HONDA 8 HP BF8DK3LHA Outboard Motor

Description

Eight horsepower is the size most small boat owners end up with. It moves a 12 to 14 foot aluminium boat nicely, trolls slowly all day and is light enough to carry. The Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale on this page is Honda’s 8 HP four stroke with a 20 inch shaft, brand new in the crate, and we ship it to buyers all over the world.

Below you will find what the model code means, the full specifications, how the motor runs, which boats it suits, how to set it up and look after it, and how ordering works. The price and cart are at the top of the page.

The Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale in Short

The Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale is a 8 HP, 222 cc, twin cylinder four stroke with a single overhead cam, four valves and one carburettor. It has pull start, tiller steering and manual tilt, and a 20 inch shaft. Honda lists the L type BF8 and BF9.9 at about 98 pounds dry.

What the Model Code Means

• BF: Honda four stroke outboard.
• 8: 8 horsepower.
• L: long shaft, 20 inches (508 mm).
• H: handle, meaning tiller steering.

Related models: the electric start Honda BF8DK3LHSA, the short shaft Honda BF8DK3SHA, and the 9.9 HP Honda BF10DK3LH on the same 20 inch shaft.

Specifications of the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale

All figures come from Honda’s official BF8 and BF9.9 specification page.

How the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale Runs

Honda’s 222 cc twin is a smooth, quiet little engine. Two cylinders fire more evenly than a single, so there is far less vibration through the tiller handle. It idles steadily, which makes slow trolling easy, and it responds cleanly when you open the throttle. Fuel use is tiny, and there is no smoke or oily smell like an old two stroke.

The BF8 makes its power at 5,000 RPM and feels relaxed at every speed. It suits boats rated for 8 HP and owners who value economy and quiet running over outright speed.

The gear ratio is 2.33:1, which is on the low side for a motor this size. That helps it swing a four blade prop with good grip, useful for heavier small boats and for trolling.

Why the 20 Inch Shaft Matters

A 20 inch transom is standard on most small aluminium fishing boats, jon boats and skiffs. A 20 inch shaft keeps the prop in clean water just below the hull. Too short, and the prop sucks air in turns and chop; too long, and it drags and sprays. Measure your transom from the top edge straight down to the bottom of the hull at the centre before you order.

Pull Start Made Easy

Honda fits these small twins with a decompression system and digital CDI ignition so they pull over easily, often with one hand. With the choke used properly on a cold engine, a well maintained Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale usually starts in a pull or two. There is no battery to go flat, which suits boats that sit for weeks at a time, tenders and boats kept at remote cabins.

Tilting and Shallow Water Drive

At under 110 pounds, the motor is easy to tilt by hand. Release the tilt lock, lift using the handle and engage the tilt support. For shallow water, the shallow water drive position lets you run slowly with the motor partly raised. Keep the water intake submerged and watch the cooling water tell tale.

Setting the Trim

The running angle is set with a five position adjuster on the bracket, from 4 to 20 degrees. Choose the position that keeps the motor roughly vertical when the boat is running with your usual load. If the bow ploughs, move out one position. If it bounces, move in one. On displacement boats, a vertical motor usually gives the best push.

Boats That Suit the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale

• Aluminium fishing boats and jon boats from about 10 to 14 feet with a 20 inch transom.
• Small lake and river skiffs used for trolling.
• Rowing boats and punts fitted with a motor mount.
• Small work boats at marinas, farms and fish farms.
• Rental and lodge boats where simplicity matters.

Always check the capacity plate for maximum horsepower and engine weight, especially on inflatables.

Mounting the Motor

Mount it on the centreline of the transom and tighten the clamp screws firmly. Check them again after the first trip, because tiller motors can creep with vibration. Start with the anti ventilation plate about level with the bottom of the hull. On an inflatable, use a transom pad under the clamps and make sure the transom board is sound.

Choosing a Propeller

At full throttle with your usual load, the engine should reach 4,500 to 5,500 RPM. If it falls short, a lower pitch helps; if it overshoots easily, go up. Very heavy boats may be better served by a Power Thrust model. Honda’s propeller selector is a handy reference.

A Day Out

You carry the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale down to the dock, clamp it on and give one easy pull. It settles into a quiet idle. You troll slowly along a weed line all morning, the little twin ticking over without complaint, then run across the lake to try another spot. By lunchtime you have barely used a litre of fuel. No battery, no wiring, nothing to go wrong.

