Yamaha Boat Comparisson

[larriphi704]

I've been searching on the internet for information and this forum keeps coming up, so I thought I would just register and ask my question here. We are finally getting out the tritoon world and moving up to bow riders. I personally would like a Yamaha but I can find very little information comparing all of the models. Would anyone have a link to a write up or any information comparing the AR 190's- 210's? Any other jet boat suggestions in similar price ranges are welcomed. Thanks!

 

[Dave burke]

Welcome. Are you looking at new or used? If new, the Yamaha website is a pretty good source. You can also download the owners manuals for the various models (current and older ones)

 

[2kwik4u]

@haknslash made a super helpful "line art" style size comparison a few years back. I have no idea what thread that was in, or where that data lives, but it was SUPER helpful in figuring out which model is larger, and where. hopefully he remembers and will chime in here.

In other thoughts, are you looking for like a feature comparison, or a power comparison? What are your goals with the boat? How many people aboard? What's your storage and tow rig situation look like?

I love my AR190, but others find it wildly underwhelming. Some people want the newest and latest surf and electronics packages, others spend more time fishing than with family aboard. In general Yamahas are a jack of all trades, master of none kind of boat. A dedicated wake/fish/cruiser style boat will outperform at any single task, but a Yamaha will generally do "pretty good" at most of those.

SO, @larriphi704 what are you wanting to do on the water that your tri-toon doesn't do now that has you looking?

 

[Skierdad]

I'm with 2kwik4u on this. It all depends on what you want to do, what body of water you will be on, how many people in the boat, etc..

I run an AR195. It is a great boat but we will most likely need to go to something different as we are primarily a watersports family. My kids are starting to dive really hard into waterskiing which this boat isn't exactly built for. Add in that we surf and wakeboard as well. Does the AR do all of this, absolutely but I definitely have to "drive" this boat much more so than our old inboard.

I need a boat that is more like a Transformer....it is a 212X 90% of the time but transforms into a Mastercraft Prostar the other 10% of the time.

 

[larriphi704]

Welcome. Are you looking at new or used? If new, the Yamaha website is a pretty good source. You can also download the owners manuals for the various models (current and older ones)

Good question, I think 2019 or newer seems to be what we are looking at. I have no problem with used, especially if it's comparable to new.

 

[2kwik4u]

I need a boat that is more like a Transformer....it is a 212X 90% of the time but transforms into a Mastercraft Prostar the other 10% of the time.

I really think a 212X or 212S will be our next boat. I'm on the fence about an AR240 as well. I like the extra size of the 24ft, but I'm not sure we need/want that much size, and I like the idea of having the "big" twin 1.8's in a 21ft hull.

 

[larriphi704]

@haknslash made a super helpful "line art" style size comparison a few years back. I have no idea what thread that was in, or where that data lives, but it was SUPER helpful in figuring out which model is larger, and where. hopefully he remembers and will chime in here.

In other thoughts, are you looking for like a feature comparison, or a power comparison? What are your goals with the boat? How many people aboard? What's your storage and tow rig situation look like?

I love my AR190, but others find it wildly underwhelming. Some people want the newest and latest surf and electronics packages, others spend more time fishing than with family aboard. In general Yamahas are a jack of all trades, master of none kind of boat. A dedicated wake/fish/cruiser style boat will outperform at any single task, but a Yamaha will generally do "pretty good" at most of those.

SO, @larriphi704 what are you wanting to do on the water that your tri-toon doesn't do now that has you looking?

We live on a pretty busy river/Lake, and with all the wake board boats, I really got tired of "rocking" all the time. Not to mention my top speed was only about with a 150 was only about 28-30 with 8 people. My kids can ski behind it and tube but it makes going to dinner down the river a nightmare if we can't get back fast. Plus the tritoon is really a big sail with the top up and is a nightmare on gas mileage. If I stayed in that world the only option for more speed is to go up to a 250 which complicates the fuel problem/preference. I had read where the 190 gets good gas mileage and has a top speed around 40 carrying weight, but what is listed and what is actually doable sometimes seems to differ.

 

[2kwik4u]

We live on a pretty busy river/Lake, and with all the wake board boats, I really got tired of "rocking" all the time. Not to mention my top speed was only about with a 150 was only about 28-30 with 8 people. My kids can ski behind it and tube but it makes going to dinner down the river a nightmare if we can't get back fast. Plus the tritoon is really a big sail with the top up and is a nightmare on gas mileage. If I stayed in that world the only option for more speed is to go up to a 250 which complicates the fuel problem/preference. I had read where the 190 gets good gas mileage and has a top speed around 40 carrying weight, but what is listed and what is actually doable sometimes seems to differ.

