FREE For Boat Shoppers: www.BoatersSecretWeapon.com/Toolkit FREE Boat Buyer's Toolkit for new or used boat shoppers will give you 28-pages of checklists, questions to ask and how to demo the boat the right way so you don't miss a thing. Plus, get the cost of ownership calculator so you know precisely what your cost of ownership will be. FREE For Boat Owners: boaterssecretweapon.com/pages/boater-bootcamp FREE Boater Bootcamp for newer boat owners gives you insights on boat ownership basics, navigation and practical rules of the water and how to avoid, be prepared and handle emergency situations. No more not knowing what you don't know in the boating lifestyle.
I've owned my 2004 yamaha SX230 for 7 years now. super reliable boat. easy easy maintenance. First time boat buyer/owner, its nice not to have to service outdrives. The maintenance cost is extremely low. Service oil change ($80)once a year, typically at the beginning of the season. K&N air filters never replaces, quality spark plugs every 3 or 4 years. Seriously just a good cleaning after a day on the water, and a good cover when not in use this boat will last. huge pro to the weight of jet boats: I live in the Mountain of NC and boat in SC, my 1/2 ton truck hauls the boat and 50gal fuel up and the down the 7% grade mountain easy. Another huge pro: The reliability of the motors and overall boat. In 7 years, 7 solid seasons of boating he have ( one ) major repair. the big con everyone mentions: low speed maneuverability and docking. Jet Boat Pilot has some seriously good upgrades for any jet boat any year. I'll be honest i have not sprung for any of the upgrades. My SX230 is stock. After a season on the water I found it easy to learn how to maneuver the boat around the dock. The big and easy mistakes can come from over correction. so take your time. Stating this, My year model is before "wake assist" before the "keel fin", basically before any of these nice assist features you see on all the current models. Major Repair : 2018, long story short after a hard core 3 day weekend on the water, one of the motors started to misfire. with one of the motors not running at full RPM the boat was hard to plane out. So after some diagnoses on the water, one injector was spraying fuel during the off stroke. If you dig on the forums this seems to be a fairly common problem after age on some of the old MR1 motors. My problem was intermittent so the dealership wasn't actually able to diagnose the issue. Again Forums talk these issues over, A new ECM for that motor and i was back on the water. at the time of repair the ECM was $ 1,100 and labor for diag and replacement was 500. so all in all a $ 1,600 dollar repair bill for owning a boat for 7 season is a win in my book.
I'm a jet boat fan BC: weight- easier trailering, space- cockpit room per foot, simplicity- less expensive to maintain and repair, safety- no running gear for kids to hit, draft-no running gear to ground in shallow water. The swim platform is just plain cool.
Great video. I own a 2021 Scarab 195. Coming up on our third season and absolutely love the boat. I agree 100% with you on the dealer / service side with my experience. Dealers that sell and service Scarab, in my experience owning this boat, don’t have the knowledge base of the product they sell and service like Yamaha does. Had issues at point of sale as well as service / warranty work. It’s the biggest risk in buying Scarab right now. There are great Scarab dealers out there who are incredibly knowledgeable and can diagnose an issue over the phone… you just have to drive 8hrs to get to them. This is also the sentiment of every Scarab owner I’ve come across. The product is not the problem. If Scarab can beef up their sales and service knowledge (and available locations) they’ll see a big bump in market share.
I live in North Idaho. The only option here(I feel) is an aluminum jet boat. I bought a Alumaweld 17’ river boat (walk through windshield) that needed to be repowered.. It had a bad Mercury Sport jet in it. Found out that power plant is crap. I installed a Mercruiser 3.0 TKS motor and mated it to an American Turbine SD 309. This combo is fantastic! The boat was designed for 120 hp. The engine is 135 hp. Works very well. The hull is in beautiful condition, it is a 1999. The interior is in great shape. Mostly run the boat on the lake 1/2 mile out of my front door. The boat is good on smoother flowing rivers.
I would love to see you put out a video that compares water skiing, wake boarding and tubing behind an IO (stern drive), outboard and jet drive. I don’t so much care about adding a wake boat to this comparison because we all know that they are the best at these water sports and by far the most expensive. I don’t have that kind of money. But I can afford the other drive types. People buy boats to have fun. A large part of that fun is the water sports so comparing these boat types in this way makes a ton of sense.
North River Aluminum Jet boat was amazing! She took my aggressive handling without sliding off hard turns and no venting the Jet intake! I did manage to generate some chine walk, but pulling back the throttle easily negated that. It was the perfect fishing boat! It didn’t churn up water the way a prop does, and handled much better than an outboard! The aluminum hull made it easy to trailer and reliable to beach/moor. Such a wonderful boat
Good Video. The Yamaha jet boat is a large PWC, a sports car on the water. Launching them is fairly easy. Coming in can be a handful (in stock trim with out the aftermarket goodies) but it teaches you to respect wind/tide, have a plan and become an overall better pilot. They go in the shallowest of waters, mine (CA) model is a gas-sipper, the back deck is first class and the focal point of gatherings when tied up/anchored. Clean out port is super effective, the naturally aspirated 1.8 ltr motor pushes out 180 hp and the SuperCharged pushes out about 250 (?). Raw water cooling vs closed loop...jury is still out on this one. Yamaha makes a great entry level package and they are super spacious compared to their length.
2021 Scarab 195 ID owner here. The yamha is an amazing boat from what we saw and checked out. But fit and finish on the scarab supercedes Yamaha. Also I live by the shore so close loop cooling is ideal, better sound system and over all handling around the dock makes it so anyone can hop behind the wheel and dock it with ease. I cab go on and on but I prefer the scarab
Our family currently has a 2012 Yamaha 242 Limited S. It's our third boat owned, and we've never experienced a major repair. Three years ago was we sat docked, an inexperienced operater ran into the port side of the hull just above the water line with a 28' cabin pontoon. Our dealer carefully examined the hull for any possible damage and found nothing. Showing pictures of the damage the pontoon had, they were surprised our Yamaha escaped unscathed. We enjoy our boat in fresh water only, and have added upgrades to rival with the newer models. Our next boat, the Yamaha 255XD. Scooby Doo
Excellent review. I had a 05 Exciter and loved it with a few exceptions. It was just a little too small, with my family of three, we could only add two guests. Docking was a nightmare, the is no true idle and steering to dock without a rudder is terrible. In my area, I had trouble fining people to actually work on these boats. It sounds like I am dismissing it, but I’m not I loved it. The docking and maintenance were the deal breakers for me forcing me to sell, but I did love this boat. I’m glad to hear you comments on docking, and it wasn’t totally me.
