Important manual information
EJU30192
To the owner/operator
Thank you for choosing a Yamaha watercraft.
This owner’s/operator’s manual contains in-
formation you will need for proper operation,
maintenance, and care. If you have any ques-
tions about the operation or maintenance of
your watercraft, please consult a Yamaha
dealer.
This manual is not a course on boating safety
or seamanship. If this is your first watercraft,
or if you are changing to a type of watercraft
you are not familiar with, for your own comfort
and safety, please ensure that you obtain
proper training or practice before operating
the watercraft by yourself. In addition, a
Yamaha dealer or boating organization will be pleased to recommend local sea schools, or
competent instructors.
In this manual, information of particular impor-
tance is distinguished in the following ways:
This is the safety alert symbol. It is used
to alert you to potential personal injury haz-
ards. Obey all safety messages that follow
this symbol to avoid possible injury or death.
WARNING
EWJ00071
A WARNING indicates a hazardous situa-
tion which, if not avoided, could result in
death or serious injury.
NOTICE
ECJ00091
A NOTICE indicates special precautions
that must be taken to avoid damage to the
watercraft or other property.
TIP:
A TIP provides key information to make pro-
cedures easier or clearer.
EJU40410
Because Yamaha has a policy of continuing
product improvement, this product may not be
exactly as described in this owner’s/opera-
tor’s manual. Specifications are subject to
change without notice.
This manual should be considered a perma-
nent part of this watercraft and should remain
with it even if the watercraft is subsequently
sold.
EJU30232
WaveRunner VXS / VXR
OWNER’S/OPERATOR’S MANUAL ©2012 by Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
1st Edition, June 2012All rights reserved.
Any reprinting or unauthorized use
without the written permission of Yamaha Motor Co., Ltd.
is expressly prohibited.
Printed in U.S.A.
UF2M72E0.book Page 2 Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:05 PM
Table of contents
General and important labels ........... 1Identification numbers .................... 1
Primary Identification (PRI-ID)
number ........................................... 1
Craft Identification Number (CIN) ...... 1
Engine serial number ........................ 1
Manufactured date label .................... 2
Model information ........................... 2
Builder’s plate .................................... 2
Important labels .............................. 4
Warning labels ................................... 5
Other labels ....................................... 8
Safety information ........................... 10 Limitations on who may operate the watercraft ............................ 10
Cruising limitations ....................... 11
Operation requirements ............... 12
Recommended equipment ........... 14
Hazard information ....................... 15
Watercraft characteristics ............. 15
Water-skiing ................................. 17
Safe boating rules ........................ 18
Enjoy your watercraft responsibly ................................ 19
Description....................................... 20 Watercraft glossary ...................... 20
Location of main components ...... 21
Control function operation ............. 25 Watercraft control functions ......... 25
Remote control transmitter .............. 25
Yamaha Security System ................ 26
Engine stop switch .......................... 27
Engine shut-off switch ..................... 27
Start switch ...................................... 27
Throttle lever ................................... 28
Steering system ............................... 28
Cooling water pilot outlet ................. 29
Water separator ............................... 29
Watercraft operation ....................... 30Watercraft operation functions ..... 30
Reverse system ............................... 30
Watercraft operation modes ......... 31
Low RPM Mode ............................... 31
Instrument operation ...................... 33Multifunction information center ... 33
Information display .......................... 33
Equipment operation ...................... 38Equipment .................................... 38
Seat ................................................. 38
Handgrip .......................................... 39
Reboarding step (VXR) ................... 39
Bow eye ........................................... 39
Stern eyes ....................................... 40
Cleat ................................................ 40
Storage compartments .................... 40
Fire extinguisher holder and
cover ............................................ 42
Operation and handling
requirements ................................... 44Fuel requirements ........................ 44
Fuel ................................................. 44
Engine oil requirements ............... 45
Engine oil ......................................... 45
Draining the bilge water ............... 47
Draining the bilge water on land ...... 47
Draining the bilge water on water .... 47
Transporting on a trailer ............... 48
First-time operation ........................ 49 Engine break-in ............................ 49
Pre-operation checks ..................... 50
Pre-operation checklist .................... 50
Pre-operation check points .......... 52
Pre-launch checks ........................... 52
Post-launch checks ......................... 58
UF2M72E0.book Page 1 Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:05 PM
General and important labels
5
EJU35913Warning labels
If any of these labels are damaged or missing, contact a Yamaha dealer for replacements.
1
2
UF2M72E0.book Page 5 Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:05 PM
Watercraft operation
30
EJU40011
Watercraft operation functions
EJU40520Reverse system
WARNING
EWJ01230
●Do not use the reverse function to slow
down or stop the watercraft as it could
cause you to lose control, be ejected, or
impact the handlebars.
●Make sure that there are no obstacles or
people behind you before shifting into
reverse.
●Do not touch the reverse gate while the
shift lever is being operated, otherwise
you could be pinched.
When the shift lever is moved to the reverse
position, the reverse gate lowers and deflects
the water jet being discharged from the jet
thrust nozzle. This allows the watercraft to
move in reverse.
To shift into reverse:
(1) Release the throttle lever and let the en-
gine speed return to idle.
(2) Pull the shift lever rearward until it stops in the reverse position. The reverse gate will lower and the watercraft will start
moving in reverse at trolling speed.
To shift into forward:
(1) Release the throttle lever and let the en- gine speed return to idle.
