Yamaha Moving to Electric Steering from Hydraulic Steering on High Horsepower Engines
Posted: Thu Oct 16, 2025 10:18 pm
YAMAHA MOVING TO ELECTRIC STEERING ON HIGHER HORSEPOWER ENGINES
On all of their larger horsepower engines, Yamaha is going away from hydraulic steering. The are going to make only electric-steering models that will use only Yamaha or Garmin electric auto pilots.
The [current Yamaha outboard] engines that use hydraulic steering and electronic throttle and shift remote controls are going away, and soon [there will only be] more expensive all-digital steering engine models.
For now, I will add digital electric steering--it is the cat's meow if you are starting fresh--but most of us boat owners have hydraulic steering and want to keep it.
Yamaha is making [re-powering with their larger horsepower engines] more expensive as you would need an all new helm and new digital controls along with a Yamaha digital autopilot if you use [an autopilot]. [Buyers of new Yamaha larger horsepower engine should] consider this [added expense due to electric steering and digital remote controls].
History of Engine and Other Upgrades to My Boats
[When] I bought [a 1998 OUTRAGE of unspecified model length] in 2001, its engine was a Yamaha two-stroke-power cycle model [of unspecified horsepower].
In 2007 the [1998 OUTRAGE of unspecified model length] was re-powered with a Yamaha F250 four-stroke-power-cycle engine.
In the 18-years of use that followed, that Yamaha F250 engine burnt a few valves, and in 2025 it needs new heads.
I decided [repairing the Yamaha F250 engine] would be a waste of money, as it would only give me a few more seasons on the engine. [Instead] I am going to re-power with a new Yamaha F300.
[The 300-HP engine will be the] maximum horsepower for this [1998 OUTRAGE of unspecified model length]. Also, the F300 engine is 60-lbs lighter than the older F250 engine, [and a lighter engine weight] is good.
In 2007 the [Yamaha F250 engine] and installation cost $17,000. Now [in 20250] the cost for just the Yamaha F300 engine is $26,000. The engine will need new [shift and throttle remote] controls, new gauges, and electric cables.
I may get away with re-using the four-bladed propeller [that was used on the F250 engine].
[In 2023] I installed an all-Furuno system with a [GNSS] receiver as a heading sensor, a new doppler RADAR, and a 12-inch TZ screen. Furuno does not yet embrace any digital steering system with their auto pilot.
Also, in 2024 I re-powered my 1986 OUTRAGE 18 with a Yamaha F115. There were zero problems.
And, yes, I have two Boston Whaler boats as I'm a glutton for boat work.
On all of their larger horsepower engines, Yamaha is going away from hydraulic steering. The are going to make only electric-steering models that will use only Yamaha or Garmin electric auto pilots.
The [current Yamaha outboard] engines that use hydraulic steering and electronic throttle and shift remote controls are going away, and soon [there will only be] more expensive all-digital steering engine models.
For now, I will add digital electric steering--it is the cat's meow if you are starting fresh--but most of us boat owners have hydraulic steering and want to keep it.
Yamaha is making [re-powering with their larger horsepower engines] more expensive as you would need an all new helm and new digital controls along with a Yamaha digital autopilot if you use [an autopilot]. [Buyers of new Yamaha larger horsepower engine should] consider this [added expense due to electric steering and digital remote controls].
History of Engine and Other Upgrades to My Boats
[When] I bought [a 1998 OUTRAGE of unspecified model length] in 2001, its engine was a Yamaha two-stroke-power cycle model [of unspecified horsepower].
In 2007 the [1998 OUTRAGE of unspecified model length] was re-powered with a Yamaha F250 four-stroke-power-cycle engine.
In the 18-years of use that followed, that Yamaha F250 engine burnt a few valves, and in 2025 it needs new heads.
I decided [repairing the Yamaha F250 engine] would be a waste of money, as it would only give me a few more seasons on the engine. [Instead] I am going to re-power with a new Yamaha F300.
[The 300-HP engine will be the] maximum horsepower for this [1998 OUTRAGE of unspecified model length]. Also, the F300 engine is 60-lbs lighter than the older F250 engine, [and a lighter engine weight] is good.
In 2007 the [Yamaha F250 engine] and installation cost $17,000. Now [in 20250] the cost for just the Yamaha F300 engine is $26,000. The engine will need new [shift and throttle remote] controls, new gauges, and electric cables.
I may get away with re-using the four-bladed propeller [that was used on the F250 engine].
[In 2023] I installed an all-Furuno system with a [GNSS] receiver as a heading sensor, a new doppler RADAR, and a 12-inch TZ screen. Furuno does not yet embrace any digital steering system with their auto pilot.
Also, in 2024 I re-powered my 1986 OUTRAGE 18 with a Yamaha F115. There were zero problems.
And, yes, I have two Boston Whaler boats as I'm a glutton for boat work.