Gallery: Introducing the 2020 Yamaha WaveRunner Lineup

August 14, 2019

As a kid, how would’ve you liked to come home from school with a 108-percent on a test? Well, those are the kind of grades that Yamaha Motor Corp. is bringing home for 2019 – with an impressive 108-percent STD (sales to date) over 2018. Additionally, the “little WaveRunner that could” – the VX Cruiser HO – continues as not only one of Yamaha’s top sellers but the single most popular PWC for two years running.

Add to that the newly redesigned FX (both HO and SVHO) literally selling out in several markets – making it Yamaha’s best-selling luxury watercraft – and the EX Series continuing to draw in new first-time buyers without cannibalizing the VX Series’ sales, aaand both the FX and GP1800R dominating race courses, and you’ve got the makings of a rock solid year for Yamaha WaveRunners.

So what is there left to do? For 2020, Yamaha is leaving much of its lineup alone save for some seriously retina-scorching colors (we hope you like yellow!), a couple murdered-out stealth bombers, and possibly the most patriotic thing you’ve seen since Captain America socked Hitler on the jaw. There’s also a surprising re-branding of a favorite machine that might surprise you.

Yet, that’s not to say that there isn’t a bunch of new stuff to sink your teeth into, which we’ll discuss first. With both of the competition offering pretty impressive wattage pumping out of factory-equipped speakers hard-mounted to their full-sized runabouts, Yamaha’s previous offering left some yearning for more. For 2020, Yamaha’s new FX Audio Package produces the same wattage as Kawasaki’s Jetsounds (60-watts) while remaining removable, completely waterproof, shock resistant and they even float!

These redesigned Exogear Speakers are made with marine-grade materials, and come as a pair of 30-watt 4-inch woofers and separate tweeters. With an impressive 15-plus hours of battery life, each speaker includes a custom mount for an integrated, wireless installation. The two speakers are EcoConnect paired “out of the box,” for stereo listening, streaming music wirelessly via Bluetooth 4.2 from up to 100 feet away. You can even access Siri & Google voice through the EcoTalk button.

Similarly, the EX and VX Audio Package gives Yamaha’s Rec Lite and Recreation segments just as much audio enjoyment as the FX. Equally waterproof, shock resistant and buoyant, the redesigned 15-watt (combined 30-watts) compact 2.5-inch speaker has the same 15-plus hours of playtime; solid, marine-grade build quality; and Bluetooth connectivity and EcoTalk and EcoConnect features as the FX. Yet, these fit all 2015-up VX, all GP1800/R and EX models. Plus they include the necessary RAM mounts and necessary hardware for an easy installation. Priced at $349, these will be available this October.

Now, if function is higher on your list than music you’ll like the new VX Stern Storage and Cooler. This new semi-rigid case attaches with zero drilling or modification. Featuring two side-mounted loops to hold fishing rods, the VX Stern Storage ($249.99) can be used for fishing, towing extra gear or even riding to an overnight destination. When paired with the Cooler (sold separately at $129), the two work to make your time more enjoyable than ever. The Cooler is zippered and lined with high density insulation, and can hold up to 18 cans (plus ice).

The biggest accessory addition is a trio of storage modules for the EX Series: a Bow Waterproof Storage, a new Hatch Storage and an EX Stern Storage. The first is a large 20.5-liter roll-top dry bag that replaces the shallow bow storage ($75.99); the Hatch Storage is a semi-rigid pod featuring a transparent window allowing you to interact with a smart phone, and stores as much as a tow rope ($54.99). Lastly, the 15-liter EX Stern Storage mounts without any drilling needed; is made from durable, weather-resistant, compression-molded black EVA foam, and permits access to the stern tow eye without removing the bag ($129.99).

