350hp Yamaha F350 outboard engine 2024 review

At the Australian launch of the Yamaha F350 staged recently in Brisbane, we sampled this exciting new outboard engine on the back of two boats – a Cruise Craft Explorer 720 HT and a Bar Crusher 780 Hardtop.

Here’s our take on the performance and key features of the Yamaha 350hp four-stroke outboard.

Yamaha Marine has launched a new big-block 350hp V6 outboard engine set to take on equally powerful rivals from Honda, Mercury and Suzuki.

The Yamaha F350 is based on the smaller F300 but with improvements and upgrades in many areas to increase performance.

The new outboard engine also has a number of design elements and features adopted from the range-topping XF450 XTO V8, such as Yamaha’s integrated digital electric power steering (DES) system.

Importantly, the F350's arrival plugs a big gap in the Yamaha engine range after its predecessor, the long-running, but weighty 5.3-litre V8 version.

The original 350hp Yamaha was popular for several years after it launched in 2007, but lost out to its rivals when they progressively introduced much lighter models with more tech and better features – and not to mention more reliability.

It seems fitting then, that Yamaha has now stormed back into contention with a new full-featured 350hp outboard engine that is the lightest in its class.

The new F350 is lighter by a fair margin, too, as it weighs just 286kg for the lightest weight model.

By comparison, the 350hp version of the 5.7-litre Mercury V10 Verado weighs 216kg, the twin-prop 4.4-litre V6 Suzuki DF350 comes in at 330kg, and the new 5.0-litre V8 Honda BF350 tips the scales at 347kg.

The design specifications of the new F350 are similar to Yamaha’s other big-block V6 outboard engines that start at 225hp.

At a glance, the new engine looks almost identical as well, sharing the futuristic, transformer-like style of its siblings, and with elements of the flagship XF450 XTO thrown in.

I like it a lot. The F350 looks tough, sounds tough, and goes hard. The induction roar at high revs, thanks to larger intake and exhaust valves, is properly cool.

Similar to its V6 siblings, the F350 is a 60-degree V6 twin overhead cam 24-valve four-stroke engine.

However, to gain more torque, the F350 has a newly designed, strengthened crankshaft to allow the engine to be stroked for increased displacement.

The changes have increased the engine capacity from 4.2 litres to 4.3 litres with resultant bore x stroke figures of 96.0mm x 98.0mm.

To improve airflow, which also generates more power, the F350 uses the same 81.0mm diameter electronic throttle valve as the 5.6-litre V8 F450.

This combines with the aforementioned larger intake and exhaust valves, a higher compression ratio (11:1), and Yamaha’s Variable Camshaft Timing (VCT), to increase power output without harming fuel efficiency.

Other performance upgrades include a redesigned camshaft profile, newly designed carbon-coated valve lifters, sleeveless plasma-fused cylinder technology for reduced friction and heat build-up, iridium spark plugs for durability and ignition efficiency, a new fuel injection mapping system for boosted power, a larger capacity oil cooler, and a water sensor for overheat control taken from the range-topping F450 XTO Offshore series.

To keep things cool under the cowling the F350 has an integrated flywheel fan to combat the build-up of residual heat, even at low revs. This improves engine durability but also increases the efficiency of the alternator to provide more electrical power at low revs, and up to 30 amps at idle, for running onboard electronics.

The drive leg and gearcase have also seen strengthening improvements. Yamaha’s engineers have enhanced the gearcase by using a new dog clutch with more teeth to cope with the high torque transfer from the powerhead to the propeller.

Similar to the F300, the gearcase features Yamaha’s Thrust Enhancing Reverse Exhaust technology that keeps exhaust bubbles exiting from side vents above the anti-ventilation plate, away from the propeller so that reversing thrust is maximized.

Yamaha has advised that in Australia, pricing for the new F350 outboard engine will start from $46,990.

The F350 is available in three sizes, extra-longshaft 635 (25.0-inch), ultra-longshaft 762mm (30.0-inch), and ultra-ultra-longshaft 889mm (35.0-inch) configurations.

There is also the option for counter-rotating engines/gearboxes for dual and multiple outboard installations.

The Yamaha F350 is available in two colours, Yamaha’s Signature Grey or Pearlescent white.

Included with the new F350 is Yamaha’s fly-by-wire Digital Electric Steering (DES) which is built into the front of the engine. DES removes the need for steering pumps, hoses and hydraulic lines, and makes for a cleaner, tidier-looking outboard engine well.

The digital steering is exceptional too, I might add, and can be adjusted to suit individual preferences for weighting/friction, steering lock and more.

Yamaha DES also works seamlessly with Yamaha’s optional Helm Master EX boat control system and joystick navigation system that can now be had with an integrated variable speed bow thruster.

This is big news for craft rigged with a single Yamaha F350 as the addition of a bow thruster allows a single-engined craft to be as manoeuvrable at low docking speeds as a boat rigged with multiple engines.

Of course, Helm Master EX’s suite of other features and functions are also available, including the various autopilot and GPS-controlled navigation modes such as Fishpoint, Pattern Steer, Driftpoint, Trackpoint, and more.

