A question for skiers

[Avig]

I'm looking at a Yamaha 242 X E. How does this boat compare to a conventional 22' I/O when pulling a slalom skier?

 

[2kwik4u]

I don't have a 242XE, only a lowly AR190.

It pulls hard enough to yank the rope from you're hands if the driver hits the throttle too hard/fast.

My 190 takes just long enough to plane to be annoying for a slalom skier. It'll do it, but it's not spectacular at it.

I would expect the 242XE would have the same handle ripping hit from a stand, with enough power to plane quickly and easily.

You'll be more annoyed with the jet wash in the center of the wake than you will with the power delivery on launch.

 

[HangOutdoors]

I have an AR210 and it pulls up a slalom skier easily with no problem. Plenty of low end pulling power and it gets up on plane fast. I have pulled someone barefooting as well. Now the 242 X E has bigger engines, it has the 1.8's I am sure it would would perform awesome.

As @2kwik4u indicated, when I slalom ski the jet wash was a bit annoying but I lengthened out my rope and it is fine. I am 250lbs (yes I am carrying still some Holiday weight) and I slalom with the TR-1 engines without issue.

 

[PeterB]

I slalom behind our 242 Ltd s - generally around 32 mph - we use ride steady for speed control as we don’t have the xe features. The pull is good with a fairly flat wake at that speed- I like it compared to I/O’s but not as much as an inboard ski nautique- better than the wake versions though as I find those wakes too high for skiing even without ballast

 

[GTBRMC]

Yamaha twins have way more hole shot than needed to pull a slalom skier out of the water. The challenge is the opposite: the driver has to be a deft touch on throttle to make the launch gentle enough the skier can hang on to the tow rope handle. This can be overcome, but it takes practice.

Worth noting, jet boats do not have any rudder like the lower unit of a stern drive or an outboard or the actual rudder(s) or sometimes additional fin(s) of true inboard tow boats. For this reason, jet boats are more susceptible to "tail wag" aka the skier pulling and displacing the boat's stern as he slaloms back and forth. While not likely to bother most recreational skiers, this would likely bother competitive skiers.

 

[Avig]

Thanks. I was concerned about the wake and wash. Sounds like it will take a little getting used to the wash but we'll be better off without the sharp wake we get from my I/O.
32+ is our speed.

 

[Julian]

Thanks. I was concerned about the wake and wash. Sounds like it will take a little getting used to the wash but we'll be better off without the sharp wake we get from my I/O.
32+ is our speed.

If you list your address in your profile you may get an offer to try out a boat.

 

[Inthrustwetrust]

That’s the wake in a AR240 (same hull and engines) going around 35 if remember correctly. I haven’t skied behind my boat but I think it’s got a relatively small wake at ski speeds. As said above, you got to find the sweet spot pulling people up, it has lots of torque.

 

[Canuckjetboater]

I'm looking at a Yamaha 242 X E. How does this boat compare to a conventional 22' I/O when pulling a slalom skier?

@Avig......as a long time short line competitive slalom skier I would say the wake is certainly slalom skiable and as good or better than a "standard" I/O. You will have no problem at all with acceleration (I sound certain, right) because two 1.8 liter HO Yamaha's will pull you out of your wet suit if the driver is too aggressive. One forum member mentioned tail wag. Yes, that's always a concern. I'm 6'6" and 220 lbs and I could yank most tournament boats around a bit on one handed pulls on a short line. The cure is right at hand. Get a set of Julian's Cobras and you'll be fine - they should place your "tail wag" close to tournament boat performance and waaay better than a "standard" I/O...

 

[2kwik4u]

Dunno about slalom skiing, but in reference to the "tail wag"......I could do that on my old Rinker I/O FAR easier than I can on my Yamaha jet.

If I got way out to the side, layed back and really pulled on the rope to generate some speed coming into the wake, I could easily move the rear of that Rinker around. If I use the ski eye on the Yamaha I can move it "some", but not as much as the old Rinker. If I use the tower, then I get ZERO "tail wag", however the tower creates another interesting problem.

As the boat moves over cross wakes, the pitch of the boat fore/aft changes. This effectively changes the line length on the rope, and leads to an inconsistent pull. In busy waters, I can feel the pull force from the boat vary as it goes over waves/wakes. Smooth water removes this, but we can't always get out on super calm days, and try to get in where we can.

Just some thoughts to add to the discussion.

 

[rrmidden]

Dunno about slalom skiing, but in reference to the "tail wag"......I could do that on my old Rinker I/O FAR easier than I can on my Yamaha jet.

If I got way out to the side, layed back and really pulled on the rope to generate some speed coming into the wake, I could easily move the rear of that Rinker around. If I use the ski eye on the Yamaha I can move it "some", but not as much as the old Rinker. If I use the tower, then I get ZERO "tail wag", however the tower creates another interesting problem.

As the boat moves over cross wakes, the pitch of the boat fore/aft changes. This effectively changes the line length on the rope, and leads to an inconsistent pull. In busy waters, I can feel the pull force from the boat vary as it goes over waves/wakes. Smooth water removes this, but we can't always get out on super calm days, and try to get in where we can.

