Australian Volunteer Coast Guard Chooses Yamaha Power Again

Based on the success of the Yamaha powered Razerline vessel put into service at Coast Guard Geelong, a similar vessel has been commissioned for the Coast Guard at Hastings.

Yamaha four-stroke outboards have once again been selected to power the latest Coast Guard boat launched in Victoria. 

The new Coast Guard vessel for Hastings is a Razerline 8.7m plate aluminium boat with an enclosed wheelhouse.  It is a big beast so dual Yamaha F225 four-stroke outboard engines were chosen for their power, reliability and fuel efficiency. 

Operating out of Hastings on Westernport, the new vessel has an operational zone which is as diverse as it is large. From the narrow confines of protected creeks and inlets to the wild open expanses of Bass Strait, the Coast Guard Hastings flotilla has to cover it all.

The operational performance of the Yamaha-powered Coast Guard rig for Geelong, was closely scrutinised. The outcome was an outstanding report, one which determined that the new vessel for Hastings would be similarly configured; the Geelong boat had dual Yamaha F200 outboards, the Hastings boat has gone up in power to the F225 models.  

The result is another Yamaha-powered Razerline set up by Geelong Boating Centre. At the heart of the project is the Razerline 870 Hardtop model, a vessel specifically designed for commercial operation.

With the Razerline tipping the scales at four tonnes lightship, the combined 450hp of Yamaha four stroke outboard has the grunt to punch this rig up onto the plane and operating in a snap.

When the throttles are floored this rig is good for a top speed of 42 knots (78 Km/h). But at a more sedate cruise speed the performance statistics are just as impressive. With the big Yamaha engines ticking over at a leisurely 3100rpm, the hull speed is 20 knots (37km/h) with each engine returning a fuel consumption figure of 21.5 litres per hour.

The Coast Guard requirement that their vessels have a 10-hour operational range is easily met thanks to the Yamaha’s low fuel consumption and the Razerline’s 500 litre fuel tank.

In an ever-changing scenario in the area of emergency services, the Coast Guard boat is also a fully accredited CFA (Country Fire Authority) unit. The boat is set up to accept a CFA certified mobile water pump for fire fighting and can be called on by the CFA to attend boat fires if required.

According to Cameron MacDonald at Geelong Boating Centre, the addition of a big new boat for the Coast Guard at Hastings is a solid accolade for both Geelong Boating Centre and Yamaha.