Lake of the Ozarks Boaters

[cjones]

Im looking at maybe getting a Yamaha jet boat for watersports with the kids. I've done some research and they seem to be the best overall option for the price. My question is, does anyone else have any experience with one at the lake and especially with debris getting sucked up? That is my biggest concern with all the sticks in the water in spring/early summer.

 

[Hot2Go]

Im looking at maybe getting a Yamaha jet boat for watersports with the kids. I've done some research and they seem to be the best overall option for the price. My question is, does anyone else have any experience with one at the lake and especially with debris getting sucked up? That is my biggest concern with all the sticks in the water in spring/early summer.

We have taken several trips to LOTO over the past 5 years. We started off with an AR230, mainly stayed during the week and never really went far on the weekends. The AR230 handled it alright, the new 252 we have now handles the lake phenomenally. Over the years I usually had to access the impellers to clean debris out at least once or twice a trip with the AR230. The 252 we never had to access the impellers the whole year, on our home lake or the three long trips we took to LOTO this past summer (*knocks on wood*). Assume the new hull design helps with that and I believe the 252 sits in the water a couple inches deeper.

Water sports in the ozarks I’d say needs to be done in the morning or in the late evening. That’s when we would go tubing or wakeboarding, much less busier then. Something you have to be aware of is the jet wash, if you’re tubing it does kick up more in the riders faces but get a longer rope and/or ball in the middle and it usually helps. Wakeboarding is okay, we don’t have the wake series so we aren’t jumping any wakes, I don’t really remember jet wash being an issue when I was wakeboarding though.

What’s your budget? What boat are you looking at? What’s your tow vehicle? And where do you live on the lake or do you VRBO?

 

[cjones]

We have taken several trips to LOTO over the past 5 years. We started off with an AR230, mainly stayed during the week and never really went far on the weekends. The AR230 handled it alright, the new 252 we have now handles the lake phenomenally. Over the years I usually had to access the impellers to clean debris out at least once or twice a trip with the AR230. The 252 we never had to access the impellers the whole year, on our home lake or the three long trips we took to LOTO this past summer (*knocks on wood*). Assume the new hull design helps with that and I believe the 252 sits in the water a couple inches deeper.

Water sports in the ozarks I’d say needs to be done in the morning or in the late evening. That’s when we would go tubing or wakeboarding, much less busier then. Something you have to be aware of is the jet wash, if you’re tubing it does kick up more in the riders faces but get a longer rope and/or ball in the middle and it usually helps. Wakeboarding is okay, we don’t have the wake series so we aren’t jumping any wakes, I don’t really remember jet wash being an issue when I was wakeboarding though.

What’s your budget? What boat are you looking at? What’s your tow vehicle? And where do you live on the lake or do you VRBO?

I have a place on the lake and a large Crownline that is too big to ski or wakeboard behind, so I'm looking at something smaller to do water sports with. I'm looking at the 212x or 212xe model. I've found a couple of used ones that are decently priced. One is a 2021 so I'm a little nervous about it being a covid boat after reading the forum. I also looked at a Malibu 20 VTX. Those are twice as much, but I wouldn't have the debris issue.

 

[Hot2Go]

I have a place on the lake and a large Crownline that is too big to ski or wakeboard behind, so I'm looking at something smaller to do water sports with. I'm looking at the 212x or 212xe model. I've found a couple of used ones that are decently priced. One is a 2021 so I'm a little nervous about it being a covid boat after reading the forum. I also looked at a Malibu 20 VTX. Those are twice as much, but I wouldn't have the debris issue.

I wouldn’t worry too much about Covid issues, really just comes down to your own inspection of the boat, I’d like to believe the owners took pride in their boat and fixed anything needed, but you never know!

In all honesty, if you’re looking for a dedicated wake sports boat (especially surfing) and can afford it, the Malibu will serve you better than a Yamaha wake series. If you want to surf the Yamahas can do it, but not as well as the Malibu. And you can add some more weight on the Yami if you’re a bigger guy which seems sufficient to go ropeless. Things the Yamaha has a leg up on the Malibu would be ride comfort, price, ease of maintenance, and this forum!

If my kids wanted to surf I probably would go with a Yamaha wake series just because I love the brand (I’m bias), the price is right, and I know they’ll grow out of that surfing phase so at least I’d have a smoother riding boat in the end. But you have a bigger crownline so ride comfort is covered there!

 

[jacoviii]

We boat LOZ. and Smithville Mo. We started boating LOZ in 2008 with a 1998 Yamaha Exciter Then a 2018 242x., and now a 2022 255xd. We had some debris issues with the flatter hull of the exciter at slow speeds. We do the port 20 to Truman dam run every year 160mile no issues.
One thing we learned early on was after huge rains the sticks and bark (looks like mulch) floats together. just avoid that and you'll be good.

Now comparing a 212 to a Malibu 20 VTX completely different. and if it was me I wouldn't look at a 212 only 222 or 224 and maybe a 252.
the hull on the 222 will ride better and the boat layout is better. But if you do get a 212 it still will be a fun boat.

Have you drove a Yamaha yet?