KENNESAW, Ga.--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 13, 2026--
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit today announced DockPoint ® Pontoon, a new integrated control system that combines Yamaha Helm Master ® EX joystick outboard control with Jet Thruster technology to deliver full maneuverability for single-outboard pontoon boats. The integration allows captains to use one joystick to move forward or reverse, move laterally, rotate in place and make precise adjustments during docking and other low-speed maneuvers.
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“Integrating Helm Master EX joystick outboard control with proven Jet Thruster technology gives single-outboard pontoon owners a new level of control at the dock and in other close-quarter situations,” said Cortlandt Minnich, Product Manager, Outboard Control Systems, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit. “DockPoint Pontoon brings the outboard and thruster together through one intuitive control, allowing captains to move laterally, rotate in place and make precise adjustments with the joystick. It’s designed to make maneuvering a pontoon easier and give boaters greater control when they need it most.”
Yamaha collaborated with Holland Marine Parts, maker of Jet Thruster, to integrate the company’s technology with Yamaha joystick control and a single outboard. The system coordinates the Yamaha outboard and the Jet Thruster automatically, directing power based on joystick input and giving captains precise, responsive control without requiring management of the wheel and shift controls independently.
When the operator pushes the joystick sideways, the Yamaha outboard and the Jet Thruster work together to provide lateral movement, helping the captain line up with a dock, slip or trailer. Twisting the joystick coordinates the outboard and thruster to rotate the pontoon, making it easier to change direction or reposition longer pontoons in tight spaces or challenging winds. Moving the joystick forward or backward uses the Yamaha outboard for propulsion, steering and speed control. DockPoint Pontoon also includes Joystick Hold for low-speed cruising.
The Jet Thruster draws water from beneath the pontoon and directs it through nozzles near the bow to create lateral thrust. The pump-based design reduces cavitation for quiet operation. Beyond docking, DockPoint Pontoon gives captains precise joystick control whenever careful positioning at low speeds is required.
Yamaha engineered DockPoint Pontoon specifically for pontoon applications. The pump sits toward the rear of the center pontoon for weight distribution and water intake, while the Jet Thruster nozzles are positioned toward the bow beneath the ski locker. The flush-mounted design minimizes interference with trailering, lifting and storage while preserving valuable onboard storage space. Yamaha also designed the system to minimize hydrodynamic drag and its impact on the pontoon’s top speed.
The system uses a Vetus ® BowPro Brushless 24-volt motor system powered by two standard 12-volt batteries. The thruster motor controller includes built-in DC-to-DC charging capability, allowing the Yamaha outboard to charge the batteries during normal boat operation and help keep the system ready for repeated docking and maneuvering.
Designed for OEM installation during pontoon manufacturing, DockPoint Pontoon arrives as a preassembled unit to streamline installation and rigging. The system is recommended for single-engine pontoons from 24-to-30 feet with Yamaha DEC/DES-equipped outboards from 150-to-450-horsepower, and carries Yamaha’s standard three-year limited warranty.
DockPoint Pontoon will be available to pontoon manufacturers in 2027 for select 2028 model year pontoons.
Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit, based in Kennesaw, Ga., markets and sells marine outboard motors ranging in size from 2.5 to 450 horsepower. It also engineers, manufactures, markets, and sells boat control systems, IOT control devices, fiberglass, jet-drive sport boats ranging from 19 to 29 feet, and personal watercraft. The unit includes the manufacturing divisions of Yamaha Marine Systems Co., Inc., including Yamaha Marine Rotational Molders of Milwaukee (rotational molding), Bennett Marine of Deerfield Beach, Fla. (trim tabs), and Yamaha Marine Precision Propellers of Indianapolis (stainless steel propellers). Yamaha Marine Business Unit is a division of Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A.
This document contains many of Yamaha's valuable trademarks. It may also contain trademarks belonging to other companies. Any references to other companies or their products are for identification purposes only and are not intended to be an endorsement.
REMEMBER to always observe all applicable boating laws. Never drink and drive. Dress properly with a USCG-approved personal floatation device and protective gear. © 2026 Yamaha Motor Corporation, U.S.A. All rights reserved.
Yamaha Introduces DockPoint® Pontoon, Integrating Joystick Outboard Control with Jet Thruster Technology
COSTA MESA, Calif. & LOS ANGELES--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Oct 13, 2026--
California Pizza Kitchen (CPK), the iconic restaurant brand that revolutionized pizza, in partnership with FiveStar Gourmet Foods, North America’s largest producer of fresh single-serve foods, today announced the launch of a premium collection of CPK-inspired salad kits and single-serve salads. The first CPK fresh retail products are expected to launch nationwide in 2027, with broader distribution and additional innovation planned as the partnership grows.
