7-Dec-2007
Yamaha’s stunning new V8 outboard motor, the F350A, has been awarded the US Boating Industry Association’s Innovation Award – just months after its release.
The F350 is the world’s first V8 outboard and sets new standards for innovative outboard motor engineering. The first versions have landed in New Zealand and been used to power larger boats. A 300hp version has also been announced.
The Innovation Award recognises technological advancement, performance and environmental measures – all areas where they F350 scores highly.
Yamaha Motor NZ Marine Manager, Greg Fenwick, says the award also recognises Yamaha’s efforts to pioneer new sector of outboard motor application in the boating industry.
Kiwi boaties are among first people in the world to experience the world’s most potent outboard motor, the Yamaha F350 V8.
The F350 is the world’s first V8 four stroke outboard motor and is intended to challenge the diesel engine market for power and fuel efficiency. It is designed specifically to move the mass of a larger boat.
It utilises every bit of its 5.3 litre displacement to deliver massive power and up to 45 per cent more thrust than a 250hp outboard. It is designed for durability and reliability as well as user-friendly operation. The model also brings a totally new look to Yamaha’s range with a streamlined new design.
Environmentally, the Yamaha F350 gains a 3-star rating under the 2008 emissions standards of the California Air Resource Board (CARB), which are the world’s most stringent.
The F350 is a double overhead-cam 60-degree V8, displacing 5.3 litres and weighing 365kg.
The new model is expected to be a significant boost for the New Zealand boating market, offering a realistic alternative to stern drive, inboard and multi outboard power units, while retaining the benefits of space, safety and reliability of a modern four stroke outboard motor.
The motor features variable valve timing, ionic combustion sensors, a new anti-corrosion system, massive forged motor mounts and transom bracket, heavy-duty gears and drive shaft made of hardened steel, a special series of 16 inch propellers, and a new air-intake labyrinth designed to keep water intrusion to a minimum.
It is also the first Yamaha outboard to feature a digital drive-by-wire throttle and shift control.
Yamaha says the motor's low weight is a result of its desire to make the F350 extremely durable and reliable enough to take well off-shore. Its engineers have focused on making every component robust enough to handle the motor's rated thrust.
In developing the F350, Yamaha worked closely with boat builders — including Grady-White, Edgewater, and Pursuit. The new engine was trialed on a Grady-White 360 Express – which has an LOA of more than 12m and weighing 6 tonnes - as an example of a big boat that would be perfect from this style of motor. In the past, a boat of this size would be powered by inboards, more recently with triple F250 motors and now with dual F350 motors
Key features of the Yamaha F350
· Massive power and torque from the world’s biggest horsepower outboard.
· The first 60° V8 four stroke outboard engine ever, with a displacement of 5330 cc and a DOHC, 32 valve format.
· In-Bank Dual Exhaust with Power Surge Chambers, a system that relieves pressure in the exhaust ports to increase power output.
· Variable camshaft timing to greatly increase engine torque at low and mid-range rpm.
· Up to 45 percent more thrust than conventional 250-hp class four-stroke outboards. (Yamaha comparison)
· Specially designed Saltwater XL Series propellers with significantly larger diameter and blade area to bring out the full performance potential of the F350.
· Outstanding Yamaha durability and reliability
· Larger gear shaft adopted for greatly increased strength
· Forged motor mounts and oversized mounting bracket for outstanding durability and excellent noise and vibration reduction.
· Strategically placed sacrificial anodes and exclusive electrophoretic painting finish applied throughout the motor for outstanding corrosion protection.
· Ionic Combustion Sensor adopted for the first time on an outboard to detect the production of ions and enable adjustments to maintain good combustion.
· To accommodate the increased displacement, a larger thermostat, large-capacity water pump and dual-course coolant supply system are adopted to improve cooling capacity.
· Exclusive new-design Drain System adopted inside the cowling to quickly drain away any water that gets inside the cowling and reduce the amount of water intrusion to one-tenth that of conventional outboards. (Yamaha comparison)
· Outstanding operability and convenience for more enjoyable cruising
· Newly developed Yamaha Digital Network System for lighter, more enjoyable operability as well as great reliability.
· Variable Trolling RPM control function as standard equipment for optimum idling adjustment.
· Automatic multi-engine (up to 3 engines) rpm synchronization function.
