When it comes to marine power, the Miami International Boat Show is stacked with outboards, inboards, diesels, jets, electric engines and more, both on display and in the water. Here are five highlights to check out.
Suzuki DF 200 V6 and Inline 4
Suzuki has its entire lineup on display at the Convention Center, as well as several opportunities for onwater demos at the Venetian Marina. Take note of Suzuki’s versatility in offering both and inline 4 and V6 version of its 200 hp outboards. Depending on how you operate your boat, one might be the best choice for you. Stay tuned for a full head-to-head evaluation in our April issue, and catch up on the inline 4, here.
Honda Revamps Its Lineup
Honda Marine announced advancements and improvements in its outboard lineup from 115hp up to its V6 250. This lineup will be available with Honda’s Intelligent Shift and Throttle (IST) steering, and feature an exterior makeover resembling its recently released v8 350. Look for Honda both in the Convention Center and in the water at the marina. Read about the Honda’s flagship V8 350, here.
Mercury Marine Joystick Control for Single-Engine Outboards
Joystick Piloting for Single-Engine Outboards with Thruster enables vessel control capabilities not possible in a traditional single-engine application, including 360-degree rotation of the vessel and sideways movement. It also supports a suite of integrated SmartCraft® advanced controls previously not available for single-engine vessels. These include Skyhook (locked position and heading), Bowhook (locked position) and Drifthook (locked heading) digital anchoring to maintain position regardless of wind or current or heading, a major enhancement for anglers or when waiting for a drawbridge to open or fuel dock access.
Volvo Penta Twin FWD Drive
Volvo Penta’s FWD drive system revolutionized the ability of recreational boats to double as surf boats thanks to its forward facing propeller design. Now, with the Twin FWD system this technology is available for boats up to 38 feet. We had a chance to run and see this system up close on a Cobalt R33 Surf.
Yamaha XTO 450
Yamaha has several of its outboards on display at the show, led by its largest engine, the XTO 450 (read about it here). The XTO 450 is designed for big-boat applications to get you safely to the canyons and back.
