CARB vs. Non-CARB Side by Side Test

[buckbuck]

Do the non-CARB boats have catalytic convertors?

 

[Glassman]

Welcome to California....even if you don't live here they find a way to screw you.

I have to rebuild carburetors, replace gas tanks, and spend $$ on fuel additives just because some friggin idiot gets elected and listens to a bunch of tree huggers about how all vehicles need to be abolished or banned because they don't live in harmony with nature.

Then half the state catches fire and the result on air quality is five bazillion times worse than my little two stroke dirt bike I use every now and again.

Gotta love it.

 

[Ronnie]

Do the non-CARB boats have catalytic convertors?

I don't think so. As I recall when this first came up years ago only the carb boats have cats and Yamaha took the position that the Carb boats cost more to build but have the same Msrp as the non carb boats so in effect buyers of carb boats are getting more for their money.

 

[buckbuck]

And non-CARB buyers are paying more then they should to subsidize CA boat costs.

 

[Ronnie]

True. In my opinion Yamaha would love to sell only non carb boats to keep costs down and margins up. Selling carb only boats would have the opposite effect.

It's states like ca (with plenty of boatable water, boating weather and a large population of potential customers) which motivates Yamaha to build a variant of the same boat. That is, I could not buy a 2012 242 ls new here in california in 2012 because Yamaha did not offer a CA version of it until 2013 and supposedly Yamaha did not obtain a waiver to sell a non ca/carb 242 boat in 2012. This is per my local dealer who was pushing left over 2011 242 ls boats throughout the 2012 year and was scrambling to get them wherever they could.

More modern examples include the 192 and fsh, there are no Ca versions of these boats in the 2016 model year which probably explains why I have never seen either in ca. The oldest example is yamahas last 2 stroke Pwc, the superjet . You cannot buy a new one here in ca so dealers bring them in from out of state and sell them as used for a price premium. A few years ago one of the local power sports shops told me about this to justify the price premium on the super jet they were selling for $8k (these are single rider stand up pwcs whose handle bars move up and down on spring assisted hinged poles = old/classic tech / configuration) which are still popular with Freestyle fans. A few days after explaining this too me that Pwc was sold for the full price they were asking for it.

 

[Mainah]

There is not anything I personally like about CA but to each their own. I think the reason we are seeing so many CARB boats has something to do with the EPA (feds) and we will only be seeing more.

 

[swatski]

There is not anything I personally like about CA but to each their own. I think the reason we are seeing so many CARB boats has something to do with the EPA (feds) and we will only be seeing more.

The more I think about it, I don't think I would mind a CARB boat.
(And BTW - the list of CARB-specific parts is quite extensive, even the oil dipstick is different - what's with that?)

I think you are right, it is about EPA and federal, not CA, regs and it is a bunch of bullshit (even though it is called CARB). CA market is in a tail spin - no one cares. But, like it or not, this trend will likely continue and probably fast.

I wouldn't be surprised if these four stars look pretty sexy, before you know it.

Pretty safe bet it won't hurt resale value if you think 5-10yrs down the road, if you ask me.

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[MattFX4]

Remind me of how to tell if my boat is CARB boat?

 

[swatski]

Star label location on top of the engines:


But, also look at the emission control information label (Max power 132 kW is 3-stars, or non-CARB, 122kW is 4-star, or CARB)

 

[Ronnie]

If it's Epa not ca driven why don't the regulations apply equally across all states? Not trying to start an argument just trying to understand.

 

[swatski]

A manufacturer needs to sell certain fraction of vehicles with four star rating. Doesn't matter what they label them of where they sell then inside US as long as they are certified as high efficiency.

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[Julian]

If it's Epa not ca driven why don't the regulations apply equally across all states? Not trying to start an argument just trying to understand.

I was curious about this too. Found this article (a little old) that sheds some light on it, but still am curious what this means in practice. If they get credit for engines below the EPA standard, does that mean that they could sell some engines above the standard? Seems to be what is stated:

EPA “credits” can be earned by manufacturers’ engines that are certified below the EPA certification levels, and those credits can be used to offset negative credits imposed on engines that are certified above the EPA standards.​

 

[fraserjr]

For the 2016's can you tell by the model number whether it is a CARB boat or not?

 

[swatski]

For the 2016's can you tell by the model number whether it is a CARB boat or not?

Kind of. CARB boats will have a B at the end (also check out post #29 above for stickers). For example:

http://www.powersedge.com/oemparts/c/yamaha_sport_boat_2016/parts

• AR240 HIGH OUTPUT (SAT1800AR)
• AR240 HO CALIFORNIA (SAT1800ARB) CA

 

[fraserjr]

So this Model # is a CARB boat? SAT1800F-RBG - she told me the G stands for Galvanized trailer.

Edit: I think I answered my own question, after a quick google search this does indeed come up as a CARB boat. Buyer beware.

 

[swatski]

So this Model # is a CARB boat? SAT1800F-RBG - she told me the G stands for Galvanized trailer.

I think it is a CARB boat, limited S E-series. But the only way to know for sure is the emissions sticker, as pictured above in the thread.

 

[scubarick314]

Thanks for the research and explanation. I also have a CARB boat. I just keep telling myself that I'm doing my part for environment.

 

[fraserjr]

Kind of. CARB boats will have a B at the end (also check out post #29 above for stickers). For example:

http://www.powersedge.com/oemparts/c/yamaha_sport_boat_2016/parts

• AR240 HIGH OUTPUT (SAT1800AR)
• AR240 HO CALIFORNIA (SAT1800ARB) CA

I am more curious about this now. I am picking up my 2016 on Saturday and the Stock # on the invoice is listed SAT1800F-RBG which the dealer confirmed. BUT the dealer has now told me on three different occasions that he has check for stickers and the actual catalytic converter in the engine compartment and said he is sure this is a non-cat boat. He even sent me this blurry pic which does seem to indeed show now cats. I am driving 3 hours on Saturday to pick this thing up and I don't think I will be too happy if I get there and find out its a CARB boat.

 

[swatski]

I am more curious about this now. I am picking up my 2016 on Saturday and the Stock # on the invoice is listed SAT1800F-RBG which the dealer confirmed. BUT the dealer has now told me on three different occasions that he has check for stickers and the actual catalytic converter in the engine compartment and said he is sure this is a non-cat boat. He even sent me this blurry pic which does seem to indeed show now cats. I am driving 3 hours on Saturday to pick this thing up and I don't think I will be too happy if I get there and find out its a CARB boat.

View attachment 46072

The critical information is the emission control information label (Max power 132 kW is 3-stars, or non-CARB, 122kW is 4-star, or CARB).

See post #29 above.

 

[fraserjr]

The critical information is the emission control information label (Max power 132 kW is 3-stars, or non-CARB, 122kW is 4-star, or CARB).

See post #29 above.

Agreed, that will be the first thing I look at when I get there.