Great video and I concur with you on your analysis. This coming from a guy who owns a 2020 Scarab 215ID which I love and previously owned a Sea Doo Challenger 180. Both boats had the Rotax engines and have been very reliable. Never had an engine maintenance issue with my 11 year old Sea Doo. Scarab needs a better dealer network. My closest dealer is nearly 150 miles away!
I found this video quite informative and interesting. I own a 2019 Vortex 2430. I had previously owned a Monterrey 250 stern drive, with a closed cooling system. We did our boating primarily in the Aransas and Corpus Christ Bays. After losing our Monterrey to Hurricane Harvey (we housed it at the Rockport Drystack & Marina), we decided to go for a jet boat. I was always scuffing my propeller and sucking up sand with the stern drive, and wanted something that required less draft. At 15 inches, a jet boat was the answer. After reading all we could about jet boats, we attended the 2019 Miami Boat Show so we could touch them and ask questions. Our personal preferences lead us to buy a Vortex. The look of the boat, as well as the fit & finish won us over. In addition, the steering system offered by BRP seemed more efficient without the addition of aftermarket aids. Materials, ease of entry, comfort, design and pricing were all factors in our choice. (The Yamaha hull seemed a bit thin. I actually flexed the bow by pushing on it. Good pricing and one stop shopping with boat/engine by same manufacturer. The deck boat look of the Scarab bow didn’t appeal to me). We also met Buck Pegg, founder of Chaparral Boats, though we hadn’t a clue who he was. He just walked up to us and started talking about boats. He didn’t try to sell us his boat. He also refrained from bad mouthing other manufacturers. We talked about 10 minutes before he introduced himself and gave me his business card. Upon our return home, we ordered a new Vortex. We took delivery about 7 months later. We’ve been very happy with our choice so far. The only hiccup has been getting used to reversing. A bit counterintuitive compared to the stern drive. Otherwise the boat handles extremely well. Lots of storage and quite comfortable. I’ve added a battery charger and keel guard. I’ve not experienced any issues on the Vortexboats website, but I’ve only watched the videos. And I have heard nothing as to their demise. In fact, I’ve heard they are hard pressed to keep up with demand. Just last week, (20 May 21) I received an invitation from the dealership to sell them my boat. There is quite a waiting list for new boats, and used boats are demanding premium dollar. Not selling. Whatever boat you buy, I’ve discovered that mission/purpose, location of use, are just as important as size and budget. Enjoy the water!!
Bought a 2021 Yamaha 210 FSH Sport. It has duel engines and I can maneuver and dock the boat without using the steering wheel at all. It is super easy to do with only a little practice.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Yes, first time boat owner and never drove a boat before this one. I like that you don't have to worry about trim. You just hammer it and go. Watching videos from "Ask Captain Chris" teaching owners how to dock their large boats with dual engines taught me a lot on how to use mine. Circumnavigated Shackelford Banks, NC this past weekend including going out on the ocean side.
I’m going to throw my two cents in on Jet Boats as I have owned 17 or 18 boats in my life , I’m not a know it all but I am experienced at 57 years of age , I did grow up in South Florida and even bought my first boat before a car ! Between my brother Inlaw and I we have owned 14 Personal Watercraft of most brands. But I’ve always found that consistently Sea Doo has always had dealerships or Parts whenever I needed them with a decent group of trained Service Departments and Techs. That may not sound important but there is nothing worse than towing your water toys to a vacation spot and having to look at them broken on a trailer the entire vacation The Rotax engines are widely used throughoutbthecworld for Airplanes and several other applications as well the Canadians are on level of America on their Metalurgy and Engineering as well Now the one thing I tell all my freinds is that Jet Propulsion does require a lot of maintenance and expensive upkeep why ? They generally are used in two modes off , and full throttle , ohnyeahnSeaDoo Corporate does back up the customers very well on Warranty work , etc I tend to agree with your Vortec predictions
I found a 1997 Seadoo challenger for 1200.00 he says it’s a key fob problem and it doesn’t have a trailer, is this a good deal? What’s the worst case scenario? I don’t mind working on it but I’m inexperienced with jet boats? I’m on the west coast of Florida anyone close that works on them? Thank you!
I just picked up a 2021 Scarab 195 ID and we LOVE it. We have been looking at Yamaha for a couple of years. There are nice things about both boats. I really like Scarab's interiors and color schemes. The fit and finish are outstanding. The closed loop system and warranty were a plus for me. I do like Yamaha's clean out ports and struts on their seat cushions. I owned a 2007 Chaparral 237S and jet boats are the way to go. I was always deathly afraid of hitting the bottom with that Volvo-Penta duoprop set up! Great review BTW.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I sure will. I didn't look at the Vortex since they don't have a dealer network close by. Yamaha had a lock on the jet boat here in San Diego up until recently. Scarab came into town a few months ago. They had a rough start since the Scarab website was hacked with ransomware. They just got the website back up and dealers can start servicing boats again.
I have a 2021 Yamaha 195 Sport FSH and I love it! However, you are so right about a B rating for quality of build! Yamaha sure cuts corners even though they say it built by robotics, aint buying it, there are so many poor quality cuts, fiberglass issues, and upper to lower cap connections gaps! Not to mention that every single Philips head screw on my boat was at least a quarter turn loose, some were two or more full turns loose or stripped!?! But again, for the price, ease of use, and reliable engine, its a great little boat! Last thing is WHY didn't Yamaha make the engine NMEA 2000 compatible??? I cant even track engine temperature, let alone anything else with my Garmin plotter....thanks for the review, it was spot on!!
I've got a 2015 212 SS Yamaha jet boat and it was one of the best purchases I've made. As far as functionality - the boat has been rock solid, no engine problems. What sold me on the boat were the standard options, which made the value of the boat a no-brainer. However, dealing with the clean out plugs on the 2015 (and earlier) models, I was victim to the blow out. The first year I had it, one of the plugs blew out and flooded the engine compartment. After I had the techs flush everything & make sure it didn't cause any catastrophic damage, I did research and found that many of these models have this issue. I know the official line from Yamaha is user error, however, it happened again despite my diligence ensuring that everything was properly seated. Ultimately, I had to modify the plugs with a locking pin. Also, I've noticed that people complained about the quality of the fiberglass. Around the three-year mark I noticed chips in the interior fiberglass and had to patch those as well. Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase.
