2019 Release coming soon!

[Bruce]

@dslack67, I would add a rear facing camera to that Simrad.

 

[swatski]

So bringing money back into the equation... it seems like you can make those after market upgrades to an AR for a lot cheaper overall cost. Hypothetically speaking of course

That is a tougher question. I'll try to split it up!
(the X vs the AR - surfing perspective)

Tower
The X is the winner, hands down. The X-tower is massive but well designed and we have heard of no failures so far, albeit @Julian had a locking pin pull out on his way to Bimini/Bahamas this year.
Perfect for surfing because of the rope angles involved and how it attaches to the tow point and runs under the bimini.

Wake Wedge vs Wake Booster
Hard to tell of course, price looks like a tossup, my money is on the Wedge as far as surf quality (but it is a guess at this point, no one has been able to compare those two systems side-by-side, yet) and Gatlin is a tried-and-true surfing mod in these boats.
Install looks similar but the Wedge can be left on while cruising.

Cruise Control
That is a tough one! The E-Throttles are nice, very smooth. Maybe a little too smooth some say, but still very nice with the option for electronic throttle synch (single lever). However, the E-Series Cruise COntrol has been glitch-y and not particularly accurate. Does have the auto-ramp function (auto-acceleration).

The aftermarket cruise control (needed in AR) @Ridesteady Cruise Controller seems to be a lot more accurate and robust, it is about 1k. Great for throttle synch and cruising.
No auto-ramping available, so it is a "semi-manual", but works really well nevertheless, great system.

Ballast
The X ballast system is not that great (the AR of course has none from factory). But I see it almost as a plus (in AR), lol.
In the current 240/242 boats we are getting great results (surfing ropeless) with just two bags:
a center locker bag (generic, 800lbs or so), and the Gatlin custom swim deck (situated on the surf side). THat's it! - in most situations. May want rear compartment bags for light passenger loads, that can always help.
A good custom aftermarket system such as WakeMakers will beat what the factory installs in the X hands down, but it is costly. Depending on components, and who does the labor, it will be at least 2-3k, could be more.


@dslack67, @JBlue hope this helps.

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[SCP1]

Look at it this way if you can afford the X buy it, if not get the AR and do the mods you can afford. One key factor to consider is who is installing the mods in my opinion. If it’s you do actually have the time to do them? If you are paying someone you may get closer to the X price then you think. Then the next question to consider is if your doing them yourself would you rather be working on mods or out on the boat (even if someone else is doing the mods they are still more than likely to have your boat at some point and time when you would like to use it). This is why I ended up upgrading to a AR195 from a SX190 I didn’t have the time to do the upgrades I wanted nor did I want to take time away from our already short boating season. Your never going to buy the X and go man I wish I would of got an AR, in my opinion. At a minimum buy the custom ballast bag to go on the back deck of the X.

 

[OnTheWater]

I’m liking what I’m seeing with the X so far and may get back into a Yamaha during the January boat show. Waiting for someone on the forum to buy one and give some real-life feedback on it. Loved my ‘13 242 Limited, also loved my Malibu 24 MXZ, but sold it before I moved from Eastern Washington to North Carolina. I do like the versatility of Yamaha and the younger kids are pretty casual with water sports and the bigger kids are pretty busy, so I may take new/versatile/fun to drive over another large v-drive.

 

[swatski]

I’m liking what I’m seeing with the X so far and may get back into a Yamaha during the January boat show. Waiting for someone on the forum to buy one and give some real-life feedback on it. Loved my ‘13 242 Limited, also loved my Malibu 24 MXZ, but sold it before I moved from Eastern Washington to North Carolina. I do like the versatility of Yamaha and the younger kids are pretty casual with water sports and the bigger kids are pretty busy, so I may take new/versatile/fun to drive over another large v-drive.

Like @SCP1 suggested, some systems are upgrade-able in the aftermarket space, others are simply not.
In 190s, it makes more sense to upgrade to 195 than to try to swap the 1.8 N/A to SVHO, for sure.

In 24s, the X/E-S big tower is not upgrade-able, nor the E-throttles. But those come in the E-S models as well, not just the X. On the other hand, the X's ballast is entirely doable as an aftermarket system.

So, I guess what I'm trying to say is - as far as the surf package, the key "non-upgrade-able" features of the X model (tower, E-throttles) can be had in a lower model.

As far as the "whole package" deal with the Wake Booster etc., I would also consider the chances are most people will end up with the Gatlin Wedge/bag combo to surf ropeless regardless of the 240/242 model they pick!

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[gmtech16450yz]

@dslack67, I would add a rear facing camera to that Simrad.

I have a Simrad Go9 in my boat and absolutely love it! I use it 100% of the time we're in the boat and wouldn't boat without one.

I have something else in our boat thought that your comment made me want to pass along. I had a dash camera with both front and rear cameras that I wasn't using so I put it under the tower in our boat. It's awesome!!! I have it come on and record whenever the batteries are turned on. It has a card big enough to hold at least a full day's worth of boating. So when something happens like when I caught that shark in the Bay, I don't even have to worry about grabbing my camera or cell phone. It's full HD/30fps on both the front and back cameras, and it's super wide angle so it sees pretty much the entire boat front to back. And it also gets whatever is behind the boat so it's awesome for tubing or skiing videos.

