This year, Sea-Doo stepped up as the presenting sponsor and has ponied up for an awesome Grand Prize for catching the five longest Large Mouth and or Small Mouth Bass: a brand-new 2022 Sea-Doo Fish Pro Trophy and a single-place trailer!
Held on Saturday, May 14th at the Stateline Auxiliary Launch Ramp at Lake Powell, the venue rides right on the border of Utah and Arizona so it will be operating on Arizona time, which just so happens to be one hour behind Utah time.
Competitors note that you’ll be fishing for Large and Small Mouth Bass, with an entry fee of $225 each. There are also tickets for the Largest Striper and Largest Walleye for $25 each ticket. Winner wins the pot. Please note that this is a CPR tournament (meaning Catch, Photo & Release).
This means that after a fish is caught, it is photographed using your cell phone with the fish being placed on an approved measuring board. Then the photo is uploaded to the Fishing Chaos App. After a judge approves the catch, it is then placed on the leader board. The angler with the most inches at the end of the tournament wins the Grand Prize.
In addition to the Sea-Doo Fish Pro Trophy grand prize, many other prizes (and cash) will be awarded to other finishing positions, including Castaway rods, Icom handheld marine radios, Camp Chef pellet grill, Helinox chairs, Sun Bum merchandise, and many other cool items! Click HERE to enter next month’s tournament and a chance to win!
Now that you have your watercraft registration number and date sticker, you’re required to display it on your vessel. And this is the same for all states. As mentioned before your state-issued eight-digit registration number, the first two digits are your state’s abbreviation followed by four numbers, followed by two letters.
There are a couple of ways you can go about getting these numbers; first, you can go down to a local marine supply store like West Marine. You also have the option to go to a sporting goods store like Bass Pro Shops, Academy and so on. In the marine section, they all have registration number packs that you can purchase. If you do not live close to one of the stores, Amazon is also a decent option because they have different designs, colors and fonts to choose from.
Another way of displaying your registration numbers is to have pinstriper paint on your registration numbers. This was very common back in the day; however, it is almost a lost art. You can also do what we have done in the past and go to a local graphics shop and have them match colors to your watercraft’s design and color palette. This by far is the most expensive option but it also looks the best in our option.
Now if you bought a used ski, it is far more common for people to have pinstripers paint on their registration numbers. Even though this looks extremely cool it makes for a bit of a pain for the next person who buys your ski given that they are going to have to change the registration numbers.
If your ski is gel coated you were going to have an easier time removing pinstripe numbers compared to skis like the newer Yamahas that are painted with automotive grade paint. If so, you might want to consider covering the old pinstriping with a vinyl sticker and put vinyl registration numbers over it because anything short of a repaint is going to damage the base coat color of your watercraft.
Here we’ll show the removal of pinstriped registration numbers and install registration decals along with a date sticker on this 1997 Sea-Doo GTX. If your ski is painted with gelcoat, you are in luck because there are products on the market like Owatrol Marine Strip, which is gel coat safe. This product works extremely well at removing old paint like pinstripping and will not harm your gel coat.
The process of applying this product is quite simple. Begin by cleaning the area you wish to remove with soap and water and apply this product liberally with a paintbrush. Allow it to sit long enough to soften the paint. This may require a few applications to remove all the paint.
You can also use a non-scratch Scotch-Brite pad along with bleach-free Soft Scrub with a bucket of warm water to assist in the removal of the paint. If after a few coats you are not seeing results, you’re going to need a little elbow grease to get those last lingering bits off.
When it comes to removing vinyl decals, another product you can use to remove any leftover adhesive residue is acetone but we will caution to use this sparingly as not every ski is the same material. Acetone on a Yamaha will permanently ruin the automotive-grade paint. Yet, a little acetone on a rag on older 1990’s and early 2000‘s Kawasaki and Sea-Doo gel coat is extremely tough and can hold up to these harsher chemicals.
When it comes to applying new stickers it is required that you do so in a certain way. Your date sticker will always go to the rear of the vessel no matter if it is on the starboard or port. And your registration number must read left to right no matter if it is starboard or port.
Once you have cleaned the surface it is time to apply for your registration numbers. Use a very mild solvent like glass cleaner and lint-free paper towels to remove fingerprints and oils from the surface. Next, using masking tape to make a guide line, align your decals on the ski (prior to removing the paper backing) with the curve of the watercraft.