This needs to be updated due to the lack of parts coming in from China. I bought a SX190 2020 model with 15 hrs.....$36000. They are hard to come by. I was lucky. The wait time with a deposit is 2 years.
Fantastic video, thanks for putting it together. We purchased a 2021 Yamaha 252SE last fall for a lot of the exact reasons you mentioned (reliability, competitive pricing, uncertain future for Vortex & Scarab, etc.). So far, we've been very happy with the purchase. The 252SE was a brand new model for the 2021 year and I was a little hesitant about getting the new model in the first year. I have read online about some fit and finish issues others buyers have seen possibly due to rushed production during COVID, but we haven't seen those issues with ours. Based on when ours was delivered, I believe it was one of the very first 252SE's off the production line so it may have been subjected to extra QC during production. There are aftermarket add-ons to address some of the drawbacks you mention for jet boats. For example, you can find third-party trim tabs for jet boats and you can also find third-party low-speed fins for maneuverability around the dock (e.g. Thrust Vector or Cobra Jet). We installed Thrust Vectors on our 252SE and it made a dramatic difference for ease of docking.
Other factors are storage, lift, dock or trailer. With stern drives you also do have closed cooling options for the engines, not exhaust manifolds. The 496 and ls-based gm engines are closed cooling, think the Ford Raptors are too. And with all boats, you have to flush the raw water systems and de salt if running in salt. Flush systems should be an option on all boats now days.
Great overview in the video. I have a 2021 Yamaha AR190. After one year of ownership, my family loves the boat. We love the space, the swim platform, the ease of beaching and simple operation of the jet boat. I don't really have any complaints of quality. I feel like mine has been pretty good. I actually, when first getting used to the boat, slammed into the dock really hard and expected there to be A huge gouge in the side of the hall, but there wasn't even a scratch on the fiberglass or the decal that it ran across. My only complaint is the noise of the engine as you have to cruise at around 6,000 RPMs. It is quite loud and I thought it would be quieter. I'm wondering if adding some Dynamat to the interior of the engine compartment would help with that noise
Can you do an updated version of this video going over how these have held up? Im thinking of getting one of these used as a first boat and itd be really helpful. I was thinking about the scarab but you said its the worst here so now im concerned.
I’m a new boater and purchased a stingray with a 115 Mercury but I’m really interested in Yamaha AR210. I’ve met quite a few people at the sand bars with Yamaha jet boats and they love it. Last person I spoke to has a 2007 AR 210, it ran and looked amazing. Yamaha for the win in my opinion. Hopefully I can move into one and let y’all know.
Great channel but some of these videos could have visual and audio example to help take the point home ... example when talking about the sounds of the different engine types.
I have the 2021 Yamaha 195 sport FSH. Great review...I think I made the right choice. However, I agree about Yamaha's fit and finish issues, many things about my boat piss me off, however, for the price and what it does, I love it! Nothing good to say about Yamaha or Barney's customer service!?! Yamaha boats look great until you lift the dress and things start to get iffy. They seem to cut corners in areas you don't look at until you start working on stuff. But again, when you start comparing center consoles in 19 to 21 foot range, the prices jump significantly! Thanks for a great review!
What fit and finish issues have you had? I've heard about some problems with drain hoses and some screws on the gas struts not being predrilled so the don't hold well
@@Aplex21 Yamaha claims that robotics make various cuts in the hull for accessories, however based on the imperfections I doubt that. Every single Phillips head screw on my new boat was loose. Internal bare fiberglass that missed the paint booth, Fiberglass that was not covered with resin, bare fibers sticking out of hull. The list goes on, however, these are NOT critical issues simply irritations you would think Yamaha would find (QA/QC) before delivery. Still best bang for the buck.
We purchased a 2021 Yamaha 275E in Feb of 2021, I live on Lake Huron in Michigan and have not even heard this boat run yet but.... We are coming out of a center console boat that had a 200HP Yamaha outboard. After researching jet boats, it seemed easy for me to decide on the Yamaha. Yamaha in my mind is the clear leader in this market, their history of reliability speaks mightily when we consider being 20 miles off shore on the Great Lakes. I also wanted to comment on the fit and finish, My wife is very particular in how a seat feels, sits, cleans up and looks..... I can tell you that Yamaha has nailed this department they have past this test "as we can tell so far" with flying colors. I plan to post some real experience videos to You-Tube once we get to launch... As of today 04/15/2021 I highly recommend Yamaha Jet Boats if you can find one. Thank you for your video with the comparisons ! Jesse- PS. Yamaha DRIVE if you need assistance around a dock.
Seadoo BRP way better around docks. No comparison. You can trim BRP too. I do understand Yamaha is mega reliable and a friend of ours has the super pumped out surf model with solar panels. It’s a ton for the price. I think Yamaha is better over all product, but I wish they’d catch up with some of the amazing features BRP offers especially around docks.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon neither but demoed a ton thinking we would get a surf jet boat, but their waves were really small after we got to ride in a real surf boat. Think we would’ve picked the Yamaha, but really preferred the drivability of the Chap. We own a Bennington 25qx with 300 merc and just bought a Centurion Ri257 to surf:
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Yamaha yes cause a friend owns the nice one . Not really surfable for adults. You can, but not much. My teenage daughters could, but not much wave to move around or learn tricks on. Didn’t even try Chap. It might be better though as it uses some of the Malibu technology, but I don’t really know. I’ve been behind the reverse stern drive Chap and it’s pretty weak too despite weighing more.
The Scarab 255 Open ID Center Console seems to be a great jet boat, optional dual Rotax 300 horsepower engines which makes it 600 hp, it’s lightweight since the engines only weigh 200 pounds each and the total weight is 3,800 pounds. Could you do a review on this boat?
