Tested By Capt. Bob SmithThe AR230 is built to carry up to 10 people arrayed comfortably from the cockpit to the bow in plush seats. Yamaha focused on delivering a boat that combined the best of strength and performance you expect from a competition ski boat with the form and functionality you want in an open bow runabout for the family. The powerful four stroke engines deliver the power and performance while maintaining the low noise and fuel economy you need in a family cruiser. Bow FeaturesThe bow area includes an anchor locker with locking chocks for a Danforth style anchor. Handrails are recessed and canted in towards the passengers likely to use them. The bow seating area can be filled in and converted to a sun lounger. The wraparound windshield is ruggedly built and has a flip over walkthrough. If the air is a bit too much, the companion pod door unfolds and can be locked into place for a lower wind blocking screen. The companion and helm seats both are fully adjustable on slides and swivels. Large bolsters give you a lift to increase vision forward when needed. The companion pod has two glove box doors. The upper box has the sound system installed behind the door. The lower box is a deep box for storage. In fact, when you look around this rig, you find fifteen storage lockers throughout a boat of only 23 feet. A large locker in the floor between the companion and helm seats holds longer items like skis and filler cushions. Behind the WheelThe helm is a fully functional sporty dash with a more precise electronic speedometer, necessary for finding and maintaining the perfect wake for wakeboarding. Large dual tachometers are easy to monitor and throttle and shift controls are separate for the twin engines. Depth is monitored digitally and the steering wheel tilts for individual comfort underway. Arched over the entire cockpit is an integrated aluminum wakeboard tower. With its high tow point you have the perfect angle for wakeboarders and adds flare to her looks as you glide by the crowds. If you need a little extra boost to get on board, a telescoping boarding ladder is ready to serve.Seating AccommodationsThe rear cockpit seating wraps around and can be fitted with cushions to form a huge sun lounge. A stable center walk-thru takes you to what they call their stern patio and swim platform. This area is very spacious and has a short post you can use to put the table back here for serving snacks. Water level access from the swim platform is easy for everyone and the non-skid is aggressive for safety, even when wet. EnginesThis hot number is powered by two MR-1 four cylinder, four stroke 140-hp 998cc engines. Size and weight were huge issues, as anyone who has followed the industry in the past years. Smooth and efficient power over the range of speed and rpms were critical. Low speed cruising, towing capability, high end power and the acceleration to get there are all part of today’s Yamaha MR-1 engine.SpecsThe AR230 is 23’0” in length and 8’6” in the beam and only needs an 18” draft for clearance in skinny waters. Twenty degrees of deadrise help her sporty efficiency and handling and she has room for up to 10 passengers around the ample seating. She has a fifty gallon fuel tank and 1.32 gallons per engine oil capacity. Transmissions are Direct Drive with 155mm Axial Flow single stage pumps with reverse. PerformanceAfter a little practice with the differences of a jet drive verses the typical propeller driven boats, I found the Yamaha AR230 to be responsive and peppy. We found she could reach top end ranges of nearly fifty miles per hour and seemed happy to run at 7000 rpms cruising at 24 mph. At 7000 rpms we found she used 8.7 gph and had a range of 114 miles. She was able to jump on plane in just 3 seconds and was zipping along merrily at 30 mph in only 5.7 seconds.If a responsive, sporty bowrider with the excitement of a jet drive is what you are looking for Yamaha’s AR230 is an excellent new model to consider.