Now with everything lined up to your liking, begin peeling back the paper backings exposing the adhesive and begin applying. Most off-the-shelf decals are applied to a dry surface while some higher quality vinyl decals are applied to a wetted surface (be sure to verify which ones you have before applying them). Finally, apply your date sticker and registration number. If you wanted to look nice and straight, take your time. There is no rush because you want to get it right the first time.
The Sea-Doo crew knows it can be tough for some of us to dock our PWC for myriad of reasons. Unfavorable winds, strong currents, waves, and inexperience at the helm are some of the problems that can make it tough to dock a PWC. Fortunately, Sea-Doo has fenders to help protect your when any of the above mentioned conditions arise. Fenders can also save you money on costly repairs that can occur when your watercraft bangs into the dock. They can also help stave off the damage an unattended ski at the dock can suffer due to rough conditions.
Sea-Doo carries a 16-inch polyform fender that can be used for all PWC. The fender has a vinyl valve system for inflation adjustment. It also comes with a rope for easy attachment to your craft. The poly fender is a decent inexpensive option at under $40.
The easy to install Snap-In Fenders, which are exclusive to Sea-Doo brand, are a little over $100. They are sold in pairs and mount on the front and rear of the Spark models. The fenders come in high visibility orange, and they float, making them easy to retrieve if you drop them in the water. These are ready to install on all Spark Models. Snap them on and go.
For all other Sea-Doo models, a Snap-In Fenders Installation Kit is required. There are several different kits available for the various models of Sea-Doo watercraft. Order a set of Snap-In Fenders now protect your Sea-Doo before it ends up in the shop needing bodywork!
Radinn makes it easy for everyone to get their stoke on regardless of ability and this Instagram post says it all. It is a family affair.
Whether you’re an up-and-coming ripper or someone with mad skills who likes to throw buckets of spray, there is a board configuration for you.
Radinn’s modular set up makes it easy to customize your jetboards, with interchangeable components. The handheld remote is a breeze to use for controlling acceleration, once you’re up and riding.
The kids will be cruising in no time and Radinn’s mobile app makes it easy to change the speed of the jetpack with the touch of a button.
The standard jetpacks are perfect for beginners and with speeds of up to 25 mph, there’s enough power to get moving and gain confidence.
As the crew progresses, pick up a high performance Carve so they can up their game with advanced maneuvers, like riding on rail to pull off some deep carves. Swap out one of your jetpacks, download the Jetpack G3 Pro upgrade, and with speeds of up to 35mph, a new realm of possibilities has opened up for the rider who likes to push the limits.
From big cutbacks, to getting launched, you can do it all on a Carve. It’s a stellar board for performance riding. This is the board your family can aspire to. Radinn Jetboards are ideal for families who like to play outside and push the boundaries when it comes to getting wet. Get out there and get your ride on!
Yes, this might not be watercraft is however it is rather significant industry news, particularly when c0nsidering where the manufacturer in question is headed. BRP is the parent company of Can-Am, Sea-Doo, and Ski-Doo have just announced that they are bringing back the Can-Am motorcycle with an electric lineup.
We are faced with the fact that the industry of motorsports and auto manufacturers are being continually forced closer towards electric offerings due to regulatory actions of state and federal governments. As sad as this is, it is the way of the foreseeable future. Can-Am is now the first powersports manufacturer to offer a complete all electrical lineup for motorcycles.
As stated by BRP in a press release below, “With the motorcycle industry shifting to electric we saw an opportunity to reclaim our motorcycle heritage and to re-enter the market. This new product category is extremely important to us and we are thrilled that Can-Am motorcycles are the first EV models in the BRP electric lineup to be confirmed to consumers.”
With this confirmation, one thing we know for sure is that BRP is dedicated to the motorsports industry no matter what happens due to emissions regulations. As they are planning to be here for years to come. This is fantastic news as the industry source to shift all we can see is how other manufacturers will compete in the new EV space.
Original press release: Valcourt, Québec, March 25, 2022–BRP Inc. Announces today that the iconic Can-Am brand is returning to its motorcycle roots with a product line-up that will be completely electric. To mark the 50th anniversary of the beloved Can-Am brand, the Company will launch a family of electric 2-wheel motorcycles.
