On Monday, IJSBA announced that ten Sea-Doo models will now be eligible for competition for the IJSBA 2024 season, nationally and internationally.
According to a press release by IJSBA Executive Director Scott Frazier, “Bombardier Recreational Products has provided sufficient documentation to homologate the following 2024 Sea-Doo units for competition in the 2024 series: Spark, Spark Trix, GTI, GTI SE, GTX, GTX Limited, GTR, GTR-X, RXP-X, and RXT-X.”
On the same day, IJSBA announced that all 2024 Yamaha models are eligible in all IJSBA sanctioned competitions.
Frazier noted that “Competitors are reminded to carefully review IJSBA guidelines, especially HOM.1.6.”
Specifically, HOM.1.6 states “For four-stroke watercraft to be homologated for competition in the Runabout division, the watercraft must not exceed 1800cc as furnished by the manufacturer. If a Runabout, as furnished by the manufacturer, exceeds 1800cc then the maximum displacement shall be the OEM displacement plus 1mm overbore on all cylinders. The maximum displacement that may be achieved by any Runabout PWC is 2000cc.”
Frazier specified that the 2024 Yamaha VX Limited HO is furnished with an engine exceeding 1800cc, making this rule applicable to this specific model.
Models identified in the announcements are immediately eligible for competition worldwide.
Regarding Kawasaki models, in a comment on September 25 of 2023, Frazier noted that “2024 model year Personal Watercraft are generally not allowed homologation until the day after World Finals and after IJSBA has determined that 500 units have been built and are available for purchase. There is an exception where a 2024 model year unit is an exact reproduction of a previously homologated unit with allowances made for colors and aesthetic features. At this time, the only units meeting that criteria is the 2024 Yamaha SVHO and all Kawaski units that have been shipped to date. IJSBA will post any updates as we learn them in order to keep competitors fully informed.
A scroll through IJSBA’s official news releases showed no announcement of Homologated models prior to the 2023 race season; prior to the September 25 note reference above, the last official IJSBA announcement of new eligible models was posted on February 24, 2022, when IJSBA posted the following notification:
IJSBA is announcing the first update regarding homologation of 2022 models. Due to supply chain issues, IJSBA is taking a measured approach to homologation of units for competition. This update covers all models of all OEM units and is effective immediately.
Supply chain issues continue to cause severe disruption to the production and delivery of new OEM Personal Watercraft. IJSBA has been making concessions to the competition community to allow for flexibility in the repair and modification of OEM units for use in competition. These concessions will remain for the 2022 competition season. As part of balancing the needs of the community along with the obligations for ensuring uniformity, IJSBA can tentatively homologate new 2022 units and the parts and repair manuals as follows:
Kawasaki: All Kawasaki units for 2022 are either the same or substantially the same as all previously homologated models with the exception of the Ultra 310 line. Therefore, aside from the Ultra 310, all 2022 Kawasaki models are now homologated for both US and international competition and the contents of the parts catalogs and repair manuals are now included in the homologation. The Ultra 310 line, having met the minimum production numbers at the factory but having the product count diverted globally is eligible for only provisional homologation at this time. Therefore, the Ultra 310 is eligible for Open Class competition only and may not be used in any Stock Class or Limited Class categories until such time as sufficient distribution has taken place at both US and international dealerships. IJSBA will continue to monitor dealer deliveries and will provide news of complete eligibility for all categories at the appropriate time.
Sea-Doo: All Sea-Doo models for 2022 are either the same or substantially the same as earlier homologated models. Therefore, all Sea-Doo models and their corresponding parts catalogs and repair manuals are homologated for both US and international competition.
Yamaha: All Yamaha models for 2022 are either the same or substantially the same as earlier homologated models. Therefore, all Yamaha models and their corresponding parts catalogs and repair manuals are homologated for both US and international competition.
Anyone with questions about the IJSBA homologation process is asked to email [email protected].
