Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A., has purchased Fort George Island Marina in Duval County, Fla., intending to convert the existing facility into the Yamaha Offshore Endurance Center. Yamaha marine products including outboards, jet boats and WaveRunner personal watercraft will all be tested at the site, which includes a 36,500-square-foot warehouse, a marina building and a 7,200-square-foot office and event space.
“The YOEC compliments our test centers in Alabama and Kennesaw while adding greater capacity and capability,” Ben Speciale, president Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit, said in a statement. “It also supports Yamaha Marine global testing plans by expanding opportunities to develop products. The environment provided by this location will allow us to focus on durability and reliability testing for larger engines, systems and boat hull designs in an offshore environment. It will also include an immersive team center designed to inspire future engineering talent.”
Earlier this year, Yamaha completed the expansion of its freshwater test facility in Bridgeport, Ala., adding 5,900 square feet of office space and 8,000 square feet of labs and storage. Additionally, Yamaha finalized construction of a new Marine Innovation Center in Kennesaw, Ga., a 75,280-square-foot facility that now houses the Yamaha Marine Connected Division, Yamaha U.S. Marine Development, Yamaha Marine Product Management and Yamaha Marine Technical Marketing.
Renovations will begin on the new location in Duval County in the third quarter of 2023.