“With the motorcycle industry shifting to electric, we saw an opportunity to reclaim our motorcycle heritage and to re-enter the market. This new product category is extremely important to us, and we are thrilled that Can-Am motorcycles are the first EV models in BRP’s electric lineup to be confirmed to consumers. Many of us have very fond memories of riding the early dirt bike models, and now we look forward to building on the rich history of the Can-Am brand to inspire and impress a new generation of motorcyclists and electric vehicle enthusiasts”, said José Boisjoli, President and CEO of BRP.
The first Can-Am motorcycle was introduced in 1973 and immediately reigned over motocross and endurance racing. The instant success elevated the brand to an iconic status right from the start. Half a century later, the new products have been developed with many different riders in mind, more specifically for those who crave adventure, seek the thrill of the open road, long for a quiet ride in the country or want to liven up the city streets. Riders can expect these new state-of-the-art electric Can-Am motorcycles to be perfect for everyday commuting and, to stay true to the track & trail heritage of the brand, recreational on- and off-road riding.
It’s the moment racers and enthusiasts have waited for all winter: the first race of the 2022 season. Mechanics and privateers have spent months prepping machines to be top-notch competitive. Riders have spent hours training at their local tracks. They’ve all gathered at the same venue to line up behind the starting gate with their rivals.
The card goes up, and engines are revved. Families and fans scream and cheer in the background, but the racers are oblivious to the noise around them. They stare straight ahead through a fresh pair of goggles, eyeing the first turn hundreds of yards in front of them, waiting for the slightest movement of that gate…
You’d think this was written while sitting trackside at Angel Stadium at A1, right? Wrong! Let us introduce you to the “H1” round of this season’s jet ski racing!
The completely revamped Jet Jam Racing staff, and with the help of RPM’s Ross Wallach, officially kicked off their race tour at Crazy Horse Campground in Lake Havasu two weekends ago. Similar to the three rounds of Supercross held in Anaheim, the JetJam racing tour will also feature three rounds held in Havasu this season.
Race director, Monte Hughes was slightly hesitant about combining the series at first. He stated, “Ross contacted me to join together and create an 11 round, 6 weekend race series with him. At first I was a little concerned about how we could do this and still maintain both of our sponsor’s requests. But after all of the good feedback we got once we publicly announced the combined series, I knew then that I had made the right decision.”
Monte and his staff seemed to have thought of everything when planning this event, “The parking was a little difficult at first, but I was able to have the Lake Havasu City Police Explorers come and help us out with that. In return, I gave them a large donation to their program, which helps officers mentor these young adults in preparing for a career in Law Enforcement. I also secured a limo for shuttle service from Brady Courson with All Things Rental to help get racers and spectators into the event.”
“This event was one of the largest turnouts that I had ever seen,” Monte continued. “We had around 120 racers with 170 entries. And the racing was very exciting to watch! We had a lot of compliments on the right-handed course that Todd “Sarge” Young set up, including a log jump.” The staff also was able to engineer an “air-band” system, which operated off compressed air that triggered the starting bands to snap.
Racers seemed to be extremely happy to be racing again, and their success was evident on the podium at Sunday’s award ceremony. One notable racer was Reese Giese (#141), who competed in Women’s Lites, Women’s 1500, and 4-Stroke Lites and won a staggering 10 out of 12 motos.
“The most fun class this weekend was probably the 4-Stroke Lites on the new Yamaha SuperJet,” Reese told The Watercraft Journal. “And I really enjoyed racing at Crazy Horse because not only is it where World Finals is held, but the water on this side of the island is super rough, and it makes for some fun and interesting racing!”
Another prominent racer, Tom Aiken (#00) made the long haul all the way from Australia to compete in Pro/Am Ski GP due to a lot of racing being cancelled back home. “With it being my first time racing in America and first time racing overseas in the Pro Ski GP class, it was pretty awesome to line up next to top riders and be a part of a big event! I had planned to come and test the new Bullett V5 and Rusty Gewecke was awesome to let me race that weekend.”
Another stunning display of racing came from none other than Coy Curtis (#155), who raced in Vintage 550, Am Ski Lites, and Am Ski GP. Coy, who picked up his Kommander GP1 five days before the race, was seen flying down the back straight and through the rough conditions while never lifting off the throttle.
