The V8 from the Japanese firm confirms how good it feels, including when it is fitted on the transom of a ten-metre boat displacing five tonnes
by Niccolò Volpati – photo by Andrea Muscatello
Outboards are taking charge, especially the most powerful ones. The reasons why are well known and easy to summarise. Because they are fitted on the transom, there is no engine room occupying space that could be used for cabins, storage, and a tender garage. They are easy to maintain and offer a significant amount of thrust. Just ten years ago, it would not have been easy to foresee such pronounced growth in sales. And there was further confirmation of this during the recent Cannes and Genoa boat shows. What’s more, the outboards are getting more powerful as well as being more technologically advanced.
Idea 100
It is the flagship and has been created specifically to meet the requests of Idea Marine dealers. «Buyers feel the need to upsize, and the yard wants to encourage client loyalty», says Cosimo Carvignese, managing director of the yard, which is based in Mesagne in the province of Brindisi. The Idea 100 is 9.5 metres long and has a transom that can take up to a pair of 400-horsepower outboards. With two 350-horsepower V8 Hondas, it performed very well, and there was no need for such excessive power. The boat is very comfortable below decks, with two cabins and a bathroom with a separate shower cubicle. It is just the right size for a short or medium-range cruise. The deck can be customised in a range of ways, starting with the cockpit sofas, which are available in three versions: two facing one another, a single L-shaped one, or a closed U-shaped one. The hardtop is substantial and offers good protection, but is also sturdy thanks to the three black steel supports – two of which are aft and one forward, positioned in the middle of the windscreen.
The interior features an area with a sofa that converts into a double bed and a spacious separate aft cabin, accommodating a total of four guests. The bathroom, with independent shower, ensures privacy and comfort.
There is constant innovation taking place, aimed at improving reliability, performance, and reducing fuel consumption. It’s what is needed. And it’s everything that owners want. In 2023, Honda presented its new 350-horsepower V8. The BF350 is its first V8, developed specifically for the nautical sector. This isn’t just an engine that has been converted for marine use, because Honda has never before made a V8, either for cars or motorbikes.
It took three and a half seconds to glide and only 25 seconds
to reach top speed. We exceeded 45 knots of speed with the engines running at 6200 rpm.
It was a long time coming, but the wait was worth it because an engine designed for nautical use has a structure and details tailored explicitly for that purpose. For example, the tank that holds the engine oil is tilted by 45 degrees to prevent leaks, a feature that models converted from land use don’t have. It has a capacity of up to five litres, or 4,952 cc, exactly, and features eight cylinders in a 60-degree V configuration. All the Honda technology available on mother models can also be found here, of course. And then, when you need extra power, there is the VTec system, which combines torque and power at high rev levels.
Francesco Pichelli
«We don’t just have these high-end V8s, but also seven other models of between 115 and 350 horsepower, which means we have also updated the intermediate part of the range», says Francesco Pichelli, head of sales at Honda Marine Europa. Honda has a busy programme, not least because a year ago the Japanese firm decided to make the nautical unit independent to help ensure it developed the outboards faster. «The new V8s and all of our engines in the future will not come from the automobile sector but will be entirely developed for yachting use».
The shape of the engine is also new, but that is not just done to improve the look. It is very thin, and that means you can fit them alongside one another. If you are using a joystick, you only need a gap of 724 mm. However, if you opt for multiple engines without a joystick, the required gap is reduced to 711 mm.
The Idea 100 is a day cruiser featuring a spacious sundeck and a generous cockpit that can be configured with various seating arrangements, making it ideal for every owner’s needs.
And it doesn’t take much to work out that the closer they are, the more likely they are to fit on all transoms. The advantage of having the engines closer together is that they deliver more effective thrust. The wake is clean, and two, three or four work together as if they were just one. The stern platform also benefits from this, as boat designers can make them large enough to enter the water easily.
Idea 100 is a boat with a 9.50-metre-long by three-metre-wide hull, weighing five tonnes. It is a perfect boat for testing thrust, performance and consumption.
When I was in Genoa, I had the chance to try out a pair of BF350s fitted on board an Idea 100, the new flagship from Idea Marine. It is 9.50 metres long and three metres wide, and displaces five tonnes, making it perfect for testing power, performance, and fuel consumption. And it was the fuel consumption that first caught my attention. ECOmo, the lean fuel system, is a Honda tradition that has been carried over to this model. It cuts in at between 3000 and 4500 rpm, and the instrumentation on the bridge demonstrates its effectiveness. You need 2700 rpm to plane, and at that rate, the ECOmo isn’t yet active. 3.8 litres of diesel per nautical mile are required at the planning minimum, but as soon as you open up the throttle and reach the 3000 rpm cut-in point, that figure drops to 3.3 litres. Essentially, you go faster while using less fuel.
At 22 knots and 3500 rpm, you use even less and get down to 2.9 per mile. That is a very significant feature because buyers aren’t just looking for performance from top-of-the-range outboards, but are also concerned about fuel consumption. If one engine is wasteful, imagine what having two, three or four of them is like. The power is delivered smoothly, and the engine reacts quickly. The Blast technology also ensures that it provides a significant amount of torque, even at low RPM levels. The gearcase is new, as is the gear reduction ratio and even the choice of propellers, which have a 16-inch diameter, giving an idea of just how much torque the engine can produce. The acceleration that I timed confirmed that we only needed 3.5 seconds to plane and 25 seconds to reach top speed. That top speed is indeed excellent. Working on the trim tabs, I could feel all the power that these 350-hp outboards can produce, and at 6200 rpm, I even reached over 45 knots.
Honda Motor Europe Ltd. Italia
Via della Cecchignola, 13
I-00143 Roma (RM)
www.honda.it
Idea Marine
Via Antonio Montagna, 2
72023 Mesagne (BR) Puglia
+39 0831 738637
https://ideamarine.eu/
IDEA 100
HULL
LOA 10.20m • Length 9.50m • Maximum beam 3.05m • Displacement 5,050 kg • Fuel tank volume 767 l • Water tank volume 200 l • Berths 4
MAIN PROPULSION
2x Honda BF350D • Outlet mechanical power 257.4 kW (350 hp) • 8 V-shaped cilynders at 60° • Swept volume 4,952 cc • Maximal rotational speed 5000-6000 rpm • Weight 221 kg • Compression ratio 1.79:1
EC CERTIFICATION
CAT A or B
PRICE
Starting from 150,000 €, bare boat. 316,800 € including VAT
*The price refers to November 2025
(Honda BF350 – Winning technology – Barchemagazine.com – Excerpted from Barche, November 2025)
