The Royal National Lifeboat Institution (RNLI) and Yamaha Motor UK, two of the most respected names in the marine world, have announced their new partnership. This will bring profits not only to themselves, but also to the UK boaters.

Every purchaser of a new Yamaha outboard engine, from the smallest F2.5 to the mighty F350, V8 will receive 12 months free RNLI Offshore membership worth £68, while supporting the RNLI at the same time. Members receive free RNLI publications including The Lifeboat, RNLI Compass and Offshore for those who actively enjoy the sea. Other benefits include free sea safety advice and product discounts, an RNLI membership card giving access to the RNLI’s College in Poole and the opportunity to attend the RNLI’s Annual Presentation of Awards.

In a special event at the RNLI College in Poole on Thursday 20th October 2011 the official partnership agreement was formally signed on behalf of the RNLI by James Vaughan, Corporate Services Director and Andrew Smith, Vice President Sales & Marketing Operations, Yamaha Motor Europe NV.

The new partnership will allow the RNLI and Yamaha to work together to jointly promote the charity’s fundraising efforts. The first visible sign of this came at the 2011 PSP Southampton International Boat Show where an RNLI Atlantic inshore lifeboat was moored on one of Yamaha’s berths in the Marina, while RNLI fundraisers were stationed on Yamaha’s main boat stand a short distance away.

The new partnership is a natural progression of the existing supply relationship between Yamaha and the RNLI. The charity has been using Yamaha outboards on various rescue craft for over 15 years. More recently the company has not only specified Yamaha WaveRunner VX personal watercraft for RNLI lifeguard beach rescue, but also selected the F115 outboard to power the charity’s fleet of Atlantic 85 inshore lifeboats.

Yamaha have always been proud to supply equipment and products to the RNLI knowing that these engines and personal watercraft were chosen by the RNLI because of their engineering quality, design and reliability. After all when RNLI volunteer lifeboat crew and lifeguards put to sea for a rescue they need to rely completely on their equipment.

David Pougher, Divisional Manager of Yamaha UK Marine Division commented “It’s great to be able to give something back to the RNLI whilst at the same time offering a benefit to our customers with this free membership package. As boaters we all rely on the fact that the RNLI will come to our aid if required when at sea, even in treacherous weather conditions, and this partnership will help support the RNLI and their fundraising activities.”