Published on: 22 February 2024
Representing the UK’s largest indoor boat show, BoatLife included another stellar line-up of Yamaha outboards and marine products exhibited by Yamaha’s boat partners, after doors opened on 15 February 2024 for the 4-day event at the NEC in Birmingham.
Culminating in decades of design innovation and engineering excellence, Yamaha outboard engines were represented across a wide variety of RIB, tender, day cruiser and weekender boating brands who attended the show.
boatpoint
As the UK’s largest broker, boatpoint exhibited several standout vessels from esteemed brands Quarken, Ryds and Jeanneau, ranging from sleek powerboats to comfortable day cruisers.
The ideal powerboat for family coastal cruises, the Jeanneau Merry Fisher 795 Series 2 (2024) was on display. Renowned for its design and high performance, the Merry Fisher is the perfect balance of practicality and luxury. Powered by a Yamaha 200hp engine, with electric controls and CL5 display, as well as a bow thruster and trim tabs, this boat will have no trouble powering you to your favourite fishing spots and cruising grounds.
“As official Jeanneau dealers for the North West and North East of the UK, we were excited to showcase our Merry Fisher F795 at BoatLife 2024,” says Phil Jones, New Boat Sales Manager at boatpoint. “We enjoyed meeting Jeanneau owners both old and new and explored the latest range of boats available, helping everyone to get afloat and enjoy the water this summer.”
Also on display was the Quarken 27 Cabin, fitted with Yamaha’s 300hp outboard engine for punchy yet efficient performance that you can depend on.
Designed and built in Finland, and represented exclusively in the UK by boatpoint, the 27 Cabin offers an exciting blend of state-of-the-art technology, versatility and superior handling, coupled with Yamaha’s unbeatable hydrodynamic performance with top speeds of up to 45 knots.
boatpoint also showcased two boats from the Swedish maker Ryds; the 650VI DC and 735 VI. These sleek and modern boats feature a deep V-hull, allowing for smooth and stable navigation through various water conditions, powered by the Yamaha 200hp engine and 250hp respectively.
CDT Marine
With decades of experience behind this Devon-based boat brand, CDT Marine were pleased to showcase a number of Buster boats at this year’s show.
Their principal model is the stylish Buster XXL, fitted with Yamaha’s powerful 150hp VMAX engine. Featuring Buster Q smart display technology, as well as a sleek sterling grey hull, it has been specifically designed to be enjoyed with family and friends.
Boasting a spacious interior and first-class steering experience at all speeds, this Buster model offers the perfect combination of agility and speed, combined with stylish good looks.
CDT Marine also exhibited the Buster M1, coupled with a 40hp Yamaha engine, as well as the aluminium AB 13 ALX Rib, also featuring a 40hp Yamaha engine.
“We had a great range of aluminium boats on show at BoatLife. Our boats are durable, recyclable and lightweight, giving optimum power to weight ratio, powered by market-leading Yamaha engines,” says Chris Tracey, Managing Director at CDT Marine.
Wills Marine
UK distributor for Grand RIBs, Wills Marine showcased Yamaha outboards across five models from its Grand RIBs range: Golden Line G750, G680, G650, G580, powered by Yamaha’s 250hp, 200hp, V MAX SHO 175hp and 130hp outboard engines respectively, and the Grand Drive D600, featuring Yamaha’s 150hp engine.
“We are very excited to have strengthened our partnership with Yamaha at this year’s BoatLife show at the NEC,” says Dan Arscott, Sales Manager, Wills Marine. “We were delighted to represent all horsepower categories from 130 – 250 this year on our Grand RIBs.”
It was also the first appearance for the Golden Line G680 at BoatLife after its debut at the Southampton Boat Show in 2023, powered by a Yamaha 200hp XSA Steer-by-Wire outboard.
Yeowards
The Salcombe-based dealer and sole UK importer and distributor for White Shark Boats, displayed two White Shark models at this year’s show; the 240 Evo and the 240 Sport Cabin Evo.
Having marked its UK debut at BoatLife 2024, the 240 Evo is the whole package, offering a wealth of features and powered by a Yamaha 300hp engine with full Steer-by-Wire functionality. Designed to cater to various activities on the water, it is the perfect boat for fishing, cruising, diving and water-skiing.
The 240 Sport Cabin, meanwhile, is a sleek and sporty cruiser offering high performance coupled with laid back luxury and features the Yamaha 250hp with full Steer-by-Wire engine in Pearlescent White.
These boats need to be driven to be appreciated,” says Chris Embleton, Sales Manager at Yeowards. “Incredibly versatile, our White Shark boats offer customers great handling and impressive performance courtesy of their high-powered Yamaha engines.”
MES Racing
Team Owner and Manager, Dale Williams was invited to talk at the event to promote UK racing and water sports, as well as discuss MES Racing’s six-strong team’s Triangle Challenge in which Yamaha WaveRunner riders will be put through their paces in a nail-biting sprint across the Irish Sea.
Following a successful 2023 season, with two spectacular wins by the team on Yamaha WaveRunners at the British Championships, Yamaha Marine UK announced in November that MES Racing is now an official Yamaha supported team.
“Hands down, the performance of Yamaha’s WaveRunners is the biggest contributing factor to the success of the team,” says Williams, “with the Yamaha FX SVHO our top pick for racing offshore in tough conditions.”
Ahead of their up-coming challenge, MES Racing displayed the Yamaha GP1800R WaveRunner on which Williams secured a new British National Record, averaging an impressive 84.33mph over one kilometre.
Representing one of the biggest stands in the show, MES Racing also exhibited a range of Yamaha’s latest WaveRunner models, including the FX SVHO, GP1800R SVHO and the GP1900 HO – which has the new Yamaha engine fitted, and created quite the buzz even ahead of the show.
Also on display was MES Racing team’s 19ft Banchi race boat with a Yamaha 115hp V MAX SHO engine, as well as their 16ft Phantom race boat fitted with the 90hp Yamaha engine.
MES Racing also had a selection of accessories for sale, including wetsuits and wet gear, Yamaha racing apparel and Yamalube marine engine oils and lubricants.
At the show, there was a raft of green technologies on display, including electric outboard engines from Yamaha’s latest acquisition of the world-leading electric propulsion manufacturer Torqeedo, which were exhibited by Golden Arrow Marine at this year’s event.
Boasting near-silent engines, easy maintenance and zero emissions, Torqeedo products are leading the way in an exciting new area for Yamaha as it strives to become a leader in the growing market for electric boat propulsion.
This year also featured bow thrusters from Sleipner and VETUS, on stands F81 and D206 respectively, that work in perfect harmony with Yamaha’s world-leading Helm Master EX boat control system, making boat operations even easier and more enjoyable.
Other Yamaha boat partners to attend the show were Bray Marine and MCC Marine.
BoatLife 2024 ran from 15-18 February at the NEC in Birmingham. For more information and tickets for 2025, visit https://boatlifeevents.com
To find out more about Yamaha’s full range of outboards visit: https://www.yamaha-motor.eu/gb/en/products/marine-engines/