Father, Taylor Curtis and ski builder, Dustin Motzouris stood on the beach and watched and couldn’t help but laugh in astonishment. “I had the most fun on my GP1 on the last moto,” Coy stated. “It was super rough and my GP1 handled it really well!” Overall, racers and families were extremely satisfied with Jet Jam’s H1 turnout. And with a full race tour of 11 rounds, one can only assume that it will be an exciting and successful year for Jet Jam!
Specific watercraft platforms come and go over the years; the trick is knowing how long a particular ski is going to last. Following the production cycles of original equipment (OE) manufacturers reveals how most of these companies tend to operate. As an example, Yamaha tends to phase out the life cycle of a particular hull design every 9 years with an average of two or three updates sprinkled in-between.
The FZR and FZS were both introduced in 2008, powered by a 215-horsepower (estimated) Super High Output 1,812cc 4-cylinder four-stroke. In 2014, the FZ platform received the redesigned SVHO (Super Vortex High Output) producing 285-peak-horsepower, and in 2016 dropped 30-pounds from its heft with the introduction of NanoXcel2 to the molding process.
In 2017, the FZR/S was replaced by the current GP platform. As many will note, the craft was first introduced as the GP1800. In 2019, it became the GP1800R with the addition of a new ride plate and intake grate, and in 2021 was renamed the GP1800R SVHO. That same year, it also received an all-new deck design with a full-color LCD dashboard and larger storage access. These changes will remain until the platform is likely phased out for 2026.
Similarly, Sea-Doo follows a comparable program. In 2012, Sea-Doo redesigned its sporty 2-seater the RXP-X 255, replaced with the angular muscle craft-looking RXP-X 260 riding on the all-new T3 hull. Introducing the world to Ergolock seating, the 2012 RXP-X 260 came with adjustable sponsons and a fully customizable X-Steering package.
In 2016, the RXP-X received the 300-horsepower 1,630cc 300 ACE powerplant and “serviceless” supercharger as well as angled footwedges and a new 159.5mm prop and larger diameter wear ring. All of this was great, but by 2021, the RXP-X 300 was in need of a refresh. The T3 evolved into the T3R, improving pump hookup and cornering capabilities by breaking up the hull’s surface tension via two rows of “shark gills” serrations.
All of this is to illustrate that for 2023, Sea-Doo plans to unveil an all-new Spark. Yes, it has been nine years since Sea-Doo’s wunderkind Rec-Lite machine was first introduced. At its initial reveal the Spark ignited a sea change in the market, so much so that Yamaha was forced to respond in three years’ time – a far faster turnaround than the company’s typical 5-year development phase.
While at last year’s press introduction of the 2022 Sea-Doo Switch, The Watercraft Journal spoke directly with Martin Lechance – the Personal Watercraft Product Development Director at BRP – specifically about the incoming Spark reboot. While Lechance was appropriately tight-lipped on certain specifics, he did reveal that the new Spark will be a “from-the-ground-up redesign.”
Inquiring further, Lechance noted that the Spark will retain its ultra-lightweight Polytec hull and deck, low entry price and wet-and-loose playfulness – all tenets to the craft’s success. Equally, the Spark will preserve its 899cc 900 ACE engine – available at either 60 or 90-horsepower (in the 900 ACE HO variant). But what we wanted to know most was all about a fabled “Spark X” that has been rumored for the last 4 years…
Lechance artfully dodged our specific inquiries, allowing us to fill in gaps where he would suddenly go silent. Our initial presumption that the new Spark would receive the turbocharged ACE engine from the Ski-Doo line was refuted, citing super-heated plumbing as a concern as it ran alongside the Polytec deck. Rather, Lechance hinted towards the offerings powering the Switch models – namely the naturally-aspirated 1630 3-cylinder four-strokes.
Currently, the Switch is offered with 100 and 170 power outputs (besides the supercharged 230). It’s worth noting that in other watercraft (GTI and GTI SE), the 1630 is also rated at 130HP.
Lechance was quick to state that the 170-horsepower tune was an untenable option, as it propelled their research-and-development unit to a blistering 63 miles per hour – far quicker than what the OE would want to make available to the public.
Yet, that is not to say that 130 or 170HP (or more) is an impossibility. Modifiers know that the difference between the 130 and 170-horsepower 1630 is a matter of engine map tuning. If a 100HP Spark is revealed this coming August, it’s very likely we’ll see a few 170HP 63mph Sparks achieved through aftermarket tuners.
