52 | BOATINGMAG.COM | APRIL 2018
AVAILABLE POWER:
JET DRIVEPHOTO: COURTESY YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION USAof the 19-foot Yamaha 190 FSH use the boat
for towing kids on tubes. The 210 FSH Sport
is likewise an alternative to a runabout for
the buyer who doesn’t consider “family
fishing ” oxymoronic.
There are three versions of the 210 FSH,
each based on the 21-foot-3-inch hull that
was new last season under the SX210 run-
about. A pair of 130 hp Yamaha TR-1 three-
cylinder jet powertrains is located below
the aft deck. To the base 210 FSH ($39,499),
the 210 FSH Deluxe ($41,999) adds wiring
for dual batteries, a stainless-steel rub rail,
head-compartment curtain, trolling-motor
mount and upgraded upholstery. To that
list, the 210 FSH Sport adds an aluminum
T-top, and Yamaha expects the Sport to ac-
count for most of this model’s production.
Like most current center console boats,the 210 FSH provides seating on raised
bases in the bow, with removable cushions
that can be left on the dock when fishing
is the focus of an outing. There’s stow-
age below the port seat, and to starboard
is an insulated fish box (or beverage box)
with overboard drain. Abaft each seat base
Yamaha adds a cabinet that serves as a fixed
backrest for the seat, a tabletop surface, and
stowage for small items in shelves built into
a door. These cabinets consume some deck
space and could impede the fishing action,
but they make the bow area a better loung-
ing space.
There’s a doublewide seat on the front of
the center console, which lifts open with a
zippered canvas privacy curtain, and there’s
room for a portable head. We like the mold-
ed step that will make it easier for kids to
climb in and out of the console.
At the helm, analog tachs flank a 4.3-
inch Connext touchscreen display that
reports all other engine and performance
info. There’s a blank space to the right for
owner-installed electronics; our test boat
was equipped with a large Garmin Echo-
Map sv, and it and the Yamaha screen areboth NMEA-compatible to send its data to
accessory electronics.
The bi-level transom, identical to
Yamaha runabouts, is a feature we’ve long
appreciated. It’s a great lounge space and
also offers unimpeded access to the water
for casting and retrieving fish. The tran-
som is enabled by the compact, low-profile
Yamaha jet-drive system. The jet advan-
tages include no props to ding, no drives
to trim, a draft at rest of just 17 inches, and
perhaps of 6 inches on plane — all great for
maneuvering through shallow or stump-
infested waters.
The 210 FSH planes with no bow rise, and
Yamaha seems to have dialed in the run-
ning angle of this hull because I never felt
the urge to trim the bow up. We might miss
trim, however, with four passengers and a
load of gear on board. Typical of jet power,
5,500 rpm is required for reasonable cruis-
ing speed, and wide-open throttle is a buzzy
7,800 rpm. Yamaha has made real progress
in quieting driveline noise in its current
boats, but the high-frequency tone of the
engines and pumps is still less-pleasant
company than a four-stroke outboard.
That’s the only real compromise of jet
power; its advantages, and a smart center
console layout, make the Yamaha 210 FSH
a stand-up option for a family that wants to
do it all on the water. —Charles PlueddemanHigh Points
XJet power: less draft, less maintenance and
more transom than an outboard.
XDrain channels express water from the
console seat cushion.
XRudderlike articulated keel improves
tracking at high and low speeds.Low Points
XAnchor locker hatch that opens inboard
makes it a pain to reach the anchor.
XKill-switch lanyard constantly snags on the
steering wheel.
XNo overhead stowage box on the T-top.·LOA: 21'3"·BEAM: 8'6"·DRAFT (DRIVE
DOWN): 1'5"·DISPLACEMENT (AS TESTED):
4,020 lb.·TRANSOM DEADRISE: 20 degrees
·BRIDGE CLEARANCE: 7'8"·FUEL CAPACITY:
50 gal.· MAX HORSEPOWER (APPROX.): 260
· AVAILABLE POWER: Twin Yamaha Marine TR-1
High Output jet drivesPrice: $44,499
(with test power)HOW WE TESTED
ENGINE: TWIN 1.0-LITER YAMAHA MARINE TR-1
HIGH OUTPUT JET DRIVES DRIVE/PROP: 155 MM
JET DRIVE WITH STAINLESS-STEEL IMPELLER
GEAR RATIO: 1.00:1 FUEL LOAD: 25 GAL. CREW
WEIGHT: 420 LB.
YAMAHA MOTOR CORPORATION USA
Kennesaw, Georgia; 800-962-7926; yamahaboats.comYamaha’s Jet Wash
system diverts pressure
from the jet pumps to
a hose in the aft inwale
for easy cleanup of the
cockpit.C
CERTIFIED
TEST
RESULTSSPEED EFFICIENCY OPERATION
naut. stat. n. mi. s. mi. sound
rpm knots mph gph mpg mpg range range angle level
1500 2.43 2.80 1.30 1.87 2.15 84 97 0 77
2000 4.00 4.60 1.80 2.22 2.56 100 115 0 80
2500 6.34 7.30 2.40 2.64 3.04 119 137 2 82
3000 7.21 8.30 3.10 2.33 2.68 105 120 3 82
3500 8.34 9.60 3.60 2.32 2.67 104 120 4 82
4000 9.47 10.90 4.80 1.97 2.27 89 102 6 84
4500 11.90 13.70 5.50 2.16 2.49 97 112 7 87
5000 20.16 23.20 7.00 2.88 3.31 130 149 4 88
5500 24.90 28.60 7.90 3.01 3.62 139 163 3 90
6000 28.07 32.30 10.10 2.78 3.20 125 144 3 91
6500 33.37 38.40 11.90 2.80 3.23 126 145 2 95
7500 36.76 42.30 14.80 2.48 2.86 112 129 2 97
7800 38.90 44.30 17.20 2.36 2.45 101 118 2 99
MOST ECONOMICAL CRUISING SPEED