These jet outboards offer the ability to operate a boat in very shallow water with the jet intake virtually within the depth of the hull of the boat. This could make them a useful means of propulsion to a wide range of smaller workboats.
The new water jet versions of the Honda outboards come in three sizes, the 40 Jet, 65 Jet and 105 Jet which will meet the demands of a wide range craft in either single or twin installations. Honda claims that all three of these new models offer the same dependable, quiet and fuel-efficient operation as the Honda BF Series of propeller-driven models, with the super manoeuvrability and the added benefits of a jet-propulsion system.
“The launch of the new Honda 40 Jet, 65 Jet and 105 Jet will power boaters to shallows where prop engines cannot go,” said Will Walton, an assistant vice president of Honda Marine. “These engines mark Honda’s entry into a new segment of the market. The combination of powerful jet pump technology with Honda’s legendary marine powerheads gives our customers a wider choice of Honda Marine outboard motors to meet all their boating needs.”
The Honda Marine outboard jet models have no gear-case or propeller extending below the hull. The low-profile foot design allows a boater to manoeuvre in minimal depths without the fear of getting a propeller caught or damaged on rocky, rough bottoms, shallows, underwater obstacles or other low-water conditions that would challenge a prop-driven outboard.
All three models are based on existing Honda four stroke outboards with the bottom unit of the outboard removed and replaced with a centrifugal pump that is connected directly to the lower end of the vertical drive shaft. This pump draws in water from the forward intake and accelerates it before ejecting it through a nozzle that develops the propulsion thrust. Speed is controlled as normal by opening and closing the throttle and steering is normal outboard style with the whole motor unit operating on a vertical swivel. Reverse is obtained by means of a deflector that can be lowered over the nozzle outlet to reverse the flow under the boat.
The 40 jet is based on the existing proven BF40 outboard with its lean burn engine and Blast technology plus an alternator to provide high output changing. The 65 Jet uses similar technology whilst the 105 Jet is based on the BF150 platform which uses advanced automotive technology in its overhead camshaft engine.
With these water jet outboards, Honda joins Mercury and Yamaha in offering water jet versions of their outboards and likely workboat applications include harbour craft, rescue boats and survey craft.
By Dag Pike
