Torn between 252 2023 model or 2024 model...and is the 252SD with the extra coin

[ScratchCoin]

Hi everyone, im new to this forum but looks like this is the place to ask the question. Im really liking the 252 series but im torn between the 2023 model and the 2024 model. On paper, there seems to have been an engine upgrade and possibly a few other things. the 2023 models seem to be going for $60k-$75K and the 2024 models are all $80K - $90K ....depending on if you get the SE or SD variants.

Im hoping to get some advice from people with experience with these boats to comment on the following:

1. is the extra horsepower in the newer model noticeable?
2. what other upgrades were made in 2024 that I may be interested in?
3. Is the DRIVE feature really that good? are the boats really that much more difficult to steer at low speeds than an outboard? its significantly more expensive.

im looking only at used boats. I feel like I will have as much fun with the older model and less HP, but the newer model is tempting with all the bells and whistles.

also, my wife is dead set on LED lights...are these boats equips with LED lights and good sound from the factory?

 

[VitaminSea]

Welcome aboard! I have attached the 2024 Press Release/Specs from Yamaha. It calls out a few of the new features in 2024 - New Engines, DriveX (this system does away with the articulating keel), Chill Tech Vinyl (on the dark interior), and I believe the phone holder was updated to a wireless charging station.

I have a deposit down on a 2024 SD, looking to take delivery at the end of the week. I haven’t water tested it yet. There are LED lights at the helm (blue hue) and then courtesy lights on the interior/town (white). I don’t believe the speakers have LEDs. And there is an under water light at the stern (believe I have read its blue).

I heard the stereo (it was just a random FM station playing), but was not impressed with it. Is it terrible, no, and will do for now. The factory WetSounds Amp have the DSP tuning disabled. This leads to many having to replace the amp, or adding a second amp with tower speakers. Obviously the sky’s the limit when you start talking about custom stereos.

I also think one other change was in the vinyl stitching, the ‘24 has more diamond stitching.

BoatTest does have two reviews of the SD, one of the 2021 and one of the 2024. This will help show some of the differences as I believe the 2023’s features should be aligned with the 2021.

https://boattest.com/boats/yamaha/252sd-2021

https://boattest.com/boats/yamaha/252sd-2024

Your profile doesn’t indicate your location/region.

 

[Hot2Go]

2024 252SE here. Bought new in Feb 2025 as a leftover from 2024. Absolutely love the boat. LED accent lighting at the helm, LED lights on the tower, and transom underwater light as well. Plus docking lights and other courtesy lights throughout.

Many on here that have had the Drive feature said they don’t want to go without it anymore, it’s very convenient. If I had the extra money or a better deal I would've gotten the SD for sure. Definitely would help someone newly into jet boats as well. Any way you can test drive any of them prior to purchasing?

Maneuvering with a jet boat is definitely different, have to remember the engines are producing thrust one way or another so there’s no true neutral. Even though I’ve noticed with the new pump design when I go from forward to neutral it feels like I applied a brake. New pump designs came in 2019 I think? So any 250 model will have them. I went without slow speed enhancement (cobra jet steering fins or JBP thrust vectors) for a few weeks because my previous boat was an AR230 and didn’t have an articulating keel at the rear but did have CJS fins. So I wanted to see how it felt without. I then installed the basic CJS fins on the 252SE and noticed a huge difference at slow speed and better turns when cruising.

The stereo was better than my last boat which didn’t take much lol. We can hear music while cruising just fine and listen off the back when in the water. We would like to add some tower speakers someday though! I’m not a big speaker fanatic so as long as I can hear music off the back and cruising I’m good! The zone control is awesome too, so that way music is louder off the back instead of in the cockpit while anchored. Bluetooth does not have a good range which is my biggest complaint, but it’s not like I have my phone while in the water.

After owning a jet boat since 2021 the wife and I have agreed we don’t want to move away from them and that’s why when we upgraded we spent the cash on another Yami. They fit our needs perfectly, from safety to the inviting layout, and price compared to other brands in the same size. Once you figure out how to maneuver them you can go anywhere. Plus you have this incredible forum to help you along the way!

