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Yamaha Rightwaters will repower and support The University of Georgia’s (UGA) Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant fleet, which works to improve the environmental, social, and economic health of the Georgia coast through research, education, and extension, over a five-year period. Yamaha Rightwaters recently provided three Yamaha 150-horsepower outboards in 2025 and will continue to provide outboard power in 2026 and 2027 with one Yamaha 90-horsepower outboard, one 115-horsepower outboard, one 150-horsepower outboard, and one 200-horsepower outboard, to help support the responsible use of Georgia’s coastal resources.

Building on a 50-year legacy, the UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant serves Georgia’s coastal communities through four focus areas: environmental literacy and workforce development, healthy coastal ecosystems, sustainable fisheries and aquaculture, and resilient communities and economies. The group’s research and education vessels support hands-on aquaculture research, habitat restoration and monitoring, and environmental education programs for students and visitors.

“Reliable vessels are essential to our ability to serve Georgia’s coast,” said Mark Risse, Director of Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant. “This support from Yamaha Rightwaters ensures we can continue providing education and research to the communities that depend on healthy coastal ecosystems.”

UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant’s vessels serve as vital platforms for hands-on learning, coastal research, and community engagement. Marine educators use the vessels to take school groups and visitors to Georgia’s largely undeveloped barrier islands, where participants explore the islands’ role in buffering coastal communities from storms and hurricanes. The skiffs also support research and outreach initiatives, from building oyster reefs with recycled shell and sampling estuarine fish populations to monitoring water quality and conducting marine debris cleanups.

“As a company headquartered in Georgia, it’s important for us to support the communities where both our customers and employees live,” said Joshua Grier, Sustainability Program Manager, U.S. Marine Business Unit. “The University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant does essential work to protect the state’s coastline through research, education, and outreach. We’re proud to play a role in expanding their impact.”

Bob Starr, Yamaha Motor U.S.A. (YMUS)