Yamaha 195S (2020-)

Brief Summary

New for 2020 is Yamaha’s 195S, a 19' 5" (5.92 m) jet-driven dual-console bowrider on a V-hull with luxury treatments not often found on smaller boats. She’s got the 1.8L SVHO supercharged engine, the larger 7” Yamaha Connext touchscreen at the helm, upscale marine upholstery, and a new fold-away tower design.

Key Features

• Supercharged SVHO water jet engine
• 8-person or 1,600 lbs. (726 kg) capacity, whichever is greater
• Wake tower
• Shallow water capability
• Safety for swimmers with no external running gear

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	19' 5" (5.92 m)
Beam	8' 2" (2.49 m)
Dry Weight	2,509 lbs. (1,138 kg)
Tested Weight	3,109 lbs. (1,410 kg)
Draft	15" (38.1 cm)
Draft Up	N/A
Draft Down	N/A
Air Draft	N/A
Deadrise/Transom	18-deg.
Max Headroom	N/A
Bridge Clearance	7' 6" (2.29 m)
Weight Capacity	1,600 lbs. (725.7 kg)
Person Capacity	8
Fuel Capacity	40 gal. (151 L)
Water Capacity	N/A
Length on Trailer	21' 2" (6.45 m)
Height on Trailer	10' 2" (3.10 m)
Trailer Weight	N/A
Total Weight	3,109 lbs. (1,410 kg)

Acceleration Times & Conditions

Time to Plane	3.4 sec.
0 to 30	6.1 sec.
Ratio	N/A
Props	N/A
Load	97 deg., 78 humid.; wind: 0-5 mph; seas: calm
Climate	97 deg., 78 humid.; wind: 0-5 mph; seas: calm

Engine Options

Tested Engine	1 x Yamaha 1.8 L SVHO
Std. Power	1 x Yamaha 1.8 L SVHO
Opt. Power	N/A

Captain's Report Learn More
Watch Our Video

By Capt. Peter d’Anjou

Mission

The Yamaha 195S aims to combine technology, performance, and ergonomic comfort in an entry-level size boat, but with upscale appointments.

Distinguishing Features

• Patented articulating keel
• Patented water intake cleanout on transom
• Multi-level swim platform

Major Features

• Top speed of 48.5 mph
• No-Wake mode –  preset engine speeds
• Thrust directional enhancer – for slow speed maneuvering/docking
• Helm chairs that swivel 360-degrees

Design

The designers at Yamaha stretched the 2019 hull a few inches to its present 19’5” (5.92 m) x 8’2” (2.49 m) size for 2020. They added supercharged power to explicitly accommodate the growing needs of towing skiers, tubers, and boarders. The 2020 19' (5.79 m) series from Yamaha also focused on increased storage capability, now rated at 526 gallons (1,991 L).

The V-hull has an 18-degree deadrise at the transom.

Construction

Comparison

Yamaha has a different approach to fitting out a boat. They prefer to make multiple models on the same proven hull form and configure them to an audience. This means the options are inherent in the model - just pick the one that suits best. 

Yamaha offers the 19'5" (5.92 m) LOA hull in five configurations of bowriders and four configurations of center consoles with the FSH designation. The lower priced models have the 18L water jet engine without the supercharger; the higher priced models have the more powerful supercharged SVHO.

It is the same hull with nearly identical handling characteristics but the trim, options, and color packages come with the model designation.

Just name the model and it defines the package, so that every 195S is the same, something that is important in the resale market.

Boat Inspection

The Yamaha 195S is the highest priced of the series ($39,999) because it brings luxury treatments to the 195's hull. Customers that want a smaller boat don’t have to settle for less when it comes to the quality features that Yamaha can provide. All speaking of a new level of attention to detail. Let’s start the inspection at the most popular spot, the stern-patio swim platform. 

Swim Platform

The transom platform consists of two levels. The 22” (55.88 cm) fore-and-aft upper level has 15” (38.10 cm) high seatbacks integrated into the transom. The 18” (45.72 cm) lower level is just 8” (20.32 cm) above the waterline and 9” (22.86 cm) below the upper level. Both are covered in Marine Mat rubberized nonskid. A reboarding ladder is just to starboard of the centerline and two grab handles are lined up with the telescoping ladder to ease the reboarding process. Beverage holders are to both sides and a Fusion stereo remote is installed in the riser between platforms. 

Cockpit

The seating area in the 32” (81.28 cm) deep cockpit has been redesigned from the 2019 version and a new 29” (73.66 cm) area has been opened up on the starboard side to accommodate a side mount pedestal table and a 45 quart (42.59 L) carry-on cooler. 

The seating begins with 76” (193.04 cm) across the stern, consisting of a single seat to starboard, a center filler cushion over the engine box and a lounge to port. 

