Yamaha Motor Corp. USA is rapidly expanding its ability to test the durability and longevity of its marine division products (boats, outboards and personal watercraft) with the recent purchase of Fort George Island Marina in Duval County, FL. Yamaha is currently renovating the 36,500sq. foot warehouse into a state-of-the-art testing center granting the manufacturer quick and easy access to corrosive salt water environments to better test and develop new product.
This also comes shortly after Yamaha completed the expansion of its freshwater facility in Bridgeport, Alabama, increasing the facility’s footprint with an additional 5,900sq. feet of office space and 8,000 feet of storage and testing center – in addition to its massive 75,280sq. foot Marine Innovation Center in Kennesaw, GA. All of this ensures that Yamaha is marching forward to produce a new generation of environmentally responsible, and globally sustainable products.
Here’s the original press release:
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA has purchased Fort George Island Marina in Duval County, Florida, with the intention of converting the existing facility into the Yamaha Offshore Endurance Center (YOEC), which will serve as a testing center for Yamaha Marine products including outboards, sport boats, and WaveRunners®. The new YOEC includes a 36,500-square-foot warehouse and marina building as well as a 7,200-square-foot office and event space.
“The YOEC compliments our test centers in Alabama and Kennesaw while adding greater capacity and capability. It also supports Yamaha Marine’s global testing plans by expanding opportunities to develop products,” said Ben Speciale, President, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit.
“The environment provided by this location will allow us to focus on durability and reliability testing for larger engines, systems, and boat hull designs in an offshore environment. It will also include an immersive team center designed to inspire future engineering talent.”
Earlier this year, Yamaha completed the expansion of its freshwater test facility in Bridgeport, Alabama, adding 5,900 square feet of office space and 8,000 square feet of labs and storage. In addition, Yamaha recently finalized the construction of a new Marine Innovation Center in Kennesaw, Georgia, a 75,280 square foot facility that now houses the Yamaha Marine Connected Division as well as Yamaha U.S. Marine Development, Yamaha Marine Product Management, and Yamaha Marine Technical Marketing.
Yamaha plans to begin renovations on the saltwater test facility in Duval County in the third quarter of 2023.
