For 2015, Yamaha’s Sport Boat line consists of a dozen different models choices – from the base model SX190 to our test boat the 242 Limited. The 242 Limited is all new for the coming season. Beginning with a new hull and a new deck, the design team focused on passenger comfort and handling improvements.
The new hull is 6 inches longer with a higher freeboard than its’ predecessor. There’s an all newly designed bow area featuring new hassle-free and hold-in-place hinges on the seats. The anchor locker was redesigned so that you can use the anchor or re-boarding ladder independently – this was a challenge in previous years models – and there’s a hydraulic cylinder that keeps the hatch door open! Two forward facing seats will please your daredevil passengers who like to ride all the way up front, or insert he filler cushions and you have a full sunpad. The higher freeboard means a deeper – and safer – bow seating area.
Slightly aft through the walk thru windshield, you’ll find the cockpit has a new head and a new door with a huge opening. The new entertainment area in front of the companion seat includes a glovebox and plenty of storage. The new buckets seats for the captain and companion swivel a full 180 degrees to create a true conversation area in the cockpit. Overhead, the forward sweeping power-coated aluminum wakeboard tower has tweeter speakers and LED lights and also supports the removable bimini.
The helm was also redesigned. The central piece here is the all new, and very cool, ConnextTM instrument display that features both touchscreen and joystick controls. It’s intuitive and simple to use – green displays are good, red ones are bad – for things like fuel levels, battery voltage, etc. The joystick is easier than the touchscreen when you’re out bouncing around in the waves.
The swim platform is a Yamaha signature design. Here you’ll find two rear-facing seatbacks with storage behind, a 12V power point for inflating the water toys, a shower to starboard, a remote stereo control down at water level to port, and 4 cup holders.
But it’s what you cannot see where most of the work was done in this all new model. The new Yamaha Quiet Cruise Design features a significant reduction in noise in the cockpit achieved through a lot more insulation around the engine, a new muffler design and a new water intake to reduce cavitation. The goal was to be as quiet as the quietest sterndrive on the market – a goal we can attest that they achieved.
In addition, there’s a keel on this sport boat. Yes, a keel, and an articulated one at that! Beginning amidships and increasing in height towards the transom, an all fiberglass keel not only provides much improved (and much needed) handing in low-rpm maneuvering (it now tracks straight!), but also greater control at speed, when crossing boat wakes, or running across or into the waves. The articulated portion – basically a rudder – moves in sync with the steering wheel via a stainless steel rod attached to the starboard steerable jet. Completely gone are any and all negatives traditionally associated with jet
boat handling thanks to this keel! While the 242 Limited reverses slightly better to starboard, that’s easy to overcome with Yamaha’s No Wake Mode and the independently variable twin engines.
Our test recorded a top end speed of 52 mph at 7652 rpm, and a best cruising speed of 32 mph at 5500 rpm with significantly less detectable engine noise in the cockpit.
All Yamaha Sport Boats come with a full one year limited warranty and a five year hull warranty.
The 242 Limited is available in three colour options for 2015: suede grey, black and yacht blue, any one of which will look hot tied to your dock or zipping across the water with you at the helm.
