By Captain John B. Wenz

The folks at Yamaha are boaters. Most of them, from what I can figure, have families of a variety of ages. So what does that mean? Every time I visit them I can tell that they’ve been out there, using their product. They know what boating families want, and they’ve responded. Case in point, the 212X. Wakeboarding has been growing in popularity, and Yamaha has introduced a variation on their 21 foot hull that caters to that segment. The fact that this boat is not 100% wakeboard boat is not a bad thing. Not everyone in the family wants to spend every boating day boarding. My latest visit to Yamaha was spent, in part, testing the 212X.



Yamaha’s boat lineup is what I think of as a big secret, waiting to get out. These are really nice boats, and they’re excellent value. Line any one of them up against similar sized I/O runabouts and bowriders in this size range. You’ll see what I mean. You get what’s typically called a complete package, yet it doesn’t include things like dock lines and fenders. Yamaha leaves those necessary accessories up to the dealer to include, which they typically do. But what the factory does include in this “complete package” are things like twin engines and a swim platform. That’s the kind of stuff which is hard to find, even as an option, on a boat of this size.

Loads of Good Stuff

The 212X is the wakeboard version of Yamaha’s 21 footer. This model offers twin high-output engines deliver 320 horsepower for quick acceleration and exhilarating performance. These engines are clean and quiet, reliable, fuel efficient and offer minimal bow rise when planing off. And they’ve got plenty of pulling power, no matter who’s on the tow! She’s got an 8’6” beam and a 20 degree deadrise, which make for tight turns and a comfortable ride. Weighing-in at 3029 pounds, the 212X carries 50.2 gallons of fuel, and has a shallow, 16” draft. It’s not only kind to plant and animal life, but it’s also forgiving in those silted-up places. Gone are the days when you had to get a tow home due to a banged-up prop! In addition, the prop is inside the boat, so there’s no danger to anyone in the water while you’re having fun with your water toys.



A step-over transom takes you into the cockpit where you’ll find comfortable seating for 9 on attractive, durable upholstery. Stainless details abound- handrails and cupholders are in all the right places, and there are stainless pull-up cleats and a stainless rubrail.

Under the deck there’s a ski locker and a cooler. Under the seats and here and there you’ll notice plenty of other storage compartments. In addition, removable Berber carpeting, a bow filler cushion, and a bimini top are all part of the standard package. Any rider will tell you that you need tunes, so these guys throw in a satellite-equipped Sony AM/FM/CD Stereo equipped with 4 Kicker speakers and a cool little compartment with an input for your MP3 or iPod. Order the optional tower-mounted speakers and rock on! My sons would love this, and I’ve gotta admit, I would too!



The auto-inspired instrumentation combines with some rugged switches to make for an attractive, efficient layout. The engine controls offer yet another nice feature- the “No-Wake” mode. I like this idea. It’s useful in both environmentally sensitive areas and in crowded harbors. Under the aft seats, port and starboard, I noticed what appeared to be a pair of red duffle bags. In fact, those are the rubber ballast tanks which collapse when they’re not in use. A rocker switch under the helm console is all it takes to quickly add 750 pounds of internal ballast. When you’re not boarding, pump out the tanks and utilize the space for storage. Now that’s good thinking. In addition to the ballast system, the 212X includes a custom tower. It collapses easily for trailering and storage. The tower is solid, attractive, and includes board racks on both sides. On the subject of trailering, did I mention the standard painted trailer? Like the boat, it’s full of nice little details to make your boating more enjoyable.



The Entertainment Center

Wakeboarding is fun for some members of the family, but there are times you might just want to drop the hook off your favorite beach and play or relax. Yamaha’s swim platform makes the perfect place to enjoy that kind of a day. It offers a smooth transition between the water and the cockpit. And the platform is so comfortable that everyone’s going to want to be there. The deck surfaces are covered with a soft yet durable material called Hydro-Turf, and backrest cushions are integrated in the design. There’s a mount for the cockpit table, so you can enjoy refreshments at the water’s edge, and a remote for the stereo is within reach from the water. The swim platform on the 212X is one of my favorite waterfront hangouts!



Our Test

I was impressed by the acceleration when I pushed up the twin throttles. We reached plane in 2.9 seconds and 30 MPH in 4.3 seconds. Bow rise was minimal and the ride was smooth. We saw a top speed of 52.9 MPH and our calculations resulted in an optimal cruising speed of 27.5 MPH at 7000 rpm, giving us a usable fuel range of 158 miles.



Yamaha has cleverly created a nice combination wakeboard boat and family runabout. They continue to improve in areas of both innovation and quality, year after year. If you’ve got a family who doesn’t want to compromise when it comes to riding, but they don’t always want to ride, then the 212X from Yamaha may be the perfect boat for you.

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