It’s been a while since we’ve published a “Case of The Humpdays” mainly because we just haven’t encountered something so funny, so strange or just something we’ve never seen before, like we have with today’s. Yes, you’re looking at a Yamaha WaveRunner VX1100, possibly one of the most prolific runabouts in recent history. The VX1100 (or just commonly known as the VX before becoming the V1 as it was later known) is the darling machine of most rental outfits as it is both incredibly simple in its execution and durable in it build. Knowing how brutal renters are with loaned units, this machine could take a beating and keep on ticking. So what gives?
This particular VX found its way down to the French-speaking Mozambique where it served diligently before giving up the ghost. Yet, rather than being scrapped, the powertrain was mothballed and a transom plate was drilled into the fiberglass. To the plate came a Yamaha Enduro 15-horsepower outboard engine, with a custom-rigged throttle cable and steering linkage that allowed some semblance of control via the handlebars (although we’re certain Yamaha’s lawyers would not agree). The final result is indeed a Yamaha-powered runabout (albeit a two-stroke now), whose owner calls the “jet vedette” or “jet star” in English.
There’s also zero seat foam or covering, so don’t expect this to be a comfy ride. Produced by MLBC Entertainment, the video has been making the rounds for a while, but we got a great laugh out of it although we’re terrified to try it out personally. Enjoy!
15 horsepower? Braap on dude! Don’t get caught in the propeller.