Review of the all New 2016 Yamaha 242X E-Series Wake Sports jet boat

[swatski]

Thank you @Glen for giving us a tour of your boat! And it had to be in Bimini, of all places.
We really like a lot of the features, very very cool. I have to say, it is also much different than a walk through at a boat show, just very different perception overall.
I wonder if you guys have opinions on the handling and ride of your 2016 hulls vs the previous 2010-2014 models.

 

[Kane]

@Kane Other than the graphics, sound etc. - how do you like the new boat's ride as compared to your old, was it a 2014? I am very curious about your perspective on the ride/acceleration/speed/chop handling and noise level. Thank you for any input you can offer!

As of today, I can tell you I really love my boat except for a few things. Biggest complaint by far is the reverse(see my thread). I'd say the second is I'm thinking the boat handles a bit different from my AR. I don't know if it's the keel but I think I liked it better without the Keel. I beat the ever living hell out it today with just 2 of us and it handles fine....throw a tube and a few passengers and it handles very different.
Would I recommend it? Yes, but only if you want an all around boat. If your looking for a water sports boat, buy an Axis. If you like to do a little of everything and want a boat that looks great, is well appointed, can go 50mph down the lake through some chop with the radio cranking, you'll love this boat. Yamaha has a few tweaks....once they figure out what those are, this thing will be a Homerun!
Hope it helps

 

[swatski]

As of today, I can tell you I really love my boat except for a few things. Biggest complaint by far is the reverse(see my thread). I'd say the second is I'm thinking the boat handles a bit different from my AR. I don't know if it's the keel but I think I liked it better without the Keel. I beat the ever living hell out it today with just 2 of us and it handles fine....throw a tube and a few passengers and it handles very different.
Would I recommend it? Yes, but only if you want an all around boat. If your looking for a water sports boat, buy an Axis. If you like to do a little of everything and want a boat that looks great, is well appointed, can go 50mph down the lake through some chop with the radio cranking, you'll love this boat. Yamaha has a few tweaks....once they figure out what those are, this thing will be a Homerun!
Hope it helps

@Kane Thank you, that does help. I am very conflicted myself. Can't decide if the 2015-16 hull is good (or bad) for you .

While in Bimini, the Exumas group @robert843 pointed out the 2015 AR240 they rode was handling those little 5-6 footers much better than a 2010-2014 hull would. Now, these guys are nuts, LOL, so who knows!
And it was an infinity-pool-side conversation, nonetheless.

--

 

[Glen]

Thank you @Glen for giving us a tour of your boat! And it had to be in Bimini, of all places.
We really like a lot of the features, very very cool. I have to say, it is also much different than a walk through at a boat show, just very different perception overall.
I wonder if you guys have opinions on the handling and ride of your 2016 hulls vs the previous 2010-2014 models.

I can't compare well due to my last Yamaha was an 09, and we sold it in '11.

I can say that I am really impressed with this '16's handling, from crossing the Gulf Stream (maybe had to wipe sun glasses twice on the way there, not once on way back & tracked beautifully), to lake boat chop (never had a drop come to guests sitting in bow).

You definitely give up some of the slide sideways moves & sub, but gain tracking & freeboard.

Everything on boats is about trade-offs & therefore matching them to your 'use-case'. This fits ours as we are far from a strict lake boating family.

More Gulfs (Streams), (LI) Sounds and (Chesapeake) Bays are in our regular cycle for boating. (That is, big water swells, sudden weather & big boats (tankers)) are regular environmentals.
-and we like calm lake boating as well.
Wake surfed on Lake Anna yesterday, in the rain. Had whole lake to self. Awesome!
(We're weird ;-)

 

[Julian]

I'm still getting the feel my boat, but one thing I have noticed (or not noticed actually) is there is no wiggle and slide while crossing wakes/waves. My old SX would twist and wiggle a lot....to the point I'd notice it....not noticed it at all yet with the 242X

 

[Kane]

@Kane Thank you, that does help. I am very conflicted myself. Can't decide if the 2015-16 hull is good (or bad) for you .

While in Bimini, the Exumas group @robert843 pointed out the 2015 AR240 they rode was handling those little 5-6 footers much better than a 2010-2014 hull would. Now, these guys are nuts, LOL, so who knows!
And it was an infinity-pool-side conversation, nonetheless.

--

The hull is great and while its in a lake and not the ocean I've been in 3 footers and stayed dry and the boat tracked great! I'm looking at this new boat under a microscope so I don't want by any means to scare you away...it's an awesome boat! I never had an issue without the articulating keel so for me this wasn't a reason to buy one with. I'm just being fairly raw about my experience with this boat. I'm sure some things I just have to figure out being that it's a new model, couple that with the fact that I loved my AR.....I'm a tough critic!!
If you pull the trigger you won't regret it!!