The Watercraft Journal inquired further regarding the weight differences between replacing the 900 ACE with the larger 1630, to which Lechance coyly shrugged, “No more than adding a turbo kit to the 900 ACE.”
He concluded by assuring The Watercraft Journal that in its current form, the 1630 ACE-powered prototype Spark is “a handful” and will “introduce a whole new generation to small, nimble race craft.”
Regarding further changes to the Spark (storage, fuel capacity, integration of LinQ, larger instrumentation) no more was divulged, but we were encouraged to remember how Sea-Doo managed to keep the entry price of the Spark so low. We’ll certainly see a gradient scale of optional packages that will allow the buyer to personalize and uniquely equip their Spark, but as far as further details, we have none at this time.
We at The Watercraft Journal expect to be introduced to the redesigned Spark sometime in mid-to-late August of this year, and will have a full-length video and written coverage of the full range of Spark watercraft, as well as the remaining lineup of Sea-Doo PWC for 2023. If you’re looking for further information on this impending redesign you can watch the video below.
The promoter powerboat P1 has announced the continuation of its partnership agreement with ICOM. ICOM is an advanced communications company that has become the official marine radio communication of P1 offshore powerboat racing and the P1 AquaX personal watercraft racing. ICOM is a trusted manufacturer of land mobile radio, amateur radio, marine and aviation radios. They have a large reputation within all types of radio industries, and they’re sold in more than 80 countries around the globe.
Since the company‘s founded almost 60 years ago ICOM has created many industry first and world first technologies and products that have kept them at the forefront of the ever changing wireless communication industry. Said by P1, “partnerships are at the heart of our business and reliable, clear communications are vital to our P1 event operations on land and water”.
Said by P1 USA championship manager, Michelle Pedro, “On a race weekend nothing is more important for high-speed marine motorsport than safety for everyone involved and we are acutely aware of that safety and excellent communications go hand-in-hand.”
Original Press Release:
Leading marine motorsport promoter Powerboat P1 has announced the continuation of its partnership agreement with Icom that will see the international, advanced communications company become the official marine radio communications of P1 Offshore powerboat racing and P1 AquaX personal watercraft racing. Icom has a long record as a trusted manufacturer of land mobile radio, amateur radio, marine and aviation radio and communications receivers that are sold in more than 80 countries.
Since its founding almost 60 years ago, Icom has created many industry-first and world-first technologies and products that have kept it at the forefront of wireless communication. “Partnerships are at the heart of our business and reliable, clear communications are vital to our P1 event operations on land and on the water, so we are delighted to join forces with a world-class supplier,” said P1 USA Championship Manager, Michelle Petro. “On a race weekend nothing is more important for a high-speed marine motorsport than safety for everyone involved and we are acutely aware that safety and excellent communications go hand in hand.”
P1 race marshals have a dual role at events, monitoring safety and ensuring there are no rules infringements, and with communication and reaction times being vital elements they rely on the range and quality of their Icom M94D radios. This season Icom will also be providing a fixed mount radio for the RIB used by P1 to lay the race course, for safety support and as back-up for the pace boat. It is the IC-M510, a stylish, new advanced VHF/DSC marine radio that comes with an integrated AIS receiver to show real-time vessel traffic information whilst also being able to make individual DSC calls to other selected boats.
Icom America Senior Sales Manager, Ray Novak commented: “We always aim to provide products and solutions that meet customers’ needs and expectations, and as a fan of anything fast I am excited that Icom is again the chosen official partner for the P1 safety and officiating crews. Icom America has won many awards for its marine communications equipment and our radios are highly valued for their legendary durability and ease of use. We were the first manufacturer to produce highly advanced and very compact hand-held VHF marine transceivers that are not only submersible, have built-in GPS and DSC, but also float.”
P1 Global Operations Director, Martin Raby explained: “The P1 team of race marshals are the first people on the water and the last off it, so se we need long battery life on our radios and the M94D certainly delivers in this respect. We sometimes operate race courses up to 4 miles offshore and having a hand-held VHF radio which transmits at a higher wattage is essential. The aim is to place rescue boats with in-built 25 watt VHF Icom radios at the outer reaches of the course. One of P1’s key duties is setting up the race course with GPS pinpoint accuracy and the fact that the M94D has built-in GPS means that all our marshals can check the position of any of our marks and also, in the event of a racing incident, quickly and accurately call for back up precisely to the location without the need for any secondary electronic devices.”
