At first glance, Phil Kyle's beloved Seafarer V Sea Mk III looks like it has never left his garage since first purchasing the 4.7m runabout in 1992. Such is Phil's meticulous maintenance regime that his Seafarer could very well be the best condition used trailerboat in Australia.

The original powerplant onboard Phil's Seafarer was the venerable 70hp Yamaha 2-stroke but his increasing desire to head offshore saw Phil looking for more horsepower. With his hull rated to 90hp, Phil upgraded his outboard to suit and proceeded to clock up over 900 trouble-free operating hours on his 90hp Yamaha 2-stroke over the ensuing 15 years.

Phil attributes regular routine maintenance to the trouble-free performance of his 90hp Yamaha 2-stroke outboard. While satisfied with his outboard's reliability, after 15 years Phil thought it would be nice to have a new engine and began reviewing all his options for a repower.

"I looked at a range of outboard options from all the major manufacturers and found the Yamaha F80 4-stroke to be the best fit for my boat," said Phil

"The difference between my new 80hp 4-stroke and my older 90hp 2-stroke is quite remarkable. My new F80 4-stroke has far quicker hole-shot acceleration and my fuel efficiency is better by a third. The 4-stroke engine allows me to enjoy a quieter, smoother and far more efficient boating experience."

The decision for Phil to repower his reliable Seafarer with a new Yamaha outboard is a popular choice for boaters that want a new boat experience, without the new boat price tag.

Phil's fuel record keeping skills are as meticulous as his boat maintenance program. Phil's F80 Yamaha 4-stroke burns just 3.9 litres over a regular 10.5km trip cruising at between 3800 and 4500 rpm. That equates to an amazing 2.7Km/L. His cruise speed varies between 40-50kph depending on conditions.

Phil plans on maintaining his newly acquired Yamaha 4-stroke in the same manner as his boat which, as he explains, will be quite a straightforward process.

"To keep the outboard in fine serviceable condition, I regularly check the engine oil level, grease the propeller shaft and outboard leg bolts as well as flushing the engine after every use. I also minimise salt corrosion by cleaning the exterior and interior of the outboard with a cloth and Yamaha silicone protectant and lubricant spray."

Phil went back to the original supplier of his Seafarer at Stones Corner Marine where he sourced his latest Yamaha outboard. Phil believes Yamaha dealers deliver a superior level of service and Stones Corner Marine have gone out of their way to ensure this longstanding customer keeps enjoying his boating time well into the future.

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.