History, innovation, and Design
Our Story

POWER AND SOUL

Revolutionizing fun on the water. Empowered by a passion for innovation, we create exceptional value and experiences that enrich the lives of our customers.

SPIRIT OF CHALLENGE

The founder of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd., Genichi Kawakami, set a clear standard for Yamaha brand engineering and manufacturing when he said, “It isn’t a product if it isn’t world class.” 60 years later, Yamaha continues its endeavors to create diverse value through products and services, and we promise to keep delivering excellence in order to create a more fulfilling life for people all over the world.

ORIGINALITY IN INNOVATION

Our principles are founded on a continuing desire to produce value that moves people, and are based on the evolving wants and needs of our customers. We strive to build a corporate culture that encourages enterprise, innovation and creativity. Our corporate mission of being a “Kando Creating Company” is an expression of our desire to offer our customers around the world products and services that bring joy and unexpected exhilaration that enriches their lives with new fulfillment.

OUR

HISTORY

Since 1995 we have been fine-tuning our design and technology to create the gold standard for family fun on the water. Walk through the evolution of the Yamaha jet boat to see how it became the worldwide hit that it is today.

 / 
01

The Early Years

1989

The success of the WaveRunner drove Yamaha engineers to explore the possibility of new, innovative, larger product offerings around the same technology: a boat. Three engineers in Japan including Hirofumi Imaeda, Tomoyoshi Koyanagi, and Yoshiyuki Kaneko, accepted the challenge and began to work on the first prototype. At the time, 50 horsepower was the most powerful Yamaha engine, but that wasn't powerful enough for a 20 ft boat so that's when we envisioned twin engines.

02

Growing Interest

1991

In early 1991, the concept release at the Tokyo and Osaka Boat Shows gained traction with the global marine community. The positive reception prompted Yamaha to explore the idea of a mass marketed consumer boat, sold through Yamaha dealers. Interestingly enough, an American boat builder took note of the prototype and expressed serious interest in selling the boats in the US.

03

Expanding to America

1995

After the success at boat shows and interest from the US market, in 1995 a handful of the Japanese team working on the project moved to the US to continue development. Yamaha Motor Corporation USA purchased a boat building facility in Vonore, Tennessee for jet boat production and it was here that Yamaha's US based product team joined in the development.

04

Making History

1995 Continued

The team expanded the original design and created a radical new, family-friendly design that would become the staple of Yamaha Boats from that point on. The new design provided more space than any other bowrider in the industry and with the engines mounted inside the hull, it became a true engine-less layout. In May 1995, Yamaha debuted its first jet boat called "Exciter" and it became clear this boat could offer a level of performance and exhilaration unlike anything else on the water.

05

Moving Forward

Today

Yamaha jet boats have become the gold standard for all open bow family fun runabout boats, outselling all other boats in their classes. Today, we continue our endless pursuit of perfection.

OUR

INNOVATION

yamaha-waverunners-2021-our-story-tr-1.png

Compact and Lightweight

Yamaha’s innovative TR-1 engine offers a superb power to weight ratio for outstanding performance and fuel efficiency.

More Power

Yamaha’s innovative TR-1 engine offers a superb power to weight ratio for outstanding performance and fuel efficiency.

Compact and Lightweight

Yamaha’s innovative TR-1 engine offers a superb power to weight ratio for outstanding performance and fuel efficiency.

More Power

Yamaha’s innovative TR-1 engine offers a superb power to weight ratio for outstanding performance and fuel efficiency.

The TR-1® Engine

The Yamaha TR-1® marine engine is the pinnacle of engine innovation. Yamaha set out to build a more powerful engine than its predecessor, while also making it smaller, and lighter. Yamaha’s TR-1 engine received the prestigious engine innovation award from the National Marine Manufacturer’s Association (NMMA).

Helm Master EX Technology

Yamaha’s 255 FSH Sport H adds Yamaha's Helm Master® EX and joystick control for smooth, precise low-speed maneuvering. Helm Master EX allows the driver to move the boat forward, reverse, laterally, and rotationally with just one hand on the joystick.

OUR STORY IMAGE 4- Large (1).jpg

Environmentally Friendly Engine Cover

The engine cover is also one of the first Yamaha-manufactured parts to include plant-derived cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforced resin. CNF-reinforced resin has excellent material recyclability, leading to a reduction in plastics used and greenhouse gas emissions.

High Output Engine

A 1898cc, four-stroke, four-cylinder, 16-valve High Output marine engine provides quicker and smoother acceleration and a higher top speed.

Environmentally Friendly Engine Cover

The engine cover is also one of the first Yamaha-manufactured parts to include plant-derived cellulose nanofiber (CNF) reinforced resin. CNF-reinforced resin has excellent material recyclability, leading to a reduction in plastics used and greenhouse gas emissions.

High Output Engine

A 1898cc, four-stroke, four-cylinder, 16-valve High Output marine engine provides quicker and smoother acceleration and a higher top speed.

1.9L High Output Engine

This 1898cc, four-stroke, four-cylinder, 16-valve High Output Yamaha marine engine provides quicker and smoother acceleration and top speed. This is achieved through the engine's increased displacement, optimized intake and exhaust paths, and a 10 percent larger throttle body for more power and torque.

Our

Design

The Total Package

EVERYTHING YOU NEED AND MORE

DRiVE® Technology

DUAL-THROTTLE HANDLEBAR CONTROLS

DRiVE® is the marine industry's first dual paddle control system for effortless low speed handling and docking.

Integrated WakeBoosters

An Endless Wave at your Fingertips

With the simple push of a button on the Connext® Touchscreen, integrated WakeBoosters® can be deployed on either side of the boat for wakesurfing.

S-Curve-image-4-Jet Drive System.png

Jet Drive System

The Gold Standard

Yamaha's renowned internal propulsion system is not only reliable and fuel-efficient, it also offers the highest level of freedom achievable on the water.

The concept is simple: Water is pulled through internally housed propellers and pushed out through marine engines with high thrust points.

This technology eliminates the need for an exposed drivetrain, allowing Yamaha boats to plane quicker with less bow rise. The minimal draft makes navigating shallow areas easy.

S-Curve-image-5-Bring Joy to Your Life.png

Bringing Joy to Your Life

Creating Kando

Kando is a Japanese word for the simultaneous feeling of deep satisfaction and intense excitement that people experience when they encounter something of exceptional value.

For over 50 years, Yamaha has endeavored to create diverse value through products and services, and we promise to continue delivering excellence in order to create a more fulfilling life for people all over the world.

We strive to use our ingenuity and passion to realize peoples' dreams and always be the ones they look to for “the next Kando.”

Advanced Responsive Handling

Yamaha’s Advanced Responsive Handling Package has revolutionized jet boat handling by putting drivers in total control of the driving experience. This innovative suite of Yamaha technologies includes No Wake Mode™, the Thrust Directional Enhancer and patented Articulating Keel for immediate steering response.

Assembled in

The USA

Yamaha Boats

Proudly assembled in Vonore, Tennessee

The 42-acre Vonore manufacturing facility borders Lake Tellico and serves as the primary point of Yamaha boat production for the USA, Canada, and select International markets.

The state-of-the-art facility has more than 450 employees and was recently expanded to include an additional 7 acres - with 36,000 additional square feet for future boat production. 

Find Your

Boat

We’ll help you narrow down the perfect Yamaha for your family