Restoring a Yamaha Marine Legend

The Iconic PC-3 "Yellow Hat" Returns to Life

First released in 1963, the PC-3 was a breakthrough model that helped launch Yamaha into the global outboard motor market. Known affectionately as “Yamaha’s Yellow Hat” due to its distinct round yellow fuel tank, the PC-3 earned a reputation for rugged reliability in Japan’s fishing villages. But the restoration wasn’t just about preserving a machine—it was about honouring the spirit of innovation and craftsmanship that shaped Yamaha’s legacy.

A Project Rooted in Passion
“When I worked in overseas marine markets, I often saw PC-3s proudly displayed by importers in places like South America and the Middle East,” recalls Masafumi Suzuki, president of Yamaha Marina Co., Ltd. “People overseas seem to value the heritage of our products more than we do at home.”
Inspired by this global reverence, the team at the Yamaha Communication Plaza launched a plan to restore a PC-3 outboard for Yamaha’s 70th anniversary. They wanted to do more than just refurbish the motor—they aimed to bring it back to working condition, preserving its original performance and passing the legacy on to future generations.
They enlisted the help of Yamaha Marina Hamanako technicians Hisashi Uchida and Wataru Tsuboi, who normally maintain customers’ boats. Although the restoration was outside their regular duties, they didn’t hesitate. “This is something worth doing,” said Uchida. “It’s something that should be done.”

Rediscovering Monozukuri Through Restoration
The task was far from easy. Time had taken its toll on the PC-3, and returning it to factory condition required both determination and ingenuity. Uchida and Tsuboi studied original blueprints, consulted retired Yamaha engineers, and painstakingly disassembled the motor to assess which parts could be reused. Many components were carefully restored; others had to be recreated from scratch.

“There were parts so corroded that removing a single screw could take half a day,” Tsuboi said. “But we wanted to use as many original components as possible.”
Inside the engine, Tsuboi was surprised to discover a sleeveless cylinder—a testament to the machining precision Yamaha achieved even in the early ’60s. Uchida was equally impressed by the layout and material choices. “You could feel the focus on reliability,” he said. “When you’re at sea, an engine failure isn’t just inconvenient—it’s dangerous. That awareness is built into the design, and it still guides what we do today.”

A Living Legacy
For both technicians, the project was more than a restoration—it was a journey through time, revealing the DNA of Yamaha’s craftsmanship and the passion of its early engineers.
The restored PC-3 is now more than just a museum piece. It’s a symbol of Yamaha’s enduring “Spirit of Challenge,” and a reminder of the deep roots from which its marine success grew.

Message from the Editor
Our first outboard motor was the 7 hp P-7 released in 1960, but it suffered from reliability issues and did not win over fishermen. It was the 3 hp P-3 launched the following year—which featured a clutch for easier use—that put Yamaha outboard motors into ports all over Japan. The round yellow fuel tank was designed by a woman and made the PC-3 a friendly and familiar sight, and the story goes that Yamaha’s yellow hats changed the face of Japanese coastal fishery.
MATSUO, Kaoru