The P1 season gets underway at the end of next month with the opening round of the 5-venue AquaX national championship at Kissimmee/St. Cloud in Central Florida, and the following month P1 Offshore powerboat racing will kick off at the Thunder On Cocoa Beach event on Florida’s Space Coast.
The Sea-Doo Pre-Order Sales Event comes to a close on March 31st so get those pre-orders in now! You don’t want to miss out on your new watercraft. Sea-Doo is offering 2-year coverage plus $150 off the purchase of $1,200 or more of accessories and apparel when you pre-order a PWC.
The GTX 170,230,300, and Limited 300 are available in the Touring Model category. All four Rec Lite models are also available. These are the Spark 2 and 3up and the Trixx 2 and 3up. You can snag one of these for as low as $5,699. The GTI 90, 130, SE 130, and SE 170 are still available in the Recreation class.
You can also pre-order an all-new Switch, which start at $17,999. You can score a 2022 Compact 100hp for as low as $149 a month. The nine other models come with 2-year coverage when you pre-order. These are great little boats for taking out the family and friends.
We strongly recommend pre-ordering to give yourself a chance to get a new Sea-Doo this year. Things are looking bleak in the shipping channel and with PWC in high demand, now is the time to get your orders in. Transport, preparation, commodity surcharge, taxes and registration fees not included. Check out all the fine print and other details on the Sea-Doo website. We hope you can score a new ride!
One of the major limitations of riding PWCs in Australian rivers is whether or not they actually have any water in them. As the driest inhabited continent, many of the country’s major rivers are often dry, awaiting the eventual floods. Australia’s second largest river, the Darling, is one such example.
Having last seen water in 2016, the 950 mile (1500 km) long river finally flooded again in 2022. It is a real story of one extreme to the other – years of arid conditions followed by torrential, bank busting floodwater.
Waiting in preparation for the return of the Darling River floods was an intrepid group of PWC adventurers. Once the river filled with water, they cast off at the junction that forms the beginning of the Darling River, and rode its entire length through the outback over a period of 7 days.
One of the team even recorded the full journey with a special Google Earth camera, so in time the service will allow users to zoom in and virtually tour the river. The Watercraft Journal interviewed team member Brendan Whitty, a.k.a. ‘Doug’ about this epic jet ski adventure.
The Watercraft Journal (WCJ): Have you planned or been on jet ski adventures of this size before?
Doug: We’ve planned a few trips over the years. Last November the same group completed the length of the Murrumbidgee from below the Burrinjuck Dam near Canberra to its confluence at the Murray River. That trip was about 1300 kilometres [800 miles] over 5 days.
Prior to that, myself and some other friends jet skied the 2200 kilometre [1350 miles] length of the Murray River from Yarrawonga down to Goolwa in South Australia. We raised [AUD] $26,000 for The National Centre for Farmer Health in 2019 on that trip.
WCJ: How many riders, what jet skis were they riding, and how many support vehicles were on the trip?
Doug: There were 6 riders: Myself, Brendan Whitty (aka Doug) riding a Sea-Doo 2022 Spark, Andrew Thompson on a 2022 Spark, Aaron Tarbitt also on a 2022 Spark, Dean Freeman rode a Sea-Doo 2022 GTI 130 and had the Google Camera, Dan Bell on a Sea-Doo 2015 GTI 155, and Scotty Graham on a Sea-Doo 2012 Wake Pro.
Each jet ski required its own support vehicle in case it required recovery due to a breakdown (fortunately there were none), and also to retrieve the skis at Wentworth because it’s the best part of 800k kilometres [500 miles] from Bourke to Wentworth by road. All up it was a great team and we had some great laughs for the week.
Three of us purchased Sea-Doo Sparks for the trip and they were definitely an excellent choice. They were light and nimble and easy to recover over the very steep river banks. The other skis performed well also, apart from a few nicks and scrapes.
WCJ: What for you were the most enjoyable and significant parts of the adventure?
Doug: The highlights of the trip were definitely the accommodation venues. The Tilpa Pub is just so remote and inaccessible during these floods. The town has been isolated by the flood waters for some time. Apart from the few locals we were its only visitors since late January.
Visiting the Station properties like Rose Isle, Dunlop, Trilby and Marra Station en route was also significant. We were enthusiastically welcomed along every stage of the journey and the locals were fascinated by the challenge we had undertaken.