All of these are designed to amplify your experience while riding one of the newly recolored 2020 models – all of which are direct carry-overs from 2019, each given a fresh, incredibly lively new livery. The EX Series continues with a single yellow-and-white base model EX ($6,899), two color options for the EX Sport ($7,899); red-and-white, and black-and-blue; two offers for the EX Deluxe ($8,899), black-and-green, and blue-and-silver; and a yellow-on-blue variation of the super fun EXR ($9,399).

Yamaha’s VX Series continues to offer the brand’s best value for the mid-sized segment with the rental-friendly VX-C ($8,999) offered in yellow-on-white, with its retail equivalent, the base VX ($9,899) in blue-over-white; the VX Deluxe ($10,699) is available in either yellow-and-navy blue or two tone green-on-black; the VX Cruiser ($10,999) shines with a blue-on-silver and an all-red with white highlights variety; the TR-1 powered VX Limited ($11,399) is gorgeous in a super-clean all-white livery (and matching accessories) with the VX Cruiser HO ($11,799) in either yellow-and-white, or two-toned blue and white.

Sure to excite the more patriotic, the super successful GP1800R ($14,399) comes in a flag-waving red, white and blue outfit with an eye-melting yellow with blue and white highlights variant. Certain to confound some folks was Yamaha’s decision to rename the naturally-aspirated sibling to the GP1800R – the VXR – the GP1800R HO for 2020 ($12,299). Now, the formally-known-as-the-VXR comes in either silver with blue and green highlights, or black-and-yellow. And alas, the 2-stroke SuperJet ($8,699) continues unchanged since last year’s color update.

Lastly, Yamaha chose to pump up the excitement for the FX lineup with some primary colors. First, gone are all of the white plastic bumpers and more sedate, metallic colors. The naturally-aspired FX HO ($13,699) is now in white and bright green; the Cruiser variants ($14,199) come with either electric blue highlights on silver, or red-and-white. And certain to tickle performance enthusiasts is the Darth Vader-esque, murdered-out all gloss-and-semi-flat-black FX SVHO ($15,699).

The Cruiser variants of the FX SVHO ($16,399) are available in either red-and-silver, or blue with silver and yellow highlights. Lastly, the brand’s top-of-the-line FX SVHO Limited ($17,599) comes in with a stealthy gloss-and-flat black livery with electric blue highlights just to distinguish it from the FX SVHO, also with matching accessories, including the redesigned Exogear speakers, a bow storage cooler bag, a Garmin Striker 4 GPS and transducer, fenders, a new C&G tube kit, and the 12-volt outlet mounted in the waterproof glovebox.

Apart from these color variations and the renaming of the VXR to GP1800R HO, there are no noticeable mechanical changes to speak of. Thus far, the Yamaha lineup has enjoyed incredible success, and after a succession of introducing new and updated models, a swathe of new accessories and entering a whole new market segment, Yamaha has earned a year to let the models (and all of the engineering and design imbued in them) speak for themselves.

1 of 82

Gallery: KY PWC Riders Old Danville Invasion (Video)

Kevin Shaw

August 13, 2019

After a bit of rescheduling, we found ourselves with the very rare open weekend and were more than happy to accept an invitation from the Kentucky PWC Riders to join their 100-mile round trip ride. Called the “Old Danville Invasion” the group gathered at the top of Kentucky Lake, at Moors Resort before heading down to the the historic Danville Grain Elevator located in the middle of Cane Creek, just before joining the Tennessee River.

We had toured the 100-plus-year-old submerged remains a couple of years ago with the Middle Tennessee PWC Club during their annual “Iron Man” ride; but never from high up in Kentucky and not aboard a brand new 2019 Sea-Doo Wake Pro 230. So how could we say no?

Wanting to beat the Saturday boat traffic, we decided to meet bright-and-early. Not wanting to waste a minute, we were quick to launch our Wake Pro, tie up to the dock, load up on drinks and snacks for the day, and even select some of our favorite tunes to play over the BRP Premium Sound system throughout the day.

