2014 Yamaha FX SHO Review

Former flagship still has plenty to offer

Flagship PWC don’t go off to the retirement home once something faster comes along. Instead, they typically slip down a notch in a brand’s hierarchy. Such is the case with Yamaha‘s FX SHO, which now finds itself sandwiched between the entry level FX model, the HO, and the new king, the FX SVHO. That can make it difficult to get noticed, especially if price doesn’t make the craft truly stand out.

So how does the SHO pitch its case to the buying public? Simply by letting its ride, power, handling – and features – do the talking.

SHO Me What You’ve Got

Not that long ago, Yamaha’s celebrated 1.8-liter engine was the undisputed king in the brand’s lineup. Displaying the amped-up performance you’d expect from a big displacement mill coupled to a supercharger and intercooler combo, it continues to reach the 65 mph mark in my testing, while displaying the low-end boost necessary to get you up and out of the hole in a hurry or haul your favorite skier or wakeboarder. I also continue to note a pleasing midrange punch, something that comes in handy when you’re accelerating out of a turn. True, supercharged engines may suck down a little more fuel than their tamer counterparts, but this one – like all Yamaha’s – happily runs on 87 octane, meaning you’ll save a little on that eventual fuel bill.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2014 Yamaha FX SVHO

The engine is fun, no doubt, but it’s the FX hull that continues to impress me more and more with each passing year. Tweaked In 2012 to include redesigned chines and a longer length overall, I find it rolls intuitively into a turn, holds tenaciously once committed, and exits without hiccup. In calmer conditions, you can literally carve like a slalom water skier, sending up a wall of spray with each turn. In rougher conditions, the FX SHO is classic Yamaha, meaning the ride is stable and predictable and ready for nearly any conditions Mother Nature throws in its path.

That handling is enhanced in a variety of conditions by a five-position manual trim. I’d like to see Yamaha go the electronic route, as it would alleviate the sometimes cumbersome feel of trying to manually lower the nozzle against the force of water exiting the pump. But trim down heading into the corners and trim up on the straightaways and you’ll discover the craft’s full potential. More casual riding? Just set it in the middle and enjoy the ride.

Above the Ordinary

Another “manual” take on control is Yamaha’s mechanical neutral. Though still featuring a lever that is situated to starboard, it offers a welcome additional level of control over the craft (especially in tight situations) by allowing the driver to start the craft in neutral, and shift easily from forward to neutral and reverse. The actual mechanism is just a detent in the throw of the reverse lever. In the neutral setting, the reverse bucket is simply lowered just enough to deflect forward thrust and keep the craft in a stationary position.

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2014 Kawasaki Jet Ski Ultra LX

Other highlights in the features department include cruise control, no wake mode, tilt steering, and Yamaha’s familiar key fob remote. The latter can be used not only to lock out the ignition, but also to activate a speed-governed mode to save fuel or tame the ride. Ergonomic-minded features include a generous boarding platform with a more comfortable, flattened section on the spring-loaded step, supportive, ultra-comfortable saddle, easily adjustable tilt steering, and mode buttons for the info display located conveniently in front of the saddle where they don’t require an awkward reach over the handlebars.

Bonus points? I’ll give them to the little trunk compartment adjacent to the aft platform, which is a nice spot to stow a wet towrope, or maybe a mask and fins.

Assume the Position

COMPARISON: Read our review of the 2014 Sea-Doo RXT 260

As to how the FX SHO fits into the Yamaha lineup, I’ve said it before and I’ll say it again…it’s the quintessential middle man, offering much of the same ride and features as the higher SVHO models, but keeping costs slightly in check by taming the power delivery ever so slightly. If you see that as a drawback, by all means look at the next model in the lineup. But if you see that as an opportunity to get a lot of boat for a little less money, then welcome to the SHO.