6:18 PM Wed 7 Oct 2009 GMT
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'Yamaha Tramboat 01'
Bob Carter
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Melbourne is one of the few cities in Australia that boasts an extensive tram network for public transportation. Apart from the function of moving residents around town, Melbourne also has a water borne tram that carries tourists and party groups up and down the iconic Yarra River.
Melbourne's Tramboat has been plying the Yarra River for ten years, with a pair of Yamaha F80 four-stroke outboard engines providing the reliable power.
According to the owner of Melbourne Tramboat Cruises, Anthony Purcell, the Yamaha outboards have been exceptional engines.
'When we built the Tramboat in Queensland ten years ago, our marine surveyor recommended the Yamaha F80 engines and they have proven themselves to be the perfect match over and again.'
The Melbourne Tramboat is a large lump of a boat. It measures 12m long overall, with a beam of 4.8m. All up weight is 17 tonne and it has a licence to carry 50 passengers plus a crew of two. The hull is constructed from steel plate while the superstructure is aluminium.
The dual Yamaha F80 engines typically operate at about 2500 rpm to deliver the legal speed limit on the Yarra River of 5 knots. At this speed, the engines consume a miniscule 3.5 litres per hour per engine, or 7 litres per hour for both engines.
'Our cost of operation is ridiculously low,' said Anthony Purcell.
During the summer months when we are operating at our peak season, we can log up to 10 engine hours a day, seven days a week. How many commercial operators can carry around 50 guests and use only $10 of fuel per hour?
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Yamaha Tramboat 02 - Bob Carter
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'When we are asked about fuel usage it's almost embarrassing to say how little fuel the Yamaha F80's use.'
'We also get a huge number of people commenting on how quiet the Yamaha engines are. The Yamaha outboards just tick over and guests on board can barely hear them.'
After the Yamaha F80 engines had been on the Tramboat for four years, the hour meter had clocked over 2500 hours of trouble free operation. Anthony was advised that this was an economical time to re-power.
'We had no issues with the Yamaha engines whatsoever,' Anthony said. 'But with the Tramboat on the slip for routine maintenance, it was as good a time as any to re-power so we fitted a new pair of Yamaha F80 engines with Geelong Boating doing the work.'
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Yamaha Tramboat 03 - Bob Carter
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Now four years later (2009) and with a further 4000 hours logged, the Melbourne Tramboat was up on the slip for its routine two-year hull refurbishment.
'We again found ourselves in the position of having the Yamaha engines performing really well, but with the next opportunity to change the engines two years away, we got Geelong Boating to repower with our third set of Yamaha F80 outboards.'
The longevity of the Yamaha four-stroke engines is partly attributed to the service regime. Every six months the oil is changed and the filters replaced. When at the marina and out of service, the engines tilt clear of the salt water in the Yarra. And after every day on the water, the engines are hosed down.
'I'm continually impressed that the Yamaha F80 engines don't burn oil, the water pump impellors have not shown any signs of wear and the props have similarly gone the distance without replacement.'
As they say 'the proof is in the pudding' and in the case of Anthony Purcell who has now twice re-powered with Yamaha F80 engines, that's the very best accolade that anyone can offer.
Yamaha outboards are available through an Australia-wide network of authorised Yamaha outboard dealers. All Yamaha 4-stroke outboards are supported with a full 4-year manufacturer's warranty and all 2-stroke outboards are backed by a 3-year warranty - standard conditions apply.
by Bob Carter
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Mawson, TAS
