Yamaha I/O Story

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Spydog

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Nov 4, 2005
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I am looking to buy my first boat and have found a really clean 1995 Chaparral 190SSi with a Yamaha 5.7 I/O. I have searched this forum and it looks like the drive is no longer built. Can anyone give me a quick rundown of when they quit building these and why? Are parts available for them and can you get them fixed? In short, how much trouble would I be buying?<br /><br />Thanks,<br /><br />Spydog
 
Bart Sr.

Bart Sr.

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Jul 26, 2002
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1,603
Re: Yamaha I/O Story

Spydog--First of all "Welcome to IBoats"<br /><br />As i recall the information from reading the forums here the Yamaha units were produced from '88 or '89 until '93 but were installed until '95.Parts have been hard to find or NOA for 7 or 8 years now.However some parts are now being made for them.<br /><br />I'm not a tech but someone with the proper knowledge will post either later today or Monday with the current status of availability.<br /><br />Capt Ken is the most prominent guru on Yamaha but several others here are very knowledgable also.<br /><br />I have a 16ft Sierra with the 3.0ltr Yamaha and I am VERY happy with it.<br /><br />>>>>>>>HAPPY WINTERIZING<<<<<<<
 
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rodbolt

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Sep 1, 2003
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20,066
Re: Yamaha I/O Story

RUN AWAY. <br /> if its a well maintained freshwater rig you may get some service out of it but if its a raw water cooled saltwater model its about done for. seawater pumps and manifolds are hard to come by and expensive when you find them. finding knowledgable techs that will work on them can be difficult.<br /> they were not bad units just had some quirks.<br /> keep hunting until ya find something a bit more popular with decent parts avavilability.<br /> just advice :)
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: Yamaha I/O Story

I'm with rodbolt,......<br /><br />Your just Asking for a Heartache.........
 
SeaKaye12

SeaKaye12

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Jul 3, 2005
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1,108
Re: Yamaha I/O Story

The 5.7 is a GM 350?<br /><br />So, the Outdrive would be the area with limited parts availability...or are there engine "accessories" that are proprietary as well?<br /><br />Thanks for reading, Chuck
 
Bondo

Bondo

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Re: Yamaha I/O Story

Anything,+ Everything but the Basic Engine Long Block is where the Problems lie.............<br /><br />Yamaha's are Harder to find Parts for than the OMC Stringer Drives.............<br /><br />I'm Telling you,.........<br /><br />A Self-Inflicted Gunshot Wound would be More Fun than owning a boat that you Can't Buy Parts For,.. Much less find a Tech to Work on it.....<br /><br />There are BaZillions of boats out there for sale that DON'T have Yamaha power............<br />Buy 1 of Them........
 
bomar76

bomar76

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Jun 27, 2002
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1,963
Re: Yamaha I/O Story

And some of the non Yammie boats have the dreaded Force L Drive.<br />Also avoid those boats like the plague.
 
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Spydog

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Re: Yamaha I/O Story

Thanks everyone for your input and advise. The good news is that I have located an almost identical boat that is a year older with a Volvo 5.0 I/O. I think I will take a look at both, but the Volvo seems to be the clear way to go.<br /><br />Spydog
 
C

Capt Ken

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Jul 30, 2002
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2,270
Re: Yamaha I/O Story

Ya know, I hear everyone complain about not being able to find parts to keep these beasts floating. I've yet to run into a major problem keeping my customers boats running. Now they are getting long in the tooth and at some point need repowering, but parts aren't really a problem. I've got new risers sitting on the shelf that some claim are not obtainable anymore. I believe the problem is most dealers don't want to take the time to research and locate the parts for the customers. Plus the marine industry has lost most of the tech's that use to work on these units. Now a days, the newer tech's have no idea how to repair the older boats. If they can't plug in the laptops or DDT's, they're completely lost. I'm in the process of training my 23 year old son in the business since four years in the Coast Guard didn't teach him squat. Maybe he'll pick up some knowledge of the old stuff before I kill him.
 
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rodbolt

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Sep 1, 2003
Messages
20,066
Re: Yamaha I/O Story

capt ken<br /> dont bust my chops to hard, I got a customer a set of manifolds and risers 2 summers ago, closet place I found them was a dealer almost 300 miles from me and I probaly spent 4 hours hunting for and making parts, had to change the shift cable and oil pan also. and had to install a new sterring tiller in the shield. last yamaha stern drive I will ever touch, to much time spent hunting parts. even when they made them they were never popular in my area with the closest dealer about 150 miles from here. so for me to reccomend a new boat buyer to buy a yamaha sterndrive, an omc stringer or an L drive would be morally wrong to me.
 
Bart Sr.

Bart Sr.

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Joined
Jul 26, 2002
Messages
1,603
Re: Yamaha I/O Story

We all know that maintenance is the key to longer engine life.Whether it is a Merc,Volvo,Yamaha or Briggs and Stratton.Thanks to this web site I know and do more to ALL my motors than I ever thought I would.Maybe I am fortunate that my Yamaha was well cared for before my purchase but I am DEFINITELY fortunate to have been steered to this site for information on upkeep and maintenance.<br /><br />As far as parts are concerned I think I will be able to get them as long as Ken can be reached by phone,internet or mail.<br /><br />I am VERY happy with my Yamaha.<br /><br />>>>>>>>HAPPY WINTERIZING<<<<<<<
 
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