Beware all you fishermen using Yamaha motors!! I think Yamaha motors are recognized as being an excellent, reliable power plant, and I was going to buy a new boat equipped with one, until I learned something startling. You may not know (and some dealers either do not know or are not willing to tell you) is that you cannot get warranty support if you take your Yammy across the border - either from Canada to the US or from the US to Canada.
Since Yamaha Canada & Yamaha USA are separate companies, they will not pay for any warranty work not done in the country where the motor was purchased. Yamaha Canada also told me if I trailer my Canadian motor to the US and have a problem with the motor, they will not pay for any warranty repairs, even if they are done at a US authorized Yamaha service centre or dealer!!
I find this situation quite ridiculous, and it appears that Yamaha is the only outboard manufacturer that has this policy - Mercury and Evinrude confirmed that they offer international service. There is obviously no way I will be buying a boat with a Yamaha motor and anyone who makes regular trips across the border with their boat should seriously consider the potential costs of owning a Yamaha - your warranty in this case is basically useless.
If anyone from Yamaha Canada or Yamaha USA would like to comment, I'm listening!
Since Yamaha Canada & Yamaha USA are separate companies, they will not pay for any warranty work not done in the country where the motor was purchased. Yamaha Canada also told me if I trailer my Canadian motor to the US and have a problem with the motor, they will not pay for any warranty repairs, even if they are done at a US authorized Yamaha service centre or dealer!!
I find this situation quite ridiculous, and it appears that Yamaha is the only outboard manufacturer that has this policy - Mercury and Evinrude confirmed that they offer international service. There is obviously no way I will be buying a boat with a Yamaha motor and anyone who makes regular trips across the border with their boat should seriously consider the potential costs of owning a Yamaha - your warranty in this case is basically useless.
If anyone from Yamaha Canada or Yamaha USA would like to comment, I'm listening!