Do any of the boats you’re looking at have transferable warranties? Be a big thing to have as peace of mind.


My thread below of our new boat:

Our New 252SE

 

[Madman]

Maneuvering with a jet boat is definitely different, have to remember you’re always in motion until the engines are off. Even though I’ve noticed with the new pump design when I go from forward to neutral it feels like I applied a brake. New pump designs came in 2019 I think? So any 250 model will have them. I went without slow speed enhancement (cobra jet steering fins or JBP thrust vectors) for a few weeks because my previous boat was an AR230 and didn’t have an articulating keel at the rear but did have CJS fins. So I wanted to see how it felt without. I then installed the basic CJS fins on the 252SE and noticed a huge difference at slow speed and better turns when cruising.

Neutral with the DriveX system works very well. Very little movement. The paddles and docking feature are also nice. I’ve only logged a few hours so far, but one “feature” I’m not thrilled with is what Yamaha calls Neutral Steering. It basically reverses the steering controls whenever you shift into neutral, meaning the boat turns the opposite direction of the wheel. Sitting still in calm water in neutral - turn wheel to right, boat pivots to left. When you release the paddles, the boat goes into neutral and turns the opposite way of the wheel. This complicates recovery when you’re not only dealing with wind and current, but also trying to anticipate how the boat will respond to your controls. I tried turning it off, but didn’t notice any change. I’ll be reaching out to the dealer for help with that.

 

[ScratchCoin]

how about the extra HP? it seems the older ones have 360HP and the newer ones have 400HP. is that a noticeable difference? im not worried about top speed, but more for low in pull. My son is 16 and wants to start wakeboarding.

Im also looking at the scarab 255IDs, and for the same price, you seem to get more power and they all claim to have something similar to Yamaha's DRIVE feature as standard.

Im only looking at used boats and will request a test drive / ride. Didnt think to ask about the transferrable warranties, but thank for that suggestion! its going on my list of questions.

it sounds like there is some middle ground from the standard SE to the SD by adding CJS fins? Im new to the jet boat world so I'll have to dig more on this.

the 2024SD is my ideal pick, but I dont have infinite money. what I did find odd is that a 2024 252SD isnt that far off he price of a 2024 275SD. there are other issues with a larger boat that come in to play like needed to get a trailer, but its a little more cash, but a lot more boat. if I was going to stretch, stretching to the 275 make make since

Also, im in Louisiana and would be in rivers, lake maurepas, lake pontchartrain areas.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

Sadly Capt Steve is no longer with boat test and that is apparent in their tests these days as the newer tests lack data which could be understandable for a short time and filled in later but it still hasn’t.

One of the big changes with the new engines besides a 20HP per engine increase is the reduction in sound level by using longer intake runners and cams with less overlap. From the boat test video you can also see the better sound insulation on the engine hatch. The newer boat has also gone to four bladed impellers further reducing the sound level and less vibration. Again sadly boat test and boating magazines do not check sound levels on these boats like Capt Steve did. The sound level reduction is a big deal and should be weighed heavily in your decision.

Yes you will notice the extra 40 horsepower.

The other Drive features like dock hold etc.. are going to help with the low speed handling around the dock in addition to splitting the throttles.

Speaking of low speed handling, yes, these Yamaha jet boats, as well as all jet boats, at low speed handle much different from an outboard powered boat as they do not have that big rudder in the water. With jet boats, there needs to be thrust for you to have directional control. Cut the thrust and turn the wheel and not much is going to happen.

The Yamaha throttles have a TDE position in the throttle that most folks don’t talk about. This is the first detent moving the throttles forward, this partially opens the reversing buckets to allow some forward thrust and some thrust down and to the sides. Using this position and the no wake mode which raises the engine idle speed in three increments, this dramatically increases the low speed control of the boat. This comes with the boat, so before you go spending some serious coin on a steering enhancement system try using what the boat came with and practice with it to get used to how they handle. I have never felt the need to install any of the steering enhancement systems on my boat, but I do use the TDE position of the throttle and No Wake Mode level two in the marina for good directional control, level three produces a bit of a wake, but in No Wake Mode level three steering response is brisk.

