For this article and in continuation from the previous article, we'd like to illustrate the cockpit seating area just as we illustrated the bow seating area a few days ago.
2013 marks the 10th year that Yamaha has been in the full blown run about business. Its hard to believe that its actually been a decade since the SR230 was debuted. This was really a coming of age for the boat manufacturer that was until then producing smaller, more waverunner like boats. These were very lightweight, relatively flat bottom overgrown personal watercraft and were not capable of grabbing the attention of the rest of the established boating industry. They did their job well and were reliable and of course carried the Yamaha name, but to actually compete with the major names of the industry Yamaha needed to step up to a whole new level.
Knowing what we know now after seeing what Yamaha has been able to produce since 2003 the original 230 series is not nearly as advanced in either its shape or its technology when compared to the current models. But, looking back then with nothing else to really compare to in the way of competition or other Yamaha models, the original 230 series boats were very well thought through and were even revolutionary at the time they were released.
The 2003 SR230 featured Yamaha's now industry standard swim platform seating area, twin four stroke fuel injected MR-1 motors and a laundry list of standard features that you'd pay thousands more for if buying from any other boat manufacturer. But, if you carefully study other great manufacturers that have great products, they consistently seek to obsolete themselves or to make what they produce even better. This is the story of Yamaha Watercraft. Each time they introduce a new hull design, there are literally thousands of actual customer suggestions that are considered in how to make the new boat better.
In the illustration below you will see every four stroke hull Yamaha has ever produced. In each hull you will see the cockpit seating area highlighted in various colors. Each hull is arranged from left to right, from largest to smallest and each cockpit is numbered from 1-6. 1 being the largest cockpit to 6 being the smallest cockpit.
What I find interesting is that, even though the new 2012 212X/AR210 is two feet shorter than the 2007 230/232, it has more cockpit seating available. This shows that with time and experience along with listening to what their customers wanted along the way, Yamaha has not only been able to improve on a great product, but that they exhibit the capability to continue to do so in the future. This further solidifies their brand name and consumer confidence in that brand. Any manufacturer that has the ability to listen and make adjustments as needed, is standing on solid ground and will not be easily moved.
Over the last 10 years Yamaha has consistently displayed that they are capable of making a great boat, greater. The new 19' 190/192 series has nearly the same available cockpit seating of the original 23' model. Who would have thought that ten years down the road that Yamaha would be able to offer a 19 foot boat with the same "real" seating capacity of their first 23 footer?!
If you're in the market for a new boat or a used boat, we hope that the above illustration will help you in your decision. Whether its a new Yamaha or a used one (good luck finding one 'cause they're rare), you can't go wrong regardless of which choice you make.
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