8 or 9.9 HP?

The BF8 and BF9.9 share the same 222 cc engine and weigh the same. The 9.9 is tuned to make more power at a higher RPM. If your boat is rated for 9.9 HP, the extra power costs nothing in weight and helps with heavier loads. If it is rated for 8, stay with the 8. In some places, licensing or waterway rules also depend on horsepower, so check what applies where you boat. Either way, the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale is built on the same smooth, reliable engine.

Carrying and Storing a Portable

At around 98 pounds, this is a one or two person carry. Always carry and store the motor the way the owner’s manual shows, usually upright or on a specified side, so oil stays in the sump. Use a proper outboard stand or rail bracket and keep it covered.

Who Buys the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale

Lake anglers with small aluminium boats, cabin owners who keep a boat at the water all summer, fishing lodges and rental fleets, farmers and fish farm crews, and anyone replacing a smoky old two stroke 8. They want a light motor that starts on a pull, trolls smoothly and sips fuel, and that is exactly what the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale does. Lodges in particular like it because guests of any experience can run it and local mechanics can service a carburetted twin almost anywhere.

Is the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale Right for You?

If your boat has a 20 inch transom and an 8 HP rating, you steer from the stern and you want the simplest possible setup with no battery, the answer is yes. If you restart often or would rather not pull a cord, the electric start BF8DK3LHSA is worth a look. If your boat can take 9.9 HP, consider the BF10DK3LH for a little more push at the same weight. For everyone else, the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale is a hard motor to beat.

Break-In and the First Service

New engines need a gentle start. Run the motor at a mix of speeds for the first few hours, keep long full throttle runs to a minimum and follow the break-in section of the owner’s manual. Then do the first oil and filter change and check the gearcase oil. It takes little time and money, and it sets the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale up for a long life.

Fuel Quality Wherever You Boat

Clean fuel keeps any outboard happy. In hot, humid places, or wherever fuel is stored in drums, water finds its way into tanks. Run the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale through a water separating filter, look at the bowl before each trip, and replace the element on schedule. Fill up at busy stations and don’t leave fuel sitting in a tank for months without a stabiliser.

Carburettors are simple and can be serviced almost anywhere, but stale fuel leaves sticky deposits in their tiny jets. Drain the carburettor before long storage, as the owner’s manual describes, and most starting trouble never happens.

Salt Water Care

Salt is hard on every engine. After each trip in salt or brackish water, flush the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale with fresh water, rinse the outside, and keep an eye on the anodes. Replace them once they are roughly half gone. Paint chips on the gearcase should be touched up quickly, and a corrosion inhibitor spray on the powerhead now and then helps a lot.

Storage Between Seasons

For a long layup, change the oil, deal with the fuel as the manual describes, flush the engine and check the gearcase oil for any sign of water. Store the motor trimmed or stood so the lower unit drains. In warm, damp places, cover the boat and start the engine every couple of weeks.

New Versus Used

A second hand motor comes with questions nobody can answer for certain: missed services, salt damage, an overheat years ago. Buying the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale new means zero hours, a known history and factory cover where it applies.

Why Honda

Decades of building car, motorcycle and generator engines sit behind every Honda outboard. The company committed to four strokes long before most rivals, and that head start shows in how quiet, economical and dependable its motors are.

Service and Parts Near You

Honda has marine dealers and distributors in many countries, and routine parts such as filters, plugs, anodes and impellers are widely stocked. Look up your nearest service point on Honda’s dealer locator or through your local distributor before you order.

Safety

Wear the kill switch lanyard whenever the engine is running. Carry life jackets for everyone, a way to call for help and basic tools and spares. Check fuel and oil before every trip and tell someone your plans. Honda’s boating safety tips are worth a read at the start of each season.

Keep a Service Log

A simple notebook or phone note with hours, services and parts is worth its weight in gold. It reminds you what is due, helps your mechanic, and makes the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale easier to sell for a good price one day.

Common Mistakes to Avoid

Ordering the wrong shaft length. Ignoring the capacity plate. Forgetting controls, harness or a battery where needed. Mounting a new motor on a damaged transom. Never checking wide open throttle RPM after fitting a prop. Skipping the first service. Letting fuel go stale. Each is easy to avoid, and avoiding them keeps the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale running well for years.

Why Buy From Us

We are an online outboard dealer shipping to customers around the world. We sell genuine new Honda motors in their factory crates, help you choose the right model and shaft length, and assist with shipping and customs paperwork. If you are unsure whether the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale suits your boat, send us photos and details before you order and we will give you a straight answer.

