2018 Yamaha VF225 V MAX SHO V6 4.2L VF225LA Outboard Motor

This 2018 VF225LA pairs Yamaha's 4.2-liter V6 V MAX SHO platform with a 20-inch shaft and 505 lb dry weight, model code VF225LA, rated 225 HP. Yamaha positions this one on a quicker hole shot than a comparable two-stroke, which is the headline change from the prior generation.

Where the power and quiet both come from

An in-bank exhaust routes gases down through the center of the V-block rather than out the side, which Yamaha says improves combustion efficiency and keeps the shape compact; a labyrinth exhaust path then carries them out above the waterline through an idle relief outlet. The muffler-less design still runs smooth and quiet at idle, and variable camshaft timing sharpens midrange response.

Charging and propeller fit

Alternator output reaches 50 amps from 2,500 to 6,000 RPM (46 amps at idle), enough for electronics, livewells and a trolling motor at once. V MAX SHO Series propellers for 20-inch-shaft V6 outboards come in one-inch pitch steps from 22 to 27 inches for dialing in wide-open-throttle RPM.

What's the oil capacity? 6.7 liters with the filter, 6.4 liters without.

Tilt and trim? Travel reaches 66 degrees of tilt, swinging -4 to +16 degrees of trim; gear ratio is 1.75:1.

Warranty? Yamaha's typical coverage applies: three years pleasure, three years government, one year commercial, and the engine's corrosion-resistant Phaze Five paint system is standard.