A New PWC Joins the Fleet: Yamaha's FX HO with Nanotechnology

ByCaptain John B. Wenz

It seems that every year Yamaha introduces at least one “Industry First” with the new WaveRunner lineup. It is said by some that PWC’s are the future of boating. The Yamaha Motor Corporation seems to buy into this philosophy, and continues to apply significant resources toward that future. The FX High Output is the lowest priced WaveRunner model featuring Yamaha’s breakthrough material, NanoXcel.

Yamaha- an Industry Leader

Yamaha WaterCraft Group has been a leader in the PWC Industry right out of the blocks. They were first to introduce the two-person watercraft in 1986, and first with a three person model in 1990. 2002 saw Yamaha introduce the first four-stroke powered PWC, and in 2006 it was the Cruiser concept along with the innovative instrument package and built-in fuel flow meter. In 2008, Yamaha once again introduced an industry first- NanoExcel.

Nanotechnology. Engineering at the molecular level

Simply put, nanotechnology is molecular engineering of raw materials. The application of this process results in huge improvements in the mechanical, chemical, and electrical properties of certain materials. The number of potential and actual uses of this stuff is tremendous and it promises a revolution in the way we live. Yamaha is one of the first manufacturers, and certainly the first in the PWC business, to have put it to use and the results are very positive indeed.

Yamaha’s proprietary material, NanoXcel, provides a lighter hull, deck, and hull liner (up to 25% lighter); the benefits of which are marked increases in speed, acceleration, and responsiveness. In addition, the material is said to be much more durable and the finish seems almost gem-like and is really uniform and smooth.

Reliability on the Inside

Clean and quiet, the Yamaha High-Output MR-1 was designed exclusively for marine use. The 1052cc 4-stroke engine delivers all the fun and exhilaration of sportier PWCs, yet it has enough pulling power to pull boarders and skiers or take up to three passengers for an enjoyable ride. A high volume intake box with water repellent air filter, dry sump lubrication, and a corrosion protection system provide the dependability you want for extended cruising and long engine life. Yamaha’s computerized engine management system controls and adjusts fuel and ignition parameters and provides for off throttle steering, and a slant detection switch shuts the motor down immediately in the event of overturning to prevent water ingestion.

Great Features You’ve Come to Expect from Yamaha

The FX HO lives up to its Yamaha lineage. The dashboard and mirrors are said to be reminiscent of a touring sports car, yet the entire package is more like a high-end touring motorcycle. A sistership to Yamaha’s FX Cruiser HO, this craft is priced $800 lower at $10,599. For 2008 she’s available in an attractive color scheme the builder calls “Blue Onyx”. This model is 131.5” long, has a beam of 48.4”, a height of 45.7”. She has storage space totaling 26.4 gallons, including a big locker forward, one under the seat, a glove box, and a small waterproof locker for your wallet and/or cell phone. There’s a self-draining beverage holder within easy reach of the operator. A fold-down boarding step and rugged, non-slip surface allow for easy boarding onto the sizable aft deck. Steering tilt is adjustable to keep you comfortable on those long cruises. And, introduced a couple of years back, a low rpm mode limits the throttle range for novices and includes a remote controlled security system and which can be activated from up to 30 feet away.

There’s a comprehensive digital instrument package in easy view of the operator, and on-the-fly trim adjustment offers 24 degrees of instant trim adjustment with a twist of the left handgrip; popular with the offshore crowd. Yamaha’s trademarked “Visibility Spout”, from the rear of the craft, makes all Yamaha PWCs more visible for safety.

Our Test

We had a nice summer day on a Georgia lake for our test of the FX Cruiser High Output. The breeze and seas were calm, air temperature in the mid 80’s with the water in the mid 70’s. We did a bunch of speed runs, to test the manufacturer’s claims about a speed increase due to NanoXcel. We saw pretty consistent numbers averaging to 59.6 MPH which was indeed an increase over last years craft with the identical motor. Based on our fuel consumption data, I can conclude that a cruising range of about 125 miles at a speed of 32 MPH could be expected on a tank of regular gas, which is about the same.

The difficult thing to precisely measure when testing PWCs is acceleration. These things take off so fast that the processor used in radar guns struggles to keep up and the readings lag. And that’s true across the board for everybody out there. I will tell you this- by the seat of the pants method, when comparing identical craft, one with NanoXcel and one without, the difference is very clear. The new technology is definitely faster, feels livelier and more “spirited” for lack of a better word. I noticed from my first try that the acceleration was quicker and the ride seems to be on a slicker surface; almost as if there were an oil film on the water. It’s almost as if the boat is anxious to take you for a ride, like a colt chomping at the bit. I never thought I’d say this, but it adds a new dimension to PWC riding. I look forward to the advances that Nanotechnology promises. This is truly the wave of the future, and Yamaha seems to have embraced it whole-heartedly on the FX HO WaveRunner. If you have to go out of your way to give this a try, do so. It’s worth the effort. You’ll be pleasantly surprised.