New Suzuki DF300AP with Selective Rotation wins a NMMA Award for Innovation
OutdoorHub 03.06.12
Suzuki has been honoured with yet another prestigious Innovation Award at the 2012 Miami International Boat Show for its new DF300AP model, which features a world first in outboard technology – Suzuki Selective Rotation.
This new technology enables Suzuki to do what no other outboard manufacturer can and combine standard and counter rotation operation into the same outboard. This is done by switching an electronic circuit to change the gear-shift mode and adding a counter rotation propeller.
In counter rotation mode the power is transmitted through the reverse gear, which has been upgraded and improved to give it the same characteristics as the forward gears. In fact, the specifications and materials used for forward and reverse gears have both been optimised, as well as improving the layout of the bearings.
All of this now means that there is now no need to buy a dedicated counter rotation outboard.
The award was made on February 16, by the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) and Boating Writers International (BWI), recognising the DF300AP as the most innovative new product in the Outboard Motors Category.
It was voted for by a panel of esteemed marine journalists and marks an unprecedented seventh time that Suzuki’s Marine Division has received the coveted NMMA Innovation Award, with six out of these seven awards going to models from its market leading fuel-injected four stroke range.
Ed Sherman, Educational Programming Director at the American Boat & Yacht Council, (ABYC) said, “This is a brilliant ground-breaking design and will save dealers money in inventory, and consumers selling their used twins will now be able to sell them one at a time and make them into whatever the buyer needs.”
Yasuharu Osawa, Group Manager for Suzuki’s Marine Division in Europe said, “We are always looking to enhance our range of outboard motors, whether it be with new models such as the new DF20A and DF15A or technical innovations such as the new Suzuki Selective Rotation. We are very proud to have won this award and I must pay tribute to the engineers that were responsible for this innovative new feature which we believe will be very popular with boat builders, dealers and boaters alike.”
