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A Sigma 33 One Design keelboat racing on Dublin Bay Photo: AfloatA Sigma 33 One Design keelboat racing on Dublin Bay Photo: Afloat

Displaying items by tag: Yamaha

Yamaha Marine has announced a series of innovative upgrades to its premium V6 outboard range.

The improved Yamaha V6 range shares design cues from the company’s flagship XTO, with new features including Digital Electric Steering (DES), Thrust Enhancing Reverse Exhaust (TERE) and Yamaha’s exclusive TotalTilt™.

Yamaha’s Premium V6 segment now offers extensive functionality, from everyday use and long-distance journeys to high octane sports use.

New 250 – 300 hp V6 Engines

Digital Electric Steering (DES) is now built-in to the 300 - 250hp V6 engines equipped with Steer by Wire (SBW), delivering a smoother and more intuitive driving experience, with no hydraulic systems to bleed or steering cables to snag. Non-SBW 300 - 250hp V6 engines are fully compatible with optional bolt-on DES or traditional hydraulic steering systems.

Yamaha’s exclusive TotalTilt™ function allows complete tilt up or down (until trim ram contact) from any position with a simple double-push of a button, with a buzzer sounding to alert others to keep clear of the outboard and an integrated tilt limiter to prevent inadvertent damage.

Augmenting the outboards reverse thrust and control, the Thrust Enhancing Reverse Exhaust (TERE) keeps exhaust bubbles above the anti-ventilation plate and out of the propeller below 2500 rpm, ensuring the prop only bites bubble-free water. Combining TERE with optional DES and the Helm Master EX joystick will enhance manoeuvrability around docks and confined spaces.

Taking much of the styling from the XTO, the new 4.2-litre 300 - 250hp V6 engines now feature a colour-matched lower unit, a new one-piece top cowling with water-draining air duct moulding, a new bottom cowling, apron shape and premium graphics.

The lower unit has also been improved and features the new design of the gear tooth profile with improved contact and reduced surface pressure. In addition, the durability has been improved by changing the oil flow inside the lower case and the bearings that support the gears.

New 225hp V6 Engines

The new Yamaha 225hp V6, designed with the same styling as the 250 - 300, is also fully compatible with optional DES and includes the TotalTilt™ function and TERE.

The large displacement cylinder block, like the bigger V6s, features a unique long intake manifold, in-bank exhaust, an electronic control module (ECM) controlled fuel injection system and variable camshaft timing (VCT) resulting in improved reliability and fuel efficiency.

New Drive by Wire Side Flush Mount

Yamaha is also introducing its new Drive by Wire (DBW) 6X9 side flush mount control, designed to bring the benefits of the Helm Master EX to a broader array of premium boats.

The DBW side flush mount uses Yamaha’s latest electronic control system bringing smoother, more precise control through the power range. Easy to install, users will enjoy its ergonomic design and premium feel single-function buttons.

The DBW side flush mount is suitable for single-engine configurations from 150hp and above Yamaha outboards.

The new Yamaha V6 range and new DBW Side Flush Mount system are available from 2022 season.

Published in Outboard Engines
Tagged under

For many years O’Sullivan’s Marine have been the ‘go to’ outlet for quality outboard engine brands such as Tohatsu, Suzuki and Honda — and now Yahama outboards have been added to their available stock range, writes Brian O’Sullivan.

Whether you are looking to purchase an individual engine, or as part of a tailored boat package, O’Sullivan’s Marine are now able to offer all top-quality engine brands — ex stock.

Yamaha’s highly popular engines are well known for their reliability, quiet running and excellent fuel economy, and range from lightweight portable 2.5HP right through to the powerful 350HP V8.

O’Sullivan’s Marine are renowned for their expertise in both the supply and servicing of outboard engine, and have the largest choice of outboard engines on permanent display in their Tralee showrooms.

With full-time mechanics and the latest equipment and software, O’Sullivan’s Marine can service everything they supply. Contact them for a quotation — for a new engine to whatever repairs may be required, they are happy to oblige.

