212S VS AR250

[Fordman]

Has anyone gone from a 212s to a ar250? If you have do you love it?. I'm debating what to do. I can get a ok deal on either. I love the color and power of the 212s. We had a chance to take one for a test drive and it really is a rocket. 1 hour on it and hit 52mph. Not that speed is everything, as I'm currently own a ar190 which tops at around 40-44. The AR250 is nice but I don't like how the center of the rear seat has no filler and I'm not totally sold on the windshield arrangement or the design of the tower. The stickers on the side graphics also just seem cheap but I know I can take those off. It's not a huge price difference but I just don't know if it's totally worth it. I would really love to test drive one and see if it still feels powerful enough. I really like the blue, just hate the "AR250" graphics. I love the looks of the 252 but that is a more than I'd like to pay. I am hoping for a January/boat show rebate or warranty special to help with the decision. But with covid crap who knows what will happen

 

[212s]

Has anyone gone from a 212s to a ar250?

Can't speak to an upgrade. But aside from the added room, it has the same engines and should give similar performance taking into account the added hull and fuel tank weight - any twin engine jetboat in this size/weight category is going to be a rocket and have plenty of acceleration and performance with these or similar engines. If more space is your priority, the 250 is probably what you need. For us the 21ft is plenty and comfortably seats six people...maybe eight or nine if you're close family/friends or two-three of them are smaller kids. But ours are grown and it's usually 2-4 adults so 21ft is more than enough. Perhaps you can take all the family/friends who would come along at one time and actually get in a 212 or 250 model and compare.

As for cushions, we took the rear center out for the walk-over and never put it back as access to the swim platform is a priority. We board from the stern, swim, relax, etc. so lots of traffic to and from the rear. We added Seadek to the walk-over steps so it looks and feels better on our feet, no regrets and it looks like it's part of the factory mats.

The rest is subjectively personal, so that's up to you. Personally I'm glad we bought this year as the 2021 colours don't do anything for us.
?

 

[Fordman]

Thank you for your input @212s, I think that's what we're having a tough time deciding. We have 3 girls that are 11,13, and 16 but they only like tubing and exploring. I tried to get them to ski or wakeboard but they don't have a huge interest. We do a lot of long cruising to sight see. I bet we easily average 80-100 miles when ever we go out on the water. But we do have a total of 7-8 people with us sometimes when kids bring friends or ours. And we don't mind going out with rain chances, so just wanting I guess the best ride and performance combo we can get, along with room without feeling cramped. I know it's the thousand wishes we all want. My favorite is the 275 SE but definitely can't afford that right now. I've been trying to figure out cost of fill up to range we can get to find a good fit. I believe we definitely can easily do 100 miles on 40 gallons in the 212, but I feel just trying to read numbers that it looks like it would be closer to 60 gallons on the 250. I was hoping someone with a 250 could chime in on how many miles they can get.

 

[HangOutdoors]

@Fordman With the demand still high for the Yamaha and people still waiting on boats and buyers looking to buy, I would heavily doubt any substantial deals on new one's will be coming up anytime soon. If you are looking for new, then the challenge that you would need to worry about is actually getting a boat, one that you want, before the spring comes in and the boating madness continues. From what I am hearing in circles, is that the tire kickers whom didn't buy one this last year and were more cautious are ready to get into the market.

With that said, perhaps a gently used 24' would give you what you are looking for? Doesn't have the new tower and back seat thing going on. Has the head compartment, and with 3 girls they will thank you. I have a 2020 AR210, and I have to lug around a porta potti with 3-8 pre-teen and teenage girls and the admiral in the boat every trip. Kind of wish I went 240 just for the head.

I almost always have a full boat in the 210 and it does just fine on space. My crew only wants to tube and explore as well. And I carry 3 tubes on every trip, including the Super Mable HD 3 person which is wider than the damn boat almost inflated.

If you are doing heaving tubing, you are not going to get even close to 100 Miles without filling up in my boat let alone a 212 with the bigger engines. It would depend on how much towing you do, and the speed at which you are cruising. WOT cuts it down considerably if you look at the charts.

Full boat and Tubing, I can burn through a tank in 5-6 hours, but I have the Tr-1's, they are a bit more economical.

 

[Fordman]

Just curious from anyone, are these numbers close to accurate? It appears the 1.8's are more efficient than the TR1's. I know that the 212 we took out could hold about 28mph at 5500 rpm.

 

[JetboatNewb]

I'm going through the same decision. Doing a test drive on an AR250 Wednesday. Hard to compare though since the dealers in my area don't have any 212 in stock or 21' for that matter. This was someone's boat pre-ordered that backed out. I've got a family of 4 (10 and 13) but want to bring friends who have families of 4 or 5. I'm thinking the 250 is the way to go for the extra room but I'm worried about how hard it will be to handle. Anyone with a 21' Yamaha have recommendations for 4 adults and 4 teenage kids in the boat?

