Yamaha eliminates outboard engine model year designation - The Hull Truth

txjeep · 08-23-2005, 04:25 PM

FYI

http://www.boating-industry.com/output.cfm?id=1001269

KENNESAW, Ga. -- Yamaha Marine has eliminated the model year designation on its outboard motors, according to Yamaha Marine President Phil Dyskow, in an attempt to help reduce the inventory control situation Yamaha's builders and dealers have faced in the past.

The unnecessary burden to match the boat model year with the outboard model year has been eliminated for boats packaged with Yamaha Outboards

“On some products, such as automobiles, RVs, airplanes and most boats sold in the U.S.A., a formal model year designation makes sense because most of these products change from year to year,” Dyskow explains. “Having a model year for these products provides manufacturers a convenient and identifiable way to communicate the changes to consumers.

”Historically, it was common for outboard models to feature new components or changes once each year. However, improvements in outboards thanks to today's new technologies often means outboards usually do not change at a single specified date. It has become obvious to us at Yamaha that the model year designator for outboard motors no longer brings significant benefit or advantage to the table for the consumer.”

Yamaha says that builders and dealers alike have told the company that the model year designations for outboard motors create unnecessary confusion and unfairly affect an outboard's value for the consumer during model year transitions.

“When a dealer placed an order during certain times of the year, it was possible that the dealer could take delivery of boats and motors packaged together with model years that do not match even though the boats and motors are brand new,” Dyskow says. “And worst of all, this inventory could include outboard models that are identical with the single exception of the model year designation.”

While all Yamaha engines will continue to feature a label that will identify the month and year the model was produced, the last digit of the model number, which has been the model year identifier for all outboard engines, will be removed.

The removal of the model year designation went into effect with all Yamaha outboards produced from April 1, 2005, forward. As a result of this change, Dyskow strongly recommends that all boat builders and dealers manage their boxed outboards in inventory in a manner that effectively recognizes the order in which they were received.

To make sure the change has no effect on market values published for used Yamaha Outboards, the company worked closely with the staff at N.A.D.A. Appraisal Guides Inc., so they can continue to accurately assess values for used Yamaha Outboards going forward based on the month and year the model was produced.

“We have also worked closely with state regulatory/licensing agencies and most major lending institutions to insure this change will be as smooth as possible,” Dyskow concluded. He also recommends contacting your District Marketing Manager, Regional Sales Coordinator or Regional Sales Manager for further information.

Edward Teach · 08-23-2005, 07:23 PM

About time! Boat manufacturers should do the same. You'd think they would have figured out that their slavish copying of the failed auto industry yearly marketing plan is going to bite them too.

A Reg 32FS is a Reg 32FS just like a Yam 225F is a Yam 225F! Anybody trading in their coffee pot because it's "nearly" 2006?

HeadHunt · 08-23-2005, 07:29 PM

Now they can sell you a new, un-used five year old engine and they do not have to tell you it has been sitting in inventory for five years. Well, at least they will be able to do that in five years.

HeadHunt

GWcpa · 08-23-2005, 07:35 PM

That's interesting. Outboard manufacturers used letter designations at one time so the model year was not obvious. "Introduces" was the year 0-9 code for OMC, (right?) and Yamaha has used an alpha code for the year digit. Now they are going back to just putting a born on date.

I guess they figure this will cut down on the non-current discounts.

Glen E · 08-23-2005, 07:43 PM

it won't work - you will still go in and run the ID # of the engine and look for the mfg month date and you will know if it has the new features, updates, etc...

Amd marketing will be harder - can you see:

"the new improved Yam 225 - now with digital throttle/shift from starting with ID# XXXXXXXX"

Kamper · 08-23-2005, 07:47 PM

Quote:

HeadHunt - 8/23/2005 7:29 PM Now they can sell you a new, un-used five year old engine and they do not have to tell you it has been sitting in inventory for five years. Well, at least they will be able to do that in five years. HeadHunt

Since*we will still be able to tell from the serial number and/or the label as mentionned, I dont think any knowledgable consumers are going to be affected.*Also, Yamaha is not making any secret of it so anyone who reads a few magazines before buying a new motor will probably pick up on*this new*accounting procedure.

PSW · 08-23-2005, 08:00 PM

I think there is some sense to this. When we unwrapped our 2005 Pursuit, first thing I did was look at the born on date of the motors, one was Dec 2004 and the other was March 2005. Same motor just with demand being so high they ended up that way. They are both 2005 motors and identical other than counter-rotating. This to me is an example of how for Yamaha the year designation is not important but the motor technology change is. Like everything there are downsides but it sounds OK to me. The born on date is the most important anyway.

ranger230man · 08-23-2005, 08:14 PM

Sounds like Yamaha has invented away to hide all those quality 250-300 HPDI. I think this is a load of BS and can assue that between Yamaha and the consumer - Yamaha will come out on top of this one. It really doesn't matter what year or born on date the motor is, it's the in service date that matters most - when it's first purchased and but into service.

