venting about Yamaha engineering
 

Don't get me wrong. I love Yamaha outboards. I just wish there was a better way to do this......
Now that we are knee deep in winterizing at the marina I work at I am reminded of how horrible it is to change the oil filter on the f250 and f350. They are impossible to remove without the special Yamaha oil filter socket. On the 250 you need to be careful not to break the oil pressure sensor that is 1/2" away. On the 350 you have to unbolt the fuel filter assy. and remove a few wiring harnesses. Both of them are buried low in the pan below the throttle body and air silencer. No matter how I try I always manage to spill oil out of them making a big mess. I hope someone comes out with a remote oil filter for this motor. They need it. Here are a few pics to show everyone what I'm talking about.

one more pic.
Like I said I like yamahas. I even have a Yamaha quad. I just think they can do better than this.

I hear ya on maintaining these things...but it continually amazes me they can stuff it all in there to begin with...

It always amazes me too. That f350 v-8 has a lot of stuff under that cowl. Now thats a heavy motor. It actually uses 6 transom bolts not 4. I still think the Verado is a better motor though.