I have two early 4-tecs ... never had an issue with the valves. I would say it's not about the year ... it's about the maintenance. Most owners ride them hard and put them away wet, and hardly anyone documents their maintenance.
I heard from the salesman at Pensacola Motorsports (the sell everything) that the Yamaha shop manual doesn't hold a candle to the BRP manual.
First run of SC's had poor oiling, updated 05ish I think. (all OEM replacements are updated)
Valve issue is 04, 05 and early 06 supercharged only, they can drop a head and yes poor maint hastens this, but who ever really knows how the previous owner actually maintained it.
Ceramic washers gone by 08 as well as gone once rebuilt, but with say an 06, you have no way to know if they were replaced before they detonated into the crank case or after. I've opened 2 motors know where owners believed the washers were just done because they were due only to find a teaspoon of ceramic gravel still in the case (and damaged oil pumps and marked bearings).
My preference is 02 and up for 155's only. 07 and up for SC models.. For suspension models get 10 up ideally not 09 (but no major differences).
If you want sporty, throw it around stuff, 07/08 RXP's just plain fly, 70mph even loaded up and pretty easy to toss around. If you want to cruise all day and cover a ton of miles, the S3 hulls, especially the iS models are like riding on cloud nine, will track dead ahead on their own (not busy like smaller boats) but are pretty tough to toss around for sporting them.
Nothing wrong with the 130's, same boat as 155's except reeeeaaaaalllllllyyyyyy sllloooooowwwww.
A 130 is still same block so boat weighs the same as a 155 and only a couple lbs lighter than a 185/215/255/260.. The 130's are ok for 30mph to 40mph cruising 1 up or 2 'normal' weight riders.. Suck with large riders, trying to tube or especially ski and just don't like continuous runs over 45.. The 155 isn't much more but will pull a skier if under 175lbs and can cruise at 40-45 (tops at 52 gps) I've found the 215's nicest all round. Still dead smooth and steady at lower speeds like 30 but can pull your arms off if you want, can cruise all day in the 50's (easy to do when calm) and are still reasonable fuel burn. On the S3 hull I don't think I'd touch a 155, just a 215, but the S3's with suspension is 1/2 a ton dry, too much for 155
There’s a guy selling 2009 gti 90 hrs for 3900