2017 Yamaha decision

[PFunk]

Hello everyone, I went to the St. Louis boat show this past weekend, looking to purchase my first boat this spring. I'm looking towards the Yamaha Ar240 or 242 not sure what series. I plan on doing some tubing with my two teenage girls and there friends a little bit of cruising and hanging out with the wifey. I ride my PWC on Carlyle and Rend lake a lot, some days can be pretty choppy so I want a boat that can handle the waves. I love speed and like the reviews I've seen with the take off and speed. Has anyone had issues with lost of power when making tight turns? What model would y'all recommend? And has anyone notice a difference in the wire technology the 242 limited s e series has, that seems to be the only major difference from the lower series. Thank you for your help in advance.

 

[Julian]

I love my E-Series 242X, but many people don't like the big bimini (especially those further north). I love the bimini, the smooth throttles you can put at any speed, the launch controls for wakeboarding/surfing, the ballast and in general the overall upscale appointments-like better vinyl etc.

 

[PFunk]

How often do you have to use your ballast system and does it make a huge difference?

 

[Win MIller]

@PFunk like you we had a PWC we used on lakes, rivers and bays and out grew it when our 2nd girl came along. After about a 5 month search we settled on the E-series 242X. Since all my girls are very fair skinned the Big Bimini was a must have. The girls always want friends to come on the boat and the 242X has plenty of room for them all. My wife and I grew up skiing and cant wait to try wake surfing. So we were looking for an all around boat that can do it all with plenty of room for family and friends. Having just bought the boat 2 weeks ago I haven't used it yet! Its been rainy and cold on the weekends and warms up and is sunny during the week, Frustrating!!! So I cant say much about how we use it but wanted to share our thought process on how we picked out our boat which seems very similar to yours.

 

[itsdgm]

Welcome aboard and good luck with your search for a boat. I don't have any 242 experience so I'll leave those questions to the experts.

 

[PFunk]

@PFunk like you we had a PWC we used on lakes, rivers and bays and out grew it when our 2nd girl came along. After about a 5 month search we settled on the E-series 242X. Since all my girls are very fair skinned the Big Bimini was a must have. The girls always want friends to come on the boat and the 242X has plenty of room for them all. My wife and I grew up skiing and cant wait to try wake surfing. So we were looking for an all around boat that can do it all with plenty of room for family and friends. Having just bought the boat 2 weeks ago I haven't used it yet! Its been rainy and cold on the weekends and warms up and is sunny during the week, Frustrating!!! So I cant say much about how we use it but wanted to share our thought process on how we picked out our boat which seems very similar to yours.

Sounds like you know where I'm coming from. I hope you get to get yours out soon so you can let me Know how your experience was. Especially since you are coming off the PWC you have a idea what I'm looking for. I know there totally different but I want something close to that get up.

 

[PFunk]

Welcome aboard and good luck with your search for a boat. I don't have any 242 experience so I'll leave those questions to the experts.

Thanks for the welcome

 

[buckbuck]

Welcome @PFunk
I don't have experience on the 242 but I would assume it is the same as my 212X. The ballast makes a big difference in wake size. You would not be able to surf without it. You could wakeboard but you are not going to get much pop off the wave. Some guys are putting 3000 lbs of ballast on their boats.

 

[PFunk]

Welcome @PFunk
I don't have experience on the 242 but I would assume it is the same as my 212X. The ballast makes a big difference in wake size. You would not be able to surf without it. You could wakeboard but you are not going to get much pop off the wave. Some guys are putting 3000 lbs of ballast on their boats.

Thanks for the welcome and the feedback. Don't think I'll get this big belly up on a board and I know my girls aren't lol so don't have to worry about having a ballast.

 

[Win MIller]

Sounds like you know where I'm coming from. I hope you get to get yours out soon so you can let me Know how your experience was. Especially since you are coming off the PWC you have a idea what I'm looking for. I know there totally different but I want something close to that get up.

Wilco, hopefully in the next couple of weeks we'll be able to get out on the river with it.