The Yamaha 242 Limited is much more than the grown up version of the 232. Both ends have been re-engineered for maximum enjoyment while still maintaining Yamaha’s trademark affordability. Not only does Yamaha get high marks for safety with their jet drives, they also score big on innovation. It all started with the “transom patio” that no one seems to be able to copy exactly because of Yamaha’s low-profile twin engines. Now, they’ve given the boat a facelift and made it even better. Not willing to sit on their laurels, Yamaha took a stab at the bow area while they were at it, and the result is one of the most innovative seating arrangements we’ve seen.

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New and Improved from Stem to Stern...

So let’s start at the stem then, or more to the point, the bow. High points to Yamaha for making one of the most, if not THE most, innovative bow that I’ve seen. It’s easily changed between five different configurations to suit your desires of the moment. Starting with...

1. The basic seating on both sides. The seats are long enough to extend your legs out without feeling cramped. Nothing new here but it’s included in the series so we mention it. Now let’s move on to...

2. Filler cushion sunpad. Again, so far nothing new here. Practically every bowrider on the market allows for a filler cushion that turns the entire bow area into a sunpad. And not surprising, so does Yamaha. Next...

3. Rumble seating. Lift the forward cushions and pull up a separate cushion. This makes a small seatback for facing forward. Remove the forward most cushion and your feet are on the deck while facing forward. The kids will love this, as you’ll really get a feel for the speed from this forward most seat. It’s duplicated on both sides.

4. Padding under the legs. Re-insert the forward cushion and you have a very comfortable support under your knees, and your legs are still extended forward. It has a sort of chaise lounge feel to it. You also now have four seats with everyone facing each other and an arm rest between the two people on each side. Very cool.

5. Three across seating. The filler cushions that make the sun pad also make another forward facing seat in the center. Now more people can be facing forward while sitting up at the bow. This is ingenious and Yamaha is the first I’ve seen do this, but I have little doubt that they’ll be the last. Close off the walk-through windshield and both it, and the center seat back, will block the wind on those chilly days.

And because the bow is flat, you have room for the anchor and rode storage, plus an extendable swim ladder at the bow.



The Cockpit...

The gauges all have visors over them to block the glare, and you have full instrumentation for the twin 1.8L engines. A little flat area lies aft of the gauges for putting “stuff” and it’s got a non-skid pad thank you very much. The bucket seat swivels and slides but no up and down. Throttles are mounted on a slight angle to starboard. And as if Yamaha has read every one of my boat reviews, they put the stereo at the helm. A remote is at the transom.

Now, because the controls are fly-by-wire, Yamaha has the ability to pull a few cool tricks. Starting with Cruise mode. Get above 3000 rpm and hit the single rocker switch and now you’re in cruise mode. You can incrementally increase or decrease your speed eight increments either way for sixteen settings from the speed you first pressed the switch at. In no wake mode, you hit the same switch and you have three increments up or down while still keeping the speed down and not having to worry about fiddling with the throttles. On previous boats, Yamaha had this feature with dual switches, one for each engine, but virtually everyone used them together so they’re finally combined into one switch.



Both engines and boat conditions are monitored with a GPS-based information control center: Digital displays can provide latitude, longitude, compass heading, elevation, water depth, water temperature, trip odometer, clock, engine hours, engine speed, vessel voltage, vessel speed, highest speed, fuel level, fuel used and they are the first in the industry to provide real time (gallons per hour and miles per gallon) fuel flow data.



To port is a second adjustable bucket seat, and the glove box is to port, but it’s a little clumsy to open with its twisting knob. I’d rather see a latch to pull and lift. Just forward is a roomy storage compartment. You’re welcome to put a Porta-Potti there but Yamaha doesn’t include one. There’s no floor drain so keep it dry in there.



Aft seating is wrap-around and grab handles and drink holders are everywhere. Lift up the cushions in the center and you have a walkthrough to the transom, easily the most popular spot on the boat when at anchor. There’s a rather large step in the middle of the walk through so mind your step as you traverse.



The Handsome Transom...

Because Yamaha’s are powered with jet drives, they have no clunky engine box to work around. This gives them the freedom to design this really great transom seating that no one else seems to be able to copy. Outboards can’t even try and stern drives haven’t got a chance. It’s always been the envy of the competition, and now it’s even better. Two very comfortable aft facing seats, drink holders, the previously mentioned stereo remote, a removable pedestal table, and padding behind your legs that doubles as a separate padded seatback when you’re sitting on the swim platform, which is mere inches above the water making the re-boarding ladder a bit redundant. It’s really quite an attractive and comfortable package, and Yamaha has really hit one out of the park with it.

Specifications...

Starting with the engines, Yamaha has installed their largest engines yet in their flagship, twin 1.8L high output fuel injected Yamaha marine engines. Suffice it to say that no one will be crying about her performance, but we’ll see at another time just how she performs.



Her LOA is 23’0” (7 m), beam is 8’6” (2.6 m), and draft is 16” (.4 m). Her dry weight is 3314 lbs (1503 kgs), and she carries 50.2 gal. (190 L) of fuel. The out-the-door price for the Yamaha 242 Limited is $50,499. Notice I didn’t say “base price”. Yamaha sells their boats as a complete package, no options. You get everything. So that’s the price. And since it’s one of the lowest prices in its class, there’s little complaining. And that suits Yamaha just fine.

Test Power: 2 x 1812cc High Output Yamaha Marine Engines

						Range
RPM	MPH	Knots	Total GPH	MPG	NMPG	Stat. Mile	NM	KM	KPH	LPH	KPL	dBA
2000	5.9	5.1	4.6	1.29	1.12	58	51	93	9.5	17.4	0.55	74
2500	6.8	5.9	5.1	1.35	1.17	61	53	98	10.94	19.3	0.57	78
3000	7.8	6.7	7.2	1.08	0.94	49	42	79	12.55	27.3	0.46	84
3500	8.3	7.2	7.8	1.07	0.93	48	42	77	13.36	29.5	0.45	88
4000	10.4	9.0	8.4	1.24	1.08	56	49	90	16.74	31.8	0.53	91
4500	16.6	14.4	8.7	1.90	1.65	86	75	138	26.72	32.9	0.81	87
5000	24.8	21.6	9.2	2.71	2.36	122	106	196	39.91	34.8	1.15	87
5500	31.7	27.5	9.8	3.25	2.82	147	128	237	51.02	37.1	1.38	89
6000	37.4	32.5	11.5	3.26	2.84	147	128	237	60.19	43.5	1.39	91
6500	41.6	36.2	15.6	2.68	2.33	121	105	195	66.95	59	1.14	93
7000	46.5	40.4	19.1	2.43	2.12	110	96	177	74.83	72.3	1.03	93
7550	51.9	45.1	23.2	2.24	1.95	101	88	163	83.52	87.8	0.95	94

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

There is no performance chart currently associated with this model.

Test Conditions

Test Power: 2 x 1812cc High Output Yamaha Marine Engines

Time To Plane	2.4 sec.
0 to 30	4.2 sec.
Test Power	2 x 1812cc High Output Yamaha Marine Engines
Transmission	N/A
Ratio	N/A
Props	N/A
Load	2 people, 1/2 fuel, no water, 100 lbs. of gear
Climate	80 degrees, 76% humidity, winds: 0-5 mph, calm seas