Here we’re seeing the start of the upgraded marine upholstery with multiple tones and fully molded seat bases. Just ahead are the operator and observer seats that can swivel around to join the party.

Overhead is the tower providing an elevated towpoint, and a mounting point for the forward and aft Biminis. Bridge clearance with the tower is 7’6” (2.29 m). Yamaha has made a point of providing fold-down towers and tops for storage purposes.

Helm

The biggest feature of the helm is the 7” (17.78 cm) Connext touchscreen. It serves as the hub for all of the boat’s entertainment and monitoring components. 

The main screen shows water temperature and we can select numerous settings, including a chart display. Detailed info provides compass, fuel economy, trim, fuel flow, and fuel used. The media page provides for Bluetooth connectivity. And there’s a settings page that allows customization of the display and data capture. Regardless of what we select, there’s always depth, voltage, RPMs, and fuel status displayed in the corners of any display screen.

All the electrical rocker switches are grouped to the right, and include No Wake and cruise assist rockers. The 13.5” (34.29 cm) wrapped wheel is mounted to a tilt base. To the left are the ignition and blower switches. 

On the bulkwark to the right of the helm console is the throttle and shift with an armrest providing a welcome ergonomic place to rest your elbow when using the throttle. 

Passenger Console

Ahead of the observer’s seat is a console with glovebox storage, a vertical grab handle, and more of the Marine Mat padded surface on top. To the port side recessed into the bulwark is a storage cubby with beverage holders.

Bow

Because Yamaha carries the beam so far forward in the 195S, there’s more room between the seats - 24” (60.96 cm). In fact, notice how the center aft-facing seat is not just tossed in as an afterthought but more of a dedicated seat in its own right. 

The side bolsters add a significant comfort level, grab handles are just ahead, and two speakers face aft. The aft backrests are contoured to provide additional, and much appreciated, lumbar support.

Anchor

Engine

Operationally, the big news is the supercharged engine providing the performance, in this case the 1.8L Super Vortex High Output Yamaha marine engine.  

Performance

The Yamaha 195S has a LOA of 19’5” (5.92 m), a beam of 8’2” (2.49 m), and a draft of 15” (38.1 cm). With an empty weight of 2,509 lbs. (1,138 kg), 75 percent fuel and two people onboard, we had an estimated test weight of 3,109 lbs. (1410 kg).

With the 1.8L Super Vortex High Output run up to 7540 rpm, we reached our top speed of 48.5 mph. Best economic cruise came in at 6000 rpm and 31.3 mph. It was at that speed that the 10.6 gph fuel burn worked out to 3 mpg and a range of 107 miles, all while still holding back a 10 percent reserve of the boats 40-gallon (151 L) total fuel capacity. 

Acceleration

With a jet boat, we were expecting quick times for acceleration, and we weren’t disappointed. She jumped up on plane in an average 3.4 seconds, accelerated to 20 mph in 4 seconds flat, and 30 came and went in 6.1 seconds. We found her to be solidly on plane at 22 mph and 5000 rpm with a 7 gph fuel burn. 

Time to Plane:  3.4 seconds

Zero to 20 mph: 4.0 seconds

Zero to 30 mph: 6.1 seconds

Handling

Being jet-powered, she has exhilarating handling characteristics, more so at lower speeds. At higher speeds there’s a much wider turn radius. She has the extended keel that acts like a rudder under the jet outlet, helping to provide these turning characteristics. The days of spinning out on the turns are long gone and now there’s controllability through all phases of the turns. 

 

We like that there’s feedback in the wheel during turns, so when you let go of the wheel, it snaps back into the straight ahead position. There’s only a 1¼ turn stop to stop while driving so we’re not having to do a lot of wheel cranking anyway. 

Equipment Discussion.

Price

$39,999 with SVHO engine and single-axle painted trailer.

Price does not include freight nor prep.

Optional Equipment to Consider

• Galvanized trailer upgrade
• Wakebooster

Yamaha has a list of 394 accessories for all their jetboats so while the builder doesn’t really list options, there are a lot of add-ons from gas grilles to wake board brackets to inflatable tow toys. The accessory everyone is talking about is the patent-pending WakeBooster.

WakeBooster

Yamaha has developed a wake enhancer kit called the Wakebooster that will go on any of their jetboats. It consists of three components: a clip-on deflector that attaches to the trailer tie down rings under the swim platform and which can go on either side of the boat, ballast cubes that sit on the swim platform, and hold 200 lbs. (91 kg) of water each, and the final piece – the pump to fill the water ballast cubes.

Observations

With the 2020 19' (5.79 m) Series of jet powered boats, Yamaha provides model choices. The 195S is a premium-level boat with upscale treatments that Yamaha has traditionally put into its larger boats. 

For those boaters looking for top-of-the-line performance, technology, and finishes in a bowrider, the Yamaha 195S clearly delivers.