In recent weeks, Galar Boats has gotten quite a bit of attention – both here at The Watercraft Journal as well as on social media – and for good reason. The idea of using a personal watercraft to propel a jet boat is not new (many of us recall the Shuttle Craft boats from the mid-1990s) but few have been successful in offering a premium vessel that is comparable to current jet driven boats both in build quality and price…until now.
As it stands, Yamaha Motor Corp. currently leads the market in jet driven boats by a substantial margin. Employing all of its powertrains, pumps and intake designs from its WaveRunner line, the marine division delivers consistent performance, fuel consumption and superior fit-and-finish that boat dealers, service centers and consumers have come to trust. So in taking on such a competitor, Galar has quite the hurdle before them.
Unlike Yamaha’s 29 different models (ranging from 19-feet to 27-feet in length, and $35,599 to $155,899 in price), Galar only offers three models – the Lightning, Typhoon and Kraken – each representing a specific length – 14, 17 and 21-feet – respectively. Although none of these vessels come with a watercraft to propel the boat, each model does come equipped with a bilge pump, ski tower, Bimini top, stereo, running lights and an aluminum trailer.
In wanting to provide relatable, comparable context for each model offered by Galar, we sought to find an equally-equipped Yamaha jet boat as well as a Yamaha WaveRunner to power the Galar unit. We will factor the cost of the WaveRunner into the equation and list as many details of each vessel as possible (using MSRP prices listed as of this writing) to provide the most detailed comparison possible between the two boats. Obviously, this exercise cannot be a true 1:1 as they are not identical offerings but we got darn close.
Galar Lightning
$22,999 MSRP
The Lightning’s total length is 14-feet and 5-inches and weighs a paltry 682-pounds (less than most personal watercraft). It has a beam of 7’3″ and needs a watercraft with a minimum of 150-horsepower to propel it. The Lightning seats a maximum of seven people total, with five on the boat and two aboard the PWC. The ski tower and Bimini top allow for towing a skier or wakeboarder, and offers shade for all passengers.
Suggested Yamaha WaveRunner:
Yamaha VX Cruiser HO
$13,299 MSRP
The VX Cruiser HO is one of Yamaha’s most popular, highly decorated and best selling WaveRunners – and all for several very good reasons. The 1,812cc High Output 4-cyliner four-stroke delivers 180-horsepower while sipping miserly on 87 octane fuel. The hull shares the same mold design as the sporty GP1800R series.
Comparable Yamaha boat:
Yamaha AR190
$38,499 MSRP
Although Yamaha does NOT offer a 14-foot entry, this is the lowest-priced 19-foot model in the brand’s 190-series that is equally equipped with the High Output 180-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and includes a wake tower, bilge pump and a painted trailer. It also seats 8 passengers and has a 40-gallon fuel capacity.
Comparing The Two:
We intentionally sought to find the right WaveRunner to bring the Galar Lightning/PWC combination as close in price and power to the AR190 as possible. The Yamaha boat still out prices the Lightning and VX Cruiser HO duo by $2,200; but touts greater fuel capacity and roomier seating (given its 5-extra-feet of length). The AR190 comes in at 2,441-pounds while the Galar/VX combo tips the scales at 1,416-pounds, making for far less strain on your tow vehicle.
Galar Typhoon
$32,999 MSRP
The Typhoon is Galar’s mid-sized offering coming in with a total length of 17.2-feet and it weighing in at 772-pounds. It has a beam of 7’8″ and requires a personal watercraft with a minimum 170-horsepower, similar to the Lightning. The Typhoon seats 8 people total, 6 on the boat, two on the watercraft. Equally, the Typhoon includes a with a removable bow table, ladder, tower, Bimini top, stereo, running lights and an aluminum trailer.