So for those that are always fumbling for their phones to record or take pictures when boating, think about buying a dash cam and putting it on the tower. One camera facing frontwards and one facing backwards and you're done!

 

[SCP1]

Sooo is it too early, what is 2020 bringing?

 

[Neutron]

Sooo is it too early, what is 2020 bringing?

A 27 footer with triple svhos......
Wait, too soon... hmm

 

[F.M.]

I heard twin 2.0L engines with vibranium blocks.

 

[Bruce]

I vote for one diesel generator driving two electric motors.

 

[ptwb]

Sooo is it too early, what is 2020 bringing?

That's easy. Knowing how Yamaha thinks:

1) Larger motors that burn more gas, are even louder at idle, but also quieter at wot, but the boat won't be any faster or slower
2) An even larger rudder with yet an even fancier new name
3) An optional retractable rudder that will lower beneath the keel at idle speeds (but of course, it will be spring loaded and can kick up if something is hit)
4) An even dumber dash design.
5) The tower will be electric up/down integrated with ConnectX
6) The seat cushions/storage and engine hatch will all be electric up/down via ConnectX
7) Steering by electronic wire
8) Power captains chair
9) A radical new double steering wheel so that you can turn the engines independently if you want
10) The base boats will still have that stupid band-aid cruise control but they will include standard joystick docking control
11) Fancier stitching in the cushions
12) Gelcoated reverse gates color matched with boat
13) A new wireless wakesurf/boat connection wrist strap on controller so that somebody can go wakesurfing by themselves and the boat will know how to come back and stop next to them.

Oh, and of course a price increase.



What would I wish for?
1) A return to the basics
2) Electronic throttle standard on ALL twin boats (maybe even the singles too). No more stupid 3 step cruise control.
3) NO connectX standard on base models. Give me back a simple switch panel
4) I want to see a radical breakthrough in jet pump design that improves fuel efficieny and keeps noise down.
5) I want to see an end to all grass issues. I want to be able to navigate through a football sized sea of grass (like I encounter in the keys quite often) and absolutely know I'm going to make it.


To me, the difference between an AR-240 and a hypothetical AR-240-X should be limited to the tower and the dash and simple odds and ends like ballast, shower, etc. If an AR-240 owner wanted to, or the dealer wanted to, they could just unscrew the dash, unplug a few connectors, and install an 'X' dash for those people that really want that stuff. Same for the tower. Same mounting points but buyer can choose which tower they want.

I want to see better flexibility in the purchasing process.


The stupid dash design is the really frustrating part. I've long asked for them to design a dash that is more accommodating of letting owners install their own electronics. Fishing boats are almost always a blank slate. I'm not wanting them to give me a flat empty sheet of plastic. Please, just design a nice dash that has the room for a 12" MFD, but instead, just nicely fill it with the usual analog gauges, but make the boat NMEA compliant so I can remove the guages and replace them with the MFD of MY choice and still get all my speed, rpm, temps, fuel, etc into the MFD. Also, I shouldn't need a touchscreen to turn on the bilge or the blower, that's just crazy. I don't want Yamaha's 12" connectX and be locked into them for replacement parts. It's ridicolous enough trying to buy replacement clamps from them for huge markup.

 

[Ancient canoe]

One model being completely upgradeable to another would be awesome for the consumer, and not so much for the seller/manufacturer, so don't hold out on that one.

 

[ptwb]

I'm not saying it needs to be completely upgradeable. It could have custom colors, custom stickers, custom cushioning, custom flooring, maybe SVHO engines, etc.

But the core basics of the boat, that would be nice. There is stuff the basic boats have I don't want, and stuff the premium boats have I do want. Would be nice to have more flexibility.

 

[GTBRMC]

I vote for one diesel generator driving two electric motors.

Some interesting progress in this area... but I see many untapped possibilities still not on the market (apparently).

 

[MidnightRider]

I'm not saying it needs to be completely upgradeable. It could have custom colors, custom stickers, custom cushioning, custom flooring, maybe SVHO engines, etc.

But the core basics of the boat, that would be nice. There is stuff the basic boats have I don't want, and stuff the premium boats have I do want. Would be nice to have more flexibility.

I think the point is though that those couple things that your really really want as an upgrade may be enough to suck you up into the next model and spending more money. That's draw is there intentionally. Its a fine balance by the boat brands to try and suck consumers into spending more money (step up in models) without pushing them away. Same reason cable TV sells by "packages" and not by the channel.

 

[Ancient canoe]

I'm not saying it needs to be completely upgradeable. It could have custom colors, custom stickers, custom cushioning, custom flooring, maybe SVHO engines, etc.

But the core basics of the boat, that would be nice. There is stuff the basic boats have I don't want, and stuff the premium boats have I do want. Would be nice to have more flexibility.

