Honda and Suzuki focus on environmental conservation, Yanmar addresses labor shortages, and Kawasaki focuses on versatile jet skis [Boat Show 2025]

Honda’s commitment to the environment since its founding

At the Honda booth, the new four-stroke outboard motors, the BF250 and BF150, were exhibited for the first time in Japan. Like the flagship BF350 released last year, they are said to strike a high level of balance between luxurious design, fuel efficiency, and environmental performance. Honda has consistently focused on four-stroke engines since entering the outboard motor market in 1964. This is said to be based on Soichiro Honda’s belief that “machines developed to help working people should not pollute the workplace.”

Another thing that caught my eye at the Honda booth was a BRABUS-style boat. It was a special edition model created in collaboration with AXOPAR, a Finnish company that manufactures premium boats equipped with Honda’s BF350 engine. It was refreshing to see the familiar logo on Mercedes-Benz tuning cars at the Honda booth.

Suzuki is a company that values ​​design and environmental protection.

What stood out at the Suzuki booth were the rows of matte black outboard motors. This series, called the “Stealth Line,” features a black logo that gives it a sharp impression, and is quite different from Suzuki’s image to date.

Furthermore, Suzuki has been working on improving the marine environment around the world since 2011 under the title “Suzuki Clean Ocean Project.” The company has independently developed a “microplastic collection device” that can be attached to outboard motors, and is working to make it a standard feature on all of its outboard motors.

Kawasaki, the original “Jet Ski”

Kawasaki, whose registered trademark “Jet Ski” has become a household name, exhibited a wide variety of jet skis. The wide-ranging lineup included a race boat aiming to become the annual champion at the world’s most prestigious “WATER JET WORLD GRAND PRIX” and a model customized for fishing. The “JET SKI ULTRA 160 LX-S ANGLER” (“angler” means “angler”) is, as its name suggests, a jet ski designed specifically for fishing, equipped with a cooler box, fishing rod stand, fish finder, and more.

Yanmar Marine Systems unveils prototype for the first time

At Yanmar’s booth, a demonstration was given of the “Single-Axis Inboard Joystick System.” This control system was jointly developed with steering gear manufacturer Marol (Hyogo Prefecture), and integrates all controls for thrusters, forward/reverse, and steering.

A ship that transmits power generated by an inboard motor, which is a motor installed inside the ship, to a screw via a shaft is called a “single-shaft inboard ship” or “shaft ship.” Many fishing boats and other vessels use this structure. Currently, this type of ship is limited to operation using a steering wheel and throttle lever, and a Yanmar representative said, “Our system is likely the world’s first joystick type that can comprehensively steer a shaft ship.”

Joysticks have the advantage of being intuitive to operate. Even inexperienced operators can operate the vessel smoothly and safely in places where slow speeds and precise movements are required, such as in harbors. The fishing industry is also facing a serious labor shortage, and securing personnel with the necessary ship-handling skills appears to be a major issue. Yanmar’s system is likely to play a major role in solving this problem in the industry.