From an appraisal perspectivce, if I have an engine and it's not a model year, how would I get a fair value for it - obviously there will have to be some type of traceability to how old the engine is.

Crappy program from a now crappy manufacturer if you ask me.

Mumblerone · 08-23-2005, 08:45 PM

I like the current method/idea of telling the comsumer these are brand new 2004s motors.* (Usually at a discount.)* Do you think the new method will reflect old inventory pricing?* NOT!* Two/three year old motors will be selling at new current price increases.* Sounds to me that Yamaha has a lot of motors that aren't selling!* Period!* What to do with those overstock 2004/2003s...call'em new, put them on a package boat!* Move on.* There is a difference.* Consumer loses.*

cat tales · 08-24-2005, 10:47 AM

I have to agree, does not sound good for the end user.

HeadHunt · 08-24-2005, 10:53 AM

"Yamaha says that builders and dealers alike have told the company that the model year designations for outboard motors create unnecessary confusion and unfairly affect an outboard's value for the consumer during model year transitions."

Yamaha admits it affects the value of the package when an older model engine has been placed on a new boat. This is just a way to keep the "average" consumer in the dark.

HeadHunt

Glen E · 08-24-2005, 10:53 AM

It's not really a conspiracy - just a marketing ploy thought up by some young MBA in the marketing dept. it would work if they never planned to make any changes again in the model line but what's stupid is they will and when people see the change they will begin asking

"is it a pre-November motor?" or "pre - dec motor?"

thinks have a way of always leveling out - there are no more unique ways to market -offer a good price/value relationship - advertise it truthfully and it'll sell - duh.....

so Yam - what else you got?

and please fire the MBA......

Megabyte · 08-24-2005, 11:13 AM

What happens when it goes the other way?
My hull is an end-of-model-year 1996 model, and my OX66 is a beginning-of-model-year 1997 model. Under this new marketing plan it sounds like my 97 would become a 96 to match the hull.

I don't see the benefit, except to Yamaha. Now they get to sell new-in-box overstock motors at new-and-current higher prices.

Bad marketing....

s.fisher · 08-24-2005, 08:04 PM

Really what Yamaha is doing today has been standard in the inboard engine business . There is no title or model year for a diesel engine , just a series or model/feature designation noted when an upgrade or major change is made. Why shouldn't it be so? One motor is in the hull of the boat and one hangs on the back , they are still just powerplants and a year is just a number.

Glen E · 08-24-2005, 08:16 PM

I don't see it as an inboard engone though, it's like their motorcycles - outboards are a huge hobby market with models, new technology and color and decal changes every year. it has been that way for years and will continue to be so. I can't see their motorcycles as just a 750 or a 1000..There are alot of hobyists that wait for the "new models" every year.

THT is a good showcase for that - we beat the crap outta each other about various outboards....inboard/dieslels don't generate the same fervor....

fish factory · 08-24-2005, 08:23 PM

Quote:

s.fisher - 8/24/2005 8:04 PM

Really what Yamaha is doing today has been standard in the inboard engine business . There is no title or model year for a diesel engine , just a series or model/feature designation noted when an upgrade or major change is made. Why shouldn't it be so? One motor is in the hull of the boat and one hangs on the back , they are still just powerplants and a year is just a number.

Yep, and not only standard in inboard engine business. Also standard in heavy equipment. Stuff is identified by its' model # and serial #.

I guess Catapillar is trying to sneak in a '04 model as a '05...and, like Yamaha, make extreme profits. Come to think of it, aren't computers devoid of year models?

Who knows what devious trick Yamaha will use next?...Maybe sue the FTC to stop Merc dumping Verados

fishinnant · 08-24-2005, 08:24 PM

no 300hpdi's made for 06, just getting rid of inventory and able to sell them as 06 motors. I bet this is one of the reasons why....

What Fish · 08-24-2005, 08:30 PM

Quote:

txjeep - 8/23/2005 4:25 PM

“On some products, such as automobiles, RVs, airplanes and most boats sold in the U.S.A., a formal model year designation makes sense because most of these products change from year to year,” Dyskow explains. “Having a model year for these products provides manufacturers a convenient and identifiable way to communicate the changes to consumers.

I would think this would be the VERY REASON to have a model year designator for an outboard ?

Go Fish

Kamper · 08-25-2005, 07:11 AM

Quote:

fishinnant - 8/24/2005 8:24 PM no 300hpdi's made for 06, just getting rid of inventory and able to sell them as 06 motors. I bet this is one of the reasons why....

That's possibly part of the plan. Efficiency of larger production runs vs. warehousing expenses over time to move the volume of inventory. Plus, they could do instant shipping from stock.*

Afishinado · 08-25-2005, 07:22 AM

When I ran this very same information in the spring y'all told me NO WAY that can happen....

I don't like it.... But I understand why they do it... I think the main thing it does is remove a reason for them to discount aging inventory.

All you Yamaha haters are having fun aren't ya? You'll never see this with the other guys... Anyone wanna bet on that? Of course again you'll say no way, we shall see. It will work for Yamaha, and everyone will follow suit.