• Welcome to Jetboaters.net!

    We are delighted you have found your way to the best Jet Boaters Forum on the internet! Please consider Signing Up so that you can enjoy all the features and offers on the forum. We have members with boats from all the major manufacturers including Yamaha, Seadoo, Scarab and Chaparral. We don't email you SPAM, and the site is totally non-commercial. So what's to lose? IT IS FREE!

    Membership allows you to ask questions (no matter how mundane), meet up with other jet boaters, see full images (not just thumbnails), browse the member map and qualifies you for members only discounts offered by vendors who run specials for our members only! (It also gets rid of this banner!)

    free hit counter

2003 SR230: Deal or No Deal?

Holy Smokes

Well-Known Member
Messages
20
Reaction score
10
Points
52
Location
LOTO
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2003
Boat Model
SR
Boat Length
23
Background: new to the jet boat world, but have been around boats for over 25 years. Mostly stern drives at Lake of the Ozarks. Searching for a second boat to putz around pulling kids on tubes & such.


What's your thoughts on this find?
.....Listing deleted by dealer......


Story I've received so far....
Was a dealer trade out of TX, now in OK.
Std. MR-1 engines with only 100 hours (will need proof!)
Compression readings on their check-in sheet are inconsistent. Shows 185 in one place and 170 in another.
Gel and vinyl look to be in good shape
Appears to have CJS already.
Std. MFI trailer

I've read all through the "MR-1 known issues & what to look for" threads.

IF it all works out, I'd look to add a tower and Seadeck.

THANKS for the feedback!
 

Attachments

Last edited:

Beachbummer

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
3,960
Reaction score
2,877
Points
332
Location
Houston TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2008
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
23
Looks pretty
 

BlkGS

Jetboaters Captain
Messages
1,998
Reaction score
1,440
Points
222
Location
Melbourne, FL
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2007
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
23
That's a heck of a deal IMO, low hours and CHEAP. Definitely a wintertime deal.
 

Holy Smokes

Well-Known Member
Messages
20
Reaction score
10
Points
52
Location
LOTO
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2003
Boat Model
SR
Boat Length
23
Would this model year have only a single Fwd Neutral Reverse shifter and not the typical individual shifter for port & stbd?
 

zipper

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
Staff member
Administrator
Messages
7,628
Reaction score
20,666
Points
797
Location
Northern Vermont Lake Champlain
Boat Make
Boston Whaler
Year
1995
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
18

Holy Smokes

Well-Known Member
Messages
20
Reaction score
10
Points
52
Location
LOTO
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2003
Boat Model
SR
Boat Length
23
Does the single shifter have any negative affect on low speed steering control?
 

zipper

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
Staff member
Administrator
Messages
7,628
Reaction score
20,666
Points
797
Location
Northern Vermont Lake Champlain
Boat Make
Boston Whaler
Year
1995
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
18
Does the single shifter have any negative affect on low speed steering control?
No personal experience with that binnacle control system. What I can say is that you will not be able to "split the throttles", one bucket forward, the other reverse, which makes the boat easier to handle around a dock with the ability to "pivot" the boat, with the right wind/current conditions.
 
Last edited:

Beachbummer

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
3,960
Reaction score
2,877
Points
332
Location
Houston TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2008
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
23
I had a different boat with the same shifter. It allows easier low rpm speed control, (you can set your RPMs to 2,3,4 or 5K exactly or anything in between with ease) but no throttle splitting. I had it on a SeaDoo jet boat that was so so maneuverable that I never felt I needed the extra lever.

The Yamaha shifter in later models allow this split but its internals are clunky and unrefined, I would not let this throttle mechanism detract from the boat otherwise.
 

zipper

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
Staff member
Administrator
Messages
7,628
Reaction score
20,666
Points
797
Location
Northern Vermont Lake Champlain
Boat Make
Boston Whaler
Year
1995
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
18
I had a different boat with the same shifter. It allows easier low rpm speed control, (you can set your RPMs to 2,3,4 or 5K exactly or anything in between with ease) but no throttle splitting. I had it on a SeaDoo jet boat that was so so maneuverable that I never felt I needed the extra lever.

The Yamaha shifter in later models allow this split but its internals are clunky and unrefined, I would not let this throttle mechanism detract from the boat otherwise.
I have always had the impression that SeaDoo (bucket design) allowed better handling than Yamaha around the docks. And that binnacle may produce different results in a Yamaha.
 
Last edited:

OCMD

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
953
Reaction score
979
Points
257
Location
Ocean City MD
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2008
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
23
Decent price an low hours if confirmed...might be a steal. Of course, if you bring in 10K cash (with 500 extra to go to 10.5) I bet you get it. And if you get 5 years out of it before you are bored, you are ahead of the game. But never pay asking price. I bet thay have 5500 in it and that is it.
 

