Used Pontoon Boats

In the largest and broadest product introduction in its history, Yamaha Motor Corp. presented nine new outboard engines from 4 hp to 300 hp at a media event Monday in Chattanooga, Tenn.

Yamaha unveiled the engines to 43 journalists at The Chattanoogan Hotel. Seventeen boats, including vessels from Contender, EdgeWater, Pursuit and Grady-White, were available for testing. The engine builder has re-engineered its entire four-stroke V6 lineup, which includes the 225-, 250- and 300-hp outboards. In addition, a new mid-range engine, the F70, was unveiled, as well as two portable engines – the F4 and F6. For the inshore and freshwater bass boat markets, Yamaha announced new VMAX four-stroke models in 200-, 225- and 250-hp models.

All of the engines are touted as being lighter, more compact, more fuel-efficient and better performing than previous models. “This is the next generation of four-strokes,” said Dyskow. “You can see the direction we’re going – significantly better power-to-weight ratio, lighter weight, better fuel economy, better performance.”

The engines are lighter, but their displacements are greater. Current 225- and 250-hp models are built with 3.3-liter engines with a displacement of 204.6 cubic inches, while the new versions utilize 4.2-liter engines with 254-cubic-inch displacements. The new V6 300-hp engine replaces the V8 300, which used the same block as the 350-hp engine. The V6 version weighs 246 pounds less and is 17 percent more fuel-efficient than the V8 version, according to Dyskow. The new 225 and 250 weigh 558 pounds. The previous 225 came in at 583 pounds, and the 250 weighed 604 pounds.