Yamaha Motor Corp. continues increasing its investment, now up to an estimated at least $11 million, at the Fort George Island Marina it bought along the St. Johns River in August 2023.
Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A.’s U.S. Marine Business Unit paid $6.1 million on Aug. 14, 2023, for the marina property at 9954 Heckscher Drive to convert it into the Yamaha Offshore Endurance Center.
Yamaha Motor Corp. U.S.A. is based in Cypress, California, and the marine unit is in Kennesaw, Georgia.
The site is on the north bank of the St. Johns River near the Atlantic Ocean. The land is across the river from the Naval Station Mayport.
Yamaha Motor Corp. said in a news release after the purchase that the facility will serve as a testing center for Yamaha Marine products including outboards, sport boats and WaveRunners.
The project
The release said the project will include a 36,500-square-foot warehouse and marina building as well as a 7,200-square-foot office and event space.
On Oct. 30, Yamaha requested that the city review a building-permit application and plans at an estimated project cost of $4.9 million.
The project comprises interior improvements to the existing facility to include architectural, plumbing, HVAC and electrical upgrades.
The project is for almost 47,000 square feet of existing space.
Duval County Property Appraiser records show that the 2.73-acre property includes an almost 37,000-square-foot warehouse that was built in 2009 and a two-story clubhouse/pro shop of about 7,000 square feet that was added in 2010.
The plans filed with the city show the first level of the dry stack warehouse will include a fiberglass photo lab; wood shop; equipment, parts and forklift storage; parts/engine storage; a shipping and receiving area; a machine shop and metal shop; and a lobby, reception, security, gear storage, lockers, showers and changing rooms, and more.
The second level will have open space, office space, a conference room and more.
Cleveland, Ohio-based Austin Building and Design Inc., which does business as The Austin Company, is listed as the contractor.
Site purchased in 2023
In August 2023, Yamaha Motor Corp. announced that it bought the saltwater test facility.
“The YOEC compliments our test centers in Alabama and Kennesaw while adding greater capacity and capability. It also supports Yamaha Marine global testing plans by expanding opportunities to develop products,” said Ben Speciale, president of Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit, in the release.
“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 in 2023, Yamaha said it completed the expansion of its freshwater test facility in Bridgeport, Alabama, adding 5,900 square feet of office space and 8,000 square feet of labs and storage.
Yamaha also finalized the construction of a new Marine Innovation Center in Kennesaw. That was a 75,280-square-foot facility to house the Yamaha Marine Connected Division as well as Yamaha U.S. Marine Development, Yamaha Marine Product Management and Yamaha Marine Technical Marketing.
The release said the Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit markets and sells marine outboard motors ranging from 2.5 to 450 horsepower. It also markets and sells fiberglass, jet-drive sport boats ranging from 19 to 27 feet, and personal watercraft.
Yamaha’s WaterCraft Group, based in Kennesaw, is responsible for the sales, marketing, and distribution of Yamaha boats and WaveRunner watercraft in the U.S.
Yamaha said it supports more than 800 marine and powersports dealers nationwide.
The marina was sold by FGIRK LLC, led by Lone Star Lodge & Marina in Pilot Point, Texas.