6 Most-Common Problems With Yellowfin Boats (Explained)

Yellowfin Yachts are a premium brand known for high quality, but they do have an expensive price tag.

They are constructed by craftspeople that are experts in their industry. Each yacht is custom built based on each person’s individual desires and requests.

We’ve already looked at how reliable these fine Yellowfin boats are and now we’ll look at what problems may arise over time.

Yellowfin has been long considered a reputable company known for its performance and functions. Yellowfin yachts are located in Florida and are common around the lower side of the east coast.

If you are shopping for a Yellowfin Yacht, you are in the right place. In this article, we will share the most common concerns faced by yacht owners.

We have searched through all the Yellowfin information to find the issues you might face with a Yellowfin Yacht.

1) Thru-Hull Fittings

There have been some complaints by owners about the thru-hull fittings. These fittings are typically stainless steel, and they have been found to corrode, especially when owners leave their boats in the water.

In the forums, there is a lot of discussion about the thru-hull fittings on the Yellowfin. Many owners this that bronze fittings are a better option.

There are other owners that state the problem is not with the Yellowfin but with the electrical current at the marinas.

2) Deep-V Scrubbing Surface

Larger Yellowfin Yachts have Deep-V, and it has a tendency to scrape when being launched from a trailer. While there are not many reports of this happening, the reports that are found are specific to the Yellowfin 32. Therefore, it is in your best interest to launch your Yellowfin in deep water.

The Yellowfin has a durable hull, but it is not capable of withstanding constant scarping and bumping on the bottom of it.

However, as long as you pay attention to the depth of the water, you should not have a problem launching your yacht.

3) Mercury Engines

Yellowfin Yachts use Mercury engines. They typically have an excellent reputation, but they might get some water in the heads when the gears are shifted quickly.

Mercury engines have a significant amount of power and many levels of speed. This significant amount of power helps with the ease of navigation of the yacht.

However, a great way to prevent too much water in the engine heads is to slow down the RPMs before shifting the engine.

4) Console Connectors

Some older Yellowfin Yachts have some problems with the wire connectors on the components of the engine. These connection problems cause the display screens to be unresponsive or have static.

When the connection is loose, you may hear a clicking sound when you use certain features or try turning over the engine. This clicking noise is because the wires may have corroded or have poor mounting.

You can do a visual inspection of the wires to check for corrosion or poor mounting. If the wires are loose, you may be able to tighten them to resolve the problem.

However, the wires will need to be replaced on a regular basis because they tend to be vulnerable.

5) Older Yellowfin Models

If you have an older yellowfin or are planning to purchase a used yacht, you may want to be aware of some of the concerns older models may have. These are concerns that may have been corrected in newer models.

Fiberglass Fuel Tank:

One of these concerns may be a fiberglass fuel tank.

There were not a large number of complaints reported from the fiberglass tanks, but Yellowfin switched to aluminum tanks with their 2008 model.

Live Well Leaks:

Owners of older models have found that the live wells and bait wells may have a few leaks in them. This issue happens when the seal is worn.

Fortunately, there is a simple fix which is to replace the seal at the top of the door. I

t would be best if you inspected the box when it has water and when it does not have water in it.

6) Parts For Older Models

Yellowfin still uses some of the parts that they have always used. The fact that the parts are still being used means that most of these parts are still being manufactured. As a result, it is easy to get replacement parts for all boats, including old models.

When you need parts, you can go through the dealer network, but some owners have gone directly to the company when they cannot find parts.

In addition, there are companies online that sell replacement parts.

General Pros and Cons for the Yellowfin Yacht

Pros

Yellowfin 36 Center Console has been a popular model for the company since it has been in business.

They build fishing boats with the best reputation.

The Yellowfin has a solid construction, running boards, recessed lighting, and pop-up cleats.

Cons

• The Yellowfin may scrub the surface in shallow water.
• Some yachts may have loose or corroded connections.
• You might have some difficulty finding obscure parts.

What Do the Reviews Say?

Yellowfin Yachts have been known to have some problems; they do not seem to impact every boat. The concerns are spread out across all of their boats.

In general, these boats are well made and durable.

“Therefore, you can count on all the material to be of the highest quality and the best you can get. To add to that, Yellowfin boats are laminated with Core-Cell composite that works to ensure superb strength without extra weight.”

[Source: takeocean.com]

Yellowfin Yachts are known to be expensive. Many people will not give them a second look because of the price tag associated with them.

However, there are many Yellowfin fans that believe you will not find a better boat.

“I presume that the boats last. There are a good number of 10 year old 36s out there that appear to look quite good. I’ve read about the balsa wood in the construction but can’t say I’ve ever heard or read of an issue.”

[Source: thehulltruth.com]

“I got to observe one running on a one-day 280 mile trip across the Gulfstream and beyond. Watching that hull slip through the seas with seemingly no movement in response to the waves was pretty impressive and changed my mind.”

[Source: thehulltruth.com]

 

What is the Resale Value on the Yellowfin Boats?

Yellowfin boats have amazing resale value with low depreciation. Most boats are listed in the NADA guides, which indicates their resale value. Unfortunately, Yellowfin is not listed in these guides.

In many cases, NADA gets its information from the company, and it is thought that Yellowfin does not provide this information to NADA. In addition, many of the Yellowfin resellers do not provide this information, either.

While it may be more challenging to find data to support the statement that Yellowfin has a high resale value, there is anecdotal information to support this claim.

When shopping for a Yellowfin, you may only be able to find the current selling price for the boat.

Therefore, you should consider researching reviews for that particular year to assess how well the boat has retained its value.

• An example a potential boat buyer can use is a 2016 Offshore 42’ is listed for $475,000. This listing also states that this is a reduced price.
• Another Offshore 42’ boat from 2017 is listed at $514,903. This boat has a base price of $456,903 plus $58,000 of options.

If you do a search for the Offshore model, you will find boats listed for more than these prices.

This is not the best way to determine all the facts around resale value on a boat, but it provides a good amount of information to indicate that Yellowfins hold their value and are an excellent purchase.

Final Thoughts

Yellowfin Yachts has been in business for years and their popularity continues to increase. All 14 models that they produce are intended for offshore fishing.

While they are a more expensive brand, you may have a hard time finding a better build boat.

Sources:

vesselvendor.com,

takeocean.com,

thehulltruth.com