Yamaha Outboards: 3 Essentials Kalamazoo Mariners Should Know
Yamaha outboards are reputed to be some of the best outboards a motorist can buy. Over the years, the Yamaha company has garnered a reputation for setting the gold standard in every industry they exist in. That’s why you’re just as likely to see a Yamaha brand trumpet as you are a Yamaha outboard; they make quality, consistently.
That being said, it’s easy to speak broadly about what makes a Yamaha outboard so special. Here at Kooper’s Marine of Richland, we believe in giving our customers the facts they need to know to make an educated purchase. That’s why we’re taking this month’s blog post to discuss the benefits of Yamaha outboards and what you need to know if you’re interested in purchasing one.
1. The Yamaha History of Quality
The first thing anyone interested in purchasing a Yamaha should know about is the Yamaha history of quality. The first Yamaha outboard motor was released in 1958, and the Yamaha corporation has been meticulously iterating on its design since then.
Don’t let us fool you, though; Yamaha has a brand history of transparency and has historically excelled at making their high-quality outboard motors accessible. That’s why you’ll find a customizable 3-way engine comparison on their own website; Yamaha wants you to know everything about their product because they have nothing to hide.
2. Yamaha Outboard Reputation
As you may have gleaned, the reputation of Yamaha outboards has benefited greatly from the Yamaha history of quality—though this wasn’t always the case.
Back in the 1980’s, Yamaha was one of the only companies that had began selling 4-stroke outboards instead of 2-stroke outboards. Back then, the general boating public had seen this as poor engineering design, since 4-stroke outboards accordingly use 4 movements to function, where 2-strokes only need 2 movements.
However, Yamaha saw something that most others didn’t. Compared to 2-stroke outboards, Yamaha saw that 4-stroke outboards had the potential to be more:
- Fuel efficient
- Quiet
- Reliable
- Eco-friendly
Over 40 years later, we know now that Yamaha was right. Despite 4-stroke outboards not being popular in the 1980’s, Yamaha stood by what they felt was the best product for all these years. Today, Yamaha is regarded as offering some of the best 4-stroke outboards on the market due to their decades of commitment to the best product possible.
3. Qualities of a Yamaha Outboard
Now that we’ve talked about the history of Yamaha outboards and how they’ve gained such a respected reputation, let’s get down to brass tacks: what to expect if you’re purchasing a Yamaha outboard.
While every Yamaha outboard is made with its own unique strengths, there are consistent qualities with every motor they make. Yamaha prioritizes durability and efficiency in their designs, which is why you’ll still find Yamaha outboards from 1999—such as the F115—sold today.
At the same time, Yamaha doesn’t just make a one-size-fits-all solution for boating. Yamaha outboards can range from 2.5 horsepower all the way up to 350HP, and are some of the most cost-effective outboards you can buy.
Yamaha Outboards: Why Buy?
You should consider purchasing a Yamaha outboard if you’re looking for a long-lasting, high-performance outboard at a fair price. If you live in Kalamazoo or the greater Southwestern Michigan area and you’re interested in learning more about Yamaha outboards, contact us at Kooper’s Marine today. We love spending our time out on the water, and when you work with us, you will too.