Yamaha 24ft jetboat vs Robalo 24ft to Bimini Island

[cargarci53]

Hi all, I am planing to buy a boat next month and will be using it a lot to cross from miami to bimini island. I am trying to get an honest opinion of the pros and cons of getting a Yamaha 24ft jetboat or a Robalo 24ft to Bimini Island?

How does the Yamaha 24ft jetboat handles the ocean crossing? Is it very different than riding on a Robalo 24ft?

Thanks in advance!

 

[fatboyroy]

I don’t own a Robalo but it’s definitely the better choice since it’s built for offshore if u can live without the swim platform when u get to the blue water of the Bahamas lol.

 

[Evil Sports]

I could get hammered for saying this but I never really considered these boats as good off shore vessels. More like inshore/bay boats. Robalo is a true off shore brand.

 

[VitaminSea]

Here’s a recent thread from @jocolo21. He just completed the crossing in his 252…(see around post 92)

Besides heading to Bimini, what other activities do you plan on using the boat for? Also are you looking at a 2016-2020 24ft Yamaha or one of the new 250/252/255, as from what I have read the newer hull seems to handle chop and seas superior to the older hull.

https://jetboaters.net/threads/finally-broke-her-in-now-upgrades-and-build.31191/page-5#post-542330

 

[Elliott]

How did you come to compare these two boats? They seem very dissimilar in purpose, price and etc. A 24 foot Yamaha is a ski/watersports boat. If you go to a 25 foot FSH, you might have something to compare. In terms of price, a 24 foot Robalo (using MSRPs) is much more expensive than a similarly equipped 25 foot FSH (the FSH has twin engines and a twin Robalo 24 center console would be about 50% more). A dual console 24 Robalo is even more.

 

[Evil Sports]

Be ware of fan boy bias in a thread like this. You are talking truly 2 different class of boats here. Again Robalo is a true off shore brand, Yamaha is a value inshore boat. After 8 years Im sure I understand Yamaha quite well.

 

[Elliott]

Be ware of fan boy bias in a thread like this. You are talking truly 2 different class of boats here. Again Robalo is a true off shore brand, Yamaha is a value inshore boat. After 8 years Im sure I understand Yamaha quite well.

The only way I could see choosing the Yamaha over the Robalo would be to compare a 25 foot FSH with its twin engines to a 24 Robalo with one engine. The prices would be closer (Robalo still higher), and at least you would have something to weigh (slightly bigger twin versus marginally smaller single). It might be worth test driving both in some less than ideal conditions.

The natural default choice, if similarly equipped, would be an outboard center console.

 

[Dough]

Robalo. And I LOVE my jet for lake work.

 

[Evil Sports]

I too love my jet for rivers and lakes.

 

[Bogus]

Yamaha is not a reliable boat. Also, riding it in strong sea conditions even in the small swell will shake you a lot.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

When I was looking for my boat last year my friend had these questions that helped guide me to the 210 FSH I bought.

Where are you going to use the boat?
What are you going to use the boat for?
How many people are going to be on the boat?

Since the answer to the first question is “off shore” the Yamaha side of the equation would be either the 252 or 255 FSH. As others have stated in this post, the 25’ FSH has a new hull designed for off shore use, and reports keep coming in from our members that the boat works very well in bigger water.

The Robalo is a fine looking and serious off shore center console with some great features that justify its higher price point.

The Robalo‘s range at a best cruise speed of 28 mph is 327 statute miles with a 10% reserve of its 150 gallon fuel tank netting 2.42 mpg with twin 150 hp Yamaha’s. Should also be noted that Yamaha now offers the digital control / joy stick operating system for the 150’s which gives you auto pilot, anchor lock, and incredible low speed maneuvering. The 255 FSH Sport E Yamaha range with its supercharged engines ( 500 hp) has a best cruise speed of 31 mph, 211 statute miles with a 10% reserve of its 111 gallon fuel tank netting 2.1 mpg.

Heres two test reports from boat test highlighting these two boats.

Robalo R242 (2016-) | BoatTEST

The hallmark of any good builder is in its ability to keep improving the product line and never be satisfied with already being good. It’s never good enough, and there’s always room to improve. The result of this mindset is the R242 from Robalo. An improved version of the beloved R240, this...

www.boattest.com

Yamaha 255 FSH Sport E (2021-) | BoatTEST

www.boattest.com

As the others have stated above, I love my 210 FSH but if the mission is longer off shore adventures the Robalo seems like the best choice, but the 252 or 255 FSH could very well fill the bill at a lower price point.

 

[Julian]

Robalo...hands down. But as others have said, its not really apples to apples. The far more expensive boat will do better.

 

[Bogus]

I have yamaha 242x E 2017 with 140 hours:
Two times changed shift cables. One time changed steering cable. Audio Polk at stern is not working. Changed pair of polk speaker they stoped working. Oil leaks in engine. GPS is not working. Now im waiting for display that cost $2400 cause its not loading. Tower get deformation because of the regular sea wind. You May dislike my post but this it the truth yamaha is not a reliable boat. Also problebs with bearings. This is after Two years at river and Two years at the sea. Is it realible? At 140 hours the boat is full apart. Also gel coat and hull is very thin.

 

[Betik]

I have yamaha 242x E 2017 with 140 hours:
Two times changed shift cables. One time changed steering cable. Audio Polk at stern is not working. Changed pair of polk speaker they stoped working. Oil leaks in engine. GPS is not working. Now im waiting for display that cost $2400 cause its not loading. Tower get deformation because of the regular sea wind. You May dislike my post but this it the truth yamaha is not a reliable boat. Also problebs with bearings. This is after Two years at river and Two years at the sea. Is it realible? At 140 hours the boat is full apart. Also gel coat and hull is very thin.

that sounds rather unusual. Sorry to hear you had such bad luck because this is not the norm

 

[Betik]

The comparison you are making is like asking should I use a Honda CR-V for off-roading or a Jeep.

 

[Bogus]

P. S. Tower Led lits diddnt work since factory

 

[Elliott]

This thread is likely pointless; the website shows the OP has not visited since posting his first and only post.

 

[Betik]

This thread is likely pointless; the website shows the OP has not visited since posting his first and only post.

Clemson tiger strikes back ?

 

[Mully262]

I have yamaha 242x E 2017 with 140 hours:
Two times changed shift cables. One time changed steering cable. Audio Polk at stern is not working. Changed pair of polk speaker they stoped working. Oil leaks in engine. GPS is not working. Now im waiting for display that cost $2400 cause its not loading. Tower get deformation because of the regular sea wind. You May dislike my post but this it the truth yamaha is not a reliable boat. Also problebs with bearings. This is after Two years at river and Two years at the sea. Is it realible? At 140 hours the boat is full apart. Also gel coat and hull is very thin.

That may be the first time I've heard Yamaha referred to as "unreliable". Sounds like Larry at the factory was drunk that day he assembled your boat. Sorry man.

 

[tabbibus]

This thread is likely pointless; the website shows the OP has not visited since posting his first and only post.

but its fun. haha.

So what should I get, a 6 pack of Pernicious IPA or a bottle of woodford reserve? Similar question right? Both are kinda awesome but completely different.