I had one of the 255 Open ID's for a year and loved it. No issues, but my first service (oil change and plugs) was $1000. Outstanding boat...thinking about another one just like it. BTW, love the tailgate!
i've been going back and forth between a jet boat and a regular ob center console. i have an example question. lets say a weeks trip to the keys is happening and you rented a house on the canal with a boat dock. if you have a jetboat, is it bad to keep it in the salt water for a week without flushing the engines until lets say after the trip is done? i know a jet boat can't be in salt water for a long time but i wanted to give that example to understand more because that's a type of trip i would like to do when i do purchase a boat. i was just curious becuase i assume it would be a hassle to keep pulling out the jet boat to flush the engines every day or every other day while on a trip like that. thanks so much for your videos! i really love jet boats esp the rear transom area for the kids so i would really love to get a jet boat instead of a normal OB CC
it depends on a few things... the big concern is the growth of barnacles or other growth in the intake/nozzle system. The warmer the water and more prone to growth the area, the shorter time it will take for you to have problems.
Thanks for the video Matt. Their PR sure makes then seem like the death of stern drives. But the numbers aren't saying that. I will focus more on the sea ray's from now on🤣🤣
I own a 2014 scarab 195 and in my opinion I think you get a lot more in the scarab than the Yamaha in my opinion the only thing really great in a Yamaha is going to be the engine but not saying you can get the better packages in a Yamaha but in the same packages that you would get in the scarab compared to a Yamaha I like the seats a lot more in a scarab than a Yamaha the seats in the Yamaha just gives me a cheap vibe and I love the sea deck that scarab does compared to Yamaha another thing that Yamaha does that seems kind of cheap
I also love the sharp body lines and the colors that scarab uses Yamaha just has a lot of basic things I like more boats that are unique and scarabs definitely pop with all the things they do the Yamaha body doesn’t really do it for me they look like a egg
Great video on jet boats but have a question that seem to have people divided. Can u leave a jet boat in fresh water for a season say may to September without using a lift? I know it’s not recommended but is it a must to use a lift
Sure, you can do it... here are the risks 1. Growth in the jet drive system which can cause catastrophic failure if its bad enough (and, if its zebra muscles you're in serious trouble) 2. if a clean out port leaks, the boat will sink 3. The bottom will get lots of growth and slow the performance/speed and need to be cleaned/acid washed at the end of season I'd be ok doing it for a week if the waters clean, deep and moving (less likely to get as much growth) but not much longer. It will likely be a costly decision.
Im sure it was a great video at the time but the pricing is way different. The base price on the scarab 215 is now 81k. What happened in the last 2 years to make boat prices go up 30k?!?
Great video Matt. I purchased a 2021 212SE in January and I have a few issues. The boat runs great so no problems there. I have found a lot of hardware, shavings, zip ties etc. all through the hull. There is absolutely no QC. Wiring harnesses are stretched and secured to heat sources and sharp edges. Engine harness connectors and end of line resistors laying in the bottom of the bilge. Corrugated split-loom laying on top of water hoses ready to saw them off. Absolutely terrible. I work in an automotive world where everything is secured and isolated from abrasion, heat, or vibration. In addition, the boat is missing several other features that are listed in the build data for my model. It's hard to find a dealer here in CA that has availability or the knowledge to work on these. But hey, I still love my Yammy.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Actually I did. Your boat is only as good as the person or persons working on it. Do they like what they’re doing? Do they know what they’re doing? Have they been trained properly? Ate they rushed to get the work done? Do they have pride in what they are doing? On and on. Mist importantly is consistency. If the factory is a revolving door trying to get good people, well that explains all my extra hardware, stripped out holes, missing components etc. That doedn’t fly in the automotive world.
Another excellent video Capt. Matt. a.k.a Obi-Wan. :) Question: Is it possible to put a jet outboard on a pontoon boat, and if so, what is better on a pontoon boat: jet outboard, or conventional propeller outboard?
I live on the coast and don't know ANYONE who pays $6k-$8k every 5 years to overahaul their stern drive boats. I don't think this info is correct. Stern drives do require a bit more maintenance but have benefits as well. Stern drive is a great option for salt water, should not be listed as "Poor".
What about for salt water? would you still recommend a Yamaha over a BRP since BRP is closed cooled? I still see a lot of Yamahas around the coast where I am. On a side note, I would sure appreciate a detailed video about stern drives and salt water. I don't understand how a Yamaha would still fair better than a stern drive in salt water. I've looked all over the internet for specific analysis but people just say the blanket statement, "get an outboard." But in my mind outboards still have to suck up the water for cooling. If you are trailering both then what is the real difference?
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon thanks for that additional information. What about a stern drive with closed cooling like a Volvo penta forward drive. Would you still recommend against this set up for coastal conditions. Or would this be as reliable as an outboard or jet drive? I know the exhaust is still raw water cooled. Thanks!
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I ended up going a different direction found a 07 Sea Ray Bowrider 185 sport with 300hrs in budget. Any advice or recommendations? Heard good things about Sea Ray
and alot of it was for the reasons you said in the video. Mainly for me because the price you see is the final price lol. Includes motor, trailer and most importantly no options that you can convince yourself you need that end up adding 5-10K on top.
FREE For Boat Shoppers: www.BoatersSecretWeapon.com/Toolkit FREE Boat Buyer's Toolkit for new or used boat shoppers will give you 28-pages of checklists, questions to ask and how to demo the boat the right way so you don't miss a thing. Plus, get the cost of ownership calculator so you know precisely what your cost of ownership will be.
FREE For Boat Owners: boaterssecretweapon.com/pages/boater-bootcamp FREE Boater Bootcamp for newer boat owners gives you insights on boat ownership basics, navigation and practical rules of the water and how to avoid, be prepared and handle emergency situations. No more not knowing what you don't know in the boating lifestyle.
I've owned my 2004 yamaha SX230 for 7 years now. super reliable boat. easy easy maintenance. First time boat buyer/owner, its nice not to have to service outdrives. The maintenance cost is extremely low. Service oil change ($80)once a year, typically at the beginning of the season. K&N air filters never replaces, quality spark plugs every 3 or 4 years. Seriously just a good cleaning after a day on the water, and a good cover when not in use this boat will last.
huge pro to the weight of jet boats: I live in the Mountain of NC and boat in SC, my 1/2 ton truck hauls the boat and 50gal fuel up and the down the 7% grade mountain easy.
