Charleston Water Taxi Puts Yamaha Outboards to the Test

New Yamaha Blue Life feature highlights durability, longevity and reliability

Yamaha Marine’s Blue Life series today launched a new feature spotlighting the Charleston Water Taxi (link), a signature low country form of transportation for many who travel the Ashley and Cooper Rivers in this historic part of coastal South Carolina. On average, the Charleston Water Taxi fleet, which includes four Yamaha-powered boats, puts roughly 300 hours on each outboard in a month’s time. That number represents roughly double the number of hours an avid boating enthusiast puts on a recreational boat in a year.

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The owners of the Charleston Water Taxi , which includes four Yamaha-powered boats, put roughly 300 hours on each outboard in a month’s time. That number represents roughly double the number of hours an avid boating enthusiast puts on a recreational boat in a year. (Photo: Business Wire)

Since the company’s founding in 2005, co-owners Chip Deaton and Scott Connelly have relied on Yamaha outboards for one good reason, according to Connelly, “Their reliability is off the charts. Since we began service, we’ve lost a total of one day of service because of an engine failure that required us to change an oil pan.”

The new Blue Life feature details the duties of each boat in the fleet including the smallest, a 27-foot Carolina Skiff^®, which still runs one of the original Yamaha F150 outboards Deaton and Connelly purchased in 2008. That outboard currently has a whopping 15,515 hours – and it still uses the original powerhead.

“We thought about replacing it but it’s still running strong and we’re kind of curious to see how long it will last,” said Connelly.

Developed in 2023, Yamaha Blue Life covers a wide array of topics including travel, fishing, sustainability, maintenance tips and general boating experiences. The series portrays the stories of the passionate boating community through platforms including social media, video and digital marketing.

“Through our Blue Life campaign, we continue to uncover amazing stories of Yamaha longevity and also gain a deeper understanding about why reliability matters so much to boaters,” said Frank Wilhelm, Advertising and Digital Marketing Manager, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “For the Charleston Water Taxi, reliability means they can do their job safely transporting passengers across Charleston’s waterways. With simple regular maintenance, they can focus on the task at hand, rarely having to have to think about their outboards. We’re proud of the role Yamaha plays in their success, and excited to share their story with the world.”

Click here to read Blue Life story about the Charleston Water Taxi and stay tuned for more features as the campaign continues.

Yamaha Marine products are marketed throughout the United States and around the world. Yamaha Marine Engine Systems, based in Kennesaw, Ga., supports its 2,000 U.S. dealers and boat builders with marketing, training and parts for Yamaha’s full line of products and strives to be the industry leader in reliability, technology and customer service. Yamaha Marine is the only outboard brand to have earned NMMA^®’s C.S.I. Customer Satisfaction Index award every year since its inception. Visit www.yamahaoutboards.com.

This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement. Results are based on commercial use and may vary for traditional retail consumer use.

REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear.

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