Yamaha 255X

Where docking matters most.

By Mike Burns

Most people don’t really decide how good a boat is when it’s running at 50 mph across open water. They decide it when they’re trying to get into a slip with a crosswind, a few boats waiting, and an audience they didn’t ask for. That’s where the Yamaha 255X makes its case, and it’s also where its Docking Assist system quietly changes the experience.

Yamaha has always leaned into jet propulsion as its differentiator, and the 255X continues that approach with twin supercharged 1.8L engines pushing 500 horsepower combined. It’s quick—properly quick. It gets on plane fast (about 3 seconds), holds speed easily, and will run comfortably in the high 40s and beyond when conditions allow. But none of that is what stands out after a day on the water. What sticks with you is how un-Jet-boat-like it feels when you’re moving slowly around a marina.

Jet boats have historically had a reputation problem at low speed. No neutral gear in the traditional sense, no prop bite, and a learning curve that can turn docking into a small event every time. Yamaha’s Docking Assist system is essentially an attempt to remove that reputation entirely. On the 255X, low-speed control becomes far more predictable and far less reactive. Inputs feel more linear, and the boat responds in a way that makes tight spaces feel less like a challenge and more like a routine maneuver.

It doesn’t turn the boat into a joystick-controlled yacht, but it does something arguably more useful: it takes the edge off. Approaches that would normally require careful timing and correction become slower, more deliberate, and easier to manage.  In wind or current, the system gives you just enough stability that you’re not constantly chasing the boat.  In close quarters, tight U turns are effortless with the Pivot Turn feature, which spins the boat on it’s own axis. Heading to dock, paddle controls for fore and aft propulsion, combine with steering wheel controls for side thrust make docking a breeze.  Once alongside, a ‘Dock Hold’ mode side thrust holds the 255X securely to the dock allowing for easy securing of the mooring lines.

That matters more than it sounds like it should. Because for most owners, docking isn’t a rare event—it’s every outing.

Once underway, the 255X behaves like a typical Yamaha sport boat in the best way. It’s fast, stable, and incredibly easy to drive. The cockpit is wide open and social, with seating that encourages people to stay engaged with the water rather than tucked away inside the boat. The swim platform remains one of Yamaha’s strongest design elements—large, flat, and usable in a way that still feels more functional than decorative.  While out recently on Lake Simcoe with 5 persons on board and 89% of fuel, we reached a top speed of 55 mph at 7600 RPM.  The cruising speed can vary greatly, however a comfortable ‘slow cruise’ was 33 mph @ 5700 RPM.

While we didn’t test the surf system, we were told that it would be more than adequate for the average rider. With ballast and wave shaping engaged, you can get a clean, surfable wave that works well for recreational riders. It’s not trying to beat dedicated V-drive surf boats, and perhaps it doesn’t. But for families who want to surf one moment, cruise the next, and anchor up for lunch without thinking too hard about the setup, it does the job.

Where the 255X separates itself isn’t in any one dramatic feature. It’s in how many small frustrations it removes. Docking is easier. Driving is intuitive. Maintenance is relatively simple. It’s a boat built around reducing friction in the parts of boating that usually aren’t fun.

The Yamaha 255X isn’t trying to be the most specialized surf boat on the market. It’s trying to be the boat people actually want to use more often, because the less enjoyable parts of ownership don’t get in the way. And that goal shows up most clearly the moment you come back to the dock.

SPECIFICATIONS:

• LOA:   24’6”(7.47m)
• Beam: 8’6” (2.59m)
• Draft: 19” (0.48m)
• Deadrise:  20 degrees
• Dry Weight: 4500 lbs.  (2041 kg)
• Fuel Capacity: 75 gal  (284 L)

PERFORMANCE: (5 POB and 89% Fuel)

RPM               MPH

2400                5

5700                33

6000                40

6500                46

7500                52

7700                55