Beachbummer

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
3,960
Reaction score
2,877
Points
332
Location
Houston TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2008
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
23
Overtons40
I have always had the impression that SeaDoo (bucket design) allowed better handling than Yamaha around the docks. And that binnacle may produce different results in a Yamaha.
I replaced mine (Sx230) with a binacle very similar to this one, but with 2 controls for FNR. The throttle control is 50X better than stock Yamaha for my year.

If I had to pick between the two oems I would pick this one from 2003 over the later one.


The throttle control only occurs from 45 to 80 degrees on the newer binacle, while the one on the SR230 controls throttle through the whole range. You do lose the split function.

This is how mine works on the inside...clunky. The throttle only moves when that big plate goes up and down and does nothing from -45 to 45 degrees (That's where it operates the reverse gate)
 
Last edited:

4x15mph

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
1,845
Reaction score
1,075
Points
257
Location
Downingtown, PA
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2018
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
21
That’s a no brainer and looks very clean. Test the engines yourself for compression and look at the plugs and oil. Otherwise, plan on some $$ for repairs given the year. Also know that some parts may not be available any longer but who cares.... $11k and you will sell it for that much in 3 years. Looks like the sale is pending so post back when you trailer it home. You will want to check the trailer also since that can add a couple $K if you need that rebuilt/replaced
 

zipper

Jetboaters Fleet Admiral 1*
Staff member
Administrator
Messages
7,628
Reaction score
20,666
Points
797
Location
Northern Vermont Lake Champlain
Boat Make
Boston Whaler
Year
1995
Boat Model
Other
Boat Length
18
I replaced mine (Sx230) with a binacle very similar to this one, but with 2 controls for FNR. The throttle control is 50X better than stock Yamaha for my year.

If I had to pick between the two oems I would pick this one from 2003 over the later one.


The throttle control only occurs from 45 to 80 degrees on the newer binacle, while the one on the SR230 controls throttle through the whole range. You do lose the split function.

This is how mine works on the inside...clunky. The throttle only moves when that big plate goes up and down and does nothing from -45 to 45 degrees (That's where it operates the reverse gate)
I am familiar with the Gaffrig 4-handle binnacles/controls and how much better the response is. We have not had any issues with travel other than handle positions to sync engines. I like the option of splitting throttles if I need occasionally and would like a set of Gaffrigs but $1200 is a big upgrade.
 

Beachbummer

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
3,960
Reaction score
2,877
Points
332
Location
Houston TX
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2008
Boat Model
SX
Boat Length
23
I hear you, i got mine used on eBay. There are always used sets for about 500
 

itsdgm

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
3,637
Reaction score
3,089
Points
417
Location
Rancho Santa Margarita, California
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2007
Boat Model
AR
Boat Length
21
Wow, that a beautiful boat for its vintage. looks like it was well taken care of.
 

Holy Smokes

Well-Known Member
Messages
20
Reaction score
10
Points
52
Location
LOTO
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2003
Boat Model
SR
Boat Length
23
Well, turns out it WAS a deal (at least I hope, anyway) and I joined the jet boat world! Purchased and hauled it home yesterday. Only blemishes I found include a couple surface gouges on the keel, some nicks in the graphics and the engine hatch sound deadening material is shot. Other than that, the boat is amazingly clean! Obviously was stored right. Not a single nick in the vinyl, snap-in carpet looks good and all the storage compartments look like they've never been used. Plugs pulled right out. It ran out decent (9600rpm WOT), and could likely benefit from some general maintenance items like oil change and spark plugs. The combined F/N/R shifter seems to work fine; we'll see what docking is like later this spring.

Verified hours at only 100 & 99. CJS steering. Full OEM cover and MFI trailer in great shape with recently replaced tires.

All in all, for a boat that's 17 years old, it's in great shape and it should last several more years.

Let the aftermarket shopping begin!....... First big item on the list: a tower. I'll peruse the threads for the best option.
 

Dean P

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
3,471
Reaction score
4,915
Points
357
Location
Florida
Boat Make
Chaparral
Year
2017
Boat Model
VRX
Boat Length
22
Pictures???
 

Holy Smokes

Well-Known Member
Messages
20
Reaction score
10
Points
52
Location
LOTO
Boat Make
Yamaha
Year
2003
Boat Model
SR
Boat Length
23

Dean P

Jetboaters Admiral
Messages
3,471
Reaction score
4,915
Points
357
Location
Florida
Boat Make
Chaparral
Year
2017
Boat Model
VRX
Boat Length
22
@Holy Smokes Looks better than my 2017. Sweat...Good luck with her.
 
Top