The Yamaha F225 four-stroke was a treat to drive on everyapplication we tested -- there were twin engine offshore boats, bayboats, walleye boats and more. But our guys were captivated by thesleek Hurricane Sundeck 237 with 225 horses lunging at the mooringlines. Wait. This boat had a stern drive last time we took it for aspin, a 5.7L bruiser if memory serves. So, is a 225 going to giveit the performance a family-hauling, tube-pulling funcruiser wouldget from a big V-8 inboard?
After driving it, we thought so.Plus, all that space dedicated to the inboard engine is nowdedicated to inboard fun. How would you like to add 12 square feetof party space to your deck? We thought so, too.
And quiet? We heard wind and rushingwater, little else. At idle, a peek at the tach was required to seeif the engine was running. At the dock, we confess, somebody triedto restart an already running engine -- three times. A motor thisquiet can’t be running. It needs a warning signal forre-start dummies -- ''Hey idiot! I’m alreadyrunning!''
Now, don’t read any more ifyou don’t care to know why it’s so fast, quietand efficient. But for those of you who do …
The beauty of the F225 comes fromits elegant design. Yamaha engineers didn’t exactly break therules in an exercise of civil disobedience. They occupied newterritory.
To trim down its size they made it a60-degree V-6 block. But the big deal in both size and power wasthe clever way they fed air and fuel to this double-overhead camengine. On auto engines, the air intake is on the center of the V,taking up a huge (huge by outboard standards) amount of space.Yamaha put the air intakes on the outside, sweeping the air supplythrough intake silencers forward on the engine to the intake valveson the back.
They had another trick up theirsleeve. Each intake tube gets it own fuel injector located justbefore the intake valve. The result? Extremely efficient air andfuel mixture for a clean, powerful burn -- and even more compactdesign.
To crown this unique achievement,the exhaust was taken from the center of the cylinder banks, in theV -- exactly the opposite of your automobile’s four-strokeengine -- and swept efficiently down and out through thepropeller.
So, what did we find in our testdrive that stats can’t tell you? First, all those who saidthey’d never make a big block four-stroke outboard that aboat could carry were wrong. This boat sat level and true in thewater. The hole-shot of tested boats showed no sign of a tail-heavyboat. Indeed all rigs were balanced. Know why? The F225 weighsnearly 300 pounds less than the nearest likely stern-drivealternative -- a 4.3L 210hp unit -- and a scant 100 pounds morethan competitive two-stroke DFI 225hp outboards.
We also noticed the power in thisengine was equally applied across the operating range. There wereno dead spots, no wasted rpm. For each 500-rpm increase, there wasa commensurate increase in torque and speed.
Awesome, but how much? It soundslike the MSRP will be a cool $17,440.
Yamaha Motor Corporation; 800-88-Yamaha; www.yamaha-motor.com
SPECIFICATIONS:
YAMAHA F225 4-STROKE
Block: 60 degree V-6
Displacement: 3.35 L
Full Throttle RPM Range: 5,000-6,000
Horsepower Rating at Propshaft: 225 hp @ 5,500 RPM
Weight 25'' Shaft: 583 lb.
Weight 30'' Shaft: 596 lb.
MSRP: $17,440
HURRICANE SUNDECK 237W/YAMAHA F225 OUTBOARD
This great-looking rig seemed to have all the thrustwe’d expect from a big block stern-drive. You get a clean,green, fuel-efficient engine, more cockpit space for your boatingbuck.
Length: 23’2''
Beam: 8’5''
Weight w/o Engine: 3,010 lb.
Weight of Yamaha F225: 583 lb.
Top Speed: 46.2 MPH
Acceleration to 30 MPH: 7.5 sec.
Time to Plane: 2.9 sec.
Minumum Planing Speed: 20.0 MPH
Noise @ Idle: 54 db
Noise @ 30 MPH: 77 db
GPH @ Cruise: 4.8 @ 3,000 RPM
Propeller: 15 ¼'' x 19'' stainless
SKEETER ZX 2200 W/YAMAHA F225OUTBOARD
The big question skinny-water anglers have is, ''How will this workon my bay boat?'' Very well, thank you. The rig was balanced,graceful and quick. With this open cockpit, center console,decibels appear high at 30 mph, but your ear will tell you tell thesound is environmental, not engine noise. We wouldn’t beafraid to mount this on any center console or bay boat over 20feet.
Length: 21’10''
Beam: 8’2''
Weight w/o Engine: 2,400 lb.
Weight of Yamaha F225: 583 lb.
Top Speed: 52.6 MPH
Acceleration to 30 MPH: 7.5 sec.
Time to Plane: 2.9 sec.
Minumum Planing Speed: 18.6 MPH
Noise @ Idle: 58 db
Noise @ 30 MPH: 84 db
GPH @ Cruise: 8 gal. @ 4,000 RPM
Propeller: 14 ½'' x 21'' stainless
GRADY WHITE 263 CHASE W/TWINYAMAHA F225 OUTBOARDS
The Grady White 263 withtwins was a pure pleasure. Not only do you run with the joy of twowell-synchronized outboards behind you, you run with peace. Veryquiet. Even at 30 mph, wind, rushing water and conversation weremore pronounced than engine sound.
Length: 26’11''
Beam: 8’6''
Weight w/o Engines: 3,975 lb.
Weight of 2 Yamaha F225s: 1,166 lb.
Top Speed: 52.0 MPH
Acceleration to 30 MPH: 5.4 sec.
Time to Plane: 2.9 sec.
Minumum Planing Speed: 20 mph
Sound @ Idle: 51 db
Sound @ 30 MPH: 82 db
GPH @ Cruise: 9.1 gph @ 3,000 RPM
Propeller: 15 ¼ '' x 19'' stainless
