Suzuki Marine Celebrates 60th

Suzuki Marine has long been empowering anglers and boaters of all kinds with innovations that make being on the water something to remember.

It started with a single outboard back in 1965—the D55 two-stroke. Today, Suzuki offers an all four-stroke, fuel-efficient lineup ranging from 2.5 to 350 horsepower (hp). The Suzuki DF350 V6, introduced in 2017, was the first 350-hp four-stroke outboard. It was also the first outboard to sport contra-rotating dual propellers. Turns out two propellers rotating in different directions increase power and efficiency so well that it won the National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Innovation Award.

“Over that 60-year span, Suzuki Marine won an unprecedented nine (NMMA) Innovation Awards for motors,” says Brandon Cerka, Suzuki Marine USA General Manager Sales and Marketing. “In 1987, the Suzuki DT200 Exante (known as the “talking outboard”) won the first NMMA Innovation Award at the IMTEC Show. This 200-hp V6 two-stroke outboard featured a range of industry firsts and exclusives and became a popular choice for high-performance boats. In 2003, Suzuki unveiled its DF250 V6, the industry’s first 250-hp four-stroke outboard. It won an NMMA Innovation Award at the Miami International Boat Show. Suzuki’s new V6 four-stroke lineup also included 200- and 225-hp models to meet the needs of different types of boats.”

In 2006, Suzuki again broke new ground in four-stroke power with the launch of its DF300, the industry’s first 300-hp V6 four-stroke and the first outboard to feature electronic remote control, winning yet another NMMA Innovation Award.

“Innovation Awards also went to our 60/70-hp fuel-injected four-strokes back in 1997, our small 25/30-hp four-strokes with battery-less electronic fuel injection, and our DF350,” Cerka says.

The new Suzuki Stealth Line outboards are bound to pile up more awards. “The Stealth Line was an instant hit when we launched it at the 2024 Miami International Boat Show,” Cerka says. “With an eye-catching all matte-black finish and matching chrome black graphics, the line quickly expanded to eight models ranging from 115 to 350 hp, with models perfect for bass boats, walleye rigs, high-performance fishing boats, and performance pontoons. Stealth makes any boat look great, and under the hood, you get all the technology, performance, and reliability that Suzuki is known for.”

Not all of Suzuki’s innovations are steered toward increased power and fuel efficiency. Some target conservation. “We’re especially proud of our Micro Plastics Collecting Device—standard equipment on all new 115- and 140-hp outboards,” Cerka says. “This device uses the engine’s cooling system to collect micro-plastic pollution from the water. The filter is easily cleaned. These models are two of Suzuki’s top-selling motors, and there are many thousands of them in use around the world, each one giving boaters a chance to be part of the solution to this pervasive issue.”

Suzuki’s conservation efforts don’t end there. “Suzuki’s Clean Ocean Project is one of our most important achievements, and something we’re proud of,” Cerka says. “Launched in 2020 as a global initiative, it’s become an integral part of our company culture, from reducing waste in our business operations and our products, to company-wide recycling efforts, to coordinating clean-up activities on lakes, rivers, and bays around the globe.”

Tournament Success

Suzuki Ultimate Team Anglers is focused on good anglers with character. “We have a small but mighty team of Major League Fishing (MLF) and Bassmaster Elite Series pros representing us,” Cerka says. “They reflect Suzuki’s personality—not afraid to do things differently, take chances, go against the grain.

“At the recent 2025 Bass Pro Shops Redcrest, we were proud to have nine Suzuki anglers qualify, and three of them—Anthony Gagliardi, Nick Hatfield, and Marshall Robinson—made it to the Knockout Round. And at a clean-up event on Lake Guntersville, both our MLF and Bassmaster Elite anglers who were on hand to fish the tournament and support us pitched in to pick up trash alongside Suzuki staffers and local agencies. That’s teamwork. That’s character.”

Dean Rojas anchors the Suzuki pro staff in experience and accomplishments, winning Angler of the Year, Western Division of B.A.S.S. in 1997, following that with four wins, 16 Classic appearances, and 224 tournaments in all. “It’s a tribute to Suzuki that they’ve been around 60 years,” Rohas says. “Longevity reveals the quality of the product.”

Rojas competes with a Suzuki 250 from the Stealth lineup. “It’s absolutely great on fuel efficiency,” he says. “The performance is awesome, and the reliability is money. I never have engine problems, so no worries there. And it’s the most stable outboard I’ve ever run.”

Suzuki Marine is an outboard power pioneer, today producing only four-stroke engines. Each model is engineered with the latest technology and delivers superior performance, fuel efficiency, and reliability.

What will the next 60 years bring? Can’t wait to see.