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Catalina/Capri 25/250 Sailor's Forums

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Honda Classic xls

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Initially Posted - 11/11/2003 : 14:13:36

A while back, I made comments about wishing that the older Honda 8 had been produced in an XLS model... and someone commented that it had been. That was contrary to the information that I'd been given and I was left wondering.

Sometime in '98-99, I attempted to either upgrade my Honda 8 from LS to XLS or buy a Honda 8 xls and was told by the Honda dealer that no shaft extension was available and that there was no 8 xls. At the same time, I was told that one was in the works when the motor was scheduled for a redesign.

I waited till Dec of '2000 and bought a 2001 Honda 8 xls which was the newer model. I was dissapointed to discover that it was really a 9.9 with a 8 hp label and it weighed 30lbs more than my 8 hp did. I was further dissapointed at the difference in fuel economy between the two. Fuel economy dropped from 2.25 hrs per gal down to 1.6. The electric start, high thrust etc. were not worth the 30lb trade off to me because first, the Honda 8 was so easy to start, I'd never felt any need for electric start and 2nd, the Honday 8 didn't suffer thru the prop exhaust that the 9.9 did so didn't have any reverse thrust issues.

I now have discovered that there actually was a Honda 8 XLS in that era... and wonder if other dealers were similarly as ignorant of it as mine was.

It may be that the 9.9 with electric start was so popular that dealers just assumed that was the way everyone would go... I don't know. At any rate, there doesn't seem to be many of them out there. This seems unfortunate to me... I would have preferred one... still would prefer one. The low demand may be why when that motor was reintroduced this year as the Honda 8 Classic that it wasn't offered in an xls, or is this bad information too?

Arlyn C-250 W/B #224

N/E Texas and Great Lakes
Arlyn's Sailing Site

Edited by - on

Dave Bristle
Master Marine Consultant

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Djibouti
10005 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2003 : 15:15:54

Arlyn, I feel your pain (in the back), but I do like the electric starter. Defender shows just short and long - http://www.defender.com/inflatables/outboard_project/honda_8hp_classic_bf_2003.htm

You could e-mail them to see whether they simply declined to stock the XL, or whether Honda doesn't offer it. What about the new Nissan/Tohatsu 8, with XL supposedly due this spring?

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dlucier
Master Marine Consultant

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Virgin Islands (United Kingdom)
7583 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2003 : 15:42:42

I poked around the Honda website and found no mention of this "Honda Classic" design that you speak of(if it does indeed exist).

I find it amazing that Honda is keeping this product a closely guarded secret from both the general public and their dealers. What could their reasoning be?

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Arlyn Stewart
Master Marine Consultant

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USA
2980 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2003 : 18:25:54

I called Honda Marine in Atlanta and talked to a very knowledgable product rep lady who informed me that both the regular and long shaft Honda 8 Classics (pre 2001) were available and had been reintroduced but that no XLS was available. She promised to pass the concern up the line. At that time, I didn't know that it once had been available or I would have asked her specifically why they chose not to reintroduce that model.

Frank Gloss was the one who first advised the forum of availability.

As far as the reason not to advertise them... who knows? Maybe they were brought back because of weight complaints and thus are available when a prospect buyer complains about weight. Another thought relative to why not the xls too... is that its length was 25.5 inches so it doesn't give the two bonus inches found on the newer version (heavy) 8-9.9 combo at 27.5 and was only three inches longer than the ls version at 22.4 inches.

Edited by - Arlyn Stewart on 11/11/2003 18:34:23

ekremer
Deckhand

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19 Posts

Response Posted - 11/11/2003 : 23:38:19

I bought a Honda 8 xls in 1995.

Ed Kremer W/B 146

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The Officers, Staff and members of this site only provide information based upon the concept that anyone utilizing this information does so at their own risk and holds harmless all contributors to this site.