Another huge pro: The reliability of the motors and overall boat. In 7 years, 7 solid seasons of boating he have ( one ) major repair.
the big con everyone mentions: low speed maneuverability and docking. Jet Boat Pilot has some seriously good upgrades for any jet boat any year.
I'll be honest i have not sprung for any of the upgrades. My SX230 is stock. After a season on the water I found it easy to learn how to maneuver the boat around the dock. The big and easy mistakes can come from over correction. so take your time. Stating this, My year model is before "wake assist" before the "keel fin", basically before any of these nice assist features you see on all the current models.
Major Repair : 2018, long story short after a hard core 3 day weekend on the water, one of the motors started to misfire. with one of the motors not running at full RPM the boat was hard to plane out. So after some diagnoses on the water, one injector was spraying fuel during the off stroke. If you dig on the forums this seems to be a fairly common problem after age on some of the old MR1 motors. My problem was intermittent so the dealership wasn't actually able to diagnose the issue. Again Forums talk these issues over, A new ECM for that motor and i was back on the water. at the time of repair the ECM was $ 1,100 and labor for diag and replacement was 500. so all in all a $ 1,600 dollar repair bill for owning a boat for 7 season is a win in my book.
I'm a jet boat fan BC: weight- easier trailering, space- cockpit room per foot, simplicity- less expensive to maintain and repair, safety- no running gear for kids to hit, draft-no running gear to ground in shallow water. The swim platform is just plain cool.
AMEN BROTHER!
Great video. I own a 2021 Scarab 195. Coming up on our third season and absolutely love the boat. I agree 100% with you on the dealer / service side with my experience. Dealers that sell and service Scarab, in my experience owning this boat, don’t have the knowledge base of the product they sell and service like Yamaha does. Had issues at point of sale as well as service / warranty work. It’s the biggest risk in buying Scarab right now. There are great Scarab dealers out there who are incredibly knowledgeable and can diagnose an issue over the phone… you just have to drive 8hrs to get to them. This is also the sentiment of every Scarab owner I’ve come across. The product is not the problem. If Scarab can beef up their sales and service knowledge (and available locations) they’ll see a big bump in market share.
But can't you service them at any brp\seadoo service place?
I live in North Idaho. The only option here(I feel) is an aluminum jet boat. I bought a Alumaweld 17’ river boat (walk through windshield) that needed to be repowered.. It had a bad Mercury Sport jet in it. Found out that power plant is crap. I installed a Mercruiser 3.0 TKS motor and mated it to an American Turbine SD 309. This combo is fantastic! The boat was designed for 120 hp. The engine is 135 hp. Works very well. The hull is in beautiful condition, it is a 1999. The interior is in great shape. Mostly run the boat on the lake 1/2 mile out of my front door. The boat is good on smoother flowing rivers.
I would love to see you put out a video that compares water skiing, wake boarding and tubing behind an IO (stern drive), outboard and jet drive. I don’t so much care about adding a wake boat to this comparison because we all know that they are the best at these water sports and by far the most expensive. I don’t have that kind of money. But I can afford the other drive types.
People buy boats to have fun. A large part of that fun is the water sports so comparing these boat types in this way makes a ton of sense.
North River Aluminum Jet boat was amazing! She took my aggressive handling without sliding off hard turns and no venting the Jet intake! I did manage to generate some chine walk, but pulling back the throttle easily negated that. It was the perfect fishing boat! It didn’t churn up water the way a prop does, and handled much better than an outboard! The aluminum hull made it easy to trailer and reliable to beach/moor. Such a wonderful boat
Good Video. The Yamaha jet boat is a large PWC, a sports car on the water. Launching them is fairly easy. Coming in can be a handful (in stock trim with out the aftermarket goodies) but it teaches you to respect wind/tide, have a plan and become an overall better pilot. They go in the shallowest of waters, mine (CA) model is a gas-sipper, the back deck is first class and the focal point of gatherings when tied up/anchored. Clean out port is super effective, the naturally aspirated 1.8 ltr motor pushes out 180 hp and the SuperCharged pushes out about 250 (?). Raw water cooling vs closed loop...jury is still out on this one. Yamaha makes a great entry level package and they are super spacious compared to their length.
2021 Scarab 195 ID owner here. The yamha is an amazing boat from what we saw and checked out. But fit and finish on the scarab supercedes Yamaha. Also I live by the shore so close loop cooling is ideal, better sound system and over all handling around the dock makes it so anyone can hop behind the wheel and dock it with ease. I cab go on and on but I prefer the scarab
Our family currently has a 2012 Yamaha 242 Limited S. It's our third boat owned, and we've never experienced a major repair. Three years ago was we sat docked, an inexperienced operater ran into the port side of the hull just above the water line with a 28' cabin pontoon. Our dealer carefully examined the hull for any possible damage and found nothing. Showing pictures of the damage the pontoon had, they were surprised our Yamaha escaped unscathed. We enjoy our boat in fresh water only, and have added upgrades to rival with the newer models. Our next boat, the Yamaha 255XD. Scooby Doo
got my 195 fsh in a month ago , absolute beast , got the yes warranty as well , no complaints at all.
Excellent review. I had a 05 Exciter and loved it with a few exceptions. It was just a little too small, with my family of three, we could only add two guests. Docking was a nightmare, the is no true idle and steering to dock without a rudder is terrible. In my area, I had trouble fining people to actually work on these boats. It sounds like I am dismissing it, but I’m not I loved it. The docking and maintenance were the deal breakers for me forcing me to sell, but I did love this boat. I’m glad to hear you comments on docking, and it wasn’t totally me.
Just bought my first boat 2016 Scarab 165 ID the 16ft Scarab . I have had it in the water 2x and so far it is super fun !
Great video and I concur with you on your analysis. This coming from a guy who owns a 2020 Scarab 215ID which I love and previously owned a Sea Doo Challenger 180. Both boats had the Rotax engines and have been very reliable. Never had an engine maintenance issue with my 11 year old Sea Doo. Scarab needs a better dealer network. My closest dealer is nearly 150 miles away!