Just some thoughts to add to the discussion.

Agreed, when I was younger, I could move my parents' old 18' I/O more than I can move our 212X.

 

[DRAT]

I've slalomed twice behind my AR240 (I remain the only skier I have witnessed on our lake this summer) and it yanked me up immediately. I am 6'0'-200. The wake is easy to cut and if there was jet wash I didn't notice it when crossing. My biggest problem was that I'm 51 and couldn't go very long (yeah, yeah, that's what SHE said). Also of note, I used the tower tow point and my driver said he could barely tell anyone was back there (I KNOW, I KNOW, that's what SHE said).

 

[Canuckjetboater]

I've slalomed twice behind my AR240 (I remain the only skier I have witnessed on our lake this summer) and it yanked me up immediately. I am 6'0'-200. The wake is easy to cut and if there was jet wash I didn't notice it when crossing. My biggest problem was that I'm 51 and couldn't go very long (yeah, yeah, that's what SHE said). Also of note, I used the tower tow point and my driver said he could barely tell anyone was back there (I KNOW, I KNOW, that's what SHE said).

@DRAT .....not sure what was better the slalom advice or the "other" commentary! ?.....?

 

[jgourlie]

@DRAT @2kwik4u so for Slalom you guys are using the tower? I find that interesting, I am heading out to the lake in a few hours (wife's family are all skiers) and I hadn't considered the tower for skiing....any downsides that I should be aware of?

 

[2kwik4u]

@DRAT @2kwik4u so for Slalom you guys are using the tower? I find that interesting, I am heading out to the lake in a few hours (wife's family are all skiers) and I hadn't considered the tower for skiing....any downsides that I should be aware of?

I've skied from both the tower and the lower tow point. I'm not good enough on skis to tell the difference to be honest. It will effect where you are in the wake though (as if you had a shorter rope). Coming from the tower as compared to the tow eye, assuming the rope doesn't change, will bring you in closer to the stern. Could be good/bad depending on how the wake shapes up for you.

FYI, I've never ridden a slalom behind this boat. Only double ski's, a wakeboard, and a wakeskate, several tubes, and a lazy susan (on a dare )

The tower helps tremendously in getting beginners up on anything they have to stand on. It pulls your rope "upwards" out of the waterline instead of "straight" along the water line.

 

[DRAT]

@DRAT @2kwik4u so for Slalom you guys are using the tower? I find that interesting, I am heading out to the lake in a few hours (wife's family are all skiers) and I hadn't considered the tower for skiing....any downsides that I should be aware of?

Yes, I use the tower for slalom and it's great. I think Yamaha actually recommends it only be used for wakeboarding but many posters on this site use the tower for all towables. I know with a higher fulcrum point and a large, aggressive slalom skier you could dream up a safety issue... but our boats weigh 4,000 lbs. I know the ride is great and the driver said I didn't yank the boat around at all. Good enough for me.

I guess I would also add that, it looks like the bimini top will interfere with the rope or vice versa... but it doesn't, at least on my 2015.

 

[ScottS]

The only question I have that may be useful is to ask what elevation you will be skiing at. Our 2017 AR195 (single supercharged 1.8L engine - but lighter boat) has a hard time pulling me up in the summer heat. I have addressed this with an elevation adjusted Solas Impeller and a Lucky 13 cone which has helped tremendously. However, if we have more than two or three adults on board in 90 degrees + heat, it pretty much isn't worth trying to ski. I have a video of me getting dragged halfway out of the water for about 45 seconds... It was brutal. I am sure you would likely be fine with the twin-engine though. Just some more food for thought.

 

[grywlfbg]

Yes. As others said, no problem w/ power. I have a 75' rope and tow from the tower. I like that it helps pull me up and forward - rope clears the ski much quicker. That said, I am planning to add a bit to the rope. I am a lazy skier - I do a couple hard turns, then chill for a bit behind the boat, then a few more turns, etc. The jet wash beats me up when just hanging out behind the boat so I end up off to one side. It's not a big deal but I want to experiment w/ a little longer rope to see if I can make the center a little smoother.

I'm also starting to teach a friend's 12-year-old and learners tend to spend a lot of time right behind the boat so I would like it to be smoother for them too.

 

[carlton]

I have a 2010 Yamaha 242. Love the boat, good power and takes off fast and cruises at 30 to 40 knot pretty easily....However, we were out skiing and the boat struggled to pull me up I am 6.1 190 lbs. and would only get up to 21 knots.



Has anyone else had this issue and found a resolution?

 

[Julian]

I have a 2010 Yamaha 242. Love the boat, good power and takes off fast and cruises at 30 to 40 knot pretty easily....However, we were out skiing and the boat struggled to pull me up I am 6.1 190 lbs. and would only get up to 21 knots.



Has anyone else had this issue and found a resolution?

Something is wrong. I'd start with a close inspection of your impellers.