Getting Ready Before the Motor Arrives

Shipping takes time, especially across borders, so use the wait well. When the crate lands you want to fit the motor and go, not start ordering parts.

• Measure the transom height and confirm the shaft length.
• Check the capacity plate for maximum horsepower and engine weight.
• Inspect the transom for soft spots, cracks or corrosion and repair them.
• Replace old fuel hoses and fit a water separating fuel filter.
• Pick a first propeller to try.

Weight and Balance

With a tiller motor, the driver sits at the stern right next to the engine, so a lot of weight ends up in one place. Move gear, the fuel tank and, if fitted, the battery forward where you can, and ask passengers to sit forward when you take off. The boat will plane sooner and ride flatter.

Real World Performance

Top speed and fuel use depend on hull, load, prop, motor height and trim, so any single number is only a guide. Honda publishes real test results, with speed, RPM, fuel flow and the prop used, on its performance test page. Look for a boat similar to yours for a realistic idea of what to expect from the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale.

Trailering

For trailering, tilt the motor up and support it with the tilt lock or a transom saver bar so the lower unit clears the road and the bracket isn’t taking every bump. Remove the key where fitted and disconnect a portable fuel tank. At the ramp, only lower the motor once the water is deep enough to cover the cooling water intake.

Spares Worth Keeping Aboard

A spare spark plug, a fuel filter element, a spare prop nut and cotter pin, and the basic tools to fit them take up almost no space. Far from help, those few items can save your day.

Living With It Long Term

Over years of ownership, expect a yearly service with oil, filter and gearcase oil, a water pump impeller every few years depending on conditions, anodes as they wear, and plugs and filters. That is about it. Well kept Honda four strokes are known for running a long time with that kind of care, and their fuel bills are modest.

Commercial and Rental Use

Marinas, lodges, fish farms and rental fleets run Honda outboards because they start easily and keep going. If you plan to use the motor commercially, check the warranty terms in your country, since commercial cover is usually shorter than recreational cover, and keep closely to the service schedule.

Resale Value

Honda outboards are always in demand on the used market because people know how long they last. Keep your receipts and a simple service record, and the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale will hold its value well and help your boat sell when the time comes.

Choosing the Right Horsepower

Always start with your boat’s capacity plate. It lists the maximum horsepower and, on many boats, the maximum engine weight. Never go over it; it is there for safety, and in many countries it is also a legal and insurance matter. Within that limit, think about how you use the boat. Regular heavy loads, rough water or long runs favour the upper end of the rating. Light, relaxed use favours the lower end and saves money.

Register Your Motor

Wherever you live, register your new outboard with the local Honda distributor if registration is offered in your country. It makes warranty claims simpler and means you hear about any service updates. Keep your purchase papers with your service log.

Getting Help Before You Buy

Not sure about shaft length, starting type, controls or shipping? Send us a message with photos of your boat. We would much rather answer a few questions now than have you wait weeks for the wrong motor.

Ordering the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale

1. Add it to your cart, or contact us first with questions.
2. We confirm stock, your address and the shipping method.
3. The motor ships in its Honda crate.
4. You get tracking details.
5. You receive the crate and check it before signing.

International buyers pay any import duties and taxes charged by their country. We supply the paperwork customs needs.

See all Honda outboard motors, the 8 HP Honda outboards, or our full shop.

Similar Honda Outboards

• Honda BF8DK3LHSA: 8 HP, electric start
• Honda BF8DK3SHA: 8 HP, 15 inch
• Honda BFP8DK3LHT: 8 HP Power Thrust, power tilt
• Honda BF10DK3LH: 9.9 HP, pull start
• Honda BF15D3LH: 15 HP, pull start

Browse 8 HP, 9.9 HP and 15 HP Honda outboards.

Questions About the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale

Is it new?

Yes. The Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale is brand new in the factory crate.

Shaft length?

20 inches.

Starting?

Pull start, no battery needed.

Tiller or remote?

Tiller.

Weight?

About 98 pounds dry.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes. Ask us for a delivery estimate to your country.

Buy the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale

For a small tiller boat with a 20 inch transom and an 8 HP rating, the Honda BF8DK3LHA for sale is light, quiet, simple and very economical. Add it to your cart, or contact us first with any questions.

More choices are in our Honda outboards range.