You can read about it on page 44-48 in the owners manual.

LIT-18626-14-73

LIT-18626-14-73

boats.yamaha-owners-manuals.com

As far as underwater lighting goes, if you are at all handy you can as much as your wife wants to the boat, make it look like close encounters of the third kind if you want. I do think the 2023 may have come with an underwater LED light…but from what @VitaminSea posted the 2024 model does.

We have to live our lives with some balance, but having said that, there aren’t any Uhauls following the hearse to the graveyard, so live your best life and buy your second boat first. No one lies on their death bed thinking I should’ve not spent the money on the boat that my wife and I and our family made all those great memories on… and damn, she really loved the underwater lights.

I’ve included a handy dandy buying guide for you to ponder..



Good luck and keep us posted!

 

[ScratchCoin]

lol, I really like flow charts!

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

how about the extra HP? it seems the older ones have 360HP and the newer ones have 400HP. is that a noticeable difference? im not worried about top speed, but more for low in pull. My son is 16 and wants to start wakeboarding.

Im also looking at the scarab 255IDs, and for the same price, you seem to get more power and they all claim to have something similar to Yamaha's DRIVE feature as standard.

Im only looking at used boats and will request a test drive / ride. Didnt think to ask about the transferrable warranties, but thank for that suggestion! its going on my list of questions.

it sounds like there is some middle ground from the standard SE to the SD by adding CJS fins? Im new to the jet boat world so I'll have to dig more on this.

the 2024SD is my ideal pick, but I dont have infinite money. what I did find odd is that a 2024 252SD isnt that far off he price of a 2024 275SD. there are other issues with a larger boat that come in to play like needed to get a trailer, but its a little more cash, but a lot more boat. if I was going to stretch, stretching to the 275 make make since

Also, im in Louisiana and would be in rivers, lake maurepas, lake pontchartrain areas.

The beam on the 27’ is slightly over trailer legal at 9’. Depending on where you live that may not be an issue but should be noted. The 27’ boats come with the SVHO motors which produce 250hp each, and with that comes the requirement for 91 octane fuel if that matters to you. It is a much bigger boat, as long as you have an adequate tow vehicle you’re good.

Again, you will notice the extra hp of the newer boat. Especially for getting going with a full load of people and cargo.

Having a sea trial is an absolute necessity!

 

[ScratchCoin]

Sadly Capt Steve is no longer with boat test and that is apparent in their tests these days as the newer tests lack data which could be understandable for a short time and filled in later but it still hasn’t.

One of the big changes with the new engines besides a 20HP per engine increase is the reduction in sound level by using longer intake runners and cams with less overlap. From the boat test video you can also see the better sound insulation on the engine hatch. The newer boat has also gone to four bladed impellers further reducing the sound level and less vibration. Again sadly boat test and boating magazines do not check sound levels on these boats like Capt Steve did. The sound level reduction is a big deal and should be weighed heavily in your decision.

Yes you will notice the extra 40 horsepower.

The other Drive features like dock hold etc.. are going to help with the low speed handling around the dock in addition to splitting the throttles.

Speaking of low speed handling, yes, these Yamaha jet boats, as well as all jet boats, at low speed handle much different from an outboard powered boat as they do not have that big rudder in the water. With jet boats, there needs to be thrust for you to have directional control. Cut the thrust and turn the wheel and not much is going to happen.

The Yamaha throttles have a TDE position in the throttle that most folks don’t talk about. This is the first detent moving the throttles forward, this partially opens the reversing buckets to allow some forward thrust and some thrust down and to the sides. Using this position and the no wake mode which raises the engine idle speed in three increments, this dramatically increases the low speed control of the boat. This comes with the boat, so before you go spending some serious coin on a steering enhancement system try using what the boat came with and practice with it to get used to how they handle. I have never felt the need to install any of the steering enhancement systems on my boat, but I do use the TDE position of the throttle and No Wake Mode level two in the marina for good directional control, level three produces a bit of a wake, but in No Wake Mode level three steering response is brisk.

