Yamaha 222 FSH (2023-)

Brief Summary

The Yamaha 222 FSH (Family Sports Hybrid) is not only a well-outfitted fishing boat but also comes standard with features the whole family can enjoy. A jet-powered center console is not a common combination, but Yamaha has successfully equipped this boat for a variety of activities – all in safety with a deep cockpit and jet propulsion (no props).

Test Results

Specifications

Length Overall	22' 6.7 m
Beam	8' 6" 2.6 m
Dry Weight	3,450 lbs. 1,565 kg
Draft	19" 48 cm
Deadrise/Transom	20°
Weight Capacity	2,200 lbs. 998 kg
Person Capacity	10

Acceleration Times & Conditions

0 to 30	5 Sec.
Load	3 persons, 1/3 load of fuel, no water, 50 lbs. of gear
Climate	92 deg., 87 humid.; wind: 4-7 mph; seas: slight chop

Engine Options

Tested Engine	2 x 1.8L HO Yamaha Marine Engines
Std. Power	2 x 1.8L HO Yamaha Marine Engines

Mission

Yamaha has designed this series of boats to be the definition of versatility on the water in a jet boat.  The Family Sport Hybrid (FSH) is first and foremost configured with the avid angler in mind, but they have also designed all major areas of the boat to easily convert to family and social areas while the poles are stowed. She is designed for fishing in the morning, snorkeling or tubing in the afternoon with kids, plus cruising and entertaining anytime. 

Major Features

• 3 position "No Wake Mode™" Control and Cruise Assist
• Articulating keel
• 9-inch (22.9 cm) Simrad® display
• Hardtop tower
• Stainless steel hardware throughout
• Cooler with Storage under convertible leaning Post
• Twin 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, 1.8 Liter High Output Yamaha Engines
• Changing compartment suitable for a portable toilet 
• Insulated fish box and 26-gallon aerated stern livewell
• Folding jump seats with removable backrests
• Signature stern platform water access

Performance

The Yamaha 22ft FSH Sport E has a length overall of 22 (6.7 m) and a beam of 8’6” (2.59 m). We tested with about 33% fuel and three people on board.

Top Speed. With the Twin 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, 1.8 Liter High Output Yamaha Marine Engines spun up to 7400 RPM, our speed topped out at 47 mph.  

Best cruise came in at 6500 RPM and 34.9 mph, and at that speed the 15.8 gallons per hour fuel burn translated into 2.2 miles per gallon and a range of 140 statute miles all while still holding back a 10% reserve of the boat’s 75 gallon total fuel capacity. 

Note that these numbers were taken in some slight chop on a hot and muggy afternoon in Florida when performance would be at its poorest for most boats. 

Handling

As for handling, this boat has a sporty feel and is intuitive to operate. There is good feedback in the steering giving one the confidence to make sharper turns.  When crossing wakes, the boat tended to ride up and over, keeping all the passengers dry. 

The higher freeboard of the 22ft series will give the operator piece of mind in adverse conditions and the articulating keel helps keep the boat in line, even at low speeds.

The Bow 

The bow seating is relaxed and can accommodate four passengers facing inboard or two in a lounging position. Mount the table and this is a comfortable place to have afternoon snacks.  There is storage under both port and starboard seats, one of which is insulated and can function as a cooler or fishbox.  Additionally, both forward seat backrests house large storage compartments and are topped with Marine Mat.

 Forward Console Seat

When the forward console seat is lifted, we find a changing room and storage.  There is standing headroom with the seat extended up, and there is room for a porta-potty. This feature is unusual in a 22’ boat and is one that the whole family will like.

Helm

The helm of the 222 FSH boats come standard with a 9-inch (22.9 cm) touchscreen Simrad Electronics display that shows charts, depth contours, and Fishfinder screens. The 5-inch (12.7 cm) Connext Touchscreen controls most of the boat’s electrical features as well as displays things like fuel flow and battery levels.  To right is the Hertz Audio display connected to the Hertz Premium Sound System.  

The Yamaha 222 FSH Sport E features the E-series push button start/stops for both engines and all FSH boats have rocker-style switches to control the navigation lights, courtesy lights, and other accessories with their fuses directly below each switch. 

Cruise Assist allows the operator to fine-tune slower speeds by bumping the speed up or down at increments of 250 rpm up to five times.  The "No Wake Mode™” has 3 preset speeds suited for no wake zones. This control is located just to the right of the wheel. 

The location of the kill switch is in cubby to the right of the helm, hard to see from a standing position, and about as far away as possible from the operator. This will require a long lanyard. I’d like to seethe kill switch moved to a location closer to the operator’s waist, and in plane sight.  It might not look tidy – but it will certainly catch the eye, and that is what is important.

