter, and color-coded oil fill and dipstick, simplify fluid-level checks and changes. And should trouble ever arise, the BF60 comes with a five-year, nondeclining limited factory warranty.
Many sound options are available to boaters looking to repower their small craft. The BF60 is one you should definitely look into.
Engine……Honda Marine BF60
Type……Four-stroke, SOHC, 12-valve, in-line 3-cylinder
Displacement……998 cc
Bore & Stroke……2.87 x 3.13 in.
Max RPM……6,000
HP/LB Ratio……0.251
Fuel System……Programmed multiport EFI
Gear Ratio……2.07:1
Weight……239 lbs.
Alt. Output……22 amps
_Honda Marine Group / Alpharetta, Georgia / 770-497-6400 / _www.honda-marine.com