Published in O'Sullivan's Marine

Yamaha has more international brands on display than previously to give visitors a greater choice of powered craft and RIBs for a lifestyle afloat at today's Southampton boat show. From WaveRunner PWCs, trailer-boats, high performance RIBs and day-boats to fishing craft and offshore cruisers, Yamaha has something to suit every pocket and performance wish.  

Around the show key models from Anytec, Ballistic RIBs, Chaparral (new model), Cobra RIBs, Draco, Finnmaster, Jeanneau, (with new models), Linder, Ribeye (new PRIME model), Rigiflex, Robalo, Sealegs, Whaly, White Shark and Zodiac are on show, with a range of Yamaha outboards from 2.5 to 300hp.

The new portable Yamaha F2.5B, the “baby” of the outboard range, is shown for the first time in the UK with deliveries to dealerships already under way.  The new model has lower emissions than the previous 2.5, better performance and even more features which are outlined in the separate release. 

Although the Ballistic 4.3m is the smallest of the Ballistic RIBs it still retains the solid build quality and outstanding handling that all Ballistic RIBs are known for. Ballistic RIBs are used by military and law enforcement agencies across the world, including the Metropolitan Police in London, the South African police, the Norwegian police and the Fisheries Protection Service in Sierra Leone. Versions of Ballistic RIBs are also widely used by coastguards, harbour masters and dive clubs.

Published in RIBs
Tagged under

#ROWING: Outboard motors worth up to €20,000 were stolen from the National Rowing Centre in Cork at the weekend. It is understood that rowers from the High Performance Programme were staying at the NRC when thieves took the engines, which were attached to catamarans and tinnies moored on the water. The raid did not come from the land.

Rowing Ireland has advised that anyone who becomes aware of 15HP Hondas and 20HP Yamahas being offered for sale should contact the Gardaí.

Published in Rowing

How to sail, sailing clubs and sailing boats plus news on the wide range of sailing events on Irish waters forms the backbone of Afloat's sailing coverage.

We aim to encompass the widest range of activities undertaken on Irish lakes, rivers and coastal waters. This page describes those sailing activites in more detail and provides links and breakdowns of what you can expect from our sailing pages. We aim to bring jargon free reports separated in to popular categories to promote the sport of sailing in Ireland.

The packed 2013 sailing season sees the usual regular summer leagues and there are regular weekly race reports from Dublin Bay Sailing Club, Howth and Cork Harbour on Afloat.ie. This season and last also featured an array of top class events coming to these shores. Each year there is ICRA's Cruiser Nationals starts and every other year the Round Ireland Yacht Race starts and ends in Wicklow and all this action before July. Crosshaven's Cork Week kicks off on in early July every other year. in 2012 Ireland hosted some big international events too,  the ISAF Youth Worlds in Dun Laoghaire and in August the Tall Ships Race sailed into Dublin on its final leg. In that year the Dragon Gold Cup set sail in Kinsale in too.

2013 is also packed with Kinsale hosting the IFDS diabled world sailing championships in Kinsale and the same port is also hosting the Sovereign's Cup. The action moves to the east coast in July with the staging of the country's biggest regatta, the Volvo Dun Laoghaire regatta from July 11.

Our coverage though is not restricted to the Republic of Ireland but encompasses Northern Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the Irish Sea area too. In this section you'll find information on the Irish Sailing Association and Irish sailors. There's sailing reports on regattas, racing, training, cruising, dinghies and keelboat classes, windsurfers, disabled sailing, sailing cruisers, Olympic sailing and Tall Ships sections plus youth sailing, match racing and team racing coverage too.

