Jet boat or Sterndrive

[Shinanigans]

I do not have a lot of experience with forums, but this seems like a very great site where everyone is willing to share their knowledge to help the next guy out. I have only owned one previous 21' bowrider. I am looking at buying a new boat next spring time and after a lot of research I have been leaning towards the new Yamaha AR240 or 242 LS. I have also been looking at finding a used Chaparral 244 Sunesta, because I am a little nervous about buying a jet boat because of all the mixed reviews; I know what to expect out of the I/O. Ok, here is my #1 concern and question:
My family loves riding tubes behind the boat because I have three kids between 6-10. They would eventually like to try wakeboarding. So has Yamaha fixed the problem of the stern sliding out when whipping a tube back and forth with the articulating keel? Is this a big deal for the driver to control (my wife will be driving at times)? Also, what about when pulling a wakeboard? I currently live in Hawaii (no Yamaha dealership), but will be moving to Texas. So I am not able to test drive until then. Any experience you can share with me would be greatly appreciated.

 

[Bennie]

@Shinanigans - First I couldn't agree more on this being a great site. I have been around boats all my life but this was my first purchase and this group has been beyond beneficial. A truly great group of owners.

I would say that the majority of us on here tow something (wake boards, tubes, skiers, etc.) and love the reaction. I have never experienced the stern "whipping" around on me. The boat tracks wonderfully. As for the steering it will be a completely different sensation than what you are used to. With the keel it will handle more like a traditional stern drive when at speed, however when at low speed there will be learning curve. A day or two on the water and you'll have it down - no sweat. Either way you'll have a blast with it!!

That being said there are a million different add-ons for your enjoyment. Included in this entourage are fins that greatly assist with the steering (mostly at low speeds).
I'm guessing that you already have - but check out the FAQ section on this forum and a lot of YouTube videos.

 

[Julian]

Having the stern slide out for tubers is AWESOME.....but not so good for wakeboarders. I am not an advanced boarder, but was behind a 242X and couldn't move the stern much. I am an intermediate skier and I can pull the stern around some on my 2005, but it doesn't impact my skiing at all.

 

[Julian]

A shot of me skiing behind a boat without a keel...

 

[Bruce]

My experience is that jets have greater reliability, lower purchase cost, lower operating cost and much less worry.

With fins on my SX230 feels solid with my 275 pound college football player buddy behind it.

A Yamaha will not beat a six figure dedicated wake boat for wake sports but is so much more capable for everything else.

 

[Shinanigans]

Thanks for the replies. I am leaning more towards the Yamaha. I love the configuration and what you get for the lower price tag.

 

[robert843]

The Chaparral's are very nice both the 244 Sunesta and the 250 Suncoast. I have looked very hard at the Suncoast and its a great boat. A lot will depend on where you plan on boating as well. I know you said Texas if you plan on spending most of your time in a fairly weed free lake you will love the Yamaha but if you where planning on spending a lot of time in the Gulf I may lean more towards the Chap's especially a 250 Suncoast. The msrp's on these are not very similar but the Chap's have a lot of room to work from the msrp and usually the Yamaha's it seems stay pretty firm on the msrp. Last year at the boat show in Charleston they had a new 250 Suncoast for 59k which I thought was a good price.

 

[Wayloncle]

Where in TX you headed to? Lots of forum members up around Dallas, a few of us down here around San Antonio.

 

[Bennie]

I also originally looked at the Chaps. There were a few things that turned me off from them: IMHO

• The ones I looked at (2015 223/243) had Chap hauls/wiring but a the engine was a Vortex. (possible warranty complication)
  • Yamaha is a Yamaha - thru and thru
• I don't know if you plan on financing it, but even though I paid 1/3 up front they still would only provide me with 5.98%APR
  • Yamaha easily had me their (current)top tier with 2.9%
• Location of dealership - I only had a small place that sold Chaps from a dirt field.
  • We have a full blown Yamaha dealership where I am at. A local sales/service/parts facility is a huge plus for me.
• Noise - Champs are very loud!!
  • The new Yamahas are rather quiet. You can see YouTube videos on that.

 

[njmr2fan]

Welcome @Shinanigans! Although I'm not new to boats or boating our Yamaha is the first boat I've ever owned. As a new boater maintenance is a snap, I like that! After all of my reading and research there's a very limited number of people who have bad experiences with Yamaha quality, I like this too. It took a little getting used to (because I was usually only a passenger) to dock the jet and move it around, but with a set of fins on it its rock solid. My Wife who was never even on a boat before ours is comfortable towing me on a wakeboard, and I think thats huge.

 

[tocelli]

Welcome @Shenanigans. We too will be moving to Texas next year somewhere in the Plano area just north of Dallas. As someone who grew up around boats starting with an outboard motor and then to a inboard outboard and now a Yamaha 242 Limited S. Let me tell you with the dual engines and jets maneuvering the jet is much easier than boats with props. My wife who had never driven a boat until about 10yrs ago drove our old prop boat well. She loves the new Yamaha with the dual jets and fins for maneuverability along with the throttle sync. I drop her in the water and park the truck and trailer she comes right up to the dock and I step onto the boat and away we go. The dual jets allow you to maneuver better in tight places and you can turn a full 360 degrees within the length of your boat. This is not possible in a prop boat. This is our 2nd season with our Yamaha and it is our favorite boat we have ever owned. We also enjoy the back seating and swim platform allowing you to sit virtually on the water.

