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Random Quote: I fish better with a lit cigar; some people fish better with talent.
In process of ordering another boat (80% sure it will be the '09 Sea Hunt Ultra 232cc). I want to make sure I get the Yamaha F250B because it is "all digital - motor, controls, gauges" according to Yamaha.
Spoke to the communications director at Yamaha today and he said the new F250B's begin with a specific serial number but since I caught him at home, he didn't have them handy. Will talk to him tomorrow and let anybody know if there is any interest.
Net, should I expect to pay more for a brand new F250B than for a new F250A that I assume they also still make? How much more if any?
My dealer only was able to tell me that the upgraded digital command link gauge package would be about $500 more than the standard with the F250.
Anybody have the new Yamaha F250b? Does it work like the Verado? The communications guy at Yamaha said even the efficiency has improved with the new model.
I don't think they are available yet.
When is your boat delivery date?
What did the rep say about availability?
As for the Verado comparison, I think (ask Glen E for Verado details) the Verado has the steering mechanism in the outboard but the Yamaha will still require the standard hydraulic steering setup. Throttle and shift are the only things going digital on the Yamaha F250B.
The F250B takes the command link gauges and the same controls as the F300/F350. You can expect it to run about $2,000-$3,000 more fully rigged than a previous F250. The motor also gained 12 lbs. With the weight gain and extra price now the Suzuki DF300 will compete against the Yamaha F250 alot.
wow! That's a lot - esp for a single where there is not a lot of advantage to digital except guages - (you don't need auto-syncro like in mutiples - the best feature of digital) DTS on an opti is only $1000 more - will they continue to sell the non digital 250 as well?
and power steering on a verado has nothing to do with digital motors - it's a seperate conventional power steering system
Very shocked that there will be a $2-3k difference on the motors (F250a vs F250b). That sucks.
BTW, in response to the prior message about looking at Grady's, I did. They are about $20K more even after a $10K discount. Wonderful boats that I cant afford. Not thinking I will see an '08 or '09 Grady anywhere near $30k w F250Yamaha. With trailer and options OOD for $46k?
The 2-3 is not just the motor it is a combination of the extra price for the motor, controls, ord gauges. I was trying to say a rigged package would run about $2,000-$3,000 more with the new motor.
Thanks, sounds like I should just go with the F250a since I'm looking at a single engine application. I can still get nicer guages with a few more functions for a couple hundred extra.
Was hoping they were just replacing the prior model and holding price a little tighter. Economy is too weak for me to justify spending extra.
That is the real kicker with the motor. All the boats in the field can't take it. Rumors of a retro kit in the future, but nothing yet. But why get the motor with the retro kit because it would get rid of the digital shift/throttle which is the only advantage.
The 2009 Yamaha Outboard Brochure is at your dealer.
The new F250B weighs 609 lbs for the 25 inch shaft ,last years 25 in ...604 lbs same as Zuke DF 300.
You will not be able to buy the old F250 in the future. Just existing stock in the field ; and that is getting limited. My son just bought 2 old versions for repower,it took several weeks to find them.
I saw a 30 Grady White with F250B's this afternoon.
The local Yam/ merc dealer said Contender, Grady,and Pursuit are building boats exclusively with F250Bs. He has 3 new F250Bs in stock in boxes.
When building a new boat with upper station, it is a lot simpler for F250Bs ,and the cost is about $500 more. You are eliminating the old expensive electro-mechanical throttle/shift
( can be a problem child) used on the old F250A's. New F250B just has network cables and hubs going to the lower and upper stations for electric T+S, plus command link gages, .
I wonder if we will be able to refit the older engines with the Digital controls? I love my 05 F250's but really like the Merc digital controls with the auto sync and preset trolling speeds. It's the only thing I would change on my Yamaha's.
Does anyone know if there will be a retro fit kit for the "older" F250's that would give it the electronic control option?
I want to add a 2nd station but dont want mechanical cables and two throttle boxes up top.
I don't know about any retro kit.
Personally, I don't think it will happen.
1. the shift solenoid is mounted to the Right rear of the lower engine block.
It appears to be a new block mounting casting.
2. Throttle could be easier because the F250A uses an electronic throttle valve.
There is a throttle cable that goes to the F250A at the lower front right under the cowling.
there is a mechanical to electronic conversion box on the existing F250A that talks to the ecm.
3. The lower unit looks the same.
4. I am not sure how they will handle old blown up power heads or theft issues.
5. One thing for sure you could not have one engine mechanical(F250) and one electric(F250B) unless you wanted a real bastard setup.
-Yamaha is working on an analog converter that should be available late November to operate other gauges.
-There will be no "retro-fit" kit from Yamaha.
-There are some key differences between the Verado DEC system and Yamaha's DEC system
***In twin or higher applications on the Yamaha system.. EACH engine will have it's own ECM under the control box so if your ECM fails you won't loose control of all engines. The Verado system only has one ECM, even for triple and quad applications.
***The Yamaha system has two sets of wires in the wiring harness that do the exact same thing. These wires are run on polar opposites on the harness itself so that if the cable should become frayed, pinched or damaged in any way... there is another set of wires built into the other side of the harness to do the exact same thing. The Verado system only has one set.
The Yamaha system features auto-sync and programmable trolling speeds via the Command Link system; I believe the Verado system offers this as well.
I have F250b's on my latest boat. They shift smoothly and sync when running. After using them for a few weeks I would not want to go back to the older F250 design that I have run in the past.
I was in the large marina ,Islamorada,FL,yesterday .
Engine wise,You can't tell from the exterior vs last 2 years.
Throttle/shifts(TS)quadrant look like F350s.
The ID tag on the left transom clamp said F250B.
First SN for a F250 (2005) is 1,000,001.
The F250B is the way to go when buying a new boat.
However , when repowering, you have to buy elec T/S, hubs, network cables, maybe gages ,depending on your previous set up.F250B Upper stations are very easily rigged , installed.and future maintenance,if needed.
Same Teleflex/Sea Star steering mechanism ,except some mfgs are using the new improved ram cylinders .I think they are 5385.Better piston seals.
Yamaha F250B with Electonic Controls 