 

[robert843]

@Kane Thank you, that does help. I am very conflicted myself. Can't decide if the 2015-16 hull is good (or bad) for you .

While in Bimini, the Exumas group @robert843 pointed out the 2015 AR240 they rode was handling those little 5-6 footers much better than a 2010-2014 hull would. Now, these guys are nuts, LOL, so who knows!
And it was an infinity-pool-side conversation, nonetheless.

--

My only experience on a 2015 hull is about 500 miles of hard off shore ridding and I was impressed with it. Now when I say impressed I'm comparing it to my 2011 SX240 not a 24 ft center console I'm sure many of those may have handled it better. I kind of feel the same way as @Kane these boats are great all around boats but if you where offshore all the time I would want an offshore boat. If I did water sports all the time or surfed all the time I would probably buy a true water sports vdrive boat. For me I spend 90% on the ICW very little water sports 10% or less of the time and offshore is about 10% so I have really considered on offshore boat but I loose so many things I like about the Yamaha that will get used 90% of the time. I think my next boat will be a newer Yamaha or a Sea Ray 270 Sundeck Outboard. I really love the Sea Ray but not sure if its worth double the price of a AR240.

 

[Glen]

Now that through with Bimini trip time to
Get the "X" components of this boat fixed under Warrenty!

-"Err" message in speedo. No auto start/speed controls!
-Ballast system short circuits when used. No ballast!
-Bluetooth connection is flaky and gets very difficult to re-connect later in a day. (Have tried the battery off, reset).

Basically, we paid for an X and we are getting a LS. No longer willing to wait for the fix!

Just found these trailer bracket cracked this AM, which is likely why we had so many bolts vibrate out to/fm FL, last week.

 

[swatski]

My only experience on a 2015 hull is about 500 miles of hard off shore ridding View attachment 40946 View attachment 40947

LOL. Man, you are cracking me up, your "only experience". Thank you for chiming in, I was hoping to hear from you.

Contrary to my earlier thoughts on the subject, I am now totally leaning towards a 2015- 24fter... There are some amazing deals on lightly used 2010-2014s but from what I hear, the new hull represents a major improvement in design, overall. The worrisome trend is - they seem to keep "plasticizing" it more and more, but then again - watching the Bimini/Exuma group' new 240/242s perform was impressive.

--

 

[robert843]

@swatski I was faced with same dilemma I had a deal worked last October on a 2015 AR240 for either 47 or 48 out the door I do not recall which now. During the following days I found a steal on a 2011 sx240 with 60ish hours and still under yes warranty so I went used and passed on the 15. I still do not regret that choice as I could sell my 11 today for more then I paid for it and had I went new I would have taken a big hit. I will wait for the numbers on the boats I'm looking at used to hit a good comfort zone where I feel a good bulk of the depreciation is gone then I will pull the trigger again. Plus I see all the little issues everyone is having with the new ones so hopefully by then who ever owned the boat before me will have had all those items fixed under warranty and I don't have to deal with the head aches some of the guys with new boats are dealing with.

 

[ffas11]

Has anyone had problems with the radio system in the 242x cutting in and out?

 

[ffas11]

What size power and ground wire does everyone have in their 242x e-series?

 

[TPABoatGrl]

Has anyone had problems with the radio system in the 242x cutting in and out?

Yes, the radio never gets a strong signal. My dealership said they have had complaints, no fix for it. Bluetooth and USB music is good, but can't turn up the volume loud enough, especially when playing through Bluetooth.

 

[ffas11]

Yes, the radio never gets a strong signal. My dealership said they have had complaints, no fix for it. Bluetooth and USB music is good, but can't turn up the volume loud enough, especially when playing through Bluetooth.

I believe that I found the problem. Check your amps. The gain is turned all the way up from factory. I turned them to half way and can crank it max volume now.

 

[TPABoatGrl]

I will check that over the weekend, thanks! Does make sense.

I believe that I found the problem. Check your amps. The gain is turned all the way up from factory. I turned them to half way and can crank it max volume now.

 

[Ted & Aja]

Has anyone had issues with the 242? We have had multiple problems since buying it last year, and currently it is in the shop again for a month. The issues we have had are port side motor not starting, they fixed it after three months of back and forth to the shop bad ground in one of the connections. Moisture getting in the back radio control, Bluetooth cutting out, speakers literally falling out in the front, and volume knob on new back control being stuck. The ballast don't fill like they are suppose to in fact they don't work at all, this is the current issue being fixed and parts are on back order. We love the boat but issues are ridiculous and it seems as if it the thing spends more time in the shop than the water.