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2-Stroke Yamaha Jet Boats Compared [Video]

Yamaha manufactured many popular 2-stroke jet boats through the late ’90s and early ‘00s. Without further ado, the list of these legendary vessels is as follows:

·         Exciter 220 (’95-’98)

·         Exciter 270 (’98-’99)

·         Exciter 135 (’98-’99)

·         LS2000 (’99-’03)

·         XR1800 (’00-’01)

·         LX210 (’03-’05)

·         AR210 (’03-’05)

In this post, you will find out more about these boats and compare their key specifications head-to-head in one list.

2-Stroke Yamaha Jet Boats’ Model History

Encouraged by the success of Yamaha’s deservedly popular PWCs, the Japanese company entered the boat market in 1995.

Just like their WaveRunners, these innovative and lively vessels were an immediate success in the marketplace.

The early, 2-stroke models in the fleet were often referred to as “the racecars of the water” and with good reason.

They were built on very small hulls only measuring 16.5-19.5 feet in length while their dry weight averaged between 1450 and 2200 pounds.

This means they were smaller and lighter than the typical recreational jet boat. Yet, they were powered by high-performance (typically dual) engine packages that cranked out 135-310hp depending on the model.

These purpose-built 2-stroke marine engines, just like the 155mm Hyper Flow jet pumps on these boats had been carried over from Yamaha’s PWC division without any significant changes.

Combined with the lightweight hulls, these propulsion systems ensured outstanding power-to-weight ratios and acceleration.

What’s more, their shallow-V hull designs made them capable of very sharp turns or even extreme spins.

Therefore, it’s safe to say that these vessels were positioned somewhere between PWCs and standard jet boats.

There were only 7 different models in production from 1995 through 2005, let’s talk about each in detail!

Exciter 220

The Exciter 220 was the first 2-stroke Yamaha ever built and was manufactured from 1995 through 1998.

It was built on the tiny 16.5-footer Exciter hull, which was carried over unchanged to the more advanced 220 and 135.

Interestingly, the Exciter 220 was the only model in the fleet powered by twin-135hp (1051cc, triple) engines.

Weighing only 1690 pounds, this tiny boat could easily hit a top speed of 55 mph.

Its bowrider-style top deck housed a 3-seater bench seat and two padded seats in the bow. They enjoyed well-contoured cushions that provided outstanding traction and comfort.

The main drawbacks of this model were its awkward technical details.

It not only utilized a dual battery package and non-variable oil pumps but its CDI boxes were also mounted behind the engines.

This meant that they were only accessible by pulling the engines, which made a simple fuse replacement very difficult.

Exciter 270

Often referred to as the “Exciter Twin 270,” the legendary 1998-1999 Exciter 270 was the more powerful successor of the 220.

Many boaters agree that this was the liveliest and fastest Yamaha jet boat ever built.

The 270 inherited its platform and most features from the 220, but housed the larger twin-135hp (1131cc, triple) engine package.

This non-power valved 1200 Yamaha engine was a big-bore configuration of its aforementioned 1051cc sibling.

But despite the larger power source, the weight of the twin-engine Exciter remained at 1690 pounds, which ensured an outstanding power-to-weight ratio of .16hp/lb.

As one may expect, this boat produced a thrilling “jet ski-like” driving experience.

Exciter 135

The 1998-1999 Exciter 135 was a simpler version of the 270. As the name suggests it only utilized one 2-stroke, 1131cc, triple engine rated at 135hp.

Interestingly, this model was the only single-engine Yamaha jet boat in the 2-stroke era.

Compared to twin-engine models, the 135 offered a fairly moderate performance. Its top speed was only 45 mph and its acceleration was also noticeably slower, especially out of the hole.

However, the biggest problem with this boat was its pump cavitation, which mainly occurred in the corners.

In return, the Exciter 135 was the simplest most reliable 2-stroke Yamaha jet boat.

It was also known for its low running costs, since its WOT fuel economy was only 14 gph while its twin-engine brothers roughly consumed 24-34 gph.

XR1800

The 2000-2001 Yamaha XR1800 was the most unique model in the fleet since it featured a less practical, closed-deck design.

It was also the only model that housed a powerful 1200 Yamaha engine.

These dual 1176cc, triple-cylinder power sources produced a combined 310hp, making the XR1800 the most powerful 2-stroke Yamaha jet boat ever built.

Due to their larger displacement, power exhaust valves, and catalytic converters, they were more complex and less reliable than their non-power valved variants.

Therefore, the XR1800 was known for its high maintenance requirement and poor fuel economy of 34 gph at WOT.

What’s more, its outstanding performance came hand-in-hand with a 300-pound weight gain.

Therefore, even though they had the same power-to-weight ratios, the XR1800 couldn’t beat the smaller and lighter Exciter 270.

https://youtu.be/FJJ5Qm62_Tw

LS2000

The LS2000 was introduced in 1999 as the replacement for the proven Exciter series.

It was built on a significantly larger hull, which was two feet longer and 5 inches wider than its predecessor. Its top deck also got two additional bucket seats, which expanded the seating capacity from 5 to 7.

Unlike its body, the engine package and propulsion system of the LS2000 were carried over from the Exciter 270 without any noticeable changes.

