As a rule of thumb, the top speed of Honda outboards is between 5 and 75 mph. To be more precise, the average top speed within each class is as follows:
- 2.3-20 HP (Portable): 5-28 mph
- 25-100 HP (Midrange): 21-47 mph
- 115-250 HP (High-Performance): 38-75 mph
(Note that the available speed of these motors greatly depends on the specifications of the boat, the load, and environmental conditions.)
If you want to find out more about the average top speed of Honda outboard motors, you’ve come to the right place.
We at PowerSportsGuide have compiled them into one chart!
Factors That Affect the Top Speed of a Honda Outboard
The top speed of an outboard-powered boat depends on several factors in addition to its engine power. In a nutshell, the key factors to be taken into account are the following:
- Features of the outboard (displacement, stroke, etc.)
- Features of the boat (type, hull design, weight, dimensions)
- Load (passengers, fuel, gear, etc.)
- Prop specifications
- Water and weather conditions
Let’s face it, there are no hard numbers for the top speed of Honda outboards, and this is true in all circumstances.
Obviously, the larger and heavier the boat, the lower expected top speed from a given outboard.
Because of this, in this post we will focus on lighter (typically v-shaped) planing boats like bowriders, cabin cruisers, center console boats, aluminum fishing boats, bass boats, and jon boats.
This means that we’ve excluded houseboats, pontoons, and other heavy setups, which are significantly slower than the aforementioned vessels.
Let’s get down to the nitty-gritty and talk about the top speed of Honda outboard motors!
How Fast is a Honda Outboard?
How Fast is a 2.3 HP Honda Outboard?
You can expect the top speed of a 2.3 HP Honda outboard on a small tender to be 5-11 mph.
In this test video, a Honda BF2.3 on a tiny Honwave T20SE (6.5’) could hit a top speed of 10.4 mph:
How Fast is a 5 HP Honda Outboard?
Small dinghies with a 5 HP Honda outboard can reach a top speed of 8-14 mph.
For example, a North Marine 270 rigged with a Honda BF5 can reach 13.8 mph:
How Fast is a 6 HP Honda Outboard?
The top speed of 6 HP Honda outboards falls into the ballpark of 10-16 mph.
These engines share the same architecture and features as their 5 HP brothers.
In this video, a Zodiac 220 (7.2’) RIB was paired with a Honda BF6. This setup could hit 15-16 mph with ease:
How Fast is an 8 HP Honda Outboard?
You can expect the top speed of 8 HP Honda outboard motors to be 12-20 mph under ideal conditions.
How Fast is a 9.9 HP Honda Outboard?
9.9 HP Honda outboard motors are virtually the unrestricted versions of their de-tuned 8 HP siblings.
Since these two classes (almost) share the same engine and features, they provide very similar performance.
As a rule of thumb, a 9.9 HP Honda outboard can reach a top speed of 13-21 mph on a lightweight boat.
Examples:
- Pioneer Maxi 12.5′ + Honda BF9.9: 12-14 mph
- 16’ Lund boat + Honda BF9.9: 14-15 mph
- 15.5′ aluminum boat + Honda BF9.9: 14-15 mph
- Boston Whaler 13′ + Honda BF9.9: 16-17 mph
How Fast is a 15 HP Honda Outboard?
Based on our research, an average planing boat with a 15 HP Honda outboard could hit a top speed of 15-25 mph.
Examples:
- 14′ Lund + Honda BF15: 14-15 mph
- Young Kang YDX 380 (12’6” RIB) + Honda BF15: 16-18 RPM
- Genesis 310FT (10’2”) RIB + Honda BF15: 20-21 mph
How Fast is a 20 HP Honda Outboard?
The top speed of 20 HP Honda outboard motors averages between 17 and 28 mph on lighter hulls.
You can expect the performance of 15 and 20-HP models to be very similar since these motors share the same 350cc twin engine and many other features as well.
How Fast is a 25 HP Honda Outboard?
The available speed with a 25 HP Honda outboard is about 21-30 mph on good days.
Unlike their 15-20 HP siblings, the 25-30 Honda outboard family enjoys a larger 552cc twin engine.
For example, a 15 Terhi Nordic 6020 rigged with a Honda BF25 tops out at 21-22 mph.
How Fast is a 30 HP Honda Outboard?
A 30 HP Honda outboard motor can propel a lightweight boat with a top speed of 25-32 mph.
Examples:
- Bush 470 RIB + Honda BF30: 25-26 mph
- Vizion 440RS + Honda BF30: 26-28 mph
- Atlantic 445 Westwind (14.5 ft) + Honda BF30: 28-30 mph
How Fast is a 40 HP Honda Outboard?
You can expect the top speed of a lighter boat powered by a 40 HP Honda outboard to be anywhere from 26-37 mph.