It would absolutely be nice, but it doesn't make much sense for them is what I am saying. It would be great for people buying the lower tier models, and bad for those buying the higher tier models. Which ones do they want to sell more of? They wouldn't sell many X or E series boats if you can plug and play the core of the luxuries from those boats into a AR240. The point is to get you to buy the higher end model.

 

[swatski]

I share @ptwb sentiment, albeit those things will never happen.

I do think though Yamaha would be even more successful (more so than they already are!) if they would just stick with what they do really well and stopped trying to be what they are not.

A good example would be the X model. A wake boat ready to surf...??? I don't think so.

Can't make a boat to surf behind from factory, let the aftermarket battle it out for best enhancements.
Better yet, support your aftermarket vendors (kind of like what HD does with motorcycles). Everybody wins.

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[ptwb]

And what all is happening to the cable TV companies with their "packages"? They're loosing customers! Anyways, IMO, that is not the right analogy. Probably more like the way Acura sells cars, a base model and just two extra models (like advanced and tech) and very minimal, if any, choices inbetween. Acura use to be very strict and it was take it or leave it but they at least have since then added 'some' extra options inbetween the packages. They've also driven their prices higher, and their market share and sales are currently down. People go elsewhere when other companies are more willing to offer up the right price and options somebody wants. But even cars is not a good analogy because one can't really take the lcd dashboard or larger nav screen of a higher model and put into a lower model.

It also all depends on why people are buying that higher model. Excluding things like color, styling, or maybe SVHO engines, almost all of the rest is interchangeable, if somebody really wanted to do. Ballast, shower, etc can be added to any boat.

It would help that dealer with a base model sell it if he could just upgrade/replace that part or that dealer risks the customer going to another brand because that customer only wants one thing from the premium boat and just will not pay for all the other extras. How does it hurt the higher models? There are a lot of minor differences between the boats. All I'm talking about is letting a potential buyer have more flexibility for custom ordering a boat for a few key things.

I get why they do it, to try and lure people up, but IMO, they've made a mess of it.

The ultimate problem is that Yamaha doesn't really care about customers. There are enough people buying what they sell and right now they don't feel the need to make things more flexible.

But if they stay on this current path of theirs, things will change inevitably. Without a doubt, nobody is ever at the top forever, companies get arrogant and foolish and lazy, and I think yamaha has entered this stage some years ago and it's only a matter of time before another 'disruptor' comes in and shakes things up.

When I look at what truly new stuff Yamaha has introduced recently, it's nothing. The innovative swim platform of the 1st 230 series back in 2003 was their last major big deal, and oh was it a big deal. Everything since then is Yamaha ripping off what other brands do 1st and of course other brands ripping off the swim platform design.

 

[MidnightRider]

And what all is happening to the cable TV companies with their "packages"? They're loosing customers! Anyways, IMO, that is not the right analogy. Probably more like the way Acura sells cars, a base model and just two extra models (like advanced and tech) and very minimal, if any, choices inbetween. Acura use to be very strict and it was take it or leave it but they at least have since then added 'some' extra options inbetween the packages. They've also driven their prices higher, and their market share and sales are currently down. People go elsewhere when other companies are more willing to offer up the right price and options somebody wants. But even cars is not a good analogy because one can't really take the lcd dashboard or larger nav screen of a higher model and put into a lower model.

It also all depends on why people are buying that higher model. Excluding things like color, styling, or maybe SVHO engines, almost all of the rest is interchangeable, if somebody really wanted to do. Ballast, shower, etc can be added to any boat.

It would help that dealer with a base model sell it if he could just upgrade/replace that part or that dealer risks the customer going to another brand because that customer only wants one thing from the premium boat and just will not pay for all the other extras. How does it hurt the higher models? There are a lot of minor differences between the boats. All I'm talking about is letting a potential buyer have more flexibility for custom ordering a boat for a few key things.

I get why they do it, to try and lure people up, but IMO, they've made a mess of it.

The ultimate problem is that Yamaha doesn't really care about customers. There are enough people buying what they sell and right now they don't feel the need to make things more flexible.

But if they stay on this current path of theirs, things will change inevitably. Without a doubt, nobody is ever at the top forever, companies get arrogant and foolish and lazy, and I think yamaha has entered this stage some years ago and it's only a matter of time before another 'disruptor' comes in and shakes things up.

When I look at what truly new stuff Yamaha has introduced recently, it's nothing. The innovative swim platform of the 1st 230 series back in 2003 was their last major big deal, and oh was it a big deal. Everything since then is Yamaha ripping off what other brands do 1st and of course other brands ripping off the swim platform design.

Yeah I'm not disagreeing with you, my point was the mentality of why business models tend to try and do packages versus "a la carte" type offerings. I agree that there is a big trend across most industries for consumer demand of more "a la carte" type offerings and legacy companies are going to have to figure out how to accommodate this trend or they will be left in the dust.

 

[gmtech16450yz]

13) A new wireless wakesurf/boat connection wrist strap on controller so that somebody can go wakesurfing by themselves and the boat will know how to come back and stop next to them.

Hahahahahahaha! Now that's funny.

I just wonder if in 10 years we'll look back on this and still laugh when all the new boats on the market are self-driving. Faaaaaaak.