Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd. is a Japanese marine manufacturer that builds boats, outboard motors, and related marine systems. Its marine business began with FRP boat and outboard development in the 1960s, and the company now describes itself as a comprehensive marine manufacturer. Yamaha’s boat production has included FRP motorboats and later jet boats for the consumer market.
History and shipyard
Yamaha Motor says its marine business began with research into fiber-reinforced plastic and the production and sale of FRP-hulled boats in 1960. The company introduced its first FRP boat models, CAT-21 and RUN-13, that year, and soon followed with FRP fishing boats. Yamaha Motor was founded in 1955, and its marine operations developed as part of the company’s broader expansion into watercraft and marine equipment. In 1995, Yamaha Motor Corporation USA acquired a boat-building facility in Vonore, Tennessee for jet boat production.
Model range and design
Yamaha’s marine line has covered outboard motors, FRP boats, jet boats, and boat control systems. The company says it now offers products and services spanning hulls, engines, peripheral equipment, and marine control technology. Its boat history includes the launch of the first Yamaha jet boat, Exciter, in May 1995, and later U.S.-market jet boats sold through Yamaha dealers. Yamaha is also known for pairing boat design with its own propulsion and marine systems.
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