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I really like what I have read on Honda's new 250 but just dont see them where I am at. Just not many people run Honda. Most of the guides around here run suzuki or yamaha. I've heard the argument about weight but the motor is only about 40lbs over the competition. I had the bf130 and it was a champ.

Any advice? Why dont more people run Honda? Also should I wait because it is a new motor and go with something more proven?

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High cost and really not that aggressive in the marketplace in my opinion.

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Honda has an interesting business model. I have a friend with a motorcycle store. He was always a large GoldWing dealership. Honda came to him about 7 years ago and told him in order to keep his Honda franchise, he had to be a full line dealership. This meant generators, pumps, farm utility vehicles, etc, even clothing (Think Harley Davidson store). They also required him to enlarge his store. In the end he was forced to drop his Honda franchise, he didn't feel he could afford the risk.
Fast forward to this spring, I was convinced I wanted to put a Honda on my 16. I hit the internet and confirmed (2) Honda dealers that sold motors close to me. Upon arrival at the first store, I was told they had dropped Honda on Jan 1. Upon arrival at the second store, I was given the same story. This salesman was a talker, so I asked bluntly what was up. Same story as the motorcycle franchise.
This causes me concern, since with a five year warranty it is likely you will need your dealership to be around. I my case, the closest dealership that kept their franchise is 2 hours away. This is not acceptable to me.
In the end I purchased a Yamaha. They extended the warranty to five years (a two year insurance policy at the end of a 3 year warranty) to close the deal.

Best wishes with your decision.

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I just bought 2 Yamaha 300's from LMC there in Houston. They sell Yamaha and Mercury there. I asked which was better, they say the same as everyone else these days, it's not that one is definitively better than the other, both companies make good motors, it's more of a buyers preference market. The reason I chose the Yamahas over the Mercurys is that I prefer a Yamaha, my marina has one of the best service shops for either brand, so service is not really an issue. If I buy a Honda, where am I going to get it serviced? I am certainly not going to be able to keep a Honda at ANY marina in my preferred area of the coast and just toss them the keys and get it serviced when I am in the dock. I really think that is the main reason you don't see Hondas on the Texas gulf coast. I have seen a few around, but they are very rare. I see thousands of Yamahas and Mercurys as well as Suzukis-seems like every dealer on the coast has these. There are plenty of Evinrude dealers as well. As long as no one is selling the Hondas there will be nobody talking about how well theirs is lasting and running, less talk, less boat to boat comparisons, less demand for the motors. Why don't you buy one and try it out for us? I like less weight and higher torque, and I like being able to get parts and service any time I want it.

If you are serious about buying a new motor, you really have to think about where you are going to service it 5 yrs down the road, in my opinion.

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"I really like what I have read on Honda's new 250 but just dont see them where I am at"

What did you see about them that you liked? I just read everything they had on them at the website and the only thing I see of note is that they have a 2to1 gear ratio. Everything else looks like an attempt to copy a Yamaha but cheaper and heavier.

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I spoke with LMC in houston about a yamaha. I am probably not far from you. I am in Clear Lake and keep my boat on a trailer. There are 3 shops that service Honda within 30 miles and FCJ marine is right down the road from me. So service is no problem for me.

I've read pretty good things about the fuel consumption. There is another forum where a 22 outrage w/ whaler drive claims 4.6 mpg at 25mph. I've read other post where people are claiming almost 1.5x fuel efficiency over competition. BUT that is only what I have read. Where I am at a 40 - 50 mile fishing trip is average so fuel efficiency is very important to me.

I also had a 130 honda on my last boat and ran it hard. It was a champ and never gave me any problems, period. So with that I have plenty of confidence in their product.

But I dont know why there are no guides that I know of running them...

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We'll have to get together sometime and make a trip out. I live up here near Austin but keep the 27 at Surfside Marina near Freeport. I am repowering it and also my 18 with Yamaha because I also see what you see...more Yamahas in the area getting beat up every day than anything else. I still think the main reason we are not seeing Honda is because the consensus around us in saltwater prefers Yamaha, they have always worked in extremes, no reason to change what works. I have NO idea if Honda motors used in what we do are just as good as Yamahas, I don't know anyone that has actually had one, and I have never been on a boat that had a Honda. I know they make amazing 4 wheelers, I have abused several of those with really great results over the last 20 years, and they ALL still run!

If nobody is trying them, they might be the greatest motors on the planet, we would not know for sure. I am still going to stick with what has worked for me; Yamaha marine engines and Honda 4 wheelers.

I did notice that the Honda you are discussing lists as its defense against corrosion painted cooling water passages. I sure hope they still have sacrificial anodes and a very good external coating or they won't be selling more than a few on the coast :) Also, the Honda has a full liter less displacement than the Yamahas of the same horsepower, it seems real torque would certainly suffer with less displacement, I guess that is why they are using the lower gearing? Oh, and they are silver :)

I am sure that you will be happy with any choice you make as long as you can get the motor serviced or do this yourself locally. Good luck finding that perfect motor.

Oh, btw, I am removing a couple of Yamaha 200 2 strokes with 1100 hrs from the 27 when my 300's come in, one is counter-rotating so I really would prefer to sell them as a pair, but I may have to split them to get rid of them, I'll let you know if you are still looking. These motors both run just like new, nothing but freshwater Lake Michigan hours on 'em.

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bcoastal, did you get that Honda? I saw what appeared to be your boat get dropped off at Tommy's Outboard Service in Palacios with a white SUV while I was inside the shop getting all the electronics I havefor my Whaler 27 gathered up. By the time I noticed the boat, whoever was towing it had dropped it in the front and took off just as I was coming out the front! The boat definitely had a brand new Honda on it....if it was you, how are you liking it so far? Please let us know, we all need more info on the Hondas

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Silentpartner, I would be glad to meet up with you. We run out of the pass most of the time but do make the occasional trip out of freeport.

Unfortunately I have not put the motor on yet. I'm waiting for the title before I can get the financing. It looks like I will get the BF250 from FCJ in baycliff. Hopefully it will be on the sling in the next couple weeks. I'll post numbers and pictures when it's done.

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I have an Outrage 22 non-WD and I get 5.4 mpg at 26 mph with a Mercury 3.0L Four Stroke. If fuel efficiency is the main goal.

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Wow, apparently it was someone else...when I get back to Tommy's I will try to get info on the owner and talk to him/her. I have never seen a Honda on a Whaler down here before you started talking about it here, now I seem to be seeing Hondas! Well, at least I saw 1!

The 27 is at LMC in Houston getting it's new power right now, as well as new electronics, but soon I'll be ready...I am about to lose my mind wanting to be fishing right now! Maybe I am seeing things? :)