I found this video quite informative and interesting. I own a 2019 Vortex 2430. I had previously owned a Monterrey 250 stern drive, with a closed cooling system. We did our boating primarily in the Aransas and Corpus Christ Bays. After losing our Monterrey to Hurricane Harvey (we housed it at the Rockport Drystack & Marina), we decided to go for a jet boat. I was always scuffing my propeller and sucking up sand with the stern drive, and wanted something that required less draft. At 15 inches, a jet boat was the answer. After reading all we could about jet boats, we attended the 2019 Miami Boat Show so we could touch them and ask questions. Our personal preferences lead us to buy a Vortex. The look of the boat, as well as the fit & finish won us over. In addition, the steering system offered by BRP seemed more efficient without the addition of aftermarket aids. Materials, ease of entry, comfort, design and pricing were all factors in our choice. (The Yamaha hull seemed a bit thin. I actually flexed the bow by pushing on it. Good pricing and one stop shopping with boat/engine by same manufacturer. The deck boat look of the Scarab bow didn’t appeal to me). We also met Buck Pegg, founder of Chaparral Boats, though we hadn’t a clue who he was. He just walked up to us and started talking about boats. He didn’t try to sell us his boat. He also refrained from bad mouthing other manufacturers. We talked about 10 minutes before he introduced himself and gave me his business card. Upon our return home, we ordered a new Vortex. We took delivery about 7 months later. We’ve been very happy with our choice so far. The only hiccup has been getting used to reversing. A bit counterintuitive compared to the stern drive. Otherwise the boat handles extremely well. Lots of storage and quite comfortable. I’ve
added a battery charger and keel guard. I’ve not experienced any issues on the Vortexboats website, but I’ve only watched the videos. And I have heard nothing as to their demise. In fact, I’ve heard they are hard pressed to keep up with demand. Just last week, (20 May 21) I received an invitation from the dealership to sell them my boat. There is quite a waiting list for new boats, and used boats are demanding premium dollar. Not selling. Whatever boat you buy, I’ve discovered that mission/purpose, location of use, are just as important as size and budget. Enjoy the water!!
Thanks for sharing your experience! This video was also helpful, being that I am considering the pros/cons of which type of powered boat to buy.
Bought a 2021 Yamaha 210 FSH Sport. It has duel engines and I can maneuver and dock the boat without using the steering wheel at all. It is super easy to do with only a little practice.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Yes, first time boat owner and never drove a boat before this one. I like that you don't have to worry about trim. You just hammer it and go. Watching videos from "Ask Captain Chris" teaching owners how to dock their large boats with dual engines taught me a lot on how to use mine. Circumnavigated Shackelford Banks, NC this past weekend including going out on the ocean side.
I’m going to throw my two cents in on Jet Boats as I have owned 17 or 18 boats in my life , I’m not a know it all but I am experienced at 57 years of age , I did grow up in South Florida and even bought my first boat before a car ! Between my brother Inlaw and I we have owned 14 Personal Watercraft of most brands. But I’ve always found that consistently Sea Doo has always had dealerships or Parts whenever I needed them with a decent group of trained Service Departments and Techs. That may not sound important but there is nothing worse than towing your water toys to a vacation spot and having to look at them broken on a trailer the entire vacation The Rotax engines are widely used throughoutbthecworld for Airplanes and several other applications as well the Canadians are on level of America on their Metalurgy and Engineering as well Now the one thing I tell all my freinds is that Jet Propulsion does require a lot of maintenance and expensive upkeep why ? They generally are used in two modes off , and full throttle , ohnyeahnSeaDoo Corporate does back up the customers very well on Warranty work , etc I tend to agree with your Vortec predictions
I found a 1997 Seadoo challenger for 1200.00 he says it’s a key fob problem and it doesn’t have a trailer, is this a good deal? What’s the worst case scenario? I don’t mind working on it but I’m inexperienced with jet boats? I’m on the west coast of Florida anyone close that works on them? Thank you!
I just picked up a 2021 Scarab 195 ID and we LOVE it. We have been looking at Yamaha for a couple of years. There are nice things about both boats. I really like Scarab's interiors and color schemes. The fit and finish are outstanding. The closed loop system and warranty were a plus for me. I do like Yamaha's clean out ports and struts on their seat cushions. I owned a 2007 Chaparral 237S and jet boats are the way to go. I was always deathly afraid of hitting the bottom with that Volvo-Penta duoprop set up! Great review BTW.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I sure will. I didn't look at the Vortex since they don't have a dealer network close by. Yamaha had a lock on the jet boat here in San Diego up until recently. Scarab came into town a few months ago. They had a rough start since the Scarab website was hacked with ransomware. They just got the website back up and dealers can start servicing boats again.
I have a 2021 Yamaha 195 Sport FSH and I love it! However, you are so right about a B rating for quality of build! Yamaha sure cuts corners even though they say it built by robotics, aint buying it, there are so many poor quality cuts, fiberglass issues, and upper to lower cap connections gaps! Not to mention that every single Philips head screw on my boat was at least a quarter turn loose, some were two or more full turns loose or stripped!?! But again, for the price, ease of use, and reliable engine, its a great little boat! Last thing is WHY didn't Yamaha make the engine NMEA 2000 compatible??? I cant even track engine temperature, let alone anything else with my Garmin plotter....thanks for the review, it was spot on!!
Your videos have been a big help to me. They're well done, and informative.
Glad they were helpful
I've got a 2015 212 SS Yamaha jet boat and it was one of the best purchases I've made. As far as functionality - the boat has been rock solid, no engine problems. What sold me on the boat were the standard options, which made the value of the boat a no-brainer. However, dealing with the clean out plugs on the 2015 (and earlier) models, I was victim to the blow out. The first year I had it, one of the plugs blew out and flooded the engine compartment. After I had the techs flush everything & make sure it didn't cause any catastrophic damage, I did research and found that many of these models have this issue. I know the official line from Yamaha is user error, however, it happened again despite my diligence ensuring that everything was properly seated. Ultimately, I had to modify the plugs with a locking pin.
Also, I've noticed that people complained about the quality of the fiberglass. Around the three-year mark I noticed chips in the interior fiberglass and had to patch those as well. Overall, I'm very pleased with my purchase.
This needs to be updated due to the lack of parts coming in from China. I bought a SX190 2020 model with 15 hrs.....$36000. They are hard to come by. I was lucky. The wait time with a deposit is 2 years.
