Honda 225HP iST | BF225DUCDA

225 horsepower and a 30-inch shaft define the BF225DUCDA, a four-stroke V6 from Honda. Honda's published figure for this unit is 628 lbs. Shift and throttle run through Honda's electronic iST linkage rather than a mechanical cable. Pairing matters here: the counter-rotating gearcase cancels the steering pull that two identical-rotation engines would create side by side, so it's built to sit opposite a standard-rotation partner. This engine's six cylinders add up to 3583cc, with EFI rather than a carburetor handling fuel.

Before ordering

Confirm fitment against your transom before ordering; a 30-inch shaft that doesn't match the hull changes how this motor performs on the water. The rpm range at full throttle is 5000-6000 on this unit. Your helm and rigging need to be set up for that digital control rather than a conventional cable. Center-console, bay boat, and pontoon owners make up much of the demand for this horsepower when repowering.

Standard equipment

Beyond the digital shift-and-throttle linkage and the counter-rotating gearcase, expect a charging circuit and a freshwater flush connection, with trim and tilt adjustable at the helm; a manual rounds it out, backed for 5 years by Honda. This motor ships prop-less; add one separately.

How does counter-rotation help a twin installation? It cancels the steering pull that two identical-rotation engines would otherwise create side by side.

Does this engine still use a mechanical throttle cable? No, shift and throttle run through electronic linkage rather than a cable on this configuration.