2013 Yamaha FX HO and Cruiser HO Review

Agile hull, big engine prove a potent...and fun...combo

Following a welcome refresh in 2012, Yamaha has returned the FX HO and Cruiser HO virtually unchanged in 2013. That’s good news for both budget-minded performance enthusiasts…as well as those who don’t want to bother with the increased maintenance concerns or fuel consumption of a supercharged model.

Heart and Soul

The engine is very much the heart-and-soul of any Yamaha watercraft. For the FX HO, the company relies on their biggest displacement 1.8-liter four-stroke, a reliable mill that foregoes the supercharger and intercooler to shave costs but retains substantial power. I’ve recorded speeds of 63-64 mph in a variety of water conditions, and a 0-30 mph acceleration time just over two seconds. Those numbers that are nipping at the heels of the brand’s fastest machines, but ones that are achieved with less of a gas bill. They’re also, obviously, more than enough to get the job done when it comes to towing skiers, tubers, or wakeboarders.

Even without a supercharger, Yamaha’s 1.8-liter engine is more than enough for spirited towing duties.

The latter crowd will appreciate the smooth response provided by the craft’s electronic throttle. A feature that electronic throttle makes possible, however, will truly make a difference, and not only for towing but also long-distance cruising. Cruise Assist allows a rider to choose their preferred speed, and then lock it in with the push of a button. This makes for a steady speed for those at the end of the towrope, but also allows the driver to fully squeeze the throttle and eliminate hand fatigue on long touring rides. That speed can be bumped up or down in small increments via buttons at the base of the handgrip. A separate, adjacent button activates a no-wake mode, which maintains an approximately 5 mph speed and requires no pressure on the throttle.

As much as Yamaha’s engines are reliable, the company’s hulls are sturdy and predictable. A favorite in rough water, the FX hull is also now also a little more fun and predictable in the calm stuff. Last year’s makeover stretched the hull’s overall length, added new sponsons, and incorporated a full-length keel. Those changes improved the hull’s personality, particularly in turns. Rather than a slightly jerky feel as the hull rocked on and off its pad, the new design banks sweetly into a turn and maintains its position, inspiring tremendous confidence in the rider. It’s also just more fun. Find a glassy stretch of water and you can carve almost as aggressively as you want, the hull staying locked in place and putting up a wall of water in a turn similar to a slalom waterskier making a cut.

Changes to the hull in 2012 made the FX HO a lot more fun to throw around in calm water.

Adjustable handlebars enhance the feel of control. They move within a 20-degree arc, meaning you can tilt them up if you’re taller or prefer to stand, or drop them low when you want to make like a racer. Trim further accentuates the feel of control, allowing you to raise or drop the bow, but it’s manual. In theory, its five positions allow you to switch settings without taking your eyes off the water, but in practice changing that trim angle at high speeds can be a little difficult, as you’re fighting the force of the water coming out of the pump. With practice it should become second-nature; try letting off the throttle for just a split-second as you trim down to release the pressure and drop the bow.

Practical Enhancements

The 2012 makeover consisted partly of bolting on angular components to reshape the deck. They’re blended nicely, but the bolt-on approach offered a few opportunities to take advantage of newly created space. The best example is found at the stern, where a small trunk is now waiting to house wet items like a watersports towrope. A notch in the door even lets the towrope stay attached to its mount without pinching. Below, the boarding step is also tweaked to include a flatter step and deeper reach. Coupled with an additional grab handle low on the enlarged stern platform, it allows downed riders to now climb back aboard with less effort.

Two grab handles make it easier to climb back on the craft from the water.

But perhaps the most intriguing feature I noted last year is a new neutral setting. Unlike Sea-Doo, which went the electronic route with their Intelligent Brake and Reverse system, Yamaha chose to simply add a detent in the throw of the reverse lever at approximately the spot where the reverse bucket is diverting water so that most forward or backward motion is stopped. The result? You can start the boat in a “neutral” setting at the ramp or dock, before shifting into forward or reverse. Yes, the lever is still located on the starboard side of the console, making it difficult to use throttle at the same time, but that’s long been a Yamaha trademark. Maybe it’s time to just live with it given the new control allowed by the mechanical neutral setting.

Other features of note? The buttons that operate the display modes are clustered behind the handlebars within easy reach, a change in position that makes operating the display that much easier. Yamaha also continues to offer its keyless remote to lock the craft against unwanted use, or to activate a low-RPM mode when a rookie takes the controls or you simply want to curb gas consumption. Storage is divided between a front bow tub (housing the majority of the craft’s 33-gallon capacity), cupholder-equipped glovebox, and a watertight canister atop the console.

Behind the seat you’ll find an additional wet storage area.

Cruiser Version, Too

Take all of the above, add a cushy, tiered seat and pull-up cleats, and you’ve got the aforementioned FX Cruiser HO. That seat is one of the best cruiser styles currently on the market. It’s tiered a theater-style seat, meaning each successive passenger gets a raised view over the passenger in front. The styling makes for a far better ride for those who don’t get to operate the controls. Each of the three positions also gets a cushy, supportive bolster to not only separate the riders in the saddle, but also provide welcome back support.

Step up to the FX Cruiser HO and you get a tiered, theater-style seat. Your passengers will thank you.

The lasting impression of both? Much of the same great fun and handling of the higher-end models, but with a lesser price for those willing to be content with just slightly – and I mean slightly – less power.

That’s a winning combo in my book.