Fantastic video, thanks for putting it together. We purchased a 2021 Yamaha 252SE last fall for a lot of the exact reasons you mentioned (reliability, competitive pricing, uncertain future for Vortex & Scarab, etc.). So far, we've been very happy with the purchase. The 252SE was a brand new model for the 2021 year and I was a little hesitant about getting the new model in the first year. I have read online about some fit and finish issues others buyers have seen possibly due to rushed production during COVID, but we haven't seen those issues with ours. Based on when ours was delivered, I believe it was one of the very first 252SE's off the production line so it may have been subjected to extra QC during production.
There are aftermarket add-ons to address some of the drawbacks you mention for jet boats. For example, you can find third-party trim tabs for jet boats and you can also find third-party low-speed fins for maneuverability around the dock (e.g. Thrust Vector or Cobra Jet). We installed Thrust Vectors on our 252SE and it made a dramatic difference for ease of docking.
Other factors are storage, lift, dock or trailer. With stern drives you also do have closed cooling options for the engines, not exhaust manifolds. The 496 and ls-based gm engines are closed cooling, think the Ford Raptors are too. And with all boats, you have to flush the raw water systems and de salt if running in salt. Flush systems should be an option on all boats now days.
Great overview in the video. I have a 2021 Yamaha AR190. After one year of ownership, my family loves the boat. We love the space, the swim platform, the ease of beaching and simple operation of the jet boat. I don't really have any complaints of quality. I feel like mine has been pretty good. I actually, when first getting used to the boat, slammed into the dock really hard and expected there to be A huge gouge in the side of the hall, but there wasn't even a scratch on the fiberglass or the decal that it ran across. My only complaint is the noise of the engine as you have to cruise at around 6,000 RPMs. It is quite loud and I thought it would be quieter. I'm wondering if adding some Dynamat to the interior of the engine compartment would help with that noise
They sell something called kilmat which is for the noise. Pretty easy to install yourself
You can trim the jet nozzles up and down on a Scarab, not sure on Yamaha.
Can you do an updated version of this video going over how these have held up? Im thinking of getting one of these used as a first boat and itd be really helpful. I was thinking about the scarab but you said its the worst here so now im concerned.
Its in the works... stay tuned
I’m a new boater and purchased a stingray with a 115 Mercury but I’m really interested in Yamaha AR210. I’ve met quite a few people at the sand bars with Yamaha jet boats and they love it. Last person I spoke to has a 2007 AR 210, it ran and looked amazing. Yamaha for the win in my opinion. Hopefully I can move into one and let y’all know.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon I sure will cause, life truly is better on a boat 😉
Great channel but some of these videos could have visual and audio example to help take the point home ... example when talking about the sounds of the different engine types.
I have the 2021 Yamaha 195 sport FSH. Great review...I think I made the right choice. However, I agree about Yamaha's fit and finish issues, many things about my boat piss me off, however, for the price and what it does, I love it! Nothing good to say about Yamaha or Barney's customer service!?! Yamaha boats look great until you lift the dress and things start to get iffy. They seem to cut corners in areas you don't look at until you start working on stuff. But again, when you start comparing center consoles in 19 to 21 foot range, the prices jump significantly! Thanks for a great review!
What fit and finish issues have you had? I've heard about some problems with drain hoses and some screws on the gas struts not being predrilled so the don't hold well
@@Aplex21 Yamaha claims that robotics make various cuts in the hull for accessories, however based on the imperfections I doubt that. Every single Phillips head screw on my new boat was loose. Internal bare fiberglass that missed the paint booth, Fiberglass that was not covered with resin, bare fibers sticking out of hull. The list goes on, however, these are NOT critical issues simply irritations you would think Yamaha would find (QA/QC) before delivery. Still best bang for the buck.
We purchased a 2021 Yamaha 275E in Feb of 2021, I live on Lake Huron in Michigan and have not even heard this boat run yet but.... We are coming out of a center console boat that had a 200HP Yamaha outboard. After researching jet boats, it seemed easy for me to decide on the Yamaha. Yamaha in my mind is the clear leader in this market, their history of reliability speaks mightily when we consider being 20 miles off shore on the Great Lakes. I also wanted to comment on the fit and finish, My wife is very particular in how a seat feels, sits, cleans up and looks..... I can tell you that Yamaha has nailed this department they have past this test "as we can tell so far" with flying colors. I plan to post some real experience videos to You-Tube once we get to launch... As of today 04/15/2021 I highly recommend Yamaha Jet Boats if you can find one. Thank you for your video with the comparisons ! Jesse- PS. Yamaha DRIVE if you need assistance around a dock.
I got the same feeling from the Vortex website, totally broken, not a great sign.
I think Yamaha will only ever offer a one year warranty with their new sales; this is because they want to sell the 5-year extended YES warranty.
Yamaha has been building jet boats since 1995 with the exciter series.
Excellent review- very helpfullfor a novice to jet boats.
Seadoo BRP way better around docks. No comparison. You can trim BRP too. I do understand Yamaha is mega reliable and a friend of ours has the super pumped out surf model with solar panels. It’s a ton for the price. I think Yamaha is better over all product, but I wish they’d catch up with some of the amazing features BRP offers especially around docks.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon neither but demoed a ton thinking we would get a surf jet boat, but their waves were really small after we got to ride in a real surf boat. Think we would’ve picked the Yamaha, but really preferred the drivability of the Chap. We own a Bennington 25qx with 300 merc and just bought a Centurion Ri257 to surf:
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Yamaha yes cause a friend owns the nice one . Not really surfable for adults. You can, but not much. My teenage daughters could, but not much wave to move around or learn tricks on. Didn’t even try Chap. It might be better though as it uses some of the Malibu technology, but I don’t really know. I’ve been behind the reverse stern drive Chap and it’s pretty weak too despite weighing more.
The Scarab 255 Open ID Center Console seems to be a great jet boat, optional dual Rotax 300 horsepower engines which makes it 600 hp, it’s lightweight since the engines only weigh 200 pounds each and the total weight is 3,800 pounds. Could you do a review on this boat?
I had one of the 255 Open ID's for a year and loved it. No issues, but my first service (oil change and plugs) was $1000. Outstanding boat...thinking about another one just like it. BTW, love the tailgate!
