We are thinking of taking on the Honda outboard line. Just want some ■■■■■■■■ from everyone. We do not see many around and wonder why. They run about the same price as a Yamaha, and come standard with a five year non declining warranty. Seems like a pretty good company, offers Honda financial at 4.85% up to 15 years finance.
Is it just because no one offers them around here?
Pro’s and Con’s??
Berkeley Outdoors
122 Oakley Rd.
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
“Well worth the drive!”
The financing option makes repowering much more viable and inviting; especially with that rate and term options. I would definitely consider repowering my current rig if able to finance. Otherwise it would be more cost effective to sell and invest in another (newer) rig.
I’ve never heard of anything bad regarding Honda.
Iain Pelto
Edgewater 185CC “Jumpin’ Bean II”
I don’t understand why there are not many Honda outboards in the area either, unless it because there are few warranty authorized dealers around. That’d be my guess.
“I am constantly amazed at the stupidity of the general public.”
~my dad
Equipment:
190cc Sea Pro w/130 Johnson
1- 14 year old
1 - 10 year old
1 - wife (The Warden)
ECFC
exactly claim, the closest one is Walterboro, but you’ll prob never need em. I love my Honda- always had Yammies. The fuel econ is unbeatable (220miles on 15 gal in my 18’) i believe it makes gas. Also they have the best warrany. USCG is switching to all Hondas too.
I have spoken with a former Honda dealer, who is now a Yamaha dealer, … I asked him why? He said one reason, the Yamaha’s never come back!!!
KNOTHEAD
I don’t know how to predict sales but Honda’s are great motors, and don’t let anyone try to tell you different. The Honda reputation for reliability and owner satisfaction is recognized the world over. I currently own a Honda, two Johnsons, and two Yamahas, and I’ve owned a bunch of others, and that Honda is a sweetheart.
the biggest complaint with Honda I’ve heard has been lack of dealer support. Since the Outboard Shop closed, there hasn’t been a Honda dealer around here. Butler works on them, but is only a dealer in the other dealership, if it gets to be abig problem, they drag it south. I’ve heard too many horror stories about the Walterboro dealer. Most of the dealers aorund here that carried Honda in the past were also selling Yamaha, it was easier dropping Honda to concentrate on Yamaha. It would probably be a good line for ya’ll to carry.
quote:
have spoken with a former Honda dealer, who is now a Yamaha dealer, ... I asked him why? He said one reason, the Yamaha's never come back!!!
Are you serious? Ask Chris how many Yamahas he works on. Why do you think the USCG is taking all of the Yamahas off of their boats and replacing them with Hondas?
Nothing but a “SMART-ELLIC”!
Honda makes first class products. Why would outboards be any different? If there were a local dealer I think we will start seeing lots of silver on the back of boats IMO
SeaPro 180CC
Honda makes a great product and stands behind it.Do it!
Thanks for the help. I think we will move forward with it and become a full line Honda dealer. My service manager is Honda certified, and worked for the coast guard for years and swears by them.
Berkeley Outdoors
122 Oakley Rd.
Moncks Corner, SC 29461
“Well worth the drive!”
The opinion of the “best outboard” depends on the are, and how many dealers. I went up to Delaware and hung out at the ramp for an hour… All Honda and Mercs, maybe 5% Yammy.
2502 trophy twin 175 mercs
“The Rum Runner”
under construction
When I repowered a last year, I would have loved to have Honda as an option but there weren’t any dealers or service centers around. I’ve heard nothing but great things about those engines though.
Mark
Mako 262 Twin Yammaha F200s
Yeah, but do you consider a dog to be a filthy animal? I wouldn’t go so far as to call a dog filthy but they’re definitely dirty. But, a dog’s got personality. Personality goes a long way.
“Life’s tough…It’s even tougher if you’re stupid” John Wayne
i love my honda. got a 130 on a 18 bay boat and it will scream. very quiet and easy on the fuel. i ran for 2 solid days in edisto early october, took the boat from edisto to charleton, back to edisto and all around the bay. only used 14 gallons of gas and that was running ALL DAY LONG. i normally fill up after every time in the lake and a full day of running and haingin out on the lake will normally cost me 5-8 gallons of gas.
“The amount of money I’ll be makin would hurt your parents feelings. Remember the class where I taught you all how to make it rain? That’s what I’ll be doin every night, dollar…dollar…bills y’all.”
Love the 225 on the back of mine!
Key West 21’6" BayReef
225 Honda
Tightlines and God Bless
The only reason the USCG has Honda’s is because when the contract from the USCG looking for 4 strokes came out Honda had been making 4-strokes longer and thats who they went with. Hondas are quieter than a Yamaha, but I don’t think the performance is any better at all. From my experience with them, I have found they are heavy and slow. Maintenance in the area for Honda’s are non-existent unless you got to Savannah or Sunset Beach. If there is one in Charleston great, but I don’t think it will out sell the Yamaha line.
Funny, you can’t have a discussion about the quality of an outboard motor without the Yammie guys getting defensive. Just because somebody loves their Honda, Suzuki, E-tec, or Mercury doesn’t mean that they are talking smack about your Yamahas. Ya’ll just relax, it’s not about you.
I have found they are heavy and slow.
I guess heavy and slow is relative. Yam 225: 583-596#, Hon 225: 588-610# (about as much difference as a bag of ice). As for slow, the Honda pushes my '86 Grady T-22 (a genuine lead sled) to 49 @ 6000 under optimum conditions. Not exactly crawling for a factory prop that’s never been tweaked. Don’t know how that compares to a Yamaha because a 2003, or any year for that matter, has never been on this boat. Any other comparisons are, indeed, opinion at best … 
Take an Old Man Fishing Today!
I think my 115 Honda was around 500 pounds. It was great for my pontoon but that’s not really a planing boat. I don’t know what a 115 Yamaha weighs but 500 pounds seems very heavy for a 115 when that’s what my 225 hp Optimax weighs.
Triton 22 LTS
225 Opti
Hmmm, will be picking up my new ride, a 22 ft’er with a Honda 225. I’ll see what it does, but specs from manufacturer don’t look much different Yamaha v. Honda.