Jet Boat or Sterndrive

[anmut]

Also, nobody has mentioned it yet, so I'll throw it out there. You SHOULD NOT attempt to surf on a sterndrive (I don't care which direction the prop faces, surfing near a propeller is a damn bad idea).

You shouldn't surf a stern drive, but the Volvo (and now Merc) I/O that's in reverse puts the prop at the same area of the boat as an inboard. That would make them just as safe - arguably safer even as there's a hunk of metal between the surf area and the prop?

 

[RD23]

Of those three, I’d say the noise is the only one with any real merit. They might not be quite as good on fuel, but far from terrible. Negligible difference. Little enough difference that if it’s actually a factor, you’re probably delving into the wrong hobby. Any additional cost incurred in fuel will likely be more than made up for with how simple they are to service, maintain, and winterize. Steering, while there WILL be a learning curve it’s actually much better than a stern drive once gotten the hang of, ESPECIALLY with a twin engine. They’re fine with water sports, just remember that they’re not specifically designed for water sports. If you’re trying to wake surf, things tilt a bit, but wake boarding you’re good to go. The noise is the only thing I kinda wish mine was better on, but my understanding is that the newer models have much better soundproofing. More people will chime in with their opinions also, so let’s see what some others have to say.

Thank you very much for taking the time to respond to this post! I really appreciate your thought and time.
It sounds like these issues are much less than I was expecting which is exciting in helping me make my ultimate decision on which boat to purchase.

 

[RD23]

@RD23

1) Fuel economy is not bad. I burn through a full tank in 1 day, but we do 6-8 hours of continuous watersports...... A lot of tubing. We don't hang out.
2) Yamaha Jet boats are louder but we don't have any issues unless we are going full out then it is at times hard to have a conversation with others.
3) I have no problem in maneuvering. Actually I can very easily spin the boat around 360 degrees almost in place. It did take me a bit to get the hang of it. Once you are on the water a few times it all becomes second nature.

The NICE thing is there is not a prop behind the boat for safety. That is what sold us on our boat, which is a 2020 AR210. Plus our engines are VERY easy to maintain, anyone can do it.

Yes you can wakeboard just fine behind and do any watersports you want without issue. Of course if Wake Surfing is what you want to progress to I would go for a wake boat, but then you are going $20 - $30k, additional, easy.

I bought ours last May brand new off the lot and we have had a blast with it. It was the right price and we have had between 8-10 people on it and still pulling all watersports with ease. It is a great boat for the price and what it can do.

If you want to spend another 10k or so jump up to a 212. Same size boat, bigger engines. Eats a bit more gas, and goes about 8 mph faster. Also has a nicer interior and some other things.

If not, you really can't go wrong with the AR210.

Unfortunately, depending on your time frame to purchase, you may have a hard time finding inventory or the boat you want.

Perfect! Thank you! This is very helpful! I would like to start out on the lower end of the cost so based on all of this I think the AR210 is the boat for me. I'm happy to hear you are having so much fun with your AR210, I am hopeful come the end of summer I can begin to have fun in my own. Thank you again for your time.

 

[RD23]

I personally think you'll be happier in the long run with the 212. Most people think the 210 is under powered or slow. I know nothing about the Monterey. When we bought our boat new in '06 it was the fastest and most powerful available from Yamaha. It has the 160hp MR-1's. It flat out gets it! It does not care who I'm towing on a tub or skis. Nobody ever complains about too much horsepower in boats.

As far as noise and control, it's something you adjust to or get used to it. Most all boats are gonna be noisy. Yamahas rev higher so the pitch is a little different. I added insulation to mine and it made it quieter. It is way quieter then our Sea Ray Express we used to have. It had twin 454 big blocks and I'd cruise at 2000 rpms and would be on plane at 18 knots. It was loud! The motors were right under the captain and co-captain seats so we sat right over those huge motors.

Control is something that takes practice. There are fins that are available from the aftermarket if you decide that you need them. This will be your first boat, like it was for me too, so I didn't know any different. I picked up on the control with jets and never saw the need for fins. These boats are very maneuverable once you get the hang of it.

Thank you for replying! Ah man haha I just had a chance to purchase a 212S but held off to make sure a jet boat was actually what I wanted and to save the 10K-12K. The fact that you can add insulation sound like something I might do! I like that. It looks like I will have time to reconsider the AR210 vs 212S as the 2021 models are all gone and I am looking at August to make my purchase. Thank you again for your time and input!

 

[HangOutdoors]

@RD23 You will enjoy the boat. Actually you will enjoy any Yamaha Jet boat. Boats are expensive toys and the purchase of the actual boat is just the beginning. Buy what you can afford and feel comfortable with. Part of the enjoyment is knowing you don't have stress over such a large purchase.

If you are looking for new, get a deposit in and get in line or hunt very diligently for one that may be floating around.