T-Top and Helm Seat 

The Yamaha 222 FSH Sport E comes standard with the hard T-top, all other models in the 22ft series have a T-top with a removable canvas.  All come with aft facing rocket launcher style rod holder and cutouts in the top to allow for vertical pole storage on both sides of the console. The tower supports are sturdy and the curves and other design elements give the profile is this boat a sleek look. 

The wide helm seat is on a fixed stand mounted atop the engine compartment. The backrest can be shifted forward to convert the bench to aft-facing seating ideal place to relax after your last cast or be a part of the action at the stern and in the water. 

Rod Storage

There is excellent rod storage along the length of the boat. In fact, the port and starboard rod racks are made to hold 4 rods on each side, instead of the typical three-position racks that we typically see on almost every center console boat built. The reason for this is the extraordinarily high freeboard and deep cockpit of this boat that simply has higher bulwarks than most boats in class.  

Rod holders abound around the boat, and some are integrated into some of the cup holders both forward and aft for a total of 28 rod holders on board – as many as we find on the most fishy of center consoles even several feet longer. 

The Stern Platform

The aft casting deck and Yamaha signature stern platform are likely going to be the most utilized areas of the boat.  With the jump seats in their stowed position, anglers will have good visibility into the water and unobstructed (by outboard engines) casting space.  The casting platform measures 18.8 sq. ft. (1.74 sq. m)

When the weather gets hot and it’s time for a swim the stern platform provides easy access to the water and can be set up as a gathering area with a table or grill. The 222 FSH Sport E comes with a stern stereo remote to control the music from the water.

All Yamahas FSH boats are equipped with a stainless steel telescopic reboarding ladder that meets ABYC standards (that means they extend at least 22”/55 cm below the water level).  There is also well-placed grab handles that aid in returning to the boat after swimming.

Safe Jet Propulsion 

The main selling point of all jet-powered fishing boats is the elimination of the danger of a spinning prop when swimmers are in the water.  There is no greater concern of parents and grandparents than an accident when children are in the water swimming around the stern of a boat. The internal, unexposed impellers of a water pump solved the problem and gives peace of mind.

When BoatTEST started testing Yamaha jet boats at the beginning of this century, it had only three models in one size and sold less than a thousand units a year.  Today, Yamaha boats come in 28 different models in four different sizes and sell 6,500 units a year.

Yamaha boats are the largest-selling sport boat on the market today.  In fact, this one brand sells just 2,000 units less than all sterndrive bowriders brands put together. We can’t think of a better testimonial of the concept. 

Skinny Water Capable. The ability to operate in extreme shallows because the drive system is virtually flush with the bottom of the boat is also a big plus. The downside is that the water pumps are susceptible to sucking up grass and lines that can gum up the impellers. 

Like all Yamaha jetboats, the 222 FSH Sport features clean-out ports that allow for the removal of debris from the jet pump without having to get in the water or swim under the boat. A safety switch will not let the motor start – or run -- until the hatch is closed, and it is safe to do so.

Engines

The 222 FSH Sport is powered by the company’s twin 4-cylinder, 4-stroke, 1.8 Liter High Output Yamaha Marine Engines.  They are accessed by lifting a panel under the helm seat between the two aft jump seats.  Filters, dip-sticks, and batteries are in arms reach and although it is a cramped space there is still room to reach through-hull fittings and other components mounted below or to the sides of the engines.

Wise operators will make sure they can reach all through-hulls and fluid check points. 

Options to Consider

Yamaha has designed three model designations for the new 22ft line of FSH. 

The new series begins with the value-minded 220 FSH Sport powered by twin 1L TR-1 HO (High Output) engines. Moving up the line is the feature-rich 222 FSH Sport, and at the pinnacle of the series is the premium 222 FSH Sport E. Both 222 FSH models feature added performance delivered by twin 1.8L HO motors. All three models come with a fabric or fiberglass-molded T-Top with rod holders.

Observations

We are particularly impressed with the fishability of this vessel.  Yamaha has incorporated nearly all important features of the most expensive “fishing machine” center consoles on the market. At the same time, this boat is able to maximize comfortable seating for the family, and do it as well.  The changing room/head, wide bow seating, and its signature stern make the 222 FSH desirable sport boats as well. 

We also applaud Yamaha’s decision to raise the boat’s freeboard in order to make the cockpit 31” (78.7 cm) deep.  This makes its cockpit deeper than virtually any other 22’ (6.70 m) boat on the market of any type – bowrider, dual console or center console -- and, it makes it safer.