WCJ: What was the hardest part of the journey?
Doug: The hardest part of the journey was definitely recovering and relaunching skis around the weirs [a small dam built across a river to control the upstream water level – Ed.] on the first few days. Notably at Wilcannia. The winch on the trailer snapping at the most inopportune time, winding the ski up. Then there was the 40 metre [yard] launch the next morning down the embankment.
It is surprising the lack of boat ramps in many of the towns. Everyone worked very cohesively together and all tasks were completed with surprising precision. A special mention for a star roadie, Sam, who just dived into every challenge and made short work of it.
By Thursday we had caught up to the slow moving flood waters and we were now riding up along the top of the banks. After Wilcannia, all the weirs and bridges were submerged under the flood waters and although turbulent at times we passed over them unimpeded. At the start of the trip we were 10m below the horizon as if we were in an open top tunnel.
WCJ: What was the biggest mishap or near disaster you had on the trip?
Doug: We prepared as best we could for the unexpected and on the skis we carried tool kits, spare parts, first aid kits, Satphone, Garmin Trackers, etc., but apart from the winch that snapped, one of our most difficult moments was probably also one of our best.
Crossing Dunlop Weir proved a challenge on a number of levels. We could only carry enough fuel to go in one direction. Turning around and going back wasn’t an option. The Sparks were precariously balanced with 110litres of fuel on a couple of days. Many of the roads were inaccessible or closed due to flooding so the road crews often waved us off in the morning and met us at the destination that night.
The road crews were required to take very long detours to reach the next town. So each day we were committed to make the destination regardless of the obstacles as we didn’t have sufficient fuel to go back. We were all well aware that if a ski was actually incapacitated that it may have to be abandoned for weeks (or months) until it could be recovered.
At Dunlop Weir, due to the flood waters the road crew could not gain access across the Station Property for recovery, so we were obliged to rope the skis over the weir. The rapids and blue stone boulders proved a logistical challenge, but it was achieved apart from a pair of wet suit booties that the currents ripped off a pair of feet and a couple of small chunks torn from the larger skis. One of the bigger challenges on the day that left us with grins on the other side.
WCJ: With water the color of mud, did you avoid groundings and stump strikes, etc?
Doug: There were no groundings or stump strikes or ‘low hanging tree branches’ that could not have been avoided. I am just going to leave that there…
WCJ: What wildlife did you see and/or encounter?
Doug: There were heaps of animals. Goats were prolific! But plenty of bird life too, big and small. Who knew emus could swim? We were surprised to see them swim across the river on a couple of occasions.
There were a gazillion ducks. As we approached them on the skis the flock would take off in front of us. They invariably all seem to defecate in unison before us in a barrage that we had to ride through. Here is a tip: wear goggles and don’t lick your lips after passing underneath just such a flock of ducks.
WCJ: Any memorable reactions from people when they saw jet skis coming down the Darling River?
Doug: People travel the Darling in kayaks and tinnies sometimes according to the locals, but PWCs were definitely a novelty. I think we equally enjoyed taking kids for joy rides as they did engaging with us.
We were asked to keep an eye out for a kayaker named Tanya. Tanya’s family had been calling towns and properties along the river concerned for her safety as they hadn’t heard from her for a few days. We came across her near Louth and lent her a phone. She was OK, she was just out of communication range for some time.
We were also given the news that it was her 40th birthday, so as we arrived and idled up to her we all broke into chorus with a rendition of “Happy Birthday.” She was pretty blown away considering how isolated she thought she was.
WCJ: Do you have any plans for a new jet ski adventure ride or a return trip down the Darling?
Doug: We loved the trip along Darling and we would do it again in a heart beat just for the experience of engaging with the locals. The people we met on the trip were definitely the highlight.
I am planning to ride across Bass Strait from Victoria to Tasmania again soon but those plans aren’t locked in just yet.
WCJ: Thanks Doug, and congratulations on an amazing journey!
Some of Doug’s previous PWC adventures can be found on this YouTube channel:
Radinn makes it easy for everyone to get their stoke on regardless of ability and this 
Currently, the Switch is offered with 100 and 170 power outputs (besides the supercharged 230). It’s worth noting that in other watercraft (GTI and GTI SE), the 1630 is also rated at 130HP.