This forum is full of a lot of information and experience I recommend reading through as much as you can.

 

[RD23]

Howdy and welcome!

Boat choosing is very personal. All depends on what you want to use it for and where you want to use it. So, the first thing is update your profile and give us a hint of where you are located. That will help us giving some advice.

Many (me included) find the Yamaha to be a good 'jack of all trades' boat. It doesn't really do anything outstandingly well, but it does many things very well. So a good all-around boat. If you just want to surf, there are better boats. If you just want to float on a party barge, there are better boats. If you just want to go fast, there are better boats. But Yamaha does all of these things pretty well. To your common complaints:
1) Never really had a stern drive to which to compare. But I don't think this is necessarily true. I have a 50 gal tank and twin engines in mine. A fill up has lasted me a weekend at the lake (with some tube towing, floating, cruising).
2) Loud--Yamahas have gotten better in this department (mine is before they put a lot of the sound dampening in), but it is important to keep your expectations reasonable. If you are going 50 mph on the water, the wind noise is going to make it so you can't talk much. That is not the boat, that is the speed. Yamaha's (and all jets) operate at high RPM, also. So many people complain that they are loud, but it is really that they are higher pitched than other boats, which may be just as loud. Take a test run in it. Or ask a friend to take you out (another time when that location comes in handy--we have lots of folks around here and some may be willing to take you for a ride).
3) I would not say difficult to maneuver. But they are distinctly different from piloting a stern drive. They are much more like a jetski. If you don't have propulsion, you don't have steering (much, though recent years have added an articulating keel to help with that). It is definitely a skill. New drivers frequently overcorrect and wind up turning the wheel back and forth to try to go in a straight line. However, if you are patient and learn your craft, you can very quickly pilot it as well as any prop drive (and in many instances better than those). Many people also add some form of steering enhancement (fins). Those can help the boat turn better and give some more solidity. But I usually recommend learning your boat native first before you put those on.

Wakeboarding is not my specialty yet (but one of the folks here has offered to teach me--come on warm weather!). So I will defer on that one...

Hope some of that is helpful!

A jack of all trades is exactly what I am looking for! I am not a professional at anything but what to do everything. I really appreciate your reply and time. Thank you!

 

[RD23]

@tdonoughue Makes a very valid point about location and water type. What type of lakes or oceans do you plan on using the boat in?

I live in central California and will be using the boat on lakes here in the valley... thank you for the questions, let me know if your thoughts change.

 

[RD23]

Howdy and welcome!

Boat choosing is very personal. All depends on what you want to use it for and where you want to use it. So, the first thing is update your profile and give us a hint of where you are located. That will help us giving some advice.

Many (me included) find the Yamaha to be a good 'jack of all trades' boat. It doesn't really do anything outstandingly well, but it does many things very well. So a good all-around boat. If you just want to surf, there are better boats. If you just want to float on a party barge, there are better boats. If you just want to go fast, there are better boats. But Yamaha does all of these things pretty well. To your common complaints:
1) Never really had a stern drive to which to compare. But I don't think this is necessarily true. I have a 50 gal tank and twin engines in mine. A fill up has lasted me a weekend at the lake (with some tube towing, floating, cruising).
2) Loud--Yamahas have gotten better in this department (mine is before they put a lot of the sound dampening in), but it is important to keep your expectations reasonable. If you are going 50 mph on the water, the wind noise is going to make it so you can't talk much. That is not the boat, that is the speed. Yamaha's (and all jets) operate at high RPM, also. So many people complain that they are loud, but it is really that they are higher pitched than other boats, which may be just as loud. Take a test run in it. Or ask a friend to take you out (another time when that location comes in handy--we have lots of folks around here and some may be willing to take you for a ride).
3) I would not say difficult to maneuver. But they are distinctly different from piloting a stern drive. They are much more like a jetski. If you don't have propulsion, you don't have steering (much, though recent years have added an articulating keel to help with that). It is definitely a skill. New drivers frequently overcorrect and wind up turning the wheel back and forth to try to go in a straight line. However, if you are patient and learn your craft, you can very quickly pilot it as well as any prop drive (and in many instances better than those). Many people also add some form of steering enhancement (fins). Those can help the boat turn better and give some more solidity. But I usually recommend learning your boat native first before you put those on.

Wakeboarding is not my specialty yet (but one of the folks here has offered to teach me--come on warm weather!). So I will defer on that one...

Hope some of that is helpful!

I will be using this boat on the lakes here in the valley of central California

 

[RD23]

Regarding the loudness... They make some noise, but honestly, the wind noise is louder than the engine noise in my experience.

The only thing I would say is really think about your size choice. 21ft might be small depending on who you're taking you. My 23ft felt quite small when my girlfriend and her girlfriends were on the boat and I had a few friends on. Especially with snacks, drinks, etc involved. IMO, 75% of the max people load is really the comfortable limit. I don't think I would want to have more than like... 5 or 6 people on a 21ft.

