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MARKET TRENDS
BY MADELYN PEGG
Outboard engines
POWER ON
“ you go back in time , you would see inboard and sterndrives with a lot of share in salt water , but that changed a couple of decades ago due to the viability of outboards ,” said Ben Speciale , president of Yamaha Marine . “ Over the last 10 to 15 years , in freshwater , outboards replaced a lot of applications on the larger freshwater boats too .”
OEMs are continuously working to enhance the boat ownership experience for new and returning consumers , and the outboard motor segment plays a role in achieving this goal . The power solution can offer several benefits for interested boaters ; it can increase deck and storage space , extend the boating season , and reduce the stress of maintenance and winterizing .
As the outboard motor continues to power boats in freshwater and saltwater , the consumer is asking for more than just increased horsepower . Consumer demand for connectivity continues to grow , electric and hydrogen power solutions are working into the market , and reliability remains top of mind .
Honda Marine and Yamaha Marine are working to address these topics , along with changes brought by industry regulations and sustainability efforts .
“ We have a great market share in commercial already , but from an opportunity standpoint , our greatest opportunity to grow is with the recreational side ,” said Russ Stevens , national sales manager of Honda Marine .
At the Miami International Boat Show , Honda shared that its outboard segment is trending positively , despite overall marine industry sales having declined in 2024 .
“ The outboard power solution in the industry will continue to grow to a higher percentage , especially as we continue to develop these systems ,” Yamaha ’ s Speciale said . “ It ’ s common to see a 40-foot outboard boat . Now , you ’ re seeing them move into freshwater with outboard power .”
Adding more horses
In the next three to five years , Honda expects consumer demand for horsepower to remain in high .
“ It ’ s horsepower , horsepower , horsepower ,” Stevens laughed . “ More and more boats that have traditionally used inboard propulsion or sterndrive propulsion are now going outboard . That means that 30- , 40- , 50- and 60-foot boats now use outboard as propulsion … I think American consumers want big , fast , fancy , cool . That seems to be where the market is going .”
Larger boats , including those in the 30-foot range , are now being designed specifically for outboard power . The added horsepower capabilities of modern outboards make it possible for manufacturers to offer larger vessels with multiple outboards instead of inboard or sterndrive configurations . Pontoons and deck boats integrate high-horsepower outboards to cater to performance enthusiasts as well .
In 2023 , Honda released its first V8 engine , the BF350 . This year , Honda revealed the McLaren Performance M300 , developed in collaboration with McLaren Engineering . McLaren is also performancetuning base models of Honda BF250 high-power engines to enhance top-end power and mid-range torque . Yamaha ’ s largest outboard motor is the XTO Offshore , offered in 450 or 400 horsepower variations . www . boatingindustry . com march / april 2025
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