Yamaha SX230 & SX230 HO Specs and Review [Video]

The SX230 and its more powerful configuration, the SX230 HO were popular 23-foot Yamaha jet boats manufactured in the 2000s. They shared the same hull and utilized twin 140 and 160hp Yamaha MR1 engine packages, respectively. And their watersport versions were the deservedly popular AR230/AR230 HO.

Even though production stopped on them before 2010, many are still running to this day.

If you want to find out more about these iconic boats, this SX230 review is for you.

Review

Hull

The SX230 inherited its 23-footer V-shaped hull and most of its features from the forerunner SR230.

Yamaha introduced this shell in 2003 and carried it over to the SX230 (and later to her HO variant) without any significant changes.

In terms of dimensions, this boat measured 23 feet in length while its beam was 8.5 feet.

Its shallow, 1.5-foot draft and jet propulsion system made it ideal for shallow waters.

The advertised dry weight of the boat was 3,025 pounds, which jumped to about 4,000 pounds with a trailer.

Considering its 50-gallon fuel capacity and some gear, the weight of the complete rig was in the neighborhood of 4,500-5,000 pounds.

The height of the vessel was also only 6.92” on the standard factory trailer.

Its spacious swim platform offered plenty of space and came standard with a reboarding step.

When it comes to capacities, the maximum load capacity of the boat was 2,800-3,500 pounds (depending on the year), including the crew, liquids, and gear.

Even though the boat was rated at ten passengers, it was only comfortable for eight.

Seating included standard bow cushions for two or three passengers, two bucket seats behind the consoles, and a cozy U-shaped couch behind those.

Believe it or not, the boat featured no less than 15 storage compartments, including a ski locker, gloveboxes, a bow anchor locker, many under-seat storage units, and carpeted storage pockets.

The SX230 was marketed from 2004 to 2006 with the same hull and deck layout. In 2007 Yamaha upgraded the hull slightly and tweaked the cockpit as well.

The new model returned with larger storage units, a redesigned rear storage, a higher freeboard, and a new convertible seat behind the port side console.

From that year on, the boat was exclusively available with twin 160hp engines under the name of SX230 HO.

Engines

When it was introduced in 2004, the base SX230 was available with the standard (280hp) MR1 twin-engine package and Hyper-Flow jet pumps.

Each of these 4-stroke, 4-cylinder, 998cc, EFI Yamaha marine engines delivered 140hp (103kW) at 10,000 RPM.

At this engine speed, the boat topped out at 47-48 mph while consuming 23.3 gph. This means that its 50-gallon fuel tank lasted slightly more than 2 hours of boating time or a range of 100-105 miles.

Cruising at an economical speed of 27 mph, fuel usage decreased to 8 gph while its range increased to 160-170 miles.

In 2005, Yamaha expanded its fleet with a more powerful version of the SX.

Baptized as SX230 HO, the more advanced model delivered 320hp (2x160hp) since it was powered by a more advanced version of the twin MR1 engine package.

Even though its name remained unchanged, the bore of the MR1 was enlarged from 74 to 76mm, which increased its displacement from 998cc to 1052cc.

Finally, this grew the performance from 140 to 160hp at 10,000 RPM.

Fitted into the SX, this more powerful engine package not only offered better hole-shot acceleration but was also more fuel efficient at cruising speed than its smaller, non-HO predecessor!

Specs Charts

For your convenience, we’ve compiled the factory specs of the Yamaha SX230 under one roof:

Dimensions and Capacities

Overall Length	23’
Beam	8.5’
Draft	1.5’
Height on trailer	6.92’
Dry Weight	3025 lb.
Maximum people on board	10 / 1800 lb.
Maximum load capacity	1800 lb.
Fuel tank capacity	50 US gal (189 L)
Oil Tank Capacity	4.5 qt (4.3 L) Each engine

Engine Specs

Number of Engines	2
Type	4-stroke
Number of Cylinders	4 each engine
Displacement (Base Model)	998 cm³ each engine
Displacement (HO Model)	1052 cm³ each engine
Fuel injection	EFI

Performance (Base Model)

Maximum Output (each engine)	140hp (103 kW) @ 10000 RPM
Maximum Fuel Consumption (each engine)	11.6 US gal/h (44 L/h)
Cruising Range (full throttle)	2.2 hr.

Performance (HO Model)

Maximum Output (each engine)	160hp (117 kW) @ 10000 RPM
Maximum Fuel Consumption (each engine)	11.9 US gal/h (45 L/h)
Cruising Range (full throttle)	2.1 hr.

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

Takeaway – Looking for a Yamaha SX230 For Sale?

The SX230 was a great entry-level jet boat that proved to be reliable and durable over the years.

Therefore, it is not surprising that many of them still appear on the market.

If you are considering buying one, you can find plenty of used 230s for sale on Craigslist, eBay, or classified boat sites.

You can expect their asking prices to be in the neighborhood of $15,000-$35,000 depending on the age, condition, and engine package.

Interestingly, their original price back in 2004-2009 was $30,000-$38,000 depending on the year!

References

Yamaha Boats