Hydrogen-Powered Outboard Makes A Stunning Debut

A scrum of marine journalists with smartphones circled the 26-foot hull, empty but for a trio of 5-foot torpedo-like cylinders aligned in the bilge. This was a boat show social media moment if ever there was one. Within days, the short video clip posted on our BoatU.S. Facebook, Instagram, and TikTok platforms garnered more than 50,000 views and numerous comments along the lines of, “Tell us more.”

Unfortunately, questions outnumber answers at this point, but here’s what we know: Yamaha Marine has partnered with offshore sportfish boatbuilder Regulator and engineering firm Roush to create “the world’s first hydrogen-powered outboard for recreational boats,” along with a prototype fuel system integrated into a Regulator 26XO that the company plans to further refine for sea trial testing later this year.

“Yamaha is exploring all possibilities to achieve carbon neutrality, and we’ve made commitments for our operations to be carbon neutral by 2035 and our products to become carbon neutral by 2050,” Ben Speciale, President of Yamaha U.S. Marine, said at the introduction. “That goal within the marine market can only be reached through an approach that leverages multiple solutions. We believe hydrogen is a viable method of achieving these goals.”

Whether or not this component of Yamaha’s overall environmental strategy ever reaches a showroom floor is still far over the horizon. Liquid hydrogen technology is already powering MF Hydra, a commercial passenger ferry in Norway. And Yamaha Motor, the automotive division is working with Toyota to develop a 5.0-litre V8 engine for automobiles that is fueled entirely by hydrogen.

Roush has engineered and integrated hydrogen fuel systems for more than two decades. “We are the fuel systems integrator, responsible for fuel systems designs, all of the specifications development, physical integration, safety system analysis as well as testing and development,” said Matt Van Benschoten, vice president for advance engineering. “Yamaha is trying to determine if hydrogen can successfully be used in this market, and I think we will find out the answer is ‘yes.’”

Regulator Marine built a hull based on its 26XO center-console and modified it to accommodate the hydrogen tanks necessary to power the new outboard.

“If we don’t look for a new source, we won’t find a new source. Innovation starts by asking questions. It creates a little angst, but at the end of the day good stuff comes out of innovation,” said Joan Maxwell, president of Regulator Marine. “In the future, as we design boats, if this proves what we think it will, it could be very possible that we are designing hulls around these hydrogen fuel tanks.”

In related news, Yamaha recently announced plans to acquire all shares of leading electric motor company Torqeedo. Emerging lithium battery technology is another highly promoted alternative to internal combustion outboard engines.