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The collaboration taps CPK’s long-standing legacy of culinary innovation in pizzas, pastas, and salads along with FiveStar’s expertise in premium fresh food to upgrade grocery's refrigerated salads section, giving shoppers high-quality, exciting, and affordable options in fresh foods.
“Salads have been a cornerstone of CPK since the beginning, from our BBQ Chicken Chopped to our Thai Crunch,” said Michael Beacham, President of California Pizza Kitchen Global. “Bringing that creativity, bold flavor and California approach to the fresh aisle is a natural next step, and FiveStar Gourmet Foods is the right partner to help us deliver the quality our guests expect, wherever they find us.”
Restaurant Credibility Meets Retail Scale
FiveStar Gourmet Foods, creator of Simply Fresh, brings nearly three decades of fresh-food expertise, national manufacturing capabilities, and large-scale retail execution to the partnership.
“This category doesn’t need another ordinary salad,” said Tal Shoshan, Founder and CEO of FiveStar Gourmet Foods. “Retailers need products that give consumers a reason to come back with excitement and confidence. CPK brings something very different: a loved restaurant brand known for delicious, creative food.”
"We started with the salads our guests already love and worked with FiveStar to translate them for the fresh aisle," said Paul Pszybylski, Executive Chef and Vice President of Culinary Innovation at California Pizza Kitchen. "The goal is simple: when you open one at home, it should taste like something you'd order at our table."
The new CPK collection will feature restaurant-inspired recipes, elevated ingredients, and bold California flavors designed to differentiate at shelf and rebuild excitement in the fresh salad category. Products will be produced by FiveStar and feature the CPK brand alongside “Crafted by Simply Fresh.”
Beyond Salads: A Platform for Growth
While launching with salads, the partnership is designed for expansion. CPK and FiveStar plan to explore additional opportunities across refrigerated prepared foods, dressings and other categories as they build a broader retail platform together.
The strategy complements CPK’s plan announced earlier this year to expand its frozen offerings beyond signature pizzas and into appetizers and entrees inspired by its restaurant menu. The brand is also expanding into non-traditional channels through the deployment of up to 1,000 automated retail kiosks nationwide over the next three years, expanding the brand into airports, universities, hospitals and other high-traffic locations.
“When we began looking at the right strategic partner for CPK, FiveStar stood out for reasons that went well beyond manufacturing,” said Cory M. Baker, Founder and Managing Partner of Consortium Brand Partners. “Tal has built an organization with the infrastructure of a major national prepared foods company while retaining the speed, creativity, and entrepreneurial mindset that built the business. That combination is rare, and it gives us tremendous confidence in what we can build together.”
For more information, visit www.cpk.com and follow @ cpk on Instagram, @ calpizzakitchen on TikTok or @ calpizzakitchen on X.
About California Pizza Kitchen
Founded in 1985, California Pizza Kitchen (CPK) revolutionized casual dining with its first restaurant in Beverly Hills, California, introducing the world to innovative, California-inspired pizza at scale. Having recently celebrated its 40th anniversary year, CPK today is a beloved global brand, serving creative California cuisine in restaurants spanning 25 U.S. states along with nine countries and U.S. territories. Additionally, the CPK brand has been a premium leader in the U.S. frozen pizza grocery aisle for more than 25 years while also expanding into branded salad dressings and noodle sauces. Today, CPK continues to innovate and expand in casual dining, retail products and non-traditional food service channels, providing more access to its fresh, imaginative twist on familiar foods that consumers continue to crave.
About FiveStar Gourmet Foods / Simply Fresh
Founded in 1998, FiveStar Gourmet Foods is North America’s largest producer of fresh single-serve salads, meals, snacks and grab-and-go foods and the creator of Simply Fresh.
For nearly three decades, FiveStar has developed and manufactured premium fresh salads, bowls, snacks, protein-forward meals, entrées, sides, sauces, dressings and other innovative food solutions for leading retail, club and foodservice customers across the United States.
Simply Fresh is FiveStar’s disruptor brand, combining chef-driven innovation, elevated ingredients, contemporary design and exceptional value to redefine consumers’ expectations of convenient fresh food.
FiveStar’s national platform combines culinary innovation, advanced manufacturing and coast-to-coast execution with an uncompromising commitment to food safety and elevated quality standards. From initial concept through national-scale execution, FiveStar and Simply Fresh are helping shape the next generation of fresh prepared foods in America.
The Original BBQ Chicken Chopped Salad, from the new premium collection of CPK-inspired salad kits and single-serve salads created in partnership with FiveStar Gourmet Foods (conceptual image)
