Best New Outboard Engines for 2021

We found new and updated outboard engines for 2021 from brands like Mercury, Honda, Suzuki, Tohatsu, and Yamaha.

No question about it – the past year has been a hectic time for all companies in the boat business and especially those building outboards, first with Covid-19 shutdowns, then crazy demand for boats as tens of thousands of people discovered how much fun life on the water can be.

You would think all that upheaval would make companies postpone new product introductions but it’s been just the opposite, and especially where outboards are concerned. In fact it’s safe to say that 2021 promises to be one of the biggest years for outboard engines ever, especially if we go by what we’ve seen so far. Here’s a look at what’s new for the coming season.

Mercury Marine

Mercury 600 Verado V12

No question about it – the biggest news by far this year has come from Mercury Marine, which introduced its biggest outboard engine ever in the form of the spectacular new 600 horsepower Verado V12.

Apart from being the first V12 outboard engine in the world, the massive 7.6-litre, quad-cam Verado features a boatload of innovative design features, including a two-speed transmission – the first outboard in the world to offer one. As with a car, the two-speed tranny provides maximum torque for rapid acceleration, then shifts to deliver optimal fuel economy at cruising speeds. It also features a unique steering system where the engine doesn’t move when the boat is turned. Instead, the lower unit rotates, giving better steering response, lower steering torque and a greater turning arc of a full 45 degrees rather than the traditional 30 degrees in traditional outboard designs. The big engine also comes with dual contra-rotating propellers.

Honda

Honda BF250

For 2021 Honda has elected to make tweaks and refinements to its existing product line rather than re-inventing any wheels. That includes a fully fly-by-wire version of its popular BF250 outboard engine, making it the fourth Honda V6 to offer the feature.

Properly known as Intelligent Shift and Throttle (iST), the fly-by-wire technology gives the BF250 instant throttle response with no lag time or hesitation, as is common with mechanical controls. For the end-user, that means more precise throttle response and more predictable handling. Beyond that, it’s just a much more modern control for the engine, which is why virtually everyone who’s ever tried them agree, once you experience the added response of digital control there’s just no going back.

Honda’s new iST system works with binnacle-mounted throttle controls for as many as four outboard engines, or side-flush mount for single engines.

Suzuki

Suzuki DF115BG and DF140BG

Not to be outdone, Suzuki Marine has also upped its fly-by-wire game with two new outboard engines for 2021.

The 2.0-litre DF115BG and DF140BG bring the high-tech control system that has been a hallmark of its 150 horsepower to 350 horsepower engines down into the middle of the company’s line-up. The new outboards claim up to 7 percent improvements in fuel economy over the engines they replace, along with meaningful upgrades like standard 40-amp alternators to keep deep-cycle batteries on fishing boats fully charged. They also feature an upgraded compression ratio of 10.6:1 for better acceleration and higher top speeds than the previous models.

Available in both 20-inch and 25-inch shaft lengths, the new DF115BG and DF140BG will be sold in a choice of Suzuki Pearl Nebular Black or Super Cool White finishes.

Tohatsu

Tohatsu MFS115

Tohatsu has been busy upgrading its entire engine line in recent years, updating old stalwarts with newer, more feature-rich replacements. The newest additions to its outboard engine lineup include the MFS75, MFS90, MFS100 and MFS115 four-strokes, bringing all-new technology to the core of the outboard market.

All four engines feature Tohatsu’s 4-2-1 performance-tuned exhaust for what the company says is best-in-class torque for more powerful acceleration and greater top-end speed.

Yamaha

Yamaha 300 V6 Offshore

Yamaha has been on an absolute tear this year with a number of new engine models for 2021 starting with completely new 300 horsepower, 4.2-litre V6 Offshore models that inherit technology introduced with Yamaha’s top-of-the-line 425 XTO outboard.

That tech includes the same digital electric steering system unveiled in the 425 XTO, and a thrust-enhancing reverse exhaust feature that keeps exhaust bubbles above the anti-ventilation plate and out of the propeller below 2500 rpm when in reverse gear, allowing the prop to bite cleaner water for much improved efficiency and greater control at the slip. The engines also get Yamaha’s TotalTilt function, which provides complete tilt up of the engines with two quick taps of the trim switch.

Also new for Yamaha is an upgraded 4.2-litre V MAX SHO V6. The new engine gets a larger alternator – from 50-amp to 70-amp – in a move that will be sure to please serious anglers who use a lot of electronics in their boats. That’s a 40% increase in batter-charging power, which is a very big deal in a tournament-rigged bass boat or a downrigger-laden center console. The V MAX also gets Yamaha’s TotalTilt system, and an attractive new cowling that gives the engine a sportier look.