Factory tests using the Honda BF40 on an Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller showed this boat reaching a top speed of 28.7 mph at 5600 RPM. In contrast, the best cruising speed of this setup was 20.9 mph at 4500 RPM while getting 10.5 mpg.
Other examples:
- Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller + Honda BF40: 27-29 mph
- Riverside 600 (V-shaped aluminum hull) + Honda BF40: 38-40 mph
- Walker Bay Generation 340 (11’2” RIB) + Honda BF40: 31-33 mph
How Fast is a 50 HP Honda Outboard?
Depending on the weight and size of the boat it is propelling, the top speed of a 50 HP Honda outboard motor varies widely.
When it comes to lighter planing boats, the available speed with a Honda BF50 falls into the ballpark of 26-38 mph while you can only expect 18-22 mph on a pontoon boat.
Examples:
- Alumacraft Classic 165 Tiller (16’5”) + Honda BF50: 28-30 mph
- Boston Whaler Sport 13+ Honda BF50: 29-30 mph
- Hewescraft 160 Sportsman (16’5”, alu) + Honda BF50: 29-31 mph
- Marinco 4.75 ff + Honda BF50: 29-31 mph
- Dargel Boat Works Skooter 136 Sport (13’6” fiberglass) + Honda BF50: 29-31 mph
- Alumacraft 16 MV Tex Special (16’) + Honda BF50: 30-32 mph
- Caribe Inflatables CL14 (11’4” RIB) + Honda BF50: 31-32 mph
- EastCape Canoes Caimen 17 SC (17’10”) + Honda BF50: 31-33 mph
- Smoker Craft 160 Pro Angler (16’, alu) + Honda BF50: 34-36 mph
- Grand 380 Gold Line (11’10” RIB) + Honda BF50: 34-36 mph
How Fast is a 60 HP Honda Outboard?
The top speed of a Honda 60 HP outboard averages between 28 and 40 HP rigged on a planing boat.
For example, a 16-foot aluminum runabout paired with a Honda BFP60 could hit 32-33 mph at WOT.
Other examples:
- Triumph 1700 Skiff (17’4”) + Honda BF60: 30-32 mph
- Walker Bay Generation 450 (14’9”) RIB + Honda BF60: 30-31 mph
- Stessl 4.9 runabout + Honda BFP60: 31-33 mph
- War Eagle 761 Blackhawk (17’5”) Honda BF60: 331-33 mph
- Grand 480 (14’11”) RIB + Honda BF60 (L): 34-36 mph
- Starcraft Starfire 1600 SC (15’11”, aluminum) + Honda BF60: 36-38 mph
How Fast is a 75 HP Honda Outboard?
The general rule is that a 75 HP Honda outboard can reach a top speed of 32-41 mph propelling a boat with a lighter hull.
Examples:
- Alumacraft Competitor 175 Tiller (17.8’, alu) + Honda BF75: 31-33 mph
- Rider Boats 192 Pro Sport (19’2”, alu) + Honda BF75: 34-36 mph
- Alumaweld 17 Stryker (17’, alu) + Honda BF75: 34-36 mph
- Hewescraft 160 Sportsman (16’5”, alu) + Honda BF75: 35-37 mph
- Polar Kraft V 186 T (18’6”, alu) + Honda BF75: 36-38 mph
- Alumacraft Pro 175 (17’11”, alu) + Honda BF75: 40-41 mph
How Fast is a 90 HP Honda Outboard?
Sport and fishing boats top out at 34-45 mph with a 90 HP Honda outboard, while pontoons can only reach 22-25 mph.
Examples:
- Arima Sea Chaser (18’11”, fiberglass) + Honda BF90: 33-35 mph
- C-Dory 19 Angler (19’, fiberglass) + Honda BF90: 334-36 mph
- Sundance B20CC Inshore (19’10”, fiberglass) + Honda BF90: 35-37 mph
- Alumacraft Voyageur 175 (17’10”, alu) + Honda BF90: 35-37 mph
- Weldcraft 173 Rebel (17’3”, alu) + Honda BF90: 36-38 mph
- Ugly Boats 22’ Panga + Honda BF90: 36-38 mph
- Duckworth Boats 175 Navigator Sport (17’6”, alu) + Honda BF90: 37-39 mph
- Smoker Craft Ultima 172 (17’2”) + Honda BF90: 40-42 mph
- Stumpnocker 175CC (17’2”) + Honda BF90: 42-44 mph
- Action Craft 1720 CC (17’2”, fiberglass) + Honda BF90: 43-45 mph
How Fast is a 100 HP Honda Outboard?
You can expect the top speed of a 100 HP Honda outboard to be 36-47 HP rigged on a boat with a lighter hull.
