We’re tempted to use the term entry level, but with a boatload full of features, it’s anything but. What we will call it... is affordable. It has many features, so it is not a striped-down version of anything. On the other hand, it is not the big kahuna of PWCs either. Rather it is your basic, well-equipped Yamaha ready for beginners or just anyone who want to have the fun of a PWC without having to sell grandma’s jewels. The VX Cruiser is Yamaha’s most affordable Cruiser yet it shares some of the features you’ll find on their top-end FX Cruiser models. This watercraft is aimed to please the family looking for luxury and affordability and, bow to stern, it’s a great package.

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The VX Cruiser from Yamaha is an affordable way to get maximum fun on the water, with comfort for the long haul.

The VX Line Redux...

This is textbook Yamaha marketing. Boating families want to get on the water for short money and Yamaha is stepping up to deliver. Their VX line is surprisingly affordable but not lacking in performance or style. These are PWCs made by people who get on the water with regular Joes and listen to what those folks want in a wet day on the water. So it’s no surprise that they’ve re-engineered the VX lineup to keep those customer feedbacks squarely in mind. For example, the hulls have been stretched four inches at a point just abaft the steering column. This gives a better, more comfortable feel to the handlebars, and allows for a more comfortable stance for your feet.



Check out the comfortable cruiser seat. The hull has been stretched to give better comfort at the handlebars as well as better positioning of your feet. Note the trademark Yamaha waterspout at the stern to make you more visible to other boaters.

Next, Yamaha added to the stern platform making it larger and easier to re-board as well as use for a launching pad for swimming, diving, or boarding a tube.



Then they loaded in a 1052cc four-stroke four-cylinder power plant driving a 155mm high pressure pump.

Other New Details...

The mirrors were then raised up out of the “hit zone” when docking, and now they’re also easier to see what’s going on behind you as they’re at a much more natural height.



Throw in a whopping 15.1 gal (57 L) of storage and you have a package that’s ideal for a family aching to get on the water for a fraction of the price of a sportboat. And because they’re so light, they can be towed to the water behind almost anything short of a motorcycle. But... the most notable feature about all watercraft from Yamaha... everything is built by Yamaha. That means that if something should go wrong with your waverunner, Yamaha will stand behind it with no finger pointing to outside vendors.

The VX Cruiser...

At the top of the food chain is the VX Cruiser. Not only is the VX Cruiser built up, it’s loaded with standard features, beginning with the remote transmitter. This device not only prevents unauthorized starts, but also lets you limit the rpms for better fuel economy. (This clever device also helps keep the kids from getting into trouble, but don’t tell them that).

The reboarding step makes getting back onboard after a spill a cinch, and it retracts neatly away when not in use. But the best new feature is the comfortable cruiser seat. This is clearly a waverunner that is not only fun to thrash around in, but take off on the long haul with. It’s that comfortable.



The VX Cruiser is also roomy enough for three people (so long as they are relatively trim).

Specifications...

The VX Cruiser is 128.7” (3.27 m) long, 46.1” (1.17 m) wide, and she’s 45.7” (1.16 m) high. Her dry weight is only 750 lbs (340 kg) and she carries 15.9 gal (60 L) of fuel.

And now for the good news... you can have this Yamaha VX Cruiser in your garage for as little as $9,599. As we have said for years, everyone ought to have a PWC, and now everyone should be able to afford it.

Test Power: 1 x 1052cc Yamaha MR-1

						Range
RPM	MPH	Knots	Total GPH	MPG	NMPG	Stat. Mile	NM	KM	KPH	LPH	KPL	dBA
1300	3.2	2.8	0.5	6.40	5.57	92	80	148	5.15	1.9	2.72	75
2000	4.8	4.2	0.6	8.00	6.96	114	100	183	7.72	2.3	3.4	78
3000	6.1	5.3	1.2	5.30	4.61	76	66	122	9.82	4.5	2.25	78
4000	8.1	7.0	1.6	5.06	4.40	72	63	116	13.04	6.1	2.15	79
5000	23.3	20.2	2.5	9.49	8.25	136	118	219	37.5	9.5	4.04	84
6000	31.2	27.1	3.1	10.21	8.88	146	127	235	50.21	11.7	4.34	85
7000	48.7	42.3	6.9	7.06	6.14	101	88	163	78.38	26.1	3	85
8000	53.7	46.7	7.4	7.25	6.30	104	90	167	86.42	28	3.08	87

All speeds are measured by a hand held Stalker PRO radar gun and a hand help digital timer, so the human elements is a factor. Temperature, saltwater versus fresh, load, and water conditions are all a factor and the reason why test results may vary.

Performance Chart

Test Conditions

Test Power: 1 x 1052cc Yamaha MR-1

Time To Plane	N/A
0 to 30	2.6 sec.
Test Power	1 x 1052cc Yamaha MR-1
Transmission	Direct Drive
Ratio	N/A
Props	3-blade stainless steel
Load	1 person, 2/3 fuel, no water, min. gear
Climate	Temp: 78 deg., humid: 53% , wind: flat, seas: calm