50 Pontoon^ & Deck Boat July^2017 http://www.pdbmagazine.com
NSX in Miami too didn’t hurt either as we were
basically showcasing our ability to leverage
product lines in order to promote new products
and existing ones.”
The design exercise, according to Walton,
was also to gain feedback from attendees to
find out what they felt the new engine needed
to be. Conversations ranged from 300hp to
600hp depending on who they talked to.
“We had a lot of fun with it as we engaged
with the attendees as well as our competitors
and rivals. We had some good dialogue that
week,” added Walton. “It generated a lot of
buzz for us that we wouldn’t have gotten had we
not had that design concept out, so it was very
successful for us.”Power In A Name
Truly a mobility company with a wide
variety of power equipment products, Honda
reported 278 million units sold worldwide in
2015 with of course the marine side included
in those figures. While some might thinkworking for a company whose products range
from landscaping equipment and generators to
motorcycles and autos would be challenging,
the Honda Marine assistant VP sees it
differently.
“We don’t see this as a challenge, but as
an opportunity,” explained Walton. “If we can
expose a customer to any Honda product that
is good for Honda. If we can get a customer
through Honda Marine, and that’s their first
experience with Honda, then that leads to a
positive and a benefit to all brands.”
The Honda Marine timeline began in 1964
with the development of the first four-stroke
outboard in America, which led to other four-
stroke firsts including the 35hp and 45hp
outboards in 1991, followed by the 90hp
four-stroke in 1995. By 2001 Honda Marine
was ready to release its big 225hp VTEC
that synchronizes the lift and duration of the
intake valves at both low rpm and high rpm.
This yields a longer, flatter torque curve which
means max horsepower at every speed.POWER PROFILE