2013 Yamaha Super Jet Review

When it comes to buying a standup, racers have all the fun

Look at the Yamaha WaveRunner product lineup for 2013 and you’ll see a familiar craft down toward the bottom of the list – the Super Jet. But wait, didn’t all stand-ups go out of production in 2012? For the mainstream public, yes. But look closer at the Super Jet specs and you’ll see an exception. The 2013 model of the craft is still available “for closed-course competition use only.” In short, if you still want one, have a private place to practice (or are willing to, ahem, take your chances), and promise to use it solely for racing purposes, the beloved Super Jet can still be yours.

Wonder if there’s been a sudden surge in racing licenses issued as of late?

COMPETITION: Read our review of the Kawasaki Jet Ski 800 SX-R

You can still buy a new Yamaha Super Jet, but you’ll need a racing license.

I’ve always liked the Super Jet, primarily because it feels small and agile like a stand-up should…at least, like one should in my opinion. That makes it a good boat for freestyle riding, as you still feel like it’s light enough to manhandle and toss around. The rider controls it, not the other way around. That’s not to say the Super Jet is not good at carving its way around a bouy course. It’s equally adept there, showcasing a precision and confidence worthy of its long history, as well as a welcome lean-in personality that early models lacked. Credit a change in ’08 for much of the craft’s winning personality. Yamaha designers widened the hull forward, slimmed it aft, made sure those chines were nice and sharp, and then nudged the pump a little further aftand complemented it with an extended ride plate. That put more hull surface in contact with the water under the boat’s pivot point, and took away the excessively flat turning style of old.

Whether freestyling or bouy course racing, the Super Jet is the tool for the job.

VIEW: Read our story on the end of the stand-up era

Above, Hydro-Turf mats line the tray for surefooted traction. There’s a kicktail at the aft end to provide a little leverage, and the handlepole is spring-loaded to ease stress on the lower back. Yamaha also continues to provide a steering adjustment that can further quicken up the craft’s reflexes if desired.

Hydro-Turf mats offer surefooted traction.

As to the engine providing the power, there’s no secret it’s a two-stroke. That’s almost a dirty word in 2013, so I’ll leave the eco-friendly decision up to the individal buyer. There’s no doubt, however, it’s up to the task at hand. The same 701cc, dual 38mm Mikuni carb two-stroke engine that has long powered the craft, it transfers its power to a 144mm jet pump that kicks out some serious thrust, welcome not only when jumping out of the hole but also when powering your way through a turn. Top speed falls in the neighborhood of 45 mph, but before you make any judgements consider the fact that speed is different on a standup. With some good power out of the hole and a fun personality, I certainly find no need to touch the numbers of today’s runabouts. Well, at least most of the time. For those that do want that little extra punch there’s certainly an abundance of performance upgrades available on the aftermarket.

RESEARCH: All of our Yamaha WaveRunner reviews

This is one the last places you can still find two-stroke power on the water.

No matter what the speed, the Super Jet certainly looks intimidating in its new black and orange color scheme, the same combo introduced last year. It breaks from the long-standing Yamaha blue to give the craft its boldest look to date.

I think it fits the boat’s personality quite well.