Boat Buyers Guide: 2020 Yamaha 195 FSH Sport

[@B-DINO]

Best review of this boat by far

[@mrDmastr19]

Man I wish they would make a more ocean version of this, call it the FSH OCN or something. Add a gps/ add a vhf radio/ raise the sides and bow of the hull up a bit for ocean swells/ and make the t top easier to fold - it would be an awesome boat to do some inshore fishing and at an affordable cost, especially if it fit in a standard garage.

[@waltertx.6020]

I've been looking into this boat for about a year. It has a LOT of nice features that are WAY EXTRA on other brands. AND YES this engines internals are ready for Saltwater, from the factory build. Many people don't know that Yamaha builds boats big enough to carry a family, and only think of PWC when it comes to Yamaha. I would feel confident in buying one of the Yamaha FSH models for bay use down here in Texas!! Best of luck to you.

[@RicktheKing]

No place for front électric motor?

[@Unplugged704]

Nice boat! Is there an OB option?

[@Unplugged704]

@Carl Jacobs New to boating! LOL

[@rjf0915]

Yamaha has serious quality issues that need to be taken care of before coming out with faster 190 models... I have a 2018 that's constantly had problems. The connect screen has been replaced twice due to screen delamination. All the knee padding has had to be glued back in place several times. The powder coating on the t top flakes at the bases where it bolts to the floor. None of the thru hull fittings have any kind of sealant on them so water constantly leaked into the bilge area. Engine hatch bolts are always vibrating loose. All lighting switches have had to be replaced. Bilge pump runs randomly with dry bilge killing the batteries. I could go on and on. My boat has only 120 hours and has spent more time in the shop than on the water.

[@John-vh1fk]

I had a 2019 AR195 that had a trailer set up wrong at the factory. Dealer had it for 8 months and eventually just replaced the trailer. Water also would not drain properly under the deck back to the bilge. The bilge area under the swim platform always made me nervous because on the single engines, the drains are not the lowest point so water would sit in the unfinished fiberglass. Made me wonder if it would delaminate in the future. I sold it last summer when demand for boats sky rocketed. I like the idea of the FSH but now that the jump seats don’t flip up and instead have the slide in back rests, I wonder if Yamaha put a backer plate in the holes to prevent the metal bars that slide in from hitting and damaging the fiberglass. Somehow, I doubt it.

[@waltertx.6020]

Thanks good to know!

[@waltertx.6020]

@@John-vh1fk Wow John good to know about those issues. Yeah, I wouldn't bet on a strong enough plate, or a plate at all...

[@mahkato1]

Scarab 195 open fish 300 hp blows this thing out of the water

[@ajleland1914]

mahkato1 why do you think so ?

[@mahkato1]

@@ajleland1914 I believe it's mainly in the details. Yamaha is a great brand but it's things like the iNR system, the foldable tower, stainless hand rails, machined parts and dashboard etc. It's mainly in the details.

[@ajleland1914]

mahkato1 gotcha

[@waltertx.6020]

I just looked at Boat Test. com review of the Scarab 195. Both have very similar features all around, but the Scarab appears to be a little better designed as far as the boat itself, dash of console, and appearance. The larger 250 HP engine is an option on the Scarab. I didn't see a 300 HP option, but they may have one. Nice boat, but the standard HP Scarab, a 3 cylinder, uses a fair amount more fuel than the Yamaha 195 FSH, as in the above video. The standard Scarab engine is also built to handle saltwater, like the Yamaha. Overall I really liked the Scarab, but the Price for the standard 3 cylinder engine is around $30k. I didn't check the cost of the 250 HP Scarab yet, but I will. She's a pretty sweet little boat even if you do have to feed her a little more with the 250 HP, lol.

[@chaztaz6562]

For a Scarab 195 add at the base value $15k+! Comparing a Yamaha 195 with a Scarab 195 further serves the value the Yamaha 195 offers.