Yamaha CrossWave

We might need to come up with a different term than “personal watercraft” to describe the Yamaha CrossWave. Yes, the team at Yamaha calls this machine a PWC, but it has a length that rivals some RIBs, walkaround decks like a center console, a dedicated anchor locker like an express cruiser, dual 7-inch Simrad helm displays like a yacht tender, and seating that definitely makes riding it a social experience.

The CrossWave (price expected this spring) definitely “challenges the boundaries” of craft built for having adventures on the water, as Yamaha puts it. “This isn’t about going faster or carving harder,” says Bryan Seti, general manager of Yamaha WaterCraft. “The CrossWave is about going farther and doing more, with the space, flexibility and purpose that a growing segment of the PWC industry has been waiting for.”

The third and fourth seats on the CrossWave are removable, meaning more space for gear or for stretching out and catching a few rays. There’s a rod stowage compartment along with dual in-hull stern compartments, and anyone out to find fish can add more gear on deck with Yamaha’s T-Track system for rod holders, trolling motor brackets and more.

The CrossWave is prewired for a Group 24 deep-cycle marine battery, if owners want to deck out the platform with lighting or full entertainment systems (8-inch footwell speakers with Bluetooth audio are standard). There’s also a built-in battery switch to make sure nothing is accidentally draining the craft’s battery when it’s stowed.

Yamaha outfits the CrossWave with a 1.9L High Output Marine Engine, reportedly the largest displacement motor in any PWC on the market right now. Some dealers taking early orders advertised a top speed of about 48 knots. Others noted the expected range, saying that in Florida: “With a 26.4-gallon fuel tank, you can fish reefs near Jupiter in the morning and still have enough range for an afternoon snorkeling session at Peanut Island.”

That’s typically the itinerary of a small boat, not a PWC. Which is, of course, the entire point of the Yamaha CrossWave.

Cleanout Port

Yamaha’s jet boats have an easy-access cleanout port that lets users clear debris  that gets sucked into the jet pump, without having to get into the water and go under the craft to clean it out. The company integrated this same cleanout port into the CrossWave, making this the only PWC available with the feature. It should mean less downtime and more fun time.

Take the next step: yamahawaverunners.com

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