My Yamaha Outboard
In 2004 I bought a Skeeter 225 bass boat with a Yamaha 225 HPDI outboard motor. The boat was a “demo” boat owned by a salesman at a dealer in Atlanta and I got an excellent deal on it. The outfit was six months old when I got it, looked brand new and came with a full warranty on the boat and motor.
I really liked the Yamaha outboard. I had seven OMC motors and all gave me good service, but the HPDI got much better gas and oil usage, and it cranked very easily, even in cold weather. The motor ran good and I had no problems with it other than changing water filters often. I really liked the Skeeter boat, too, but had some serious problems with it, but that is another tale for later.
In 2010 I was at Sinclair working on a GON article and the motor made a strange noise and died just as we stopped on the last spot for the day, right at dark. It would not crank so we fished for a while, then the motor cranked right up. We ran in and I started and stopped and ran around some while waiting on the trailer. The motor never missed a beat and ran good.
I took the boat to Oconee Marine, a Yamaha dealer not too far from me, and they checked it out. They put it on the computer and could find nothing wrong with it.
A few days later in a club tournament at West Point the motor made a terrible sound and stopped. When I tried to crank it the sound was like shaking a sack of metal pieces. I fished back to the ramp and go the boat loaded and took it back to Oconee Marine the next day.
Two days later I got a call with bad news. The motor had come apart and I needed a new $8000 power head. The motor was over six years old at this point and a new one was very expensive so I told them to put one on. After all, I had a new lower unit from hitting a rock pile in Wisconsin, another tale for later, so I basically would have a new motor from top to bottom.
The next day I got a call from Oconee Marine with incredible news. They had contacted Yamaha and told them about checking the motor and finding no reason it should have blown. Yamaha comped me a new power head and the labor to install it! That was on a six year old motor, out of warranty and well used.
Yamaha really stands behind their motors. I have heard they have done the same for other Yamaha motor owners. I think the problem was the change to E10 gas with Ethanol in it, something the motor was not designed for. Now I am really worried with the coming planned change to E15 with even more alcohol. If I understand it right, no outboards and few cars are under warranty using that mix.
I have run the motor with the new power head for three more years not and it has not had a single problem.
If I buy another outboard motor it will definitely be a Yamaha!
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I am glad someone gets good service out of Yamaham my 04 hpdi has just over 300 hrs on it I am on my 3rd powerhead. in 2012 called yamaha asking for assistance since this motor has been NOTHING BUT a pain in my side since the first 50 hrs. I talked with the people at yamaha and explained to them my situation of how in the 11 yrs of ownership I have been only able to use my boat for no more than four seasons. They told me they would look into helping with the purchase of a new SHO 225. I just recieved the wonderful news yesterday that they would be willing to help me with the 400.00 buck installation labor or and extra years warranty if I purchased a new $19000.00 motor. Well heres to ya YAMAHA. Thanks for putting the biggest piece of crap I have ever owned in my hands, ruining my tournament career and turning something I love into something I hate. Between you and your no good Patchem up service centers that have rapped me for over $10000.00 in 9 years. Selling me parts I didnt need for a motor I didnt have, installing parts on my boat incorrectly, Oh and lets not forget sending a factory service tech out to NOT correct the problems with my boat but create more. I have been told by several Yamaha techs I have contacted that the best place for this motor is at the bottom of the river. I really hate my boat ownership experience. ANYONE who thinks yamaha is the way to go. THINK AGAIN. their customer service is the most insulting I have ever seen. PLEASE do yourself a favor stay AWAY from ANY boat power by these guys.
I’m sorry you had such a bad experience. As my article said mine has been very good and I have been running the replacement power head for four years with no problems at all. And I have talked to a lot of other Yamaha owners that have had very good service from Yamaha.