This is a good point and something I thought about, I am sure the wind noise is quite a bit as well so I think I could get over the noise fairly quickly.
I want to take maybe 8 people on the boat. the 21ft Yamahas are rated for 10 and 2,200 pounds and I think that would work well for me and it is the best price point I think that is why I am leaning there. thank you for you reply, time and thoughts!

 

[RD23]

Do you regret going with a jet boat because of the noise?

 

[RD23]

So many strong responses in this thread. I won’t repeat all of the comments above in detail because I agree with them. Fuel, noise, handling, if you consider them a problem (which honestly, I really don’t), are all more than outbalanced by the benefits, layout, no prop, easy maintenance, quality, flexibility, do-anything-ness.


I will add, between the two, we bought anAR our first go round with big plans to upgrade as we go, in the end we traded her for an X the next go round so we could just get in and go. No upgrades or aftermarket s needed (though many still wanted) haha

if you have the $$ upgrade, especially since, along with everything else, you get things that aren’t easily upgraded like interior details.

On jet vs. other options:
Of course we are a bit biased, but this is a whole room full of people who have been in exactly the same jet vs. stearndrive/outboard spot you are in right now, and we all wound up with jets...... and the fact that we are almost all still, after having owned them, sure we made the right call speaks volumes!

How long did you own your AR? Thank you for your reply!

 

[RD23]

I'm on my 5th boat now over the last 20 years. Went from a 17' outboard, to a 21' inboard ski boat, to a 21' Yamaha SX210, to a 15' Seadoo Sportster, and now have a 19' Yamaha SX190. Before that, my parents had an I/O Bayliner, so I've driven many types. Low water levels are what forced me to a jet boat, and I'm not sure I'd ever go away from one now. Maintenance is easy, and swimming with nothing to kick is really nice. Docking does take some getting used to, but with twin engines, it's actually pretty easy once you get the feel for it. I miss the twins with my new single engine 19 footer. Noise is probably one of my biggest complaints, second would be driving when tubing. I find you really need to manipulate the throttle in turns or the boat slows down. Prop boats hold more consistent speed in turns.
Can't beat the swim platform either. Had some friends pull up in their new I/O last summer and they really preferred our Yamaha's platform.

Perfect! The swim platform is a big reason I am considering it so that it great to hear. Thank you for your input

 

[RD23]

We bought our first boat two years ago and it was a little 18 foot Bayliner stern drive. It was used, the guy was practically giving it away and it suited our purposes of having fun on the water and helped determine if we would be "boat people" or not. We used it ALL THE TIME, but had it's setbacks. We boat in rivers so prop strikes on loose objects were always a problem. As others have mentioned, where you boat and what type of water you're in might help determine what the best way to go will be.

As far as answering your questions:
1.) They're not terrible on fuel at all. It's all relative to wind, current, how hard you're pushing, number of motors, etc. I don't feel like I spend significantly more on fuel than I did on our Bayliner. I fill up before every outing for peace of mind of having a full tank, and I spend about the same now as I did previously.

2.) I don't think jets are louder, just higher pitched. Our I/O I thought was extremely loud, even after insulating the hatch. Our 232 maybe screams a bit with twin engines and higher pitched, but volume wise is not any louder. They're just different. Again, specific brands, engine placement, type, etc. will all factor.

3.) They just take practice to maneuver and get the hang of. There are aftermarket steering enhancements that can help solve the low speed steering strugles. Many of us use them, some prefer the stock feel of the boat and have practiced their way to expert level steering. While under way they are highly maneuverable regardless.

We do some tubing and have a few wakeboarders occasionally, but most of our time is cruising or floating on the water. For hanging out with the family, in my opinion the yamaha swim platform can't be beat. It's definitely my favorite feature of the boat. If your three things are the only thing holding you back, go with the Yamaha. I don't think you'll have any regrets.

Thank you! This is very helpful!

 

[RD23]

My experience after owning a 19 AR210...reminder, jet boats are not for everyone. I wanted to sell mine after the first time taking it out. Biggest mistake I ever made. Jet boats are just not for me..

1) Fuel economy is not good...but not horrible. It will use more fuel than the 4.5 merc. But maybe not much more..

2) The engines are loud, but that is really not the main issue. It’s that they run at such a high rpm and there are two engines. Two engines running together at the same rpm creates a bad harmonic sound. Very irritating to me. They sound like they are running at 15,000 rpm but not going anywhere. Reminded me of the early Nissan CVT transmission cars...all rpm and no go.