Suggested Yamaha WaveRunner:
Yamaha GP1800R SVHO
$16,499 MSRP
OK, this one might surprise a few of you as our selection since the Typhoon only requires 170-horsepower, not the GP1800R SVHO’s unofficial 285-ponies. So why pick Yamaha’s sportiest, race-ready 3-seater? Because the best comparable boat we could select came equipped with Yamaha’s Super Vortex High Output engine, and we know most of you would rather have identical power numbers than prices. You know what this WaveRunner is capable of, so we’re just gonna keep moving on.
Comparable Yamaha boat:
Yamaha 195S
$47,499 MSRP
Yet again, Yamaha does NOT offer a similar-length entry. At 19.5-feet, the 195S is 2-feet, 2-inches longer than Galar’s 17.2-foot Typhoon. This is also the highest-priced 19.5-foot model in the brand’s 195-series. As stated earlier, it comes equipped with the SVHO producing 285-horsepower too. The 195S includes a hefty list of features including a Bimini top, custom CNC mats, hinged seats, and and painted steel trailer. It too also seats 8 passengers .
Comparing The Two:
This one was tough; we intentionally wanted to pair the Typhoon with the VX Cruiser HO again, but seeing that the 195S came with the SVHO, we felt it appropriate to combine it with the GP1800R SVHO. This placed our combination slightly above the Yamaha 195S –$49,499 vs. $47,499, a difference of $2,000 in Yamaha’s favor. We did note a significant weight difference though, 1,526-pounds (combined) vs. 2,509-pounds. And when you factor in the weight of Galar’s aluminum trailer against the steel trailer supplied by Yamaha, you’ve got nearly another 1,000-pounds to lug behind your truck or SUV.
Galar Kraken
$45,999 MSRP
Kraken is Galar’s last and largest entry, providing a total length of 21-feet and 6-inches with an 8-foot beam. As its premier boat, the Kraken weighs in at 1,332-pounds and thus requires a personal watercraft producing a minimum 250-horsepower. Able to seat 10 people total, the Kraken keeps seven passengers on the boat, and three on the watercraft. This vessel includes additional speakers, a collapsible head, increased storage and premier seating and CNC-cut mats.
Suggested Yamaha WaveRunner:
Yamaha FX SVHO
$18,899 MSRP
Admittedly, we could’ve opted to stay with the GP1800R SVHO – since it produces more than enough for the Kraken’s 250-horsepower minimum requirement – and saved $2,400 from our total, but what’s the fun in that? The 2023 FX SVHO returns murdered out dripping in gloss and semi-flat black hues that just scream don’t mess with me and the revised ride plate perfectly compliments the SMC fiberglass hull. Personally, we don’t care much for the Cruiser seat and its $500 price tag either.
Comparable Yamaha boat:
Yamaha 222S
$70,199 MSRP
This one was another tough one. Unlike the previous entry, we opted to let Yamaha’s boat entry get the upper hand in the performance category. Touting twin 1.8L HO engines – totaling 360-horsepower – the 222S is 22-feet long, seats 10 passengers with ease, and wields a king’s ransom of premier features and creature comforts. The 222S is not only stately but serviceable; comfortable whether stationary or at speed; and sporty when called to be.
Comparing The Two:
Two major factors which kept rearing its head were cost and weight. The 222S asks an additional $5,300 over the combination of the Galar Kraken and the FX SVHO. Moreover, the 3,792-pounds of the 222S over the combined heft of the Kraken/FX duo’s 2,205-pounds (not to mention the near 1,000-pound difference in aluminum vs. steel trailer weight) means well over 2,000-pounds of added towing capacity – or the difference between a gas powered truck versus a diesel. Our combo’s 80-horsepower deficit still hurts though.
This final comparison is emblematic of the original premise of this article: your choice is going to hinge upon your intended use. If you already own a personal watercraft, depending on which model and power output, the decision is all the more clear. If you’re starting with a clean slate, you’ll need to consider how often you plan to ride your PWC versus take out the whole clan; the type of vehicle you have to tow with; and what type of boating you regularly or typically enjoy. And that’s up to you to decide.
