A working boat for conservation

Yamaha Rightwaters has supplied a 150-horsepower outboard for a new 28-foot Henriksen skiff operated by the Jetty Rock Foundation. The boat will support oyster restoration, aquaculture and marine-research work in New Jersey waters.

The larger platform is intended to give the foundation more reliable access and additional working time on the water. It can also support partner organisations including universities, agencies and local aquaculture operators.

Oysters and coastal resilience

The Jetty Rock Foundation works on environmental stewardship and community-led coastal conservation. Restoring wild oyster populations is one part of that work because oyster reefs create habitat, filter water and can contribute to shoreline resilience.

Reliable boat access is essential for moving equipment, checking restoration sites and supporting research. An outboard donation therefore becomes practical infrastructure rather than a symbolic sponsorship.

A programme born after Hurricane Sandy

The foundation was established in response to Hurricane Sandy and has developed projects focused on healthier waterways and coastal communities. Yamaha says the partnership aligns with its Rightwaters programme, which supports habitat restoration, scientific research and stewardship education.

Rightwaters also works on issues including marine debris and invasive species. Linking those activities with boating organisations helps conservation work stay connected to the people who use the waterways regularly.

Boating industry support in practice

Marine companies often speak about protecting the water their customers enjoy, but practical projects provide a clearer measure of that commitment. Supplying propulsion to a conservation workboat gives the foundation equipment it can use repeatedly over many seasons.

For leisure boaters, healthier oyster populations and coastal habitats improve the same environments used for fishing and cruising. The project shows how industry resources can be directed toward measurable work rather than one-off publicity.