TotalTilt is another cool feature that has been carried over from the F300. This feature allows you to trim the motor all the way up with just two presses of the “up” trim button. There is no need to press and hold the trim button any longer.

Similarly, a double push of the “down” button will drop the F350 drive leg down to the bottom of the tilt range.

Another handy feature is the optional propeller light rear panel available with the Helm Master EX system.

When Helm Master is engaged, an orange light flashes at the back of the engine cowling to warn that the engine is in autonomous mode with the engine in gear and the propeller rotating.

In addition to the key new functions noted above, the new Yamaha F350 has robust engine mounts taken from the 425hp/450hp V8 XTO Offshore for reduced vibration; a lightweight one-piece top cowling with water draining air duct and heat-releasing exhaust vent; NMEA 2000 compatibility; Yamaha's Variable Trolling rev feature; 724mm (28.5-inch) mounting centres for multiple engine installations; single-lever throttle operation with multiple engines; a built-in freshwater flushing port; and the option for a secondary flushing system which has the flushing hose routed through the rigging tube to an onboard freshwater tank.

Yamaha presented the F350 for our sea trial on two different boats. We had a Signature Grey engine mounted on the back of a Bar Crusher 680HT, and a Pearlescent White Yamaha F350 paired with a Cruise Craft Explorer 720 HT.

I was particularly interested in the latter combination, as we tested Yamaha's F300 V6 on the back of a Cruise Craft Explorer 720 HT in 2021. How did the performance of the two engines compare?

To make realistic comparisons we would need to have both boat/engine combinations on hand to test them side by side. However, we can compare differences in the performance data supplied by Yamaha on both occasions.

Looking back at our review of the F300, we can see that the F300/Cruise Craft Explorer 720 HT achieved a top speed of 42.4 knots at a 5800rpm wide-open throttle.

By comparison, and in viewing the performance data below, we can see that the more powerful F350 has boosted the Explorer 720 HT’s top speed by 4.3 knots to 46.7 knots at 6000rpm.

With regard to fuel economy, both boat/engine combinations are unsurprisingly most efficient at 3500rpm. What is surprising, and pleasing, is that the difference in fuel burn between the two engines is minimal, just 2.9 litres an hour.

At a 3500rpm cruise speed of 21.0 knots, the F300 used 30.2L/h. By comparison, the F350 pushing the Explorer 720 HT is listed as burning 33.1L/h at a higher cruise speed of 23.0 knots.

Significantly, the range of the two boat/engine combinations works out to be virtually identical, as the F350 burns more fuel but can cruise at a speed that is 2.0 knots faster at the same revs.

Leaving 5.0 per cent of the Cruise Craft’s 370-litre fuel tank in reserve, and using the above fuel burn and speed figures, at around 244 nautical miles the difference in estimated range between the Outsider with the Yamaha F300 and the one with the Yamaha F350 is identical.

Okay, all good, but does the F350 feel faster? Is there more punch on the hole shot?

Again, without back-to-back testing that’s hard to judge. What I can say is that the performance of the F350 felt very strong.

Hole shots were fast and unrelenting, with the power delivery coming on quickly from displacement speeds right through to wide-open throttle.

It was similar when we swapped boats and jumped aboard the Bar Cruiser 680HT.

I would judge the two boats to be similar in weight (within 200kg or so) if not boat length, so the acceleration and performance felt similar between the two.

On both boats the digital electric steering felt very smooth and direct, whilst the digital binnacle throttles were wonderfully responsive, giving you feedback and power instantaneously.

As you would expect, the F350 starts instantly and purrs gently in idle with no smoke or vibration.

The F350 is also smooth and quiet when accelerating up through the rev range, but you can certainly feel and hear the power when you gun the throttle from the mid-range.

Performance

Range on 95% of the 370L fuel supply: 244nm @ 3500rpm

I was unsurprised by the Yamaha F350. I expected good things from this latest Yamaha outboard engine, and it delivered in spades.

The F350 is an exceptional new outboard engine, finely tuned and upgraded from what is a time-proven big block V6.

This lightest-in-class Yamaha 350hp outboard is smooth, powerful, quiet at cruise speeds, and wonderfully responsive through the middle revs.

In summary, the Yamaha F350 is a seriously cool piece of kit, ideal for powering single through to multiple outboard engine installations across a range of boat types.

Specifications:
Model: Yamaha F350 V6 Offshore
Engine type: Four-stroke DOHC 24-valve
Cylinders: 60-degree V6
Fuel management: EFI
Weight: 286kg (lightest model)
Displacement: 4256cc
Bore x stroke: 96.0mm x 98.0mm
Maximum output: 350hp @ 6000rpm
Operating range: 5000rpm – 6000rpm
Shaft length: 635mm (25.0-inch), 762mm (30.0-inch), 889mm (35.0-inch)
Alternator: 12.0V/74.0A
Trim method: Power trim/tilt with Totaltilt
Gear ratio: 1.75:1
Recommended fuel: Premium unleaded (95 octane)
Counter-rotating: Available
Servicing: Annually (or every 100hours after first service)
Emissions rating: CARB 3-star
Warranty: Four years (two + two recreational use) 12 months commercial

Priced from: $46,990

Supplied by: www.yamaha-motor.com.au