 

[HangOutdoors]

@JetboatNewb I can do 8 no problem. Have done 10 but it gets a bit tight. If you can afford the 25', I would go in that direction. Our situation is just the 2 of us half the time and the herd of kids the other half of the time, so 4-9 during those trips. We don't have a problem in space or pulling power.

BUT, they always say buy the biggest boat you can afford and can store/tow. You won't regret it.

 

[JetboatNewb]

@HangOutdoors lol yep herd of kids is where I'm trying to make sure we've got coverage. I was talked out of the FSH for the "fun boat" models. Looking at the blue as well! Thanks for the advice!

 

[tdonoughue]

I'm old. Back in my day the AR250 was called an AR240, and we opted for it over the 21' mostly because of the friends and family factor.

We have 3 boys (oldest at the time was a sophomore in high school). We figured by the time each brought a friend, things would be getting tight. There was also the possibility that our family would bring another, similar family out--again, pretty tight to beyond capacity in the 21' platform. As life turned out, we learned that usually we did not have the 'each kid brings a friend' scenario. We did, however, have the one kid wanting to bring a friend, then 2 more pretty frequently. And we did even have a few times of me and one of my boys with 4 or 5 friends (and I lived). All those were much more comfortable and possible with the 24' platform.

Now kid #1 has grown and flown. Kid #2 is at college and I am down to 1 kid at home, mostly. We don't fill the boat nearly as frequently, but still don't regret the larger size we bought. I like not having to worry about adding one more friend or family.

 

[JetboatNewb]

I'm old. Back in my day the AR250 was called an AR240, and we opted for it over the 21' mostly because of the friends and family factor.

We have 3 boys (oldest at the time was a sophomore in high school). We figured by the time each brought a friend, things would be getting tight. There was also the possibility that our family would bring another, similar family out--again, pretty tight to beyond capacity in the 21' platform. As life turned out, we learned that usually we did not have the 'each kid brings a friend' scenario. We did, however, have the one kid wanting to bring a friend, then 2 more pretty frequently. And we did even have a few times of me and one of my boys with 4 or 5 friends (and I lived). All those were much more comfortable and possible with the 24' platform.

Now kid #1 has grown and flown. Kid #2 is at college and I am down to 1 kid at home, mostly. We don't fill the boat nearly as frequently, but still don't regret the larger size we bought. I like not having to worry about adding one more friend or family.

This is where I think I am with the decision as well. As long as it’s easy enough to handle driving I think it will be the way I go.

 

[anmut]

We have the 212S, love the tower design vs. the 24' version. Our bimini was up maybe 10x last summer, we enjoy the WI sun so having big ugly metal ribs with the bimini off was out of the question for us.

Regarding people and storage - once you start packing the boat it can get tight. However most of this is relative to what you're doing. Sandbar days we're taking another family with us, so four adults, 2-5 kids - no issue. Water sports days we pack the boat (free ballast) with whomever wants to come. Usually kids up front and adults in the back - yes it can be tight with 10 people in the boat, but everyone's having a beer and just happy to be in the sun and on a surf board. Btw even with full ballast and 10 adults the 1.8's on a 212S have zero issue rocketing from one side of the lake to the other. You may only get 42mph vs 49, but that's still 10mph faster than a v-drive.

That said, my next boat (probably a v-drive) will be a 23'+ and have a capacity of 15+, as the more, the merrier!

 

[Fordman]

@JetboatNewb let us know how the test drive goes. I'm curious on your thoughts about it and how it runs, good luck! C u f they will let you take video's of it or anything!

 

[JetboatNewb]

Will do! Hopefully it goes well and I’ll have many more to follow ?

 

[JetboatNewb]

Got delayed until Saturday. May not happen this week, weather is supposed to be a mess.

 

[HangOutdoors]

@JetboatNewb Here mine is wrapped for the winter and it is 33 degrees snowing, raining and sleeting at the same time. I would take anything else.

 

[SCP1]

Got delayed until Saturday. May not happen this week, weather is supposed to be a mess.

Let me know when are going if you wouldn't mind me joining. Would love to see what it's like on the water. Should have no problem social distancing on the 250!

 

[JetboatNewb]

Let me know when are going if you wouldn't mind me joining. Would love to see what it's like on the water. Should have no problem social distancing on the 250!

Ha! Yeah that’s one of the reasons I want a test ride. I’m concerned that it’s too big. You could easily need a PA system to talk from the front to the back.

 

[JetboatNewb]

@SCP1 Im standing on the back seat in this picture. It’s big

 

[tdonoughue]

You could easily need a PA system to talk from the front to the back.

PA systems are cheap. Wait until we get to all of the other accessories we will convince you that you need...

 

[JetboatNewb]

Got to drive the boat today! Really big but felt fine on the water. Last thing on my mind is the weight and size. Anyone pull this boat long distance or have any input on using a Tundra 5.7 4x4.