Update: finally have my decision down to a 2021 195s or 2018 212x

[jrod25]

Love the 212x and at 2018 it is still new, however wonder if it's too much of a boat and I am blinded by all the bing. I would like to wakeboard and surf but could only see myself doing this 50% of the time the way these things eat gas. Floating and cruising the rest. It still has yes warranty 2023. The 2021 195s can be garage keep, has all the latest tech and features, probably more than enough room as it's just me and girlfriend. Only a 9K difference between the two. Yes insurance is cheaper for the 195s, the 212x would need to store or slip. Anyone out there 42 yrs old living your best single life! ?

 

[Gonzalo]

I'd get the 212. It will fit more girls :-D LOL

 

[jrod25]

I'd get the 212. It will fit more girls :-D LOL

? It's what I keep hearing. That guy who owns a boat...front of the line!

 

[marcham]

We surf a lot more than we thought we would... if I could have found a lightly used 212, we would have and we'd be better off in terms of wake size .

 

[Dave burke]

I’ve read many times on this forum (and elsewhere) - buy your 2nd boat first.

 

[haknslash]

50% wake surfing is a pretty high percentage all things being considered. Where do you live? Of the two I’d take a 212X but if surfing is something you consider doing that often throughout the season I’d suggest a different boat altogether honestly. Been there with both.

 

[jrod25]

We surf a lot more than we thought we would... if I could have found a lightly used 212, we would have and we'd be better off in terms of wake size .

TKS I figured a wake booster and fat sac would help for waking but I see once you learn to surf you end up doing it more.

 

[jrod25]

50% wake surfing is a pretty high percentage all things being considered. Where do you live? Of the two I’d take a 212X but if surfing is something you consider doing that often throughout the season I’d suggest a different boat altogether honestly. Been there with both.

Looked at the surf wakeboats but out of my budget and can't use in saltwater if I wanted or chilling at the beach/ sandbar.

 

[adrianp89]

Bigger boat, no brainer.

 

[DaytonFlyer1068]

I had a 19 foot boat last summer and went to a 212 in October. Trust me...get the 21. It feels HUGE on the water compared to the 19. You will thank us later.

 

[jrod25]

I had a 19 foot boat last summer and went to a 212 in October. Trust me...get the 21. It feels HUGE on the water compared to the 19. You will thank us later.

Needed that reassure. Thanks in excited can't wait

 

[Miitch]

Not a yamaha owner but maybe i can chime in anyway, with my <1 year of boat owner experience LOL. If you can afford it, get the bigger one. 50% of the time surfing, is a lot of time. Surfing behind a 19ft is just miserable. The problem is, once you start surfing and progressing, you want more. And that gets halted quick by a 19fter with minimal surf options.

As for size, sometimes its not about how many it can fit, but how comfortably it can fit those you plan to have. my dinky 18fter "fits 8". I rarely have more than 4 (me included) on board, and with gear/towels etc, it gets crowded.

both very good options! especially considering there is a famine of boats now.

 

[jrod25]

Not a yamaha owner but maybe i can chime in anyway, with my <1 year of boat owner experience LOL. If you can afford it, get the bigger one. 50% of the time surfing, is a lot of time. Surfing behind a 19ft is just miserable. The problem is, once you start surfing and progressing, you want more. And that gets halted quick by a 19fter with minimal surf options.

As for size, sometimes its not about how many it can fit, but how comfortably it can fit those you plan to have. my dinky 18fter "fits 8". I rarely have more than 4 (me included) on board, and with gear/towels etc, it gets crowded.

both very good options! especially considering there is a famine of boats now.

Always info welcome and you bring a great experience! This will be my 2nd boat and first time jet boat owner, worry I will hate the docking experience as it's always a owners fear lol. So as a one season owner my question is do you regret it? Would you have went another route wake, stern etc? And if you could change one thing what would it be? TIA

 

[the MfM]

I'd get the 212. It will fit more girls :-D LOL

 

[Miitch]

Always info welcome and you bring a great experience! This will be my 2nd boat and first time jet boat owner, worry I will hate the docking experience as it's always a owners fear lol. So as a one season owner my question is do you regret it? Would you have went another route wake, stern etc? And if you could change one thing what would it be? TIA

i dont regret it one bit! Docking was a but of a hassle, but since this is the first boat ive owned, its also the first boat ive docked lol. So i guess an OB would have been just as big of a challenge!

As for different choices, i dont think id change anything. My father had a bunch of OBs and some I/Os as a child when i was growing up. He practically lived on OBs lol. He was shocked when he saw how easy Jets were to work on compared to OBs of his time. He was pretty anti-jet, with only the knowledge on the early nightmare jets of the 80s and 90s. Important to note, he was aware of how poorly jet boats handled. When he docked my boat for the first time (his first time driving a jet), he did it flawlessly. He said the nightmare stories didn't represent the actual experience.

I think the only thing i would change, would be the size. I'd love a 21fter, but this was the biggest i could buy with cash. and at my age, im happy i went that route. I was able to go for "my second boat first", as i was originally considering a scarab 165 or something of the same size, but what i didnt plan on, was having a 3rd and 4th boat in the back of my mind this is a perfect starting grounds for me.

 

[Yamahaul]

day 1 out on the water i wish i had a larger boat. then got used to it. personally i think it depends on where you boat and personal needs. for me, on the river and pulling into the springs the 19 is great. lake ramps are tight. Im at peace now with the 19. lol black boat is sexy tho. tough decision. be nice to keep the boat in the garage. 9 k tho..... I still look at bigger boats on boat trader. lol

 

[haknslash]

Looked at the surf wakeboats but out of my budget and can't use in saltwater if I wanted or chilling at the beach/ sandbar.

Roger that. I didn’t realize you were the same person that had the other similar thread.

 

[LakesideLaw]

Welcome! Get the 212X no question. 42 Single (with a girlfriend though) - living my best life for sure! Got a new 2021 AR250 can't wait to hit the water with it - got a new Dodge Durango R/T Hemi to pull it. Girls dig boats for sure Post some pics when you get the new ride!

 

[AZMark]

We had same decision in 2019 - new 195 or 1 year old 212. We went with the bigger and are very very happy that we did. The boats feel smaller on the water. I was also concerned about long term reliability of a supercharged engine.

 

[jrod25]

Roger that. I didn’t realize you were the same person that had the other similar thread.

Lop no worries... doing all my research. I'll update pics once I have her