CELEBRATING 50 YEARS OF RECREATIONAL MARINE SOLUTIONS

50 years of recreational marine solutions

Today, YANMAR is globally renowned within the boating community for its clean, technologically advanced, and reliable engines – complemented by the largest worldwide service network in the industry. This reputation was not built overnight. It was forged by more than 100 years of diesel innovation and decades of dedication to quality control and sustainable solutions.

During the past century, YANMAR has consistently maintained the end user’s application purpose at the center of development.

By purpose driving the need for solutions, YANMAR has prioritized the development of products over time that exceed those needs, while simultaneously delivering best in class quality, technology, and sustainability.

This is why, with increasing interest in pleasure boating and sailing 50 years ago, YANMAR developed its first purpose-built engine for recreational marine use. As YANMAR continued to innovate with industry-leading solutions for all the company’s other business units, it has also led development in the recreational marine sector. The result is that YANMAR sets the global standard in a sailboat and small craft propulsion today, with its complete range of technologically-advanced diesel inboard engines trusted by boaters across the world.

Marine milestones

YANMAR brought the first marine engine and the smallest vertical diesel engine, the LB 5-7 hp, made for fishing boats, to the market in 1947, nearly 75 years ago. This was followed by the company becoming the first diesel engine manufacturer to receive the Deming Prize for Total Quality Management in 1968.

In 1971, YANMAR developed the first purpose-built engine for recreational marine use, the PMX 1 cylinder, with 6-8 hp models, in response to an increasing interest in pleasure boating and sailing. This milestone launch was shortly followed by the introduction of the YSE (Yacht Series Engine) in 1972, built specifically for sailing yachts.

The ground-breaking recreational launches were forged on years of diesel technology development by YANMAR since its founding in 1912, and included the 1933 introduction of the HB 5-6 hp, the world’s first horizontal commercialized water-cooled diesel engine.

YANMAR continued to develop industry leading technology, becoming the first recipient of the marine diesel engine NOx certification by the International Maritime Organization (IMO) in 1994. It far exceeded EPA Tier III emissions regulations with the introduction of the 4JH-CR Series in 2014, bringing the benefits of common rail technology to sailing and smaller vessels. YANMAR’s complete line-up of class-leading, efficient and quiet sailboat and powerboat engines is expanding with the recent launches of the 6LF and 6LT series.

Timeline

1912

Founded

1933

Developed world’s first small horizontal commercialized modern diesel engine, HB 5-6 hp

1947

First marine engine model launched for fishing boats, LB 5-7 hp

1968

YANMAR became the first diesel engine manufacturer awarded with the Deming Prize. YANMAR first committed to monitoring quality control in 1954, which would become the foundation of YANMAR’s now worldwide reputation for durability and reliability. The Deming Prize is the longest-running, highest award given for Total Quality Management.

1971

In response to the increasing interest in hobby boating and sailing, YANMAR developed its first purpose-built recreational marine engine, PMX 6-8 hp. The PMX was shortly followed by the YSE (Yacht Series Engine) in 1972, built specifically for sailing yachts.

1994

YANMAR continued to develop engines over the years with industry leading and award-winning technology, becoming the first enterprise to be awarded marine diesel engine NOx certification by the International Maritime Organization (IMO).

2014

Introduced the 4JH-CR Series, in advance of and far exceeding EPA Tier III emissions regulations, bringing the benefits of common rail technology to sailing and smaller vessels.

Present

YANMAR continued to develop engines over the years with industry leading and award-winning technology, becoming the first enterprise to be awarded marine diesel engine NOx certification by the International Maritime Organization (IMO). THE GLOBAL STANDARD IN SAILBOAT AND SMALL CRAFT PROPULSION.