190 won't hit 40 with 8 adults on board. It'll be crowded as well. We often have 4 adults and 4 kids (under 10) on board, and it's "snug" with that many persons. Top speed will be around mid 30's depending on where people sit in the boat. I've run as many as 75mi on a tank of fuel, and as little as 50mi. That's on a 30gal tank as well. 195 will do you better on speed, but doesn't help with fitment. The 8 people on your tritoon is likely VERY comfy, 8 people on a 190/195 will be really tight.

You're going to want to be in a 21 or 24ft hull to get 8 adults on there with any level of comfort and maintain speed. Fuel mileage between my 190 and @212s 212 is really similar. He's working those twin 1.8's a lot less hard than I am for the same speed. 11-12gph at 30mph or so. That is WOT for me about about 60% throttle for him.

You're going to continue to "rock" with a bowrider. Most likely even worse than with the tri-toon. See if you can get a ride with a local owner (we have a users map around here somewhere. @Julian can point you to it). That will help with determining if the comfort of a bowrider is any better/worse than your 'toon.

 

[larriphi704]

This may be a stupid question but are the towers interchangeable from newer to older boats?

 

[Julian]

Here is your member map (its a sub menu under the Members tab).

 

[Julian]

This may be a stupid question but are the towers interchangeable from newer to older boats?

Some MIGHT be, but most of the newer forward swept towers have a very different base that requires a very strong and reinforced flat section to attach to.

 

[Farmdog267]

Our 190 was a decent starter boat especially since my wife didn't have her sea legs when she met me, so we started small but we were able to get her over past negative on water experiences and now we are moving up to an AR250 in the next 6-12 months or so.

Overall, our 2018 SX190 has performed well and given us little trouble. I put the jet boat pilot thrust vectors and lateral thrusters on it ( I came from an i/o drive) and since then it has been much easier for both myself and my wife to drive. The boat cruises well at 32-34mph with 2-3 adults on board. I have had 7 people on board for a 2 hour evening fishing session and though it was tight at times, we managed and have had a few of those trips since owning the boat.

 

[Adrian @ JB Solutions]

If 8 people is regular go up to a 24/25. 8 was ok in my 21ft, but was a little crammed.

 

[2kwik4u]

@larriphi704 I was thinking about your fuel usage/mileage. What tri-toon do you have now? Full center 'toon or just a 3/4?

I've boated with my neighbor a TON. He runs a Berkshire 24ft tri-toon with a 150hp motor on the back. He'll get 35mph at WOT on his, but is burning about 1.5-2x the fuel I am at the same speed. I'm wondering if it's similar to the relationship between my 190 and a 212. If you had a larger motor that was capable of say 50mph, and you were only working it hard enough to get your 35-40mph you might be in the same/less fuel usage, and get the speed you're looking for. If you like the tri-toon otherwise, a repower might be a more economical avenue for you.

IMO, there are a few reasons a bowrider is a better choice over a toon. Space and stability are NOT them. Fuel usage (both while boating and while towing), storage, style, speed, and wake shape are large drivers. Also the ability to handle really rough water. In general a 'toon will have more floor space per linear foot, and in general be more stable in waves/chop (up to a point). Just wondering if a more modern power plant might help you.

Things you can't get with a 'toon is our awesome rear swim platform, lack of prop, super low maintenance (although an outboard and no bilge gets close), and general style. Just throwing some ideas out there

 

[RobbieO]

Here is your member map (its a sub menu under the Members tab).

I just looked at the members map for the first time. Great layout. Now I can see what part of the country members are from more precisely.

 

[larriphi704]

@larriphi704 I was thinking about your fuel usage/mileage. What tri-toon do you have now? Full center 'toon or just a 3/4?

I've boated with my neighbor a TON. He runs a Berkshire 24ft tri-toon with a 150hp motor on the back. He'll get 35mph at WOT on his, but is burning about 1.5-2x the fuel I am at the same speed. I'm wondering if it's similar to the relationship between my 190 and a 212. If you had a larger motor that was capable of say 50mph, and you were only working it hard enough to get your 35-40mph you might be in the same/less fuel usage, and get the speed you're looking for. If you like the tri-toon otherwise, a repower might be a more economical avenue for you.

IMO, there are a few reasons a bowrider is a better choice over a toon. Space and stability are NOT them. Fuel usage (both while boating and while towing), storage, style, speed, and wake shape are large drivers. Also the ability to handle really rough water. In general a 'toon will have more floor space per linear foot, and in general be more stable in waves/chop (up to a point). Just wondering if a more modern power plant might help you.

