Tested by Brandon De Natale

There are a quite a few boats out there that put a smile on my face for one reason or another… Good handling, comfortable ride, great layout, great design. The list goes on…. But I have to be honest, there a very few that put the kind of grin on my face like the kind that keeps hurting even after your smile has gone. Well Yamaha has hit my funny bone with their new AR210. This boat was a blast to drive and you might find yourself wanting to be behind the wheel more than being pulled behind the boat.

Design

The AR210 is specifically designed for families that enjoy water sports. With the built-in wakeboard tower and sleek styling your sure to get peoples attention. Up forward there are two form fitting seats that provide excellent support when underway. A nice feature up here is the addition of handholds for each passenger to grip while running at full throttle.

Yamaha has also kept storage in mind when designing this boat and you will find carpeted storage under both port and starboard seats, and throughout the boat there are twelve compartments in all. When looking into these storage areas I was really impressed with the amount of attention that has gone into finishing off all the corners and nooks. There were no sharp edges and the carpet was installed beautifully. The walkway is nice and wide and gives you plenty of room to get around.

At the Wheel

The windscreens on both sides of the helm provide minimal deflection of wind but then again that is one of the great things about this boat, the feeling of freedom. Under the screens you’ll find more storage. These can be used for dry gear or double as a cooler. The one at the drivers seat even features a fire extinguisher.

The seats at the helm are comfortable and provide great support. Visibility is excellent at all RPM ranges, due in part to the absence of a full size windshield. At the helm all instruments and switches are easily accessible and viewable. And the independent, dual engine controls are well positioned for operation and provide responsive control and performance.

In the Cockpit

Back in the cockpit the rear seating is comfortable and seats three. There are some great features back here like built-in drink holders, netted storage and handrails to provide support. The entire boat features a high quality berber carpet which fits very well. If you prefer not to have the carpeting down then you can be assured of great traction with the diamond non-skid that is found throughout.

Just abaft of the rear seating is a large sun pad that is great for lying out on when at anchor, and provides easy access over the stern and onto the swim platform. The swim platform is wide, which allows you to easily get your board or ski’s on before entering the water. It also features a telescoping re-boarding ladder for convenience. There’s also a tow hook back here for those that would rather ski.

Tower

The most striking feature on the AR210 is the integrated wakeboard tower. Constructed of aluminum, the wakeboard tower is a must have feature for anyone that is serious about wakeboarding. Even if you’re not a professional, you’re going to look like you are riding in this boat. The purpose of the tower is to provide a tow hook for your rope as high above the boat as possible to ensure you get the most air for all your tricks.

The tower is a sturdy structure, and it’s also a great place to store your wakeboards when not in use. Simply get the attachment and you can stack up to four boards here. Also, I would add rear facing lights for those early morning and late evening sessions on the water. You could also put two rear facing speakers up here and project music all the way back to the rider. I found that the tower also gave some solid support when maneuvering around the boat.

Power Plant

Under the rear seat we find the engines that power this boat. The sun pad easily lifts with the help of gas lifts. Under the pad you will find a removable storage bin that is great for holding supplies. There is also netted storage on the bottom of the sun pad for loose items.

The 270-horsepower is supplied by two high performance 135-hp, three cylinder 1131cc Yamaha marine engines. Each of these engines are fed by three Mikuni carburetors to provide responsive power and performance throughout the range. Another great feature Yamaha has incorporated into the design of this boat is a fresh water flush system. Simply attach the hose to the fitting and run the engine with fresh water to keep them in pristine condition. Also, maintenance is made easy with the jet pump clean-out plugs which are located in the stern. When you lift the cover there are automatic cutoff buttons that stop both engines and keep them from restarting until the hatch is closed again. Once open you can simply push a button on one of the two clean-out plugs and clear any debris from the cavity.

Test Results

As I mentioned above this was an exciting and fun boat to both ride in and especially to drive. I was hoping the water would be warm enough for a test behind the AR210 but I can only guess that it would be even more fun then what I experienced onboard.

The deep-V hull design and the high performance jet propulsion system make turning on a dime and hugging the corners possible. I had expected the boat to slide a little when making turns but she held the water like a much larger boat. I’ve done a lot of water skiing and boarding off the back of smaller runabouts and only wish I had something like this to take me to the next level. I can honestly recommend this as a family boat that offers the type of comfort and conveniences one would find on larger boats, while providing power and performance that can be enjoyed at every age and skill level.

Speeds measured with Stalker ProSports radar gun. Fuel consumption (gallons per hour) measured with Floscan digital fuel-flow meter on gas inboards, sterndrives, and outboards, TechMate electronic scan tool on gas EFI inboards, Caterpillar digital fuel-flow meter on diesel engines, or permanently installed fuel-monitoring equipment. Range is based on 90% of published fuel capacity. Sound levels determined using Radio Shack digital decibel meter on A scale. 68 dBA is the level of normal conversation.

Performance Chart

Test Conditions