3) Jet boats maneuver terribly...so terrible my wife refused to drive our AR210. You can always tell when a Yamaha jet boat is coming at you in a no-wake zone as they are swerving back and forth. That being said, I got good at driving and docking it after a couple months. Most will chime in that you will need to spend a few hundred $$ on some fins. Kind of crap a new boat nreds steering fins to maneuver correctly.

Enough with the negative- I think for most people the Jet boat is a great boat. They get out of the hole hard, can easily pull wakeboarders and tubers. The Yamaha layout is great and priced right.

Another big advantage to a Yamaha jet boat is this forum..lots of great info and members.... This is why many of us who moved on from Jet boats still come here.

Thank you for your input! Im bummed you regret your AR purchase, I hope you are able to get into something you enjoy more. I appreciate your time and thoughts!

 

[RD23]

Jet drive 100% if it was my choice.

FAR less maintenance on a jet compared to a sterndrive. The drivetrain simplicity alone is worth the move IMO. Just fewer things to go wrong and fail on the jet system.

Also, nobody has mentioned it yet, so I'll throw it out there. You SHOULD NOT attempt to surf on a sterndrive (I don't care which direction the prop faces, surfing near a propeller is a damn bad idea). You can surf all you want on a jet. You might not want to surf now, but if you decide you want to try, you'll need another boat. The jet won't make a great wave for surfing without a ton of mods, but it'll get you started if you wanted to try it out.

Also, I voted 212S. It'll be a rocket ship compared to a 22ft V6 Sterndrive. 50+mph top speed, and enough holeshot to yank the rope out of anyones hands this side of pro boarders. Has more interior space than that M22 as well.

The maintenance point is very attractive! Yeah I would surf but do not want to pony up the 15k or so more for a surf model boat. Thank you for your input, I will have to look at the 212S more seriously again. thank you!

 

[RD23]

@RD23 You will enjoy the boat. Actually you will enjoy any Yamaha Jet boat. Boats are expensive toys and the purchase of the actual boat is just the beginning. Buy what you can afford and feel comfortable with. Part of the enjoyment is knowing you don't have stress over such a large purchase.

If you are looking for new, get a deposit in and get in line or hunt very diligently for one that may be floating around.

This forum is full of a lot of information and experience I recommend reading through as much as you can.

Yeah I think that is why I am leaning toward the AR210. I do not want the stress of buy a boat that cost more than I really should be spending.
I went the deposit rout but baulked at the opportunity to buy a 212S when the price went up near 10K from dealer mark up. I think I will put a deposit down soon so that I can be early in line for a 2022 AR210. thank you again for your help! I really appreciate it!

 

[IA_210SX]

We have a 21 footer and I wish I had a tower but doubt I can find one close to what I want to spend. Everyone had a great reply. My point of view is that you’ll appreciate the jets. I was on my sisters’ stern drive, and looked to the back as we were under full power, and the sight of the prop spinning as I looked at it made me appreciate our boat a lot more.

Loud-possibly.
Hard to handle- you’ll get used to it. Learn how to play the wind.
Gas- Put it on the trailer and buy it off the water. I save over $2 a gallon when I gas up. Driving my truck up to the marina costs a little more than the highlander but it all works out.

Have fun and be safe out there. Throw a utility knife in your boat for the first time you suck up a rope. You’ll also appreciate the open area in the stern of the boat. Definitely a plus for the Yamaha.

 

[RD23]

We have a 21 footer and I wish I had a tower but doubt I can find one close to what I want to spend. Everyone had a great reply. My point of view is that you’ll appreciate the jets. I was on my sisters’ stern drive, and looked to the back as we were under full power, and the sight of the prop spinning as I looked at it made me appreciate our boat a lot more.

Loud-possibly.
Hard to handle- you’ll get used to it. Learn how to play the wind.
Gas- Put it on the trailer and buy it off the water. I save over $2 a gallon when I gas up. Driving my truck up to the marina costs a little more than the highlander but it all works out.

Have fun and be safe out there. Throw a utility knife in your boat for the first time you suck up a rope. You’ll also appreciate the open area in the stern of the boat. Definitely a plus for the Yamaha.

How many adults do you think you can fit on your 21ft boat comfortably?
I do have a son who I will be taking out an the loves the water, definitely love the idea of no prop. Definitely my plan to fill up on the way to the lake! Good point.
Will do with the knife!
Thank you very much for your time and consideration!

 

[IA_210SX]

Glad to help. We’ve had 4 adults and 5 kids on it quite a bit. If kids are on the tube that frees up some space. The worst one to take out with us is our dog. I would think 7 to 8 adults would be comfortable but most people on this forum would agree that non-boaters have a way of always being in the way no matter what.

 

[HangOutdoors]

@RD23 I have had 8 adults. Including me out before. I didn't find it cramped really. Depends what else you have in the boat. Of course some find that cramped, it depends what you like. Also have had 4 adults and 6 teenagers, felt a bit much, but teenagers are every where all over the place.