Things you can't get with a 'toon is our awesome rear swim platform, lack of prop, super low maintenance (although an outboard and no bilge gets close), and general style. Just throwing some ideas out there

You nailed the two things I care about. I am tired of filling up at every marina I pass, and I need to be able to turn and handle chop better on some of our longer trips. I am on a winding river that happens to feed in smaller lakes and then back out so it's constant turning and maneuvering through boat traffic. The biggest problem with a pontoon/tritoon is that sitting too far out of the water will always create drag at any speed, which means physics wins no matter what power plant you are using. Of course there are exceptions, but they start at about 100k, that's just a little out of my price range . Things get really busy around here, and I've seen a couple of bow riders get swamped by multiple boats and go under because of how low they sit, that's why we started with a pontoon. I am hoping that a jet boat is a good happy medium between the two in terms of ride height. Out of the 50+ boats I might see on a daily basis I've only seen a handful of jet boats and they seem to have a much easier time here than others.

 

[Skierdad]

I really think a 212X or 212S will be our next boat. I'm on the fence about an AR240 as well. I like the extra size of the 24ft, but I'm not sure we need/want that much size, and I like the idea of having the "big" twin 1.8's in a 21ft hull.

I want the 212x but I am fearful that I will need to go to a Sanger 215 or a Malibu VTX in order to get the ski wake and surf wake. I just know we will give up space as well as comfort. Hands down those tow boats just pull everything so amazing but I also know you don't get the ride that we get in the Yam. That is one thing I have come to love. No water over the bow, water splashing me in the face while driving, wind comes up/I don't worry, etc...

 

[2kwik4u]

You nailed the two things I care about. I am tired of filling up at every marina I pass, and I need to be able to turn and handle chop better on some of our longer trips. I am on a winding river that happens to feed in smaller lakes and then back out so it's constant turning and maneuvering through boat traffic. The biggest problem with a pontoon/tritoon is that sitting too far out of the water will always create drag at any speed, which means physics wins no matter what power plant you are using. Of course there are exceptions, but they start at about 100k, that's just a little out of my price range . Things get really busy around here, and I've seen a couple of bow riders get swamped by multiple boats and go under because of how low they sit, that's why we started with a pontoon. I am hoping that a jet boat is a good happy medium between the two in terms of ride height. Out of the 50+ boats I might see on a daily basis I've only seen a handful of jet boats and they seem to have a much easier time here than others.

Sounds like a Yamaha might be a great fit for you then. We have people that take these boats offshore, so swamping and rough river conditions should be no issue. The cockpit is self bailing, so if you do take one over the front, just have to keep the nose up for a bit to get it to drain, although I can't remember the last time I heard of someone taking a wave over the bow.

I would lean towards a 21 or 24ft if you have the tow vehicle and storage space for it. Hold more people and they are generally more consistent in terms of performance.

Personally I like the 212S and 212X as good all around boats, with my next pick being the AR240. I like the 1.8L engine over the TR-1's (Only because of slight anxiety over odd numbers of cylinders in a single engine, they're fine powerplants), and having two of them in a smaller 21ft hull makes for a pretty fast and efficient ride (not at the same time). The AR240 is the "simplest" of the 24ft boats. I'm still not 100% sold on the electronic throttles and directional control buckets, though lots of people have them with no issues for years and years.

Good luck in the search!

 

[2kwik4u]

I want the 212x but I am fearful that I will need to go to a Sanger 215 or a Malibu VTX in order to get the ski wake and surf wake. I just know we will give up space as well as comfort. Hands down those tow boats just pull everything so amazing but I also know you don't get the ride that we get in the Yam. That is one thing I have come to love. No water over the bow, water splashing me in the face while driving, wind comes up/I don't worry, etc...

Yea, if you're big into wake sports then a dedicated boat for that sport still does "OK" at the other things to get by.

I won't lie, I've looked at getting a dedicated wake boat in the future. I just can't get past the additional maintenance and winterization efforts. The Jet's are just so dang simple.

 

[haknslash]

@haknslash made a super helpful "line art" style size comparison a few years back. I have no idea what thread that was in, or where that data lives, but it was SUPER helpful in figuring out which model is larger, and where. hopefully he remembers and will chime in here.

The pic is in the 1st page on my wake boat thread https://jetboaters.net/threads/thou...rts-boats-moomba-max-axis-a22-mb-sports.16232