The Yamaha SX240 is tailor made for family fun. From the versatile bow seating to the innovative stern patio.

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.



Notice the rumble seat cushions at the bow. They also make a great armrest dividing the two seats on each side. Note the forward cushion is removed so facing forward they make a seat back. Add the forward cushion and you’re stretched out with a pad under your knees. Stow them away and you have a standard bow seat.

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 toS starboard. And as if Yamaha has read every one of my boat reviews, they put the stereo at the helm. 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 rpms 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.

Plenty of room in this layout. It’s also very versatile and surprisingly comfortable.

To port is a second adjustable bucket seat. A 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, and since they’re rarely used anyway, it’s better left to storage. 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.

Yamaha’s transom has always been the most imitated feature on the competition but no one can do it the way they do.

The Handsome Transom...

Because Yamaha’s are 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. Two very comfortable aft facing seats, drink holders, a removable pedestal table, and 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, 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 L.O.A. is 23’6” (7.2 m), beam is 8’6” (2.6 m), and draft is 16” (.4 m). Her dry weight is 3298 lb (1496 kg), and she carries 50.2 gal (190 L) of fuel. The out the door price for the Yamaha SX 240 is $41,799. 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 the lowest price in its class it’s, there’s little complaining about getting everything for your dollar. And that suits Yamaha just fine.

Yamaha SX240 High Output (2010-) Standard and Optional Equipment

Systems
CD Stereo
Trailer
Exterior Features
Carpet: Cockpit
Swim Ladder
Swim Platform
Canvas
Bimini Top

= Standard = Optional