 

[Bennie]

Welcome @Shinanigans! Although I'm not new to boats or boating our Yamaha is the first boat I've ever owned. As a new boater maintenance is a snap, I like that! After all of my reading and research there's a very limited number of people who have bad experiences with Yamaha quality, I like this too.

I really have to agree with this. No turbo charges, no required 200hr maintenance at the dealership. Just oil changes, engine flushes, and replacing the spark plugs and air filters. All SUPER easy with any small amount of mechanical know-how.
(righty-tighty - lefty-loosy....there you go. Now you too are a pro!)

 

[Shinanigans]

The Chaparral's are very nice both the 244 Sunesta and the 250 Suncoast. I have looked very hard at the Suncoast and its a great boat. A lot will depend on where you plan on boating as well. I know you said Texas if you plan on spending most of your time in a fairly weed free lake you will love the Yamaha but if you where planning on spending a lot of time in the Gulf I may lean more towards the Chap's especially a 250 Suncoast. The msrp's on these are not very similar but the Chap's have a lot of room to work from the msrp and usually the Yamaha's it seems stay pretty firm on the msrp. Last year at the boat show in Charleston they had a new 250 Suncoast for 59k which I thought was a good price.

I will be boating on a fairly small river lake in Texas (lake Granbury) just south of Ft Worth. Thanks for the recommendations.

 

[Shinanigans]

Where in TX you headed to? Lots of forum members up around Dallas, a few of us down here around San Antonio.

Small river lake just south of Ft Worth, Lake Granbury.

 

[Shinanigans]

Welcome @Shenanigans. We too will be moving to Texas next year somewhere in the Plano area just north of Dallas. As someone who grew up around boats starting with an outboard motor and then to a inboard outboard and now a Yamaha 242 Limited S. Let me tell you with the dual engines and jets maneuvering the jet is much easier than boats with props. My wife who had never driven a boat until about 10yrs ago drove our old prop boat well. She loves the new Yamaha with the dual jets and fins for maneuverability along with the throttle sync. I drop her in the water and park the truck and trailer she comes right up to the dock and I step onto the boat and away we go. The dual jets allow you to maneuver better in tight places and you can turn a full 360 degrees within the length of your boat. This is not possible in a prop boat. This is our 2nd season with our Yamaha and it is our favorite boat we have ever owned. We also enjoy the back seating and swim platform allowing you to sit virtually on the water.

tocelli, this is exactly what type of information and experience I am looking for. Someone that has owned both I/O and jet drive (newer models) and can give an honest opinion. I can tell this site is going to be the best way to get the research I need. I have a few friends that live in Plano area and its really nice. You mentioned "throttle sync," I thought you could only get this option from the new "E" series? Is it an after market add on?

 

[WildCatFan54]

I purchased the throttle sync (add on) for my AR240 from JetBoatPilot. Easy install with just replacing two screws in the existing throttles. Looks and works great.

 

[Shuck Water]

I've also owned an I/O and now a jet and I love my jet. This boat is what I call a 10 year boat and by that I mean my children will grow up on it and ultimately determine if I go full wakeboard boat or cruiser. I'm good with either, but it depends on what the kids are ultimately interested in. My point is that Yamaha makes a good multi purpose boat and it gives the ability to explore different facets of what you might want to determine for your next boat. However, I plan on enjoying this boat for another 6 years until I make my decision, but the yamaha is basically the Swiss army knife of boats. A good multi purpose tool.

 

[McMark]

I looked at the 244 sunesta but bought the AR240. I don't like anything hanging below the hull.

 

[MrMoose]

@Shinanigans , when you read the responses, make sure to note that in 2015, the hull design was changed and the keel was added. So those who have pre 2015 boats are giving a different perspective than those who have 2015 or newer. I came from the prop world and my 2015 AR240 is my first jet drive. Relative to props, my AR240 will pull serious g force on full throttle turns WITHOUT any cavitation. I've never been half as close to this kind of performance with a prop. Also, the boat planes instantly relative to any prop that I've driven. There is absolutely no side to side sliding while tubing, knee boarding or wake boarding, and the boat tracks perfectly when crossing wakes and waves at an angle.
Although my boat has the keel, there is effectively no steering unless you use the throttle. Reverse steering is almost non-existent. Basically, use reverse to stop forward motion, or to go straight backward. I have no need to install fins because I find that I can control the boat fine the way it is. With the wheel cranked and both engines in forward no-wake, the boat will turn a tight circle such that the tip of the bow is the center of the circle. With one jet in forward and the other in reverse, the boat will spin on its center point.
The waters that I've been in have not been heavy with weeds or debris, so that's the only part that I can't comment on. With about 55 hours on my boat (including a crossing to Bimini), I have not yet sucked anything up that has required me to stop. I have never experienced any kind of cavitation except when the boat jumps off a wave and gets airborne.
I prefer an outboard or I/O in the sense of being able to trim the bow up in rough conditions, and from the perspective of raising the prop out of harms way when in sticky situations. That being said, I've done things with my AR240 that I'd never consider doing with a prop.

 

[Julian]

I too used to own an I/O and won't go back.

The E-Series have electronic throttle sync and single lever operation. There is a manual product that just locks the two throttles together and requires you to adjust them so that when they are locked they are close to in sync.