Example: a E150EURA would be an Enduro Series, 150 Horsepower, Manual.

Yamaha plans to introduce new products and upgrades to models on a continuous bases instead of only at the traditional model year change-over.

By eliminating the model year, Yamaha will be able to introduce new products (and upgrades) throughout the year, which means Yamaha will be better able to meet consumer needs in a fast changing market.

Additionally, dealers and boat builders are now better able to carry adequate inventory throughout the year because they wont have to slim down inventory in advance of a new Model Year.

Therefore, there is a much better chance your dealer will have what you want, when you want it.

Here are answers to other frequently asked questions related to elimination of the model year designation.

Theres a permanent sticker on the transom bracket, often part of the serial number sticker, that gives the month and year of manufacture.

Most boaters probably missed the news that three major outboard manufacturers - Mercury Marine, Yamaha and Honda - have stopped the practice of designating model years for their products.

So far Suzuki and BRP-Evinrude remain hold-outs to a tradition that goes back more than 100 years, but the change make sense for a number of reasons.

The elimination of model years solves a number of problems for outboard manufacturers, boat builders and dealers.

Because so many new outboards are sold directly through boat builders, rather than as a retail sale directly to the public, there is a constant struggle to match outboard inventory with boat inventory - its a real trick to use up all of the 2007-model outboards just before production of the 2008-model boats begin, especially when each boat builder is on a different model change-over schedule.

Dealers are reluctant to stock a lot of new outboard inventory because they dont want to have to discount motors from the previous model year that dont get sold before the new motors appear.

Which means if you want to buy a new motor to repower your boat, you could end up waiting some time for an outboard that has to be ordered from the factory.

Mercury, Yamaha and Honda have solved the inventory issue by simply eliminating the model year.

Outboard manufacturers can match production to demand, not to an artificial model year, and can roll out the really new hardware at any time during the calendar year instead of rushing a product to market just to make a new model year deadline.

Boat builders and dealers no longer have to scramble to use up outboard inventory before the model year changes over.

If a Brand X 150 built in 2006 is the same as a Brand X 150 built in 2007, what difference does it make which motor ends up on your new boat It doesnt make any difference, if those two motors really are the same.

They point out that without the model-year change, it may be very difficult for the consumer to know if hes getting latest outboard technology.

Yamaha Outboard Software Can Make

This is especially true in this age of computer-controlled outboards, where updated software can make a real difference in performance or fuel economy.

Yamaha Outboard Code Are Physically

All models sharing the same code are physically the same, whether they were built in December 2005 or February 2007.

Mercury adds that this is important when repowering a boat with multiple outboards - each of the motors should have the same code.

The model designation of all current Honda motors ends with the letters AK.

If there is a significant change made to a model, say the BF225 gets BLAST technology, that designator will change from BF225AK to BF225AK1.

For example, when the 323cc F15 was replaced by a new 362cc 15-hp model, it was named the F15C so that it was clear it was a new model.

That same powerhead is also used for the new F20, but because there was no F20 preceding that motor, it doesnt get a letter designator.

I asked Mercury, for example, if the new EFI program its installing on its Verado outboards to improve fuel economy would result is a change in the model code.

The answer is unclear, because Merc has also made some very obvious changes to the Verado cowl and graphics that coincide with the software change, and resulted in a change in the model designator.

Note that the fine print on just about any catalog or ad has always included a disclaimer to the effect we reserve the right to make any changes at any time.

Its easy for a consumer to tell when an outboard was manufactured.

Yamaha Serial Number Outboard