Water Ski - April 01, 2018

SCAN ME

MH

MOTORHEAD

By Charles

Plueddeman

Yamaha says the new V MAX SHO 90
outboard is designed to lead its class in
torque and top speed. This motor will
prove a nice fi t on freshwater fi shing
boats, bay boats and pontoons, and rep-
resents the only performance four-stroke
90 on the market.
Now the smallest model in the V MAX
line, the SHO 90 uses the same 1.8-liter
single overhead cam in-line four-cylinder
powerhead as the F90B model but swaps
the standard 2.15-to-1 gear ratio for 2.33-
to-1 cogs and gets specifi c mapping in the
electronic control unit (ECU). And to let
everyone know you’ve got the hot motor,
the SHO 90 features graphics similar to
those on the big V-6 V MAX models. Retail
pricing for the SHO 90 starts at $10,715,
which is $310 more than the F90B.
The SHO 90 (VF90A in Yamaha-
speak) has a 35-amp charging system that
makes 28 amps available at just 1,000 rpm
to help manage the draw of electronics,
audio, aerators and pumps. The SHO 90
is not compatible with a digital control
but may be equipped with the Yamaha

multifunction tiller handle

(sold separately). This motor

is of ered with 20- and 25-inch

shaft lengths.

The higher numerical gear

ratio will allow the motor to

run more prop pitch with ac-

ceptable hole shot, in theory

producing more speed at wide-

open throttle (WOT). This ra-

tio should also prove ef ective

when paired with the extra

blade area of a Yamaha Pontoon

Performance prop. Yamaha

propellers up to 14 inches in di-

ameter are of ered for the SHO

90, some featuring the Yamaha

SDS (Shift Dampening System) hub.

One could squeeze even

more performance from the

SHO 90, or have more prop-

ping fl exibility, if Yamaha

would also bump up the WOT

rpm from 6,000 to 6,200, as

Mercury does with its 115 Pro

XS model. However, Yamaha

says the new ECU map chang-

es spark timing and fuel de-

livery, which can signifi cantly

alter the torque curve, and

thus the ultimate perform-

ance of the motor. We look

forward to testing the SHO

90 soon so we can feel and

see how much dif erence the

V MAX treatment really makes.

PHOTOS: (FROM TOP) COURTESY YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION USA, COURTESY STEALTH ELECTRIC OUTBOARDS

YAMAHA

V MAX

SHO 90

This hot new outboard engine

should prove a high perfomer.

STEALTH E40 ELECTRIC OUTBOARD

This new Stealth E40 outboard combines a water-cooled PMAC electric motor

and sinusoidal controller mated to conventional outboard motor components.

Equivalent to a 40 hp gas outboard, it comes in a 20-inch shaft length with remote

control. There is a choice of lithium-ion battery packs and charging voltages.

$8,500; stealthelectricoutboards.com —Kevin Falvey

For more

marine engine

reviews, scan

this tag or visit

boatingmag

.com/boats/

boat-engines.