The venerable outboard manufacturer has fine-tuned its proven power plants with tweaks that you can’t appreciate until you experience.

The old adage, “If it ain’t broke, don’t fix it,” certainly applies to Yamaha’s F250 and F300 4.2-L V6 outboards, which boast a warranty claim rate of a mere 3% for all of the V6 Offshores sold since 2014. So when Yamaha decided to update them for 2021, they didn’t touch the block and, instead, decided to simply add some of the high-end features found on the F425 XTO Offshore.
The most impactful addition is probably the incorporation of a Digital Electric Steering system, which eliminates those hydraulic steering pumps and hoses while improving performance.
Yamaha also gave the F250/300 Thrust Enhancing Reverse Exhaust, which channels exhaust bubbles out above the anti-ventilation plate and propeller when in reverse. This ensures the propeller gets a bite in clean water, improving thrust.
2021 Yamaha V6 Offshore Outboards
Yamaha also added its TotalTilt feature to these engines, redesigned the cowl, and aside from the V6 developments, now has flush side-mount Helm Master EX DEC controls and new SWS II HP propellers with a blade geometry specifically for lightweight applications. Visit Yamaha Outboards to learn more.
Lenny Rudow
New Boats, Fishing & Electronics Editor, BoatUS Magazine