You can read about it on page 44-48 in the owners manual.

LIT-18626-14-73

LIT-18626-14-73

boats.yamaha-owners-manuals.com

As far as underwater lighting goes, if you are at all handy you can as much as your wife wants to the boat, make it look like close encounters of the third kind if you want. I do think the 2023 may have come with an underwater LED light…but from what @VitaminSea posted the 2024 model does.

We have to live our lives with some balance, but having said that, there aren’t any Uhauls following the hearse to the graveyard, so live your best life and buy your second boat first. No one lies on their death bed thinking I should’ve not spent the money on the boat that my wife and I and our family made all those great memories on… and damn, she really loved the underwater lights.

I’ve included a handy dandy buying guide for you to ponder..

View attachment 236082

Good luck and keep us posted!

I’m thinking your comment about the noise volume just sold me. I have read a little about that but it’s not something that’s talked about much. If the engines are too loud, that will ruin things. We spend a fair amount of time on my buddy’s boat and he has a pontoon with a 300 and it’s QUIET. That’s going to be the wife’s reference point.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

I’m thinking your comment about the noise volume just sold me. I have read a little about that but it’s not something that’s talked about much. If the engines are too loud, that will ruin things. We spend a fair amount of time on my buddy’s boat and he has a pontoon with a 300 and it’s QUIET. That’s going to be the wife’s reference point.

Right on… well this jet boat will be louder than the toon with the 300 hp outboard.. it is amazing how quiet outboard engines are these days. If she is in the bow when cruising it will be almost all wind noise, opposite you, there will be some engine noise.

Having said that, I should have asked my usual questions first.
What are you going to use the boat for?
How often will you use it?
Where will you use it?
How many people will be coming out on the boat with you? Be honest with yourself here, a lot of times friends will come out initially but then rarely after that.

So, depending on how you are going to use the boat, this boat is NOT a floating patio like the toon.. this is a very comfortable sport boat. They are capable of pretty exciting handling, 1.5 turns lock to lock at speed, if you are not seated securely when making a full lock turn at WOT it will throw you out of the seat, and they’re quick, hole shots are incredible, yet there is still plenty of room to lay out and lounge at a sedate cruising speed of 25-30 or just floating. Also lots of covered and secure storage spaces. So many more advantages / capabilities of these boats than a toon, but I get it, some folks like the lazy days on the patio, and as long as they are having fun that is all that matters. Your buddies with the 300 probably moves right along!

I have a FSH, and it works incredibly well for me and what I want to use it for. I also use my boat a lot, I’ve been putting on about 200 hours a year the last couple of years because I’m trolling faster for different species of fish, faster than the trolling motor alone will pull me, before that I was just using the trolling motor for propulsion. I usually get in about 42-47 boating days a year, with an avg time on water of about 10 hours.

Download a DB meter on your phone and take readings on your buddies toon and when you do a test ride in the 2024 boat. Be sure and compare apples to apples.. wind noise is quite a bit when you’re zipping along at 40 mph. Keep in mind that 3DB is a doubling of halving of perceived noise.

 

[ScratchCoin]

what got me looking at the Yamaha series is we rode in another buddy's 222XD...he is from New Jersey so we had the techno bumping, LED lights everywhere and we were going pretty dang fast...and the wife loved it. was a different experience than the pontoon. questions:


What are you going to use the boat for? - cruising, sand bar visits with kids (10-13 year olds) will make up most of the time, wake boarding (16-17 year olds).
How often will you use it? - im thinking actual use will be once every 4 weeks for 8 months out of the year.
Where will you use it? - Im in Louisiana and would be in rivers, lake maurepas, lake pontchartrain areas
How many people will be coming out on the boat with you? Be honest with yourself here, a lot of times friends will come out initially but then rarely after that. - probably mostly my self and my wife...our kids occasionally + friends (kids are 11 and 16). Our friends mostly all have boats so when we go, we would likely all take our own boats. We get the invite probably once or twice a year but we want to go more.