The plan was to gather at the breakwater outside of Moors Resort; impressively of our dozen skis, few came from Kentucky. We welcomed riders as far away as Georgia, Alabama, Indiana and Ohio – not to mention ourselves hailing from Tennessee aboard a Sea-Doo with Florida registration numbers.

With our tanks fully topped off, we sped off due south, with the famous Land Between The Lakes National Park to our left. The early hours blessed our group with smooth sailing and light boat traffic. We settled into our seats, turned on some music and sang along over the howl of the Sea-Doo’s 230 supercharged horses.

The Wake Pro famously includes its “Ski Mode” speed control options, allowing the driver to scroll through five preset acceleration profiles that help pull and tow a wakeboarder or a raft smoothly and consistently. Yet, a little known feature is Sea-Doo’s Slow Speed Mode.

Similar to setting Cruise Control (which our Wake Pro didn’t come equipped with), the Slow Speed Mode lets you set a desired top speed. And, unlike Cruise Control, you’re not “locked” into maintaining just one speed. You can ease off the throttle to slow down or speed back up without cancelling your preset max speed.

That, and just like you’d expect with Cruise Control, Sea-Doo’s Slow Speed Mode lets you bump your set speed up or down by five one-mile-per-hour increments – all without having your hands leave the handlebars thanks to two large quick-response button pads.

Just press the left hand side’s Intelligent Throttle Control button while at the speed you like, and the new-for-2019 7.6-inch wide digital display will read out “Slow Speed Mode”. To adjust your max speed, simply toggle up or down using the right hand buttons. It’s that easy. And frankly, we used it all day.

Passing by the Paris Landing State Park and under the Highway 79 bridge we continued south until the remains of the Old Danville Railroad Bridge came into view. Originally built by Louisville & Nashville Railroad in 1860, the line connecting Paris, TN to Guthrie, KY was hotly fought over during the Civil War, but didn’t truly become the lifeline it was until the Danville Grain Elevator and Transfer Station was built in 1914.

The six story building was set at the foot of the Tennessee River long before the Kentucky Dam flooded the Danville valley back in 1942, raising the water level by 55 feet. Originally designed to transfer barges’ cargo from the river to railcars above, the station once houses two twenty-horsepower elevators carried cargo from the lower levels to trains docked at the fourth level, including thousands of tons of peanuts, grain, limestone, iron, and cotton. All that remains today is what can be seen above the waterline.

After a short break to reapply sunscreen (it was in the 90’s after all) and swimming beneath the shadow of the railroad’s stone bridge supports, we thought it best to double-back to Paris Landing for some lunch and to top off our tanks.

Entering into the national park’s marina we engaged the Sea-Doo’s slow speed mode, this time while in neutral. Doing so engages a sort of “No Wake Zone Mode” letting you bump the speed up from one miles per hour to seven. Engaged and adjusted like before, the operator isn’t required to hold the throttle down. Just steer accordingly – although its always smart to keep your hand on the iBR brake lever just in case.

After filling both our tanks and stomachs, we wanted to get a bit more riding in. By this time, the weekend boat traffic had swelled considerably, which churned up the lake into a bit of a bathtub. We still managed to find some cool scenic spots to go ride through as well as find another quiet cove to get some added swimming in (did we mention how hot it was?).

With the sun sinking low in the horizon, we had one last spot to check out – the Quarry. A hollowed out cove near Moss Creek, the quarry was densely packed with boaters looking to share the shade, listen to music, and watch as kids swung from rope swings and teenagers dared each other to jump from its sheer rock cliffs.

Onlookers cheered those who jumped and boo’ed those who chickened out at the last minute providing some entertainment before needing to turn back and make our way to the launch ramp. We had a two-and-a-half hour drive home and the weather reports weren’t looking all that favorable. Bidding so long to our newfound friends we loaded up our Wake Pro, cleared out its cargo and LinQ-mounted cooler and drove into the shadow of mid-summer storm clouds looming low ahead…