Did Honda give you a reason why it threw a rod?
We threw a rod on an '89 model 235hp Evinrude years ago. It seems the top two carburators were gummed up and starving the top two cyclinders of gas and oil! In our infinite wisdom we tried to get them "ungummed" by doing a few speed passes in the intercoastal. Not a good idea. Metal to metal with no lubrication does not work, at least not for long! Threw a rod clean through the block. We tied up under the bridge, ate our lunch and luckily we could limp back to the ramp!