Yamaha Brings National Press to Bridgeport

Tuesday dawned dark and dreary, and for two hours the heavens did their best the raise the Tennessee River even higher than it's been. However outdoor writers, boat dealers and marine experts were not deterred. They converged on the tiny town of Bridgeport, Ala. to get a first-hand glimpse at what Yamaha Marine is calling a "revolutionary" line of new outboard engines.

"This is the largest introduction of new motors in the history of Yamaha," according to Dale Barnes, Marketing Manager for Yamaha Marine Group.

Barnes held court on a boat dock at Yamaha's somewhat secret facility in Bridgeport on the banks of the Tennessee River. Most people, including hardcore boat enthusiasts, don't realize that every new line of motors Yamaha has created since 1999 has first been through a series of stringent tests at its facility in Bridgeport.

The Yamaha Test Facility, well-protected behind an ominous-looking chain link gate, was built in 1999. Yamaha headquarters is located about 90 minutes away in Kennesaw, Ga. Barnes said, "Obviously it would have been much closer for us to have a facility on Lake Allatoona or Lake Lanier in Georgia, but we preferred the seclusion (of Bridgeport)."

"Seclusion" is a PR code word for "secret." You do not enter the Bridgeport Yamaha Facility except by special invitation. That, and the new motors, is what drew writers and retailers from all across the country for the formal Yamaha announcement in Chattanooga Monday night, followed by the "on the water" demo's Tuesday.

The last year however has been a dismal one for the marine industry with a laundry list of boat builders and engine makers going belly up. However Barnes feels that the timing of their new release is actually good.

"These motors have been in development for three years," he said. "The timing of the release is at an important time when the market seems to be stabilizing."

This historic release of several new motors at once is unprecedented... everything from light-weight "portable" four strokes... all the way up to their show horse, the VMAX SHO (Super High Output) in 250 hp, 225 hp and 200 hp.

All were put through their paces first in Bridgeport, Ala.