Fantastic info! Thank you very much. Just getting acquainted with the options and this really helped.
i've been going back and forth between a jet boat and a regular ob center console. i have an example question. lets say a weeks trip to the keys is happening and you rented a house on the canal with a boat dock. if you have a jetboat, is it bad to keep it in the salt water for a week without flushing the engines until lets say after the trip is done? i know a jet boat can't be in salt water for a long time but i wanted to give that example to understand more because that's a type of trip i would like to do when i do purchase a boat. i was just curious becuase i assume it would be a hassle to keep pulling out the jet boat to flush the engines every day or every other day while on a trip like that. thanks so much for your videos! i really love jet boats esp the rear transom area for the kids so i would really love to get a jet boat instead of a normal OB CC
it depends on a few things... the big concern is the growth of barnacles or other growth in the intake/nozzle system.
The warmer the water and more prone to growth the area, the shorter time it will take for you to have problems.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon i understand. thanks so much for the explaination. i appreciate it!
@@itr0863 you're welcome!
Thanks for the video Matt. Their PR sure makes then seem like the death of stern drives. But the numbers aren't saying that. I will focus more on the sea ray's from now on🤣🤣
I own a 2014 scarab 195 and in my opinion I think you get a lot more in the scarab than the Yamaha in my opinion the only thing really great in a Yamaha is going to be the engine but not saying you can get the better packages in a Yamaha but in the same packages that you would get in the scarab compared to a Yamaha I like the seats a lot more in a scarab than a Yamaha the seats in the Yamaha just gives me a cheap vibe and I love the sea deck that scarab does compared to Yamaha another thing that Yamaha does that seems kind of cheap
I also love the sharp body lines and the colors that scarab uses Yamaha just has a lot of basic things I like more boats that are unique and scarabs definitely pop with all the things they do the Yamaha body doesn’t really do it for me they look like a egg
Im looking to buy a boat this coming up year . But i dont know nothing about boats. I think im going with Yamaha i dont know if thats a good decision.
Please update information to present
Great video on jet boats but have a question that seem to have people divided. Can u leave a jet boat in fresh water for a season say may to September without using a lift? I know it’s not recommended but is it a must to use a lift
Sure, you can do it... here are the risks
1. Growth in the jet drive system which can cause catastrophic failure if its bad enough (and, if its zebra muscles you're in serious trouble)
2. if a clean out port leaks, the boat will sink
3. The bottom will get lots of growth and slow the performance/speed and need to be cleaned/acid washed at the end of season
I'd be ok doing it for a week if the waters clean, deep and moving (less likely to get as much growth) but not much longer. It will likely be a costly decision.
Excellent video 👍
Yamaha FTW!
Thank you for your time sir
Im sure it was a great video at the time but the pricing is way different. The base price on the scarab 215 is now 81k. What happened in the last 2 years to make boat prices go up 30k?!?
Inflation. Just like everything else
Picked up my 2020 Yamaha 195S Saturday. Put 6 hard hours on it day one. So happy is it next summer yet?
Great video Matt. I purchased a 2021 212SE in January and I have a few issues. The boat runs great so no problems there. I have found a lot of hardware, shavings, zip ties etc. all through the hull. There is absolutely no QC. Wiring harnesses are stretched and secured to heat sources and sharp edges. Engine harness connectors and end of line resistors laying in the bottom of the bilge. Corrugated split-loom laying on top of water hoses ready to saw them off. Absolutely terrible. I work in an automotive world where everything is secured and isolated from abrasion, heat, or vibration. In addition, the boat is missing several other features that are listed in the build data for my model. It's hard to find a dealer here in CA that has availability or the knowledge to work on these. But hey, I still love my Yammy.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Actually I did. Your boat is only as good as the person or persons working on it. Do they like what they’re doing? Do they know what they’re doing? Have they been trained properly? Ate they rushed to get the work done? Do they have pride in what they are doing? On and on. Mist importantly is consistency. If the factory is a revolving door trying to get good people, well that explains all my extra hardware, stripped out holes, missing components etc. That doedn’t fly in the automotive world.
Another excellent video Capt. Matt. a.k.a Obi-Wan. :) Question: Is it possible to put a jet outboard on a pontoon boat, and if so, what is better on a pontoon boat: jet outboard, or conventional propeller outboard?
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon Thanks again! Hi from Canada!
Picking Up a 2022 Yamaha AR195 on Saturday, pricing has changed a bunch since 2021…
I live on the coast and don't know ANYONE who pays $6k-$8k every 5 years to overahaul their stern drive boats. I don't think this info is correct. Stern drives do require a bit more maintenance but have benefits as well. Stern drive is a great option for salt water, should not be listed as "Poor".
What’s everyones opinion on a Yamaha 275 vs Scaarb 285?
What about for salt water? would you still recommend a Yamaha over a BRP since BRP is closed cooled? I still see a lot of Yamahas around the coast where I am.
On a side note, I would sure appreciate a detailed video about stern drives and salt water. I don't understand how a Yamaha would still fair better than a stern drive in salt water. I've looked all over the internet for specific analysis but people just say the blanket statement, "get an outboard." But in my mind outboards still have to suck up the water for cooling. If you are trailering both then what is the real difference?
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon thanks for that additional information. What about a stern drive with closed cooling like a Volvo penta forward drive. Would you still recommend against this set up for coastal conditions. Or would this be as reliable as an outboard or jet drive? I know the exhaust is still raw water cooled. Thanks!
yamaha sux!
Any specific first hand reasons you can share? Year and model is helpful too
What do you recommend for used Jet Boats between 10-20k
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon
I ended up going a different direction found a 07 Sea Ray Bowrider 185 sport with 300hrs in budget.
Any advice or recommendations?
Heard good things about Sea Ray
No more Vortex as of today.
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon a Dealer on a Scarab Facebook page said it was announced today to dealers before BRP released all their new products.
just bought one where was this video two weeks ago lol
@@BoatBuyersSecretWeapon first boat got yamaha ar 190
and alot of it was for the reasons you said in the video. Mainly for me because the price you see is the final price lol. Includes motor, trailer and most importantly no options that you can convince yourself you need that end up adding 5-10K on top.
Yup. Same here. Just bought the 252SE for all the same reasons.
I have yamaha 212x 2019. I have a problem with the hull drain plug, it keeps leaking
A high reving 3 cylinder engine is not as reliable as a high reving 4 cylinder.
Get ride of your gas burner boat 10.00 a gal. After that coming by 2030 gas will be 15.00 a gallon .heads up
Real jet boats have a Berkley Drive and a cammed V8