YAMAHA 90 HP VF90XA V MAX SHO OUTBOARD MOTOR

Description

We have a new Yamaha VF90XA for sale. This is the V MAX SHO 90 with the 25 inch extra-long shaft, new in its factory crate and ready to ship to you wherever you are. It is the performance version of Yamaha’s 90, set up for boats with a taller transom. Think fast bay boats, light centre consoles, saltwater flats boats and performance hulls built with a 25 inch transom for open water.

If you want the speed and punch of the V MAX SHO but your boat needs the longer shaft, this is the motor. Below are the specs, how it compares to the 20 inch version, how to set it up for saltwater performance, and how to buy it from us. To get a delivered price straight away, send us a message.

Yamaha VF90XA V MAX SHO Specifications

Each Yamaha VF90XA for sale on our site is new and matches this sheet.

XA vs LA: The Shaft Is the Difference

The VF90XA and VF90LA share the same powerhead, the same tuning and the same controls. The only difference is the shaft. X means 25 inches, L means 20. The X version weighs a few pounds more because of the longer midsection.

Shaft length is not a matter of taste. It has to match your transom. Measure from the top of the transom where the motor mounts to the bottom of the hull at the keel line. If you get about 25 inches, the Yamaha VF90XA for sale here is right. If you get about 20, go with the VF90LA.

Get this wrong and the boat will never run properly. A shaft that is too short leaves the prop near the surface where it ventilates and loses grip. A shaft that is too long drags the gearcase through the water, slows you down and throws spray. If your boat has a notched transom or a jack plate, the measurement can be less obvious. Send us a photo with a tape measure in it and we will help.

Why the SHO Treatment Matters on a 90-Rated Boat

A lot of boats with a 25 inch transom are still rated for 90 HP. Light centre consoles, small bay boats, some flats boats and skiffs. On those boats you cannot just hang a bigger motor to go faster. The capacity plate limits you to 90.

So how do you get more speed? You pick the strongest, quickest 90 you can. The V MAX SHO 90 uses Yamaha’s 1.8 litre four-cylinder block, which is big for the class and makes strong torque. Yamaha tuned it for performance. The result is better hole shot and a stronger top end than a typical 90, while it stays quiet and efficient. Yamaha calls it a class leader in torque, top speed and efficiency.

For an owner with a 90-rated boat and a 25 inch transom, the Yamaha VF90XA for sale here is about as much performance as you can legally hang on the back.

Boats That Suit the VF90XA

• Light bay boats with a 25 inch transom
• Small, fast centre consoles rated for 90 HP
• Saltwater flats boats with a taller transom
• Performance skiffs and technical hulls built for open water
• Some aluminium performance rigs with a high transom

Always check the capacity plate and measure the transom first.

Saltwater Performance

Most boats with a 25 inch transom live on the coast. That means salt. Performance in salt water takes a bit more care, because corrosion is always working against you.

Yamaha builds the VF90 with a corrosion-resistant aluminium alloy and a multi-layer paint system, with sacrificial anodes to protect the metal. That is a good start. The rest is up to you.

Flush every trip. Run fresh water through the cooling system for a few minutes after every saltwater run.

Rinse the outside. Salt left on the cowling, bracket and gearcase eats paint and fasteners.

Watch your anodes. Replace them when they are half gone. Never paint them.

Protect the jack plate. If you run one, rinse and grease it often. Salt gets into the moving parts.

Tilt up when moored. Keep the gearcase out of the water when the boat is not in use.

Do that and the Yamaha VF90XA for sale here will keep its looks and its performance for many seasons.

Setup: Prop, Height and Trim

To get the best out of a performance motor, you need a good setup.

Prop. Stainless props are the norm on performance boats. They hold their shape and grip better, especially when the motor is mounted high. You want the motor to reach its full throttle range of 5,000 to 6,000 rpm with your normal load. If it falls short, drop pitch. If it over-revs, go up. Expect to test a couple of props to find the sweet spot.

Height. Raising the motor reduces drag and adds speed, up to the point where the prop starts to blow out in turns. A jack plate makes fine tuning easy and lets you lift the motor in shallow water.

Trim. Trim in to get on plane, then trim out gradually until the boat runs free without porpoising. Small changes make a big difference on a fast hull.

Yamaha’s V MAX SHO In-Line Four page has more about the range, and the prop guide helps with choosing. We can suggest a prop for your boat and ship it with your Yamaha VF90XA for sale order.

Quiet and Clean

Yamaha says the VF90 is one of the quietest 90 HP outboards on the water. That is good for fishing, because fish feel noise and vibration through the water, and it is good for the people on board. There is no smoke and no two-stroke smell. Fuel injection keeps it efficient too. Yamaha says In-Line Four V MAX SHO designs are up to 40% more fuel efficient than traditional carbureted two-strokes.