(2) Push the shift lever forward until it stops in the forward position. The reverse gate
will rise and the watercraft will start mov-
ing forward at trolling speed.
1Shift lever
2 Reverse position
3 Forward position
1 Reverse gate
2 Forward position
3 Reverse position
1
23
13
2
UF2M72E0.book Page 30 Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:05 PM
Instrument operation
33
EJU41850
Multifunction information center
The multifunction information center displays
various watercraft information.
Multifunction information center initial op-
eration
When the multifunction information center is
activated, all of the display segments and the
“SECURITY” indicator light come on. After 2
seconds, the warning indicators in the infor-
mation display go off, and then the center
starts to operate normally.
TIP:
The “SECURITY” indicator light will go off
when the engine is started.
Multifunction information center standby
state
If the multifunction information center does
not receive any operation input within 25 sec-
onds after the engine stops, the center will
turn off and enter a standby state. When the
engine is started again, the displays return to
their state before the center turned off, and
then the center starts to operate normally.
EJU35024Information display
The information display shows watercraft op-
erating conditions.
EJU31503Speedometer
The speedometer shows the watercraft speed
against water.
By switching the display units, the speed can
be shown in kilometers per hour “km/h” or
miles per hour “mph”.
TIP:
“mph” is selected as the display unit at the
Yamaha factory.
1 “SECURITY” indicator light
2 Select button
3 Information display
4 “L-MODE” indicator light
5 “WARNING” indicator light
21345
1Tachometer
2 Speedometer
3 Hour meter/voltmeter
4 Fuel level meter
5 Check engine warning indicator
6 Engine overheat warning indicator
7 Oil pressure warning indicator
8 Fuel level warning indicator
1 Speedometer
1234
8765
1
UF2M72E0.book Page 33 Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:05 PM
Instrument operation
35
When the battery voltage is normal, the volt-
meter displays approximately 12 volts.
If the battery voltage has dropped significant-
ly, “LO” is displayed on the voltmeter. If the
battery voltage has risen significantly, “HI” is
displayed. If “LO” or “HI” is displayed, immedi-
ately return to shore and have a Yamaha
dealer service the watercraft.
To switch to the voltmeter from the hour
meter:
Push the select button for at least 1 second af-
ter the multifunction information center is acti-
vated for more than 10 seconds. The display
switches to the voltmeter from the hour meter.
EJU31514Fuel level meter
The fuel level meter shows the amount of fuel
remaining in the fuel tank. The amount of re-
maining fuel is shown using eight display seg-
ments, which disappear two at a time as the
fuel level decreases.
TIP:
The accuracy of the fuel level meter varies de-
pending on the operating conditions. Use this
function as a reference only.
EJU41970Fuel level warning
If the fuel remaining in the fuel tank drops to
about 17 L (4.5 US gal, 3.7 Imp. gal), the low-
est two fuel level segments, the fuel level
warning indicator, and the “WARNING” indi-
cator light blink, and the buzzer sounds inter-
mittently.
If the fuel level warning is activated, refill the
fuel tank as soon as possible. (See page 44
for information on filling the fuel tank.)
After the fuel tank is refilled, the warning sig-
nals will be cleared when the engine is restart-
ed.
1Vo l t m e t e r
2 Select button
1
2
1Fuel level meter
1
UF2M72E0.book Page 35 Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:05 PM
Instrument operation
36
TIP:
Push the select button on the multifunction in-
formation center to stop the buzzer.
EJU31626Oil pressure warning
If the oil pressure drops significantly, the oil
pressure warning indicator and the “WARN-
ING” indicator light blink, and the buzzer
sounds intermittently. At the same time, the
maximum engine speed is limited.
If the oil pressure warning is activated, imme-
diately reduce the engine speed, return to
shore, and then check the engine oil level.
(See page 45 for information on checking the
engine oil level.) If the oil level is sufficient,
have a Yamaha dealer check the watercraft.
TIP:
Push the select button on the multifunction in-
formation center to stop the buzzer.
EJU31609Engine overheat warning
If the engine temperature rises significantly,
the engine overheat warning indicator and the
“WARNING” indicator light blink, and the
buzzer sounds intermittently. Then, the en-
gine overheat warning indicator and the
“WARNING” indicator light stop blinking and
remain on, and the buzzer sounds continu-ously. At the same time, the maximum engine
speed is limited.
If the engine overheat warning is activated,
immediately reduce the engine speed, return
to shore, and then make sure that water is be-
ing discharged from the cooling water pilot
outlet while the engine is running. If there is no
discharge of water, stop the engine, and then
check the jet intake for clogging. (See page
85 for information on the jet intake.)
NOTICE:
If you cannot locate and correct the cause
of the overheating, consult a Yamaha deal-
er. Continuing to operate at higher speeds
could result in severe engine damage.
[ECJ00041]
TIP:
Push the select button on the multifunction in-
formation center to stop the buzzer.
UF2M72E0.book Page 36 Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:05 PM
Instrument operation
37
EJU31634Check engine warning
If a sensor malfunction or a short circuit is de-
tected, the check engine warning indicator
and the “WARNING” indicator light blink, and
the buzzer sounds intermittently.
If the check engine warning is activated, im-
mediately reduce the engine speed, return to
shore, and have a Yamaha dealer check the
engine.
TIP:
Push the select button on the multifunction in-
formation center to stop the buzzer.
UF2M72E0.book Page 37 Thursday, July 12, 2012 5:05 PM