Yamaha offers media new engine test drive

DUCK KEY, Fla. - Seventeen journalists got a chance today to test Yamaha Motor Corp.'s new saltwater outboards during a two-day event in the Florida Keys.

"When we first introduced these engines last November, we did it on the Tennessee River," said Yamaha manager of communications and dealer education Martin Peters. "These outboards are designed for salt water so we wanted to let everyone see what they can do in that environment."

The event is being held at Hawks Cay Marina on Duck Key. Nine representatives from Yamaha, including application engineers and personnel from sales and marketing and product planning, are helping present the products, which include the new 250- and 300-hp V6 outboards and the new 70-hp engine. Triple F300s power a 39-foot Contender with a stepped hull; twin F300s are mounted on a 29-foot Regulator center console, two 22-foot Sea Hunt bay boats and a 23-foot Pathfinder are each powered with 250-hp outboards; and 70-hp models provide the propulsion for a Sundance and a Maverick - both 17-footers.

The new engines are currently arriving at engine and boat dealers in the U.S. The event gives boat manufacturers an opportunity to present specs, performance numbers and pricing as boat-engine packages. The event wraps up Thursday.