Electrics

The 35 amp alternator keeps the starting battery topped up and handles a normal electronics load: a chartplotter, sonar, a VHF, lights and a livewell. If you run a lot of extra gear, a dual battery setup helps. With a compatible Yamaha digital gauge, the VF90 also supports variable trolling rpm, which lets you set idle speed in small steps for slow running and trolling.

Rigging

The VF90XA uses mechanical controls, which keeps the install affordable. You will need a Yamaha mechanical control box, throttle and shift cables, a wiring harness, a key switch, a gauge, steering (usually hydraulic), a fuel line with a water-separating filter and a good starting battery.

We recommend a Yamaha dealer or qualified marine mechanic for the install. They set the mounting height, adjust the cables, set up steering and test the motor on the water. Warranty terms depend on your country, so ask your local dealer about coverage once the motor is registered.

Break-in

Ten hours. Keep speeds low to moderate at first, vary the rpm and avoid long runs at full throttle. The manual in the crate explains each stage. After the break-in, change the oil, filter and gear lube.

Maintenance Checklist

• Flush after every trip.
• Check the tell-tale each time you start.
• Oil and filter on schedule.
• Gear lube every season, checked for water.
• Impeller on schedule, sooner in sandy water.
• Anodes checked often.
• Fuel filters changed and good fuel used.
• Grease fittings, steering and jack plate.
• Clear fishing line from the prop shaft regularly.

Running Shallow Flats on a Tall-Transom Boat

Many saltwater flats and bay boats run a 25 inch shaft for open-water crossings, then need to get into skinny water once they arrive. A jack plate is the answer for most of them. Drop the motor down for the run in a chop, then raise it as you come onto the flat. The VF90XA has strong low-end torque, which helps the boat stay on plane in shallow water without digging in.

Two cautions. First, the water intake must stay submerged, or the motor will not cool properly. Watch the tell-tale and gauges, and drop the motor if the stream weakens. Second, a high-mounted motor relies on a prop that can handle surface-piercing conditions. Pick one designed for it. Set up this way, the Yamaha VF90XA for sale here handles both open water and shallow flats very well.

Who Buys the VF90XA

Coastal anglers with fast bay boats. Flats guides who need to cross open water to reach their fishing grounds. Owners of light centre consoles who want more speed within a 90 HP rating. Dealers who sell performance hulls with 25 inch transoms. If you need several Yamaha VF90XA for sale units, tell us the number and we will quote them together.

Read what other buyers think on our reviews page and find out more about us.

Repowering

If you are replacing an old two-stroke 90 on a coastal performance boat, the VF90XA is a strong choice. Check the transom for soft spots and cracks. Plan for Yamaha controls and a gauge if your old ones came from another brand. Replace old fuel lines and fit a good water-separating filter. Check the steering, since old systems can be stiff or leaky. Once it is all done, you will have a boat that starts every time, runs quietly, uses less fuel and still goes fast.

We can quote rigging parts with the Yamaha VF90XA for sale so you get one shipment with everything you need.

Spare Parts

For overseas buyers, I always suggest adding a small kit of spares: a spare prop and nut kit, engine oil and a filter, gear lube, an impeller kit, spark plugs, fuel filter elements and anodes. That covers the first season or two and saves waiting on small parts. Add them to your Yamaha VF90XA for sale enquiry and we will ship everything together.

New vs Used

Used performance motors often lived hard lives. Lots of high-rpm running, sometimes with patchy maintenance, and in salt that can mean hidden corrosion. A new motor takes the guesswork out. Zero hours, known history, full paperwork. When you add up what a tired used motor might need, a new Yamaha VF90XA for sale often turns out to be the better deal over time.

How to Order

1. Send us a message through the contact page.
2. Tell us the model, the number of units and where you are.
3. Add any props, controls or spares.
4. We send a delivered price.
5. You confirm and pay.
6. We ship with FedEx, UPS or USPS and send tracking.

You can read our refund and return policy and terms and conditions before you order.

Shipping Worldwide

We ship to buyers in the Americas, the Caribbean, Europe, Africa, the Middle East, Asia, Australia and the Pacific. The motor goes in its factory crate, with tracking. Import duties and taxes depend on your country, so check with your customs office or a broker before it arrives. Inspect the crate on delivery and photograph any damage before signing. Keep the paperwork safe for your local Yamaha dealer.

Other Motors to Look At

• Yamaha VF90LA: 20 inch version of this motor
• Yamaha F90XB: the standard 90 with a 25 inch shaft
• Yamaha VF115 V MAX SHO: if your boat can take 115

Or browse the 90 HP Yamaha range, all Yamaha outboards and the shop. For tips, see our blog. Yamaha’s official site has more about the range.

