Blog | Newsletter
FREE Subscription

2026 Suzuki DF300AP Repower Review

Boat Reviews

Boat Review by: Rick Layzell

Photo Gallery

What does a passionate boat owner do when their original power plant no longer delivers the trust and reliability that it once did?

This question has plagued most long term boat owners at some point. While the original power package served them well, time has taken its toll and the trust is simply no longer there. After all, it’s not the boat that can stop you from getting home, it’s typically a worn out engine. To make matters worse (or better depending on your view), you still love the boat, her layout still suits your needs, and your significant other still loves her. Regaining that confidence, particularly with a new power plant, will mean more time on the water.

Along comes Suzuki and the repower solution. And it all starts with having a dealer partner that you can trust – one that is committed to the entirety of the journey after you decide to make the change.

The boat in question here was an Element 270. These were built in Ontario, Canada by P.C. Mould Company, which later became Contour Yachts, and which have since vanquished into proverbial nonexistence. The story, as we were told, is that only 7 of these 270 models were crafted during their final year in business. We were further advised that the other 6 are all still in use on the Eastern seaboard of the USA.

As we were getting ready to dive into the review and testing process, the owner appeared on site and shared much of the lore and history of the boat. He was also generous in telling us about the decision to reinvest in this existing watercraft as opposed to buying new. In his own words “the trust was gone to the point where the boat was rarely being used and my wife was simply uninterested in being on the water.” This from a couple who have spent countless hours on Ontario waterways including Lake Ontario, Georgian Bay, the Muskoka Lakes, not to mention many warm weather vacations in the Caribbean, the BVI’s and more. Water is in their blood and in the fabric of their lives. They decided it was time to repower.

The decision was made to contract Hamer Bay Marine in the north of Muskoka who have a sterling reputation for managing serious repower projects like this one.

With the decision made to move from a single inboard to a pair of 300 HP state of the art Suzuki four stroke engines, including fly by wire helm technology, this would prove to be both a rebirth on the transom and at the helm.

In a matter of hours the inboard was removed and the engine space evolved into a whole new storage solution. The Element 270 was fabricated with a curved transom, meaning that only the right discerning and detailed craftsman could design an engine bracket extension. A local shop was contracted to do the work and within a couple of weeks the boat was returned to the dealership with the bracket safely and properly installed.

However, this brought with it a twist. What was originally a 27’ hull was now closer to 30’ length overall and what was originally an inboard installation was about to have 600 HP of fresh outboard power added on the end of the bracket, extending the package length even further. Without a doubt some testing and adjustments would be needed to find the perfect engine rigging height and propeller selections.

There was also the helm to consider. The Element originally had analog gauges and someone along the way had cobbled together a graph installation that left a lot to be desired in the aesthetics department. Expert dealer to the rescue once again. A dash panel insert was skillfully added to look factory original. This would house a new graph, all new digital gauges, push button start/stop switches, and other digital details. The original flush mount control would be replaced with a new Suzuki dual binnacle which adapts to operator preference of using single or dual levers. All of this technology would be fly-by-wire, meaning no more throttle and shift cable adjustments. Finally, a customer bracket for the new dual binnacle was also added. Quite the transformation at the helm as well as the transom.

At this point I had been working patiently dockside for several hours. We had shot multiple on-camera video segments, interviewed the lead technician on the project, and had a great conversation with her proud owner. We had been up and down and through the boat repeatedly, and she was still on the trailer. It was time for the teasing to stop and the on water testing to begin.

A camera/chase boat was selected, and I urged the marina technician to get us away from the docks (no way was I going to take responsibility for docking the owners beloved baby). We moved out onto Lake Joseph on a cool but calm October afternoon.

First impression – those Suzukis wanted to play. The puff sound of air at the starting of the engines shifts to a low and calm growl. Very nice. The beasts were getting ready to deliver. The Suzuki silent shift technology eased us in and out of gear as I began to learn her characteristics.

It took zero time to gauge the potential as hole shots were a blistering 3.5 second average – on a near 20 year old fiberglass boat. She offered multiple cruising speed solutions and stayed on plane in the upper teens. The owner told me at dockside that their preferred cruising speeds are in the 38,00 to 4,200 RPM range. During my testing I learned that this RPM range means the Element is rocking and rolling in the upper 30s MPH. These kids like to have fun!

Gasps were heard all around, especially from the camera boat, when I radioed in to report GPS top speed results of over 60 MPH. Needless to say, I was happy to oblige when the camera crew asked for a couple of fly by shots at full throttle, under the watchful eye of the dealer of course.

This was more than just a transformation; this was a game changer for this couple and a life altering experience with their beloved boat. I asked the owner one of the most critical questions of all: “How does your wife like the change?” His response was perfect: “She can’t wait to get back out on the boat and we are now talking about hauling the package down south in the winter of 2026 and may well take her on runs from Florida to the Bahamas.” Mission accomplished.

Packing your time and patience is part of the repower transformation process. For this couple and countless others, repowering with Suzuki was exactly the right choice.