YANMAR Takes on Global Diesel Outboard Distribution from NEANDER
Marking its return to the diesel outboards market, engineering company YANMAR MARINE INTERNATIONAL (YMI) has agreed to exclusive distribution rights with German outboard manufacturer NEANDER Shark. YMI, whose headquarters are in the Netherlands, is to distribute NEANDER Shark outboards worldwide through its extensive network with access to more than 130 countries.
From 1985 until 2009 YANMAR manufactured three-cylinder diesel outboards rated at 27 and 36 hp, but ceased when EPA and EU RCD emissions regulations restricted their sales in key markets. “With the global economic downturn in full swing, YANMAR decided at that time not to invest in the outboard range even though it had been highly successful in many markets,” explains Floris Lettinga, YMI Global Sales Manager. “Now, however, with NEANDER Shark we can offer a highly competitive outboard product with outstanding engineering”.
The NEANDER Shark outboard develops 50 hp using a small 800 cm³ turbocharged, twin-cylinder diesel engine in aluminum with common-rail fuel injection and a unique dual counter-rotating crankshaft concept. “This means that the outboard is not only light, powerful, clean and fuel-efficient, it is also remarkably smooth in operation as the two crankshafts counterbalance each other and cancel out most of the vibration that a conventional inline two-cylinder diesel block could be expected to produce,” Floris Lettinga says. “Therefore the outboard can be easily operated at the tiller as well as from the helm. The lack of vibrations and low noise levels are remarkable, improving operation comfort yet delivering impressive performance”.
The prime applications for the NEANDER Shark outboard will be in the commercial marine, offshore, military, fishing, rescue, and charter-sector. It would also perfectly serve tender boat requirements on large yachts storing diesel fuel only.
As part of the NEANDER Shark distribution agreement Yanmar has taken an equity stake in NEANDER Motors, the company that wholly owns NEANDER Shark. Lutz W. Lester, Managing Director of NEANDER Shark and CEO of NEANDER Motors, comments: “The partnership with Yanmar is the very best situation for NEANDER to launch the turbo diesel outboard engine because the commercial market, in particular, demands a reliable partner for delivery, service and spare parts. Yanmar’s longstanding global experience and strong position in the marine world completely fulfill those requirements, just as NEANDER fulfills the technical demands such as powerful performance, reliability, operational safety, durability, low fuel consumption, and lowest vibrations.”
YANMAR’s first public presentation of the new outboard together with NEANDER Shark will be at “Boot Düsseldorf” in January 2016.
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