Yamaha SX210
Combining the excitement of a sport boat with bountiful features,Yamaha's SX210 makes the most of its size.
February 1, 2006
No one ever did more with less than MacGyver. Put a pocketknife and some duct tape in his
hand and the man would come back in an hour with an armored personnel carrier. His talent is the
stuff of television legend, and the stuff that to its core the consumer champions these days -
making the most out of what you have.
For boat buyers, that doesn't necessarily mean skimping on the amenities you want, it just means maximizing what you have, instead of going over the top and paying for more than you need with size and unneeded features. Yamaha took that train of thought to heart by introducing the SX210 - a 21-foot version of its successful 230 line that makes the most of what it has on board.
When you think
of slimming down from 23 to 21 feet, you automatically assume that the tradeoffs will involve less
seating and less storage. That seems to be the opposite on the SX210. Once you hop aboard, you
discover that the wraparound cockpit seating has enough seats and enough legroom to make longer
outings comfortable. There's room for the gear too. A large port-side storage locker takes care of
most of your storage needs. You can easily fit a large cooler, some PFDs, and other assorted gear
inside. And if the headroom was a little more on the plus size, the storage compartment might even
have room for a portable head – a design idea Yamaha is mulling over for future generations of the
210 Series.
Pulling out from the dock at Tellico Lake just east of Knoxville, Tennessee, it takes you a minute to adjust to the controls of the twin 110-hp, 4-stroke in-line engines. There's a slight difference in handling on this sport boat than a single-engine runabout of similar size, so you want to be careful around the dock, but in no time you're off. While the SX210 sports family-friendly features for hanging out on the boat when the engine's cut, make no bones about it, this boat was made to run. With a compact design, twin-engine power and the Yamaha patented propulsion system, the 210 gets on plane quick. You hit a top speed of 45.8 mph with two people aboard in smooth-water conditions, then decide to dice things up a bit with some sharp turns. No problem, the 210 is responsive to the sudden twists and turns, and your crewmate would be too if you'd give him enough advance notice. Fortunately, there are a few grab handles around the cockpit to keep everyone inside and dry despite your figure eights.
Another nice feature on the SX210 is the No Wake Mode. One flip of the switch means you don't have to fiddle with the throttle controls around the dock, marina, or no-wake zones as much. The feature reduces RPM, and sets levels for the best idle speed. It's part of a helm package that includes full compass, depth finder, digital security system, and a JBL satellite-ready stereo system with remote at the stern and MP3 plug-in capabilities.
After a long
run across Tellico Lake, you find a neat spot floating beside Fort Loudon State Park, an old
trading fort that now makes a scenic backdrop along the water. You shut the engine down, hop over
to the transom platform and take a quick refreshing dip. Yamaha took the standard swim platform and
made it into a completely different experience on the 230 Series, and that remains true on the
SX210. Instead of having to peek over a sun lounge or off to the sides of the hull, a family can
interact comfortably while all hanging around the swim platform. You've got a walk-over transom
opening to a cushioned lounge area and re-boarding platform. It's perfect for family interaction in
and around the water. With a re-boarding ladder, the kids can come in and out of the water while
parents kick back and supervise.
The bow isn't too shabby either. It's flattened out more than your standard runabout bow seating. It can seat three comfortably, although that's better suited for idling. Two can sit in the bow while running full throttle, although an average-sized adult can't lay their feet all the way across the lounge. Still, for a boat this size, having that kind of room in the bow is a positive.
After taking a dip, you're thankful for the standard Bimini top that's keeping the rays out of your face and the heat off your body on this hot, sunny afternoon. An in-floor, self-draining cooler provides some much-needed refreshment as you gulp down water while heading back to the dock. On the return trip, you realize you've spent a full day of boating on a 21-foot platform and don't feel worse for wear, aside from the jostling your crewmate exacted as revenge when he got a few minutes behind the wheel. The SX210 sacrifices a foot or two in length, but little else as far as comfort goes. With a base price of $28,899, the SX210 is a solid option for those wanting something more manageable in stowing, towing, and even buying.
For boat buyers, that doesn't necessarily mean skimping on the amenities you want, it just means maximizing what you have, instead of going over the top and paying for more than you need with size and unneeded features. Yamaha took that train of thought to heart by introducing the SX210 - a 21-foot version of its successful 230 line that makes the most of what it has on board.
When you think
of slimming down from 23 to 21 feet, you automatically assume that the tradeoffs will involve less
seating and less storage. That seems to be the opposite on the SX210. Once you hop aboard, you
discover that the wraparound cockpit seating has enough seats and enough legroom to make longer
outings comfortable. There's room for the gear too. A large port-side storage locker takes care of
most of your storage needs. You can easily fit a large cooler, some PFDs, and other assorted gear
inside. And if the headroom was a little more on the plus size, the storage compartment might even
have room for a portable head – a design idea Yamaha is mulling over for future generations of the
210 Series.
Pulling out from the dock at Tellico Lake just east of Knoxville, Tennessee, it takes you a minute to adjust to the controls of the twin 110-hp, 4-stroke in-line engines. There's a slight difference in handling on this sport boat than a single-engine runabout of similar size, so you want to be careful around the dock, but in no time you're off. While the SX210 sports family-friendly features for hanging out on the boat when the engine's cut, make no bones about it, this boat was made to run. With a compact design, twin-engine power and the Yamaha patented propulsion system, the 210 gets on plane quick. You hit a top speed of 45.8 mph with two people aboard in smooth-water conditions, then decide to dice things up a bit with some sharp turns. No problem, the 210 is responsive to the sudden twists and turns, and your crewmate would be too if you'd give him enough advance notice. Fortunately, there are a few grab handles around the cockpit to keep everyone inside and dry despite your figure eights.
Another nice feature on the SX210 is the No Wake Mode. One flip of the switch means you don't have to fiddle with the throttle controls around the dock, marina, or no-wake zones as much. The feature reduces RPM, and sets levels for the best idle speed. It's part of a helm package that includes full compass, depth finder, digital security system, and a JBL satellite-ready stereo system with remote at the stern and MP3 plug-in capabilities.
After a long
run across Tellico Lake, you find a neat spot floating beside Fort Loudon State Park, an old
trading fort that now makes a scenic backdrop along the water. You shut the engine down, hop over
to the transom platform and take a quick refreshing dip. Yamaha took the standard swim platform and
made it into a completely different experience on the 230 Series, and that remains true on the
SX210. Instead of having to peek over a sun lounge or off to the sides of the hull, a family can
interact comfortably while all hanging around the swim platform. You've got a walk-over transom
opening to a cushioned lounge area and re-boarding platform. It's perfect for family interaction in
and around the water. With a re-boarding ladder, the kids can come in and out of the water while
parents kick back and supervise.
The bow isn't too shabby either. It's flattened out more than your standard runabout bow seating. It can seat three comfortably, although that's better suited for idling. Two can sit in the bow while running full throttle, although an average-sized adult can't lay their feet all the way across the lounge. Still, for a boat this size, having that kind of room in the bow is a positive.
After taking a dip, you're thankful for the standard Bimini top that's keeping the rays out of your face and the heat off your body on this hot, sunny afternoon. An in-floor, self-draining cooler provides some much-needed refreshment as you gulp down water while heading back to the dock. On the return trip, you realize you've spent a full day of boating on a 21-foot platform and don't feel worse for wear, aside from the jostling your crewmate exacted as revenge when he got a few minutes behind the wheel. The SX210 sacrifices a foot or two in length, but little else as far as comfort goes. With a base price of $28,899, the SX210 is a solid option for those wanting something more manageable in stowing, towing, and even buying.
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