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

[Canuckjetboater]

Love the 212x and at 2018 it is still new, however wonder if it's too much of a boat. ?

@jrod25 .....you can get a fair amount if insurance, gas and boat storage for 9K (+any associated interest). If you can solve the storage I'd get the 212 because I never heard anyone complain they had too much boat. The 212 should be easier to dock with the twin throttles which you can use against each other and spin on a dime or walk the boat to the dock/slip. Alos on a longer trip twin engines (with a hose clamp lol) are added insurance. We have 2020 SX195 which is perfect for us as all my ski boats, fast boats and cruisers are behind me BUT if I was 42 I'd go for the 212X FWIW.

 

[marcham]

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

By far, my Yamaha is the easiest boat I've ever had to dock without a bow thruster. Because the thrust is infinitely variable at low speed, you get very fine control.(i think there was improvements in reverse bucket in 2019). I dock using no wake mode and hold the neutral lock out up. I then just move the throttle fore and aft as required. The boat will spin within it's length.

 

[212s]

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

We had a similar dilemma with 19 vs 21ft...most of the time it's just the two of us so the 19 would have been plenty big enough. But since we boat in various waters we wanted more power and weight to cut the chop, plus the wife really liked the deeper cockpit of the bigger boat - felt more "in" the boat when cutting through waves and chop. And then there's the times we have family along and the added room is nice to have. Also the 212 will be better at making wake for boarding and surfing.

the way these things eat gas.

Oddly enough the twin 1.8L engines eats about the same fuel amount as the single 1.8L SC engine so it's a wash there.

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.

This comes down to your personal needs and wants that only you can decide.

For us the 212 was the way to go as a 19ft wouldn't fit in our garage anyway. And when spending this much money on a new boat we figured we should get what we want and not settle. Kinda like buying a house, your first one is a settle, the second one you get what you want now that you know what you need.

 

[jrod25]

Bow.

We had a similar dilemma with 19 vs 21ft...most of the time it's just the two of us so the 19 would have been plenty big enough. But since we boat in various waters we wanted more power and weight to cut the chop, plus the wife really liked the deeper cockpit of the bigger boat - felt more "in" the boat when cutting through waves and chop. And then there's the times we have family along and the added room is nice to have. Also the 212 will be better at making wake for boarding and surfing.

Oddly enough the twin 1.8L engines eats about the same fuel amount as the single 1.8L SC engine so it's a wash there.

This comes down to your personal needs and wants that only you can decide.

For us the 212 was the way to go as a 19ft wouldn't fit in our garage anyway. And when spending this much money on a new boat we figured we should get what we want and not settle. Kinda like buying a house, your first one is a settle, the second one you get what you want now that you know what you need.

All great advice! Ready to buy/put her on the water and see how she rides. I'm sure I will not be disappointed.

 

[JimJr]

Have a 2019 212X - no regrets except maybe a bigger X