Sailing Club News

There is a network of over 70 sailing clubs in Ireland and we invite all clubs to submit details of their activities for inclusion in our daily website updates. There are dedicated sections given over to the big Irish clubs such as  the waterfront clubs in Dun Laoghaire; Dublin Bay Sailing Club, the Royal Saint George Yacht Club,  the Royal Irish Yacht Club and the National Yacht Club. In Munster we regularly feature the work of Kinsale Yacht Club and Royal Cork Yacht Club in Crosshaven.  Abroad Irish sailors compete in Royal Ocean Racing Club (RORC) racing in the UK and this club is covered too. Click here for Afloat's full list of sailing club information. We are keen to increase our coverage on the network of clubs from around the coast so if you would like to send us news and views of a local interest please let us have it by sending an email to [email protected]

Sailing Boats and Classes

Over 20 active dinghy and one design classes race in Irish waters and fleet sizes range from just a dozen or so right up to over 100 boats in the case of some of the biggest classes such as the Laser or Optimist dinghies for national and regional championships. Afloat has dedicated pages for each class: Dragons, Etchells, Fireball, Flying Fifteen, GP14, J24's, J80's, Laser, Sigma 33, RS Sailing, Star, Squibs, TopperMirror, Mermaids, National 18, Optimist, Puppeteers, SB3's, and Wayfarers. For more resources on Irish classes go to our dedicated sailing classes page.

The big boat scene represents up to 60% of the sail boat racing in these waters and Afloat carries updates from the Irish Cruiser Racer Association (ICRA), the body responsible for administering cruiser racing in Ireland and the popular annual ICRA National Championships. In 2010 an Irish team won the RORC Commodore's Cup putting Irish cruiser racing at an all time high. Popular cruiser fleets in Ireland are raced right around the coast but naturally the biggest fleets are in the biggest sailing centres in Cork Harbour and Dublin Bay. Cruisers race from a modest 20 feet or so right up to 50'. Racing is typically divided in to Cruisers Zero, Cruisers One, Cruisers Two, Cruisers Three and Cruisers Four. A current trend over the past few seasons has been the introduction of a White Sail division that is attracting big fleets.

Traditionally sailing in northern Europe and Ireland used to occur only in some months but now thanks to the advent of a network of marinas around the coast (and some would say milder winters) there are a number of popular winter leagues running right over the Christmas and winter periods.

Sailing Events

Punching well above its weight Irish sailing has staged some of the world's top events including the Volvo Ocean Race Galway Stopover, Tall Ships visits as well as dozens of class world and European Championships including the Laser Worlds, the Fireball Worlds in both Dun Laoghaire and Sligo.

Some of these events are no longer pure sailing regattas and have become major public maritime festivals some are the biggest of all public staged events. In the past few seasons Ireland has hosted events such as La Solitaire du Figaro and the ISAF Dublin Bay 2012 Youth Worlds.

There is a lively domestic racing scene for both inshore and offshore sailing. A national sailing calendar of summer fixtures is published annually and it includes old favorites such as Sovereign's Cup, Calves Week, Dun Laoghaire to Dingle, All Ireland Sailing Championships as well as new events with international appeal such as the Round Britain and Ireland Race and the Clipper Round the World Race, both of which have visited Ireland.

The bulk of the work on running events though is carried out by the network of sailing clubs around the coast and this is mostly a voluntary effort by people committed to the sport of sailing. For example Wicklow Sailing Club's Round Ireland yacht race run in association with the Royal Ocean Racing Club has been operating for over 30 years. Similarly the international Cork Week regatta has attracted over 500 boats in past editions and has also been running for over 30 years.  In recent years Dublin Bay has revived its own regatta called Volvo Dun Laoghaire Regatta and can claim to be the country's biggest event with over 550 boats entered in 2009.

On the international stage Afloat carries news of Irish and UK interest on Olympics 2012, Sydney to Hobart, Volvo Ocean Race, Cowes Week and the Fastnet Race.

We're always aiming to build on our sailing content. We're keen to build on areas such as online guides on learning to sail in Irish sailing schools, navigation and sailing holidays. If you have ideas for our pages we'd love to hear from you. Please email us at [email protected]