2008 Yamaha 23 foot with twin jet engines

[John McLaughlin]

I recently posted this in the conversation area as I am still learning the ins and outs of this Forum so I apoligise in advance if this a double thread.
I am new to the Forum and am not sure I am doing this right. I am looking for some assistance on what to look for in purchasing a 2008 23 ft twin jet drive Yamaha. First my age is 72 and in the past I have own a deep v and for the last 12 years a pontoon boat. I have never owned a boat with a jet drive. It would be used in salt water, mostly in the bay at Ocean city Md with the option of going out the inlet to do some fishing. My first question and probably the most important is should I buy a boat that is almost 10 years old ( I have been told it has very low hours and I tend to trust the individual who tole me that) Their has never been any fibre glass repairs and it is has been brought back to a like new condition. Asking price with trailer is $23,000. Any thoughts and suggestions are greatly appreciated

 

[jcyamaharider]

John,

Welcome aboard!! To address the issue of a 10 year old boat, as long as the maintenance was done, plug changes and oil changes every year, and you get someone with YDS ( Yamaha Diagnostic Software ) to scan the boat I would have no concern buying the boat unless you seen something in the history. YDS will tell you how many hours are on the boat along with what rpms the boat ran at for X amount of hours. It also logs trouble or engine codes. My boat is also an 2008 and it runs flawless!

My concern that you bring up is Jet boats do not like to be wet slipped in salt water so I hope you would either trailer the boat every time or dry slip or dry dock the boat. Another thing to check for on the boat is the scupper valve at the back. If it is plastic it probably needs replaced and make sure to do it once and replaced it with a Stainless steel scupper. I will warn you it is a job but worth it in the end.

Handling can be different with a jet boat but there are 2 companies on this board that sell after market steering fins.

I hope I gave you a little insight and I am sure more people while chime in that actually boat in salt water.

 

[zipper]

@John McLaughlin We have a 2007 ar230 that we bought last year as a 9y.o. boat. I have only been in fresh water, but there are many on this forum who do have a lot of salt water experience. Our Yamaha provided us with a lot of pleasure last summer with NO mechanical or electrical issues. I would advise adding a little additional sound proofing around engine bay as the MR-1 engines rev to over 10,000rpms at WOT (wide open throttle) and engine noise can reverberate thru into the cockpit. We love our boat and can not wait to be back at the marina. The asking price is about what we paid last year. As @jcyamaharider mentioned check out the past maintenance schedule, and have someone pull the info from the engines YDS system. Good Luck.

 

[jcyamaharider]

Another side note....Compression tests are a good idea to make sure all of the cylinders are close.

 

[captras]

My first boat was bought in 1997, and was a 1987 Four Winns. Was kept in immaculate shape with all maintenance records. Had the boat looked at and all was well. I kept this boat for 19 years....sold last year. Was a great boat...over the years spent some money on maintenance, but that is to be expected. When I sold it it was still in great shape and ran like a top! So a 10 year old boat, low hours, taken care of can be a great deal! BTW, that is my 1987 behind my 2016 that is in my picture, taken just before the Four Winns was sold.

 

[Bruce]

@OCPat, @treeskier, @OCDoug, @Mstein1217, @deric tyler, how do you guys find the water conditions for your Yamaha. How often do you use the clean out ports?

 

[treeskier]

I have only had to pull my plugs one time in 4 seasons on the water in OC (of course I pull them when I clean the boat after every use). I had a very small weed in there causing cavitation. I primarily boat in the back bays and Assateague if you are on the Pokomoke river that may be a little "weedier" but I haven't heard either way.

 

[msavold]

@John McLaughlin ,

We've got a place up the inlet from you in South Bethany and have come to know the bay pretty well. As far as the age/condition of the boat is concerned, if it would make you feel more comfortable, give Eric at Bayside Jet Drive a call http://baysidejetdrive.net/, over in Berlin and have him do a prepurchase. There's no one around that knows Yamaha boats better than him and his mechanics. Heck, if the boat is from the OC area, I bet he's worked on it at some point or another.
You'll love the boat on the bay - the shallow draft means no more mud raking (did that with a pontoon IN the channel north of 54), polished skegs, and lost props! Remember that these boats draft about 8" on plane... (You do have to keep in mind , however, that you have two big vacuum cleaners under the boat when you're in anything less than 3' though and be careful with the throttles, especially when reversing like off a sand bar or at Assateague.)
On the down side, going under the 50 bridge when the water is really churning in the summer can be 'attention getting' (mind you, I think it is in most boats, especially when the damned headboats are fishing for flounder just south of the bridge!), same thing with going out on the ocean - pick a calmer day the first few times.
Where are you planning to keep it? I'm sure you know or have heard these boats don't like being left in salt water. A lift (or trailering) is pretty much a must. And then there's the cleanout ports. I find we end up using ours at least a couple of times a season - damned pine cones going up the Assawoman canal and once a 1"x1"x4"piece of wood up near the Indian River inlet.

 

[VONCE]

Welcome! I know you say you've never owned a jet boat. Have you driven one? Make sure you have a good understanding of how it works before you take off - it's a bit different than a stern drive. But nothing a seasoned boater like yourself can't overcome! Have someone with experience show you the ins and outs, or watch some YouTube videos before embarking on your first journey. It's way too easy to overcorrect your steering, and reverse is a lot different than a stern. Also, there's no true neutral. When those engines are on, you're moving somewhere (albeit rather slowly if your in neutral)! The other guys above have already mentioned relevant maintenance tips.

