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Draft:WaveRaider

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The Yamaha WaveRaider was a model of Personal Watercraft produced by Yamaha Motor Corporation from 1994 to 1997. The WaveRaider earns its significance as it was the first high performance PWC to be offered by Yamaha. It entered a new era of speed racing for Yamaha, with runabout type models with "V" hulls becoming the standard[1], while creating the pathway to the high performance GP Series.  During its production, Yamaha made yearly design changes and performance improvements with power ranging from 70HP to 110HP.

Yamaha WaveRaider
Production 1994 - 1997
Manufacturer Yamaha Motor Corporation
Availability Discontinued
Last production year 1997
Related WaveRunner, Yamaha WaveBlaster, Yamaha SuperJet

1994

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1994 WaveRaiders

RA700S - This year, Yamaha introduced the first WaveRaider with a Purple and Orange color scheme. It is the only WaveRaider to have the underside of its hull painted. The gauge cluster displayed a Tachometer, a Fuel gauge, and three indicator lights for low fuel, low oil, and overheating. It included Yamaha’s Quick Shift Trim System(QSTS), a fiberglass hull, and the 80 horsepower, dual carbureted, 62T Engine.

1995

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RA700T - This model was mechanically and electronically the same as the RA700S, using the same fiberglass hull, the same gauge cluster and the 62T Engine. It differs with a Blue and Yellow color scheme and the addition of revised longer sponsons for improved handling.

RA700AT - This model looks almost identical to the RA700T, with the Blue and Yellow color scheme and the revised sponsons. The hull is made out of Sheet Moulding Compound(SMC). This change made the hull stronger but 95lbs(20%) heavier and was primarily done as a cost cutting measure of manufacturing. The fuel tank was also upgraded adding 2.6 more gallons to its capacity. The gauge cluster was also changed to replace the Tachometer with a Speedometer and an Hour Meter, while also adding an oil gauge on the left side. This model can be seen displaying the "Deluxe" lettering under the rear sides of the seat.

RA1100T - This model introduced the biggest factory engine to ever be put in a WaveRaider, the three cylinder, triple carbureted, 110 horsepower, 63M. This engine gave the heavier SMC hull the power it needed, while also adding more weight, now totaling 540lbs, 152lbs more than the original RA700S. It featured a red, white and blue color scheme with "1100 Triple" displayed under the rear sides of the seat. The gauge cluster was the same as the RA700AT with the Speedometer in the middle.

1996

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RA700BU - This model is almost identical looking to the RA700AT. It has the SMC hull and the yellow and blue color scheme. However, it features the single carburetor, 61X Engine. Making only 70 horsepower, this is the least powerful WaveRaider ever made. It can be differentiated from other Blue and Yellow WaveRaiders with the sponsons also being yellow and "700" being displayed under the rear sides of the seat. The gauge cluster was also downgraded to only have the three indicator lights in the right middle and a plastic Yamaha branded trim piece surrounding. The mirrors and QSTS were also removed.

RA760U - This model introduced the 90 horsepower 64X Engine. This gave the SMC hull another engine with a better power to weight ratio than the 62T and 61X in this hull, while only weighing 483lbs. Its color scheme was teal green, yellow and purple and "760" was displayed under the rear sides of the seat.

RA1100U - This model was mechanically and electronically identical to the RA1100T, with only a few cosmetic differences. In addition to the red, white and blue, yellow was added to the color scheme and the decals were minimally changed throughout. The sponsons were also changed to red, being blue on the RA1100T.

1997

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RA700BV - This model was the last WaveRaider to be sold. It was mechanically and electronically identical to the RA700BU. It's only difference was the color scheme, which was very similar to the RA760U but with a "700" displayed under the rear sides of the seat and no mirrors.

Dimensional Table

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[2]
Model RA700BU RA700BV RA700AT RA700S RA700T RA760U RA1100T RA1100U
Year 1996 1997 1995 1994 1995 1996 1995 1996
Color Blue & Yellow Teal, Yellow & Purple Blue & Yellow Purple & Orange Blue & Yellow Teal, Yellow & Purple Red & Blue Red, Blue & Yellow
Engine 61X 61X 62T 62T 62T 64X 63M 63M
Displacement (CC) 701 701 701 701 701 754 1051 1051
Cylinders 2 2 2 2 2 2 3 3
Carburetors 1 1 2 2 2 2 3 3
Horsepower 70hp 70hp 80hp 80hp 80hp 90hp 110hp 110hp
Weight 465lbs 465lbs 472lbs 388lbs 388lbs 483lbs 540lbs 540lbs
PWR .1505 .1505 .1695 .2060 .2060 .1863 .2037 .2037
Hull Material SMC SMC SMC Fiberglass Fliberglass SMC SMC SMC
Fuel Capacity(US Gal) (Gasoline) 13.2 13.2 13.2 10.6 10.6 13.2 13.2 13.2
Oil Capacity(US Gal) (2 Stroke Oil) 1.1 1.1 1.1 1.0 1.0 1.1 1.1 1.1

References

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  1. ^ "History of WaveRunners (PWC)". Retrieved July 1, 2024.
  2. ^ "RA700S,T / RA700AT / RA700BU, BV / RA760U / RA1100T, U Service Manual" (PDF). Retrieved July 1, 2024.
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