Yamaha 90 hp - what year?

[Fregata1958]

Hi, I have the opportunity to buy a Yamaha 90 hp for our boat, a Shakespeare Clubman 14ft....got a Mercury 60 hp from 1995 on it today.

Can anybody help me to find the right man.year for this Yamaha?
( s.nr. 6H1L 351205 90 AEZ )

P.S. Would the Mercury`s "Tower of power" 115 hp from 1984 be an overkill for this boat?

Steinar
Hvaler
Norway
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[mcyama]

The letter Z would indicate would indicate a 2001 model provided that Europe used the same code as the U.S. market. The 90 yammi is a good motor just don't compare to any of the other 90 hp motors on the market. At that point It would run like a 75hp. And especially not against a tower. Thanks Martin

[Fregata1958]

Thank for your reply, mcyama!

But I`m a little confused about your answer though, because here in Norway the Yamaha 90hp got a very good reputation for beeing a fast motor. It may got less torque because of the small cubic inches compared to f.ex the Mercury 90hp, but I thougt the mid and top perfomance would be great...isn`t that so? We got a Mercury 60hp (100kg) today and the Yamaha 90hp (120kg) is 20kg up, so I think that`s acceptable for the extra 30hp. But if we go for the Mercury inline 6 90/115hp (150kg) the weight will increase a good 50kg and I`m not to happy for gaining my little boat (14 ft and 250kg) all that extra weight. Please correct me if my assumptions are wrong...!

Back to the Yamaha 90hp; I spoke to my local boatdealer this morning and he contacted Yamaha here in Norway to run a check on the serial number, and they replied that the motor was not to be found in their system. So this motor wasn`t sold new in Norway and had never been serviced by a Yamaha dealer. I have contacted the owner of the motor by sms with this information and will be waiting for his reply. The Yamaha motor is in a very good condition, but the price should reflect the modelyear, if you know what I mean.

My Shakespeare Clubman is in a very good condititon and I would like for my new motor to be the same, with a known history. The owner of the Yamaha claims that the motor is a 1998 mod. but by the pictures of the motor it looks to be 10 years older. If you look at the cowling and the color of the motor...is this really a 1998? And mcyama, when you indicate that the motor could be a 2001 mod, then I`m even more confused (maybe it`s a Frankenstein...or stolen!).

Anyone out there got a clue...? Serial nr. 6H1L 351205 90 AEZ

[minister]

Motor in picture is not 1998. Yamaha used the 'blueish grey' color from 1995 upwards.
Z seems to indicate its a 1994 european motor. Decals look to be 1983-1992.
Yamaha dealer should be able to look up serial number even when it wasn't sold in Norway.

The clubman was rated for 85hp. So officially the 115 would be overkill but it'll probably do fine.
Shakespeare boats are well designed sturdy boats. Ive seen a 12ft (3.8meter) mini-cluban with 90 hp on it and coping fine.

[Fregata1958]

Thanks for your answer, minister.

Take a look at the pictures and you`ll see why I`m confused about what year the Yamaha 90hp really is...



These three motors are all 1989 models First cowling: 1985 -1993 model Second cowling: 1994 - 2000 model

[Fregata1958]

I`ve got a respond here i Norway about the serialnumber 6H1L 351205 90 AEZ, and this person claimes that this motor is a 1986 model. After doing a little researced on the internet, I think that is correct as Yamaha apperently made the Yamaha outboard motors in this color and dekal combination in 1985-86 and 87.

[minister]

1986 seems right. Ive seen that decal on a 1983.
Doesn't really matter, they're all the same engine. Just pay a little less for it.
And let us know how it works out on the shake.

[Fregata1958]

Sorry to dissapoint you "minister", but I called of the deal on the Yamaha motor today. Now I`m looking for a one of the last Mercury 115hp inline 6 instead! (1982-1988) Wish me luck...!