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Fishing is meant to be the noble recreational pursuit that embodies the virtues of tranquillity, relaxation and rest. But, not if you happen to be a self confessed fishing nut and ultra competitive tournament angler.
Meet Jason Wilhelm and his Yamaha HPDI 200 powered fishing boat – a 112km/h fishing platform!
After owning a series of fishing boats staring with a 3.6m tinnie and growing to TABS hull powered by a Yamaha 115 hp four stroke engine, Jason decided it was time to go for broke.
“I am very serious about the Barra and Bass tournament inland fishing circuit,” Jason said. “I harbour a life long passion for fishing. After winning the first ever ABT barra event, I was even more than ever hooked on the sport.”
“With the tournament scene expanding I can do up to 15 tournaments a year and noticed that some of my competitors were getting more angling time on the water by virtue of them getting to and from the key fishing spots much faster than me. To remain competitive, I had to beat them for speed.”
Jason’s hull of choice is a fully imported SkeeterZX190 hull. And to get the job done in terms of speed and performance he had no hesitation in buying a Yamaha VMAX 200 outboard engine.
The Yamaha 200 VMAX is a 2.6 litre V6 low emission two stroke outboard that features Yamaha’s advanced High pressure Direct Injection fuel delivery system. Under the OEDA star rating system the Yamaha VMAX carries a two star rating.
“I have owned a number of Yamaha outboards, both two stroke (15hp, 30hp & 60hp) and four stroke (F60 EFI & F115). When it came to selecting an outboard for the Skeeter it had to be a Yamaha.”
With the Skeeter hull built and rigged in the US, it landed in Sydney ready for the Yamaha HPDI 200 to be fitted.
Running a stainless steel Yamaha prop, the boat winds out to a top speed of 112km/h at 5500 rpm. A fine effort given that the rig weighs 1.5 tonnes on the water.
“I could not be happier with this complete rig,” Jason said. “With the fast top speed available to me I am now getting an extra fishing time at all the tournaments that I contest.”
“In a six hour tournament I am now fishing for an extra hour thanks to the Yamaha HPDI.”
“The Yamaha HPDI has all the best attributes of both a 2 stroke and a four stroke outboard. It is quick to plane and has brilliant top end. Yet it is quiet, very fuel efficient, smoke free, quiet and powerful.”
“I fish just about five days a week out at my local dam, Awoonga Dam, so while I have the luxury of a big engine and fast boat speed, I’m not paying for it with a hefty fuel bill.”
With the barra and bass fishing scene rapidly developing in Australia, boaters can expect to see more and more serious anglers out on the water going fast to get to the fishing action.
Yamaha outboards are available through an Australia-wide network of authorised Yamaha outboard dealers. All Yamaha outboard models are fully backed by a comprehensive two-year manufacturer’s warranty.
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