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

what got me looking at the Yamaha series is we rode in another buddy's 222XD...he is from New Jersey so we had the techno bumping, LED lights everywhere and we were going pretty dang fast...and the wife loved it. was a different experience than the pontoon. questions:


What are you going to use the boat for? - cruising, sand bar visits with kids (10-13 year olds) will make up most of the time, wake boarding (16-17 year olds).
How often will you use it? - im thinking actual use will be once every 4 weeks for 8 months out of the year.
Where will you use it? - Im in Louisiana and would be in rivers, lake maurepas, lake pontchartrain areas
How many people will be coming out on the boat with you? Be honest with yourself here, a lot of times friends will come out initially but then rarely after that. - probably mostly my self and my wife...our kids occasionally + friends (kids are 11 and 16). Our friends mostly all have boats so when we go, we would likely all take our own boats. We get the invite probably once or twice a year but we want to go more.

Okay cool, so the wife likes to go fast as well, that’s a plus!
Looks like you need the extra three feet of hull because you want to be able to take plenty of folks out and have the room. I know the 25’ models have a head compartment but not sure about the 22’ ones. I can tell you that I would not own a boat that didn’t have some sort of a head compartment. I have a porta potty in my boat, mainly for the girls that occasionally go along, but twice now I’ve had an “emergency” and I was glad I had it for me! LOL!
So you’ll be using the boat 8 times a year… that may change with the teenagers desires, E.G. they’ll want to go more often. Who knows? You and your wife may want to use it more than you think!

One of the nice things about trailer boats is that you can take them anywhere you’d like to go boating.. you may find doing a vacation, like to Table Rock Lake or something is for you. Also with a 25’ boat, overnighting on board becomes comfortably possible. I’ve spent the night on my boat a few times and its quite the cool experience.

 

[ScratchCoin]

For roughly the same price, I could get into a used 275. They seem to depreciate way faster. I have a 2500 HD and I’m accustomed to pulling excavators and tractors so I’m not worried about the haul. Any other weird things happen when you go to a 27’ boat? Cost of owenship? Things like that? Asking because there are a few 275s that are around $90k, so basically the same price (plus 10k because none seem to come with a trailer). But for $10k you get A LOT more boat!

Thanks also for the convo, this is extremely helpful!

 

[FSH 210 Sport]

So it’s going to cost you between 6000 and 9000 probably for a trailer. The one thing about the 27 is that I’m sure they will use a lot more fuel, the supercharged 1.8 L engines consume considerably more fuel than they normally aspirated once, and that includes the normally aspirated 1.9. If you look at the weights, I’m sure you will see that the 275 is quite a bit more heavier than the 252. Like I said before it depends on how strict your state is about about being 9 feet wide as opposed to the trailer legal 8‘6“. You definitely have plenty of truck to tow it which is a good thing and it is a considerably larger boat. When I was buying my boat, my friend said to me to get the smallest boat that would get the job done. So to me it sounds like the 252 would be right up your alley as far as capacity for people and cargo. The other difference is the 275 is yacht certified so there’s no limitation on the number of people technically speaking, I could be totally wrong on that and I’m sure if I am that somebody will chime in and provide accurate information.

So keeping in mind that the 275 would use a lot more fuel probably in the one to 1.3 miles per gallon range. You have to see if that’s going to suit you for what you want to do. I think those boats come with 111 gallon fuel tank I’m not sure. So that will take some careful consideration as well.

 

[Hot2Go]

Also remember any supercharged boat will require the premium 91 octane fuel. Any naturally aspirated engines run the 87! I always tell people to go sit in the boats you want to buy, imagine all the storage places you’d need for all your gear, coolers, beach bags, float toys, etc. And then imagine everyone seated in the layout on good days and rough days.

Here’s a YouTube video of JBP comparing the 25/27’ series side by side!