FINE BALANCE BETWEEN ENGINE & HULL

Performance, the heart of a PWC. The history of Yamaha WaveRunner development has been a history of pushing the limits of performance and athletic handling on the water as well as ongoing efforts to maintain the reliability necessary to make Yamaha WaveRunners the PWCs people can continue to enjoy with assurance. The performance of Yamaha WaveRunners is a fine balance between three elements, the engine that is the power efficiently into propulsion and a body and bull design that makes the craft respond faithfully to the will of the rider.

The PWC Engine's Tough Mission

Good PWC engine performance is not simply a matter of horsepower. Engine development always involves the quest to improve the inherently opposed qualities of high-output performance and durability. Also, in the case of a PWC engine, which is often operated for long hours in the high output range, the operating conditions are much harsher than those of an automobile engine, for example. What's more, special anti-corrosion measures are necessary, as well as the durability to withstand the strong shocks from waves and such that a PWC might be subjected to out on the water. There also have to be measures to accommodate the occasional capsizing. And, we work constantly on measures to further reduce the size and weight of our engines so that machine handling is enhanced.

Furthermore, environmental performance has emerged as one of the biggest issues of all in recent years. In order to build PWCs that our customers can continue to enjoy into the future, we have a social responsibility to focus our finest efforts on achieving the highest levels possible in clean emissions, fuel economy and noise reduction and taking measures to make sure our products meet the environmental regulations of the different countries of the world.

Yamaha's answer to these growing needs in the performance and environmental areas is the “MR-1” engine designed especially for our WaveRunners. Based on a highperformance 4-stroke motorcycle engine with a 4-cylinder, 20-valve DOHC layout, this engine provides the high output, light weight and compactness desired in a PWC engine while also delivering a high level of environmental performance and fuel economy and the outstanding reliability proven in uses like adventure touring. With these qualities, the MR-1 has already won a reputation as a masterpiece among PWC engines. This MR-1 engine and its variations are now mounted on Yamaha's FX and VX series WaveRunners.

The Hull, a Precise Work of Art

The design of the body and especially the hull portion that actually comes in contact with the water, is another important factor determining the performance of a PWC. A tremendous amount of design expertise and technology goes into the making of a hull and body that delivers not only outstanding handling performance and stability in motion but also the kind of comfort that minimizes rider fatigue. The result is a fine creation with beautifully sculpted forms and lines on the hull that are the product of endless trial and error and innovation over the years.

To be a truly outstanding design, a hull has to be able to accommodate the constantly changing surface conditions of the water brought about by weather and location. At the same time, it has to be able to accommodate a wide range of rider skill levels and riding styles. What's more, increasing the strength and durability of the hull and reducing weight are also extremely important design issues.

Fortunately, Yamaha has long been the leading maker in Japan's FRP boat industry, with an unmatched record of achievement in hull design and processing technologies that we have been able to couple with our constantly evolving PWC design technology and know-how to produce unique and outstanding hull performance that you can only experience on a Yamaha WaveRunner.

DEDICATION TO DETAIL IN DESIGN AND CRAFTSMANSHIP

In addition to the pursuit of ever-higher levels of basic performance, Yamaha has continued to ask what kind of PWC actually brings the users the greatest enjoyment. This is a process of imagining a variety of different types of PWC use and deciding what kinds of functions and designs best fit those uses.

That may sound simple, but in fact it is an extremely complex task. And, it is the same task that we constantly undertake with motorcycles, ATVs, boats, outboard motors and other outdoor products Yamaha has continued to introduce over the years. The experience and know-how we have gained in this area is applied fully to our WaveRunner development as well.

Take the unique “ 3-Point Contact System ” we employ in Yamaha WaveRunners, for example. The three points of the our special “ Cruiser seat ” with its excellent sense of fit, the Raised Handlebar and the Foot chocks , are designed in a way that increase comfort and reduce rider fatigue in longer cruising.