Examples:
- Highfield Deluxe 540 (17’8” RIB) + Honda BF100: 36-38 mph
- Key West 1720 Sportsman (17’2”) + Honda BF100: 37-39 mph
- Alumacraft Voyageur 175 (17’10”, alu) + Honda BF100: 40-41 mph
- Inventech 18’ RIB + Honda BF100: 40-42 mph
How Fast is a 115 HP Honda Outboard?
Lighter sport boats, fishing boats, and RIBs rigged with a 115 Honda outboard can reach a top speed of 38-50 mph.
Examples:
- Clearwater 2000 (19.8’) + Honda BF115: 40-41 mph
- Alumacraft Trophy 175 (17’8”, alu) + Honda BF115: 41-42 mph
- Walker Bay Generation 525 (17’2” RIB) + Honda BF115: 41-42 mph
- Capecraft 190 Bay (19’, fiberglass) + Honda BF115: 40-42 mph
- Lund Tournament Pro SE (17.6’, alu) + Honda BF115: 41-43 mph
- Lund 1775 Impact XS (17’11”, alu) + Honda BF115: 43-44 mph
How Fast is a 150 HP Honda Outboard?
You can expect the top speed of a 150 HP Honda outboard to be anywhere from 35-55 mph rigged on a lighter hull.
Pontoons with this motor can typically only reach 25-38 mph.
Examples:
- C-Dory 25 Cruiser (25’5”) + Honda BF150: 34-36 mph
- Hewescraft 20 Sea Runner HT + Honda BF150: 38-40 mph
- Eastern Boats Pilot 21’ + Honda BF150: 42-44 mph
- Hewescraft Pro Vee ET 20 (22’) + Honda BF150: 42-44 mph
- Custom Weld 21 Offshore XXX (21’4”) + Honda BF150: 43-44 mph
- Hewescraft 200 Pro V (20’3”, alu) + Honda BF150: 43-45 HP
- Crestliner 1850 Sportfish (18’2”, alu) + Honda BF150: 45-47 mph
- Carolina Skiff 2400 CC (24’, fiberglass) + Honda BF150: 50-51 mph
How Fast is a 200 HP Honda Outboard?
Matched with an optimal hull, a 200 HP Honda outboard can hit an amazing top speed of 38-62 mph.
For example, a Hewescraft Ocean Pro 220 Soft Top with an extended transom rigged with a Honda BF200 can reach 46 mph.
How Fast is a 250 HP Honda Outboard?
While a 200 HP Honda outboard motor can propel a cabin cruiser at 40-50 mph, the same engine on a lightweight bass boat can hit a whopping 60-75 mph.
Examples:
- Hewescraft 260 PC + Honda BF250: 41-43 mph
- Hewescraft 2200 Ocean Pro + Honda BF250: 45-46 mph
- Tidewater 232 Fiberglass CC 23’ + Honda BF250: 47-49 mph
- Sea Chaser 245 Bay Runner + Honda BF250: 48-50 mph
- Hurricane SunDeck Sport SS 231 (23’2”) O.B + Honda BF250: 48-50 mph
- Carolina Skiff Bay Runner 250LX + Honda BF250: 49-50 mph
- Crevalle 24 Bay + Honda BF250: 49-51 mph
- Hurricane 217 OB (21’) + Honda BF250: 50-52 mph
- Alumacraft Trophy 205 (20’8”) + Honda BF250: 51-53 mph
- Xpress Boat X21 + Honda BF250: 65-67 mph
- Phoenix 721 Pro XP + Honda BF250: 70-72 mph
Takeaways – Honda Outboard Top Speed Chart
As a takeaway, we’ve compiled the average top speed figures of Honda outboards into one list.
Note that these numbers refer to the top speed of lighter, typically V-shaped boats like bowriders, bass boats, center console boats, and offshore cabin boats.
Houseboats, pontoon boats, and other heavy vessels are excluded from the list.
| Model | Approx. Top Speed (mph) |
| BF2.3 | 5-11 mph |
| BF5 | 8-14 mph |
| BF6 | 10-16 mph |
| BF8 | 12-20 mph |
| BF9.9 | 13-21 mph |
| BF15 | 15-25 mph |
| BF20 | 17-28 mph |
| BF25 | 21-30 mph |
| BF30 | 25-32 mph |
| BF40 | 26-37 mph |
| BF50 | 27-39 mph |
| BF60 | 28-40 mph |
| BF75 | 32-41 mph |
| BF90 | 34-45 mph |
| BF100 | 36-47 mph |
| BF115 | 38-50 mph |
| BF140 | 33-53 mph |
| BF150 | 35-55 mph |
| BF200 | 40-65 mph |
| BF225 | 40-70 mph |
| BF250 | 40-75 mph |
Disclaimer: This chart is for informational purposes only! The available top speed greatly depends on the specifications of the boat, the size of the prop, the load, and environmental conditions.
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