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The WaveBlaster Is Back: Inside Yamaha's 2027 Revival

For anyone who grew up around personal watercraft in the '90s, the name WaveBlaster hits different. It was Yamaha's stand-up-inspired, single-rider sport craft that built a cult following before quietly disappearing from lineups decades ago. Now it's back — reimagined for 2027 as part of Yamaha's Sport series, alongside the SuperJet.

This isn't a nostalgia trim package slapped on an existing hull. Yamaha built the new WaveBlaster around a genuinely different riding philosophy than the rest of its WaveRunner lineup, and the spec sheet backs that up.

Lean In. Carve Hard.

That's the tagline Yamaha is using, and it sums up the whole concept. Where most modern WaveRunners are designed to sit flat and stable through a turn, the WaveBlaster is built to roll inward — like a dirt bike leaning into a berm. Yamaha ditched the sponsons entirely and paired a VARTM composite hull with a 144mm jet pump so the rider's own body weight does the work of carving the turn, rather than the hull resisting it.

The whole craft is engineered around short, high-intensity sessions where the rider is actively driving the action, not cruising.

What's Under the Hood

- Engine: 3-cylinder, 4-stroke Yamaha TR-1 HO marine engine
- Displacement: 1,049cc
- Top speed: Targeted in the mid-50 mph range
- Fuel: Unleaded regular gasoline
- Pump: 144mm high-pressure

It's not chasing the supercharged horsepower numbers of Yamaha's GP or FX lines — this is about aggressive, immediate acceleration and agility rather than outright top-end speed.

Built Light, On Purpose

At just 425 lbs dry and 8'4" (99 inches) long, Yamaha is calling this the lightest sit-down WaveRunner it's built in decades. That low weight is central to the whole lean-in handling concept — less mass means the hull responds instantly to rider input.

Other key specs:

• Seating capacity: 1 person
  - Width: 3'2"
  - Height: 3'6"
  - Fuel capacity: 5 gallons

Rider-Focused Ergonomics

Yamaha designed the WaveBlaster with a centered rider position and molded-in foot chocks, so you stay planted through hard turns, quick transitions, and hard throttle inputs — again, echoing the feel of aggressive dirt-bike riding rather than a relaxed cruise.

For newer riders (or anyone easing back into sport-craft riding), there's Yamaha's Learning Mode (L-Mode), which dials back engine output until you're ready to open it up fully.

Don't expect the creature comforts found on Yamaha's luxury and recreation lines — there's no Bluetooth, no GPS mapping, no cruise assist, and no electric trim. This is a stripped-down, purpose-built machine. What you do get is a 4.3" Connext screen with security and drive control, and a straightforward fuel gauge.

The Look

Yamaha leaned hard into heritage here: a deep navy hull, a neon yellow seat, and hand-lettered script that nods directly to the original '90s WaveBlaster. It's currently offered in a single colorway — Midnight Blue and Black.

Pricing

The 2027 WaveBlaster starts at $11,999, putting it right in line with the SuperJet, its stand-up sibling in Yamaha's revived Sport/Freestyle series.

Who It's For

This isn't a family cruiser or a tow-sport rig — it's a single-rider, session-style machine for people who want an intense, physical, technical ride. If the appeal of a dirt bike or a stand-up jet ski is the direct connection between your body and the machine, the WaveBlaster is Yamaha's answer to that itch on the water.

Full specs and dealer availability are on Yamaha's official WaveBlaster page

2027 WaveBlaster