 

[OCPat]

Bruce, rarely need to use the clean outs. Most of the time it's just a little grass coming out of the canal that causes an issue. Pull them after each use, no issues. As far as a ten year old boat used in salt water, my 2004 sx230 was in fantastic shape when I sold it. It's entire life was in Ocean City. Flush flush flush. Steering and reverse cables are the biggest issue as far as I can tell. Replaced them twice over the 10 year period. Not a bad job at all. Did it on the lift. John, if you buy the boat and want to go over it, send me a message and maybe we can meet up this spring/summer.

 

[John McLaughlin]

First I appreciate everyones' response. To answer some of the questions.
No I have never driven a jet drive boat. I have occasionally rode a jet ski but they are not my thing.
I have learnt that they should not stay in the water longer then a week so I would trailer it until I put in a lift. I also would be using it primarily in the bay and Assateaque.
Would like to take it out the inlet to do some offshore fishing on nice days. I use to that with our 22 ft cruiser inc. but have not done that since I owned a pontoon boat.

 

[Bruce]

@John McLaughlin, driving a twin engined jet boat is different. Primarily the lack of lower unit / rudder means you only have steering under throttle, the shallow draft and large freeboard make the boat move more in the wind than from water flow and having twin engines gives you incredible maneuverability once you adjust to the first two.

 

[John McLaughlin]

Than you and sounds to me like I would have to practice however it could not be much worse then my 25 ft Bennington was in the wind.

 

[msavold]

One of the big differences is having two independent power units (assuming your Bennington was one engine). The *best* explanation/advice I got here is "think like you're driving a shopping cart with two hands". In the SB canals, I can literally spin it 360 degrees in one spot with some forward and reverse. The other big difference with the Bennington is what Bruce mentioned: power off and you can still steer the 'toon somewhat, power off (ok, neutral, no real "off") in a jet boat and you've got almost no control over where it's going. Same thing as a jetski really, but on a bigger scale. A litle practice and you can position these boats with amazing precision (look for the YouTube video on "walking" the boat to the dock - try THAT in a 25' 'toon! I got some looks last season pulling in to Harpoon Hanna's like that last year. )
PS: get to know Salt Away... I use it to rinse engines, nozzles, steering cable, etc. after *every* outing. Boat looks brand new after three seasons.

 

[John McLaughlin]

I am now back to the drawing Board as the boat I was looking at has been sold. Might look at 2011 21 ft Yamaha twin engine.

 

[Bruce]

I am now back to the drawing Board as the boat I was looking at has been sold. Might look at 2011 21 ft Yamaha twin engine.

As a guide 2007 to 2009 230s as well as previous HO models have 160 horsepower MR1 engines. All 240 and 212 models have 1.8 liter 180 HP engines. 210 models have the standard output MR1 which is perhaps 120 HP. MR1 HOs and 1.8s are more fun to operate and more fuel efficient.

 

[OCMD]

These are not fishing boats, and you will be bounced trying to get out of the inlet. The ONLY location in the region where you WILL have grass issues - (notice there are very very very few boat sitings of any type) is in the bay west of Assateague Island. The Assawoman Bay, on the other hand? You will never have an issue. Do not, I repeat, do not take your jet south of the inlet. Each time I have done it (and it's been years since I did it in my LS) you will be forced to stop every 30 seconds, to clean out the grass. The water west of Assateague Island is about a foot to two feet deep all the way across except for a narrow channel. It is filled with grass, and I mean everywhere. Anywhere else? No issues and the best kept secret in the area is the Pocomoke River. Deep. Clean. No grass. Uninhabited and by that I mean by boats. On a busy day you may see 10 boats during the day.

There is a very nice 2008 SX230 at Taylor Marine with 200 hours on it, but LOL they are asking 27,900 for it. According to my contacts at Bayside, they have a contract for it at full price. But the trailer title is messed up. Dummies took the boat in without the title to the trailer. Hell, mine is nicer than the one at Taylor and has half the hours, I ought to sell mine giving that I hardly use it anymore.

In any event these are fun, low maintenance boats (just annual oil and spark plug changes, in essence). Because of the depth of the Assawoman, a jet is perfect and I have explored every inch of the bay from Delaware to the inlet and back up the St. Martins.

I was at Bayside looking for a used boat for a friend of mine, and they have a couple coming in trade the next few weeks. They will completely go over the boat and when re-sold, it will be as perfect as an old boat can get. I have a home in the Pines, PM me with a phone number and I will tell you everything you need to know about these boats and the waterways in DelMarva. A plus is you have one of the best Yamaha dealers in the USA, just outside of the Pines.

http://baysidejetdrive.net/

John here is my LS2000 used for years in the salt in the Assawoman. You can't keep it in the water. You have to take the boat out after every trip in that nasty salty Assawoman and thoroughly wash it and flush the engines and remove the clean out plugs. If you do, your boat will continue to look brand new. The photo below was taken of my 2001 LS when I sold it in 2013. Yes, you could eat off the engine compartment. Point is, with care? Salt is not an issue. But once you get a taste of the Pocomoke, you will rarely visit the Assawoman except for when the air show hits town. Ocean Pines? Ha ha how about that Brett Hill? The more things change, the more they remain the same!