A Morning Run Across the Bay

Here is what a typical morning looks like with this motor on a coastal bay boat. You launch at first light. The wind has not picked up yet, but you know it will by mid-morning. You turn the key on the Yamaha VF90XA for sale you hung last month, and it starts straight away. You idle out past the markers, quiet enough to hear the gulls.

Once you are clear, you push the throttle down and trim in a touch. The boat comes up fast, even with a full livewell and two people on board. You trim out as the speed builds and the hull frees up. The 25 inch shaft keeps the prop in solid water, so when you hit the leftover swell near the channel mouth, the boat stays hooked up and does not blow out.

You reach the flats on the far side in good time. You raise the jack plate, slow down, and ease onto the flat. Then you shut down, pole in and start fishing. By the time the wind comes up, you have had a good morning. The ride back is choppy, but the motor pulls you through it without fuss. That is the kind of day the Yamaha VF90XA for sale is built for.

Getting the Most Speed From a 90

If speed is your goal, here are the habits that matter most on a 90-rated boat.

Carry less weight. Every extra pound costs speed. Clear out gear you do not use, and do not carry more fuel or water than you need for the day.

Keep the hull clean. Growth on the bottom slows you down a lot. If the boat stays in the water, keep the bottom painted and cleaned.

Balance the boat. Move heavy items forward so the boat does not run stern heavy.

Dial in the prop. Test props properly, with the same load and conditions, and note rpm and speed.

Tune the height. Raise the motor in small steps until the prop starts to slip in turns, then drop it one notch.

Learn the trim. Practise until you can feel when the boat is running free.

Do all of that, and you will get everything the Yamaha VF90XA for sale has to give. Many owners are surprised how much faster their boat runs after a proper setup.

Fuel Planning on Longer Runs

Coastal anglers often run a long way to reach their fishing. Fuel planning matters. The VF90 is efficient, but every boat and load is different. The best way to know your range is to keep a log for a few trips: distance, time and fuel used. After a few runs, you will know how far you can go on a tank with a safe reserve.

Keep a third of your fuel in reserve for the trip home and for anything unexpected, like a headwind or a tow request from a friend. And always use a good water-separating filter, because coastal fuel docks are not all equal. The Yamaha VF90XA for sale here runs best on clean fuel.

Warranty and Registration

When the motor arrives, keep all the paperwork in the crate. Your local Yamaha dealer will need the serial number to register it. Warranty terms depend on the country where the motor is installed and registered, so ask a dealer in your area about the coverage that applies. Having a dealer do the install also makes registration easy.

If you have questions about the paperwork that comes with a Yamaha VF90XA for sale from us, just ask before you order.

Common Questions From Buyers Abroad

Can I get parts locally? Yamaha parts are available in most countries through local dealers. Ordering a small spares kit with the motor is still a good idea if you live somewhere remote.

Will a local mechanic know this motor? Most marine mechanics know Yamaha four-strokes well. The VF90 shares its basic design with the standard F90, which is very common.

How long does shipping take? It depends on your country and the carrier. We give you an idea with your quote.

Who handles customs? Import duties and taxes are set by your country. Check with your customs office or a broker in advance so you know what to expect when the Yamaha VF90XA for sale arrives.

Is This the Right Motor for You?

Quick check. Your boat is rated for 90 HP. Your transom measures about 25 inches. You care about hole shot and top speed, and you mostly run in coastal or open water. If all four are true, the Yamaha VF90XA for sale here is very likely the best motor you can hang on that boat.

If your transom is 20 inches, you want the LA version. If you run heavy loads all day and do not care much about speed, the standard F90XB is a sensible, slightly cheaper option. If your boat is rated higher than 90, a bigger motor may suit you better.

Still unsure? Send us your boat’s make, model and year, plus what you use it for. We will give you a straight answer on whether the Yamaha VF90XA for sale fits, or point you to something in our range that suits you better. We would rather get it right than make a quick sale, and most of the time the Yamaha VF90XA for sale is the one we end up recommending for this kind of boat.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Yamaha VF90XA new?

Yes. Every Yamaha VF90XA for sale on our site is new and in the factory crate.

What shaft length does it have?

The Yamaha VF90XA for sale here has a 25 inch X shaft.

How much does it weigh?

The Yamaha VF90XA for sale here weighs 362 lb, or 164 kg.

What is the difference between the XA and LA?

Only the shaft. XA is 25 inches, LA is 20 inches.

Is it good for salt water?

Yes, with regular flushing and anode checks.

Do you ship worldwide?

Yes, with FedEx, UPS and USPS.

Get Your Delivered Price

If your boat has a 25 inch transom and a 90 HP rating, and you want all the speed you can get, the Yamaha VF90XA for sale here is the motor. Send us your country and how many you need, and we will reply with a delivered price.