2018 Yamaha VF250 V MAX SHO V6 4.2L VF250LA Outboard Motor

The 2018 Yamaha VF250LA sits at the top of Yamaha's 4.2-liter SHO V6 lineup for a 20-inch shaft, model code VF250LA, dry weight 505 lbs, rated 250 HP.

Weight savings over the old two-stroke

A reworked cowling, bracket and lower engine pan shed about 34 lbs compared with the two-stroke V MAX Series 2 that this platform replaced on a comparable shaft length, and Yamaha pegs the fuel savings at up to 12 percent better than that older engine, without losing the acceleration anglers expect at this horsepower.

Hole shot and cooling touches

An exhaust pressure reduction system helps cool the propeller hub during hard acceleration while also adding a bit of extra thrust off the line, and a belt-driven camshaft setup with an automatic tensioner is built to run for years without needing adjustment.

What's the charging capacity? Alternator output is 50 amps (46 amps at idle around 1,000 RPM).

What's the oil capacity and gear ratio? Figure 6.7 liters with the filter installed, 6.4 liters without it, running through a 1.75:1 final drive.

Tilt and trim? 66-degree tilt range, trim moving -4 to +16 degrees.

Fuel induction is EFI for fresh or salt water use, and this one carries Yamaha's typical three years pleasure, three years government, one year commercial coverage. Between the weight savings, the fuel economy gain and the quiet exhaust routing, this is the 20-inch-shaft pick for buyers who want the most output in the SHO V6 line without moving to the longer 25-inch shaft version.