Due to its larger body and a dry weight of 2100 pounds, the LS topped out at “only” 53 mph.

https://youtu.be/eOFt5FIc_nQ

LX210

Yamaha launched the LX210 in 2003 as the successor to the 7-seater LS2000.

However, it was more of a rebranding since there were no significant differences between these models.

In a nutshell, the only improvements on the LX compared to the LS were as follows:

·         Swim platform extension with a foldable reboarding ladder

·         Redesigned seat cushions

·         Retractable bimini top

·         Increased oil tank capacity (from 2.7 to 3.0 gal.)

·         New color scheme, decals, and minor cosmetic changes

Aside from these tweaks and the 52-pound weight gain, the LX210 and its predecessor were completely identical.

AR210

The 2003-2005 Yamaha AR210 was literally an LX210 equipped with watersport lovers in mind.

Compared to the LX, the extra model-specific features of the AR included:

·         Wakeboard tower

·         Wakeboard rack (optional)

·         Removable deck carpets

·         Dual mirrors

·         Custom color scheme and graphics

2-Stroke Yamaha Jet Boat Comparison Chart

For a better comparison, this chart below details the key specs differences between each 2-stroke Yamaha jet boat by year:

Performance

Model

Engine (cc)

HP

PWR (HP/lb.)

Top Speed (mph)

WOT GPH

Exciter 220

2 x 1051

2 x 110

0.13

55

2 x 12.2

Exciter 135

1 x 1131

1 x 135

0.09

45

1 x 14.0

Exciter 270

2 x 1131

2 x 135

0.16

60

2 x 14

XR1800

2 x 1176

2 x 155

0.16

59

2 x 16.9

LS2000

2 x 1131

2 x 135

0.13

53

 2 x 14

LX210

2 x 1131

2 x 135

0.13

53

2 x 14

AR210 (2T)

2 x 1131

2 x 135

0.12

53

2 x 14

 

Dimensions and Capacities

Model

Length

Beam

Draft

Dry Weight (lb.)

Fuel Cap. (gal)

Oil Capacity (gal)

Cap. People/lb.

Exciter 220

16’7″

7’7″

13″

1690

34

2.6

5 / 930

Exciter 135

16’7″

7’7″

13″

1450

34

2.6

5 / 930

Exciter 270

16’7″

7’7″

13″

1690

34

2.6

5 / 930

XR1800

17’7″

7’8″

13″

1950

41

3

5 / 1100

LS2000

19’6″

8’0″

18″

2100

41

2.6

7 / 1300

LX210

20’11”

8’0″

18″

2152

41

3

7 / 1300

AR210 (2T)

20’11’

8’0″

18″

2206

41

3

7 / 1300

These specifications are for informational purposes only. For further information, please refer to the operator’s manual.

Conclusion

Yamaha was manufacturing a lot of great 2-stroke mini jet boats around the Millennium.

Each was built on a small and agile shallow-V hull, which was extremely fun to drive but offered poor performance on the chop.

These boats were powered by carbureted, triple-cylinder PWC engines and 155mm pumps derived from Yamaha’s WaveRunner line.

The Japanese manufacturer used three different engines in its 2-stroke jet boat, the 1051cc, the 1131cc, and the 1176cc power mill.

The latter was the only power valved engine configuration that was available in the XR1800.

The most prevalent engine in the fleet was the non-power valved 1131cc, which delivered 135hp in the single-engine Exciter 135, and a combined 270hp in twin-engine models.

To the greatest regret of many fans, Yamaha discontinued its 2-stroke jet boat line in 2005 due to environmental restrictions. Despite this, many of them are still running well and appear on the used market.

If you are thinking about buying one of these legendary boats, here are some factors to consider:

·         These boats are powered by high-maintenance, carbureted 2-stroke engines that require much more care than 4-strokes. Unless you’re mechanically inclined, you may want to invest in a 4-stroke boat instead.

·         These engines are louder and generate much more smoke than 4-strokes.

·         The jet pumps of these boats also need attention and periodic maintenance. In contrast, an outboard motor is much simpler to maintain.

·         You can also expect the fuel consumption of twin-engine models to be in the ballpark of 28-34 gph at WOT, not to mention the expensive 2-stroke oil they consume.

·         Due to their jet propulsion, storing these boats in the water for an extended period is not recommended.

·         Each of these vessels offers poor performance on the chop, regardless of its size.

If you want to purchase a 2-stroke Yamaha boat no matter what, you may want to steer clear of the Exciter 135. This model is slightly underpowered and suffers from serious cavitation issues.

Its larger brother, the Exciter 220 also has some awkward technical solutions like dual batteries, non-variable oil pumps, and poorly positioned CDI boxes, which make maintenance difficult.

Contrary to popular belief, the XR1800 is also not recommended to buy. This boat not only has a much less practical deck layout but its power exhaust valves and catalytic converters also add a lot of complexity to its engines.

Consequently, the best models worth considering are the Exciter 270, or one of the LS-based models including the LS2000, the LX210, or the AR210.

Each of these house the same powerful yet reliable non-power valved twin-1131cc engine package rated at 270hp.

Along with great power and reliability, they also enjoy a bowrider-style deck layout rated for 5 or 7 passengers depending on the model.

References:

Yamahaboats.com


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