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:
The latest Sea-Doo newsletter includes a blurb and a link to a video featuring YouTubers, Stephanie, and Clay Cowart riding FishPros. The couple are the owners of the YouTube Channel, “Life By the Bow” and it’s all about their fishing adventures. They are fishing enthusiasts and grew up in the Florida Keys, where the fishing is phenomenal.
They own a boat and that’s where most of their filming takes place. However, when Sea Doo offered to send a couple of FishPros their way, they gladly accepted. A FishPro Trophy and a FishPro Sport soon arrived at the dock and the Cowarts were stoked to take them out. The weather wasn’t great, and they went fishing anyway. Stephanie took off on the new FishPro Sport and Clay rode the FishPro Trophy.
They utilized the Fish Pros to their full potential and took a lot of time to focus on versatility and all the awesome features such as LinQ and the useful electronics. It did take them a minute to get used to riding the FishbPros because of the small size when compared to their boat. On the flip side, the ease of operating and maneuverability couldn’t be beat. They had an epic day of fishing and were amazed to be off the coast fishing from jet skis. Check out the video for all the cool insights and awesome experience.
When you purchase a new personal watercraft, one of the first things you have to do is a proper engine break-in. Now there is speculation all over the internet and various forms at an engine break-in are not required. This couldn’t be furthest from the truth. Completing the break-in procedure is essential for engine life and performance. This is not exclusive to the personal watercraft industry, either. It is really for internal combustion engines at large.
High-performance motors that have tight tolerances between the engine bore and the rings of the pistons must wear in properly to have correct compression and seating when it comes to intake and exhaust valves. Some manufacturers like Sea-Doo intentionally detune the ECU from full engine performance until a time threshold is reached.
Above left: Never skimp on filling your watercraft with the factory-rated octane fuel. While modern 4-stroke engines have knock sensors that can compensate for lower-quality fuel (by increasing the quantity of fuel injected at each revolution), you’re not saving any money as mpg will decrease. Above right: Although not mandatory, we added a bottle of fuel additive to provide the fresh SVHO engine a little added zinc for better initial break-in.
Currently, we’re in the process of going through the engine braking procedure on a 2022 Yamaha GP1800R SVHO. When we received my ski from the dealership it came with almost no fuel in it. Now, this model does require premium gasoline since it is supercharged. Depending on where you live premium is either 91 or 93 octane, either is fine. Just remember to always follow the factory octane recommendations for fuel.
Above left: All ready to begin our break-in process at the ramp, we make a final check before launch that our drain-plugs are installed and straps are unhooked. Above right: Yamaha’s enjoy a very brief suggested break-in process – only 90 minutes of run time.
We also added an engine lubricant to the fuel that has a high concentration of zinc to help with engine break-in. This is not a mandatory step but is something we have done, and want to provide the engine that added protection from the beginning.
After our ski has reached the 90-minute threshold we will continue the same process until 120 minutes is reached. Once this is achieved, we’re free to ride the ski as we so please. Once the watercraft has five hours on the engine, we will do the first oil change to remove dirty oil that has contaminants from the break-in procedure. Again, this isn’t mandatory but an extra precautionary step.
After another five hours is on the motor, we will do a second oil change to make sure any breaking contaminants have been thoroughly cleared from the motor, and we will continue with oil changes every 10 hours for the life of the ski. This is what many will call “overkill” but we err on the side of caution when it comes to engine life.
We know we all want this step done as soon as possible but the engine break-in is critical to make sure the motor stays together. Because for a lot of us modifications are not a matter of if rather, a matter of when, even something as minor as a Stage 1 reflash has the potential to hurt your motor if it has not been properly broken in.
We will also not perform any engine modifications to this watercraft until 10 hours have been put on the motor. Some might say this is a little excessive, but it is what we have done in the past and it is what we are comfortable doing. At the end of the day, do what you are comfortable with because it is your money out there on the water. These steps may seem excessive to some, and that’s fine. Again, it’s your investment.
Above: Once we reached our hour-and-a-half mark, we were ready to enjoy our supercharged Yamaha GP1800R to its fullest.
Kick off the spring season with a new Bopenski Kickback Chair. They are priced to move at $169.00, which is 15% off the regular price. With less than 1,000 in stock for this season, order now so you don’t miss out on your new favorite chair. Aluminum and other components are hard to come by right now with the supply chain disaster, and like many other retailers, the Bopenski crew doesn’t know when they’ll get another shipment.
The Kickback Chair is not only for kicking back, it’s also a great chair for fishing from your jet ski. It’s perfect for the casual jet ski fisherman who has no interest in splurging on dedicated fishing ski. An affordable Bopenski Kickback Chair is the next best thing to a jet ski built for fishing. Okay, while that might be a stretch, think of the money saved by purchasing a Kickback Chair instead a fishing jet ski. There will be money left over for fuel, a fish finder, and sundries.
The chair provides enough stability for fishing and a comfy back so you can sit back and relax. If you grow tired of fishing, you can sit back and take a nap. As you know, we think this is the best non-performance after-market product to hit the PWC market in a long time. The easy set up and high-quality components make this an excellent buy! Order yours today!
Earlier this month, Yamaha Motor Corp. announced that a large percentage of WaveRunners sold over the last two years need an update to the fuel filler neck. Concerned that owners have pushed the gas pump nozzle into their WaveRunner a little too forcibly may have separated the fuel port (“socket”) from the filler neck (“hose”), allowing fuel into the hull.
The repair replaces the fuel port and secures the filler neck firmly. Thankfully, it’s a reasonably quick replacement to perform. Per corporate procedure, owners of eligible WaveRunners should have received a notice alerting them to the recall, encouraging all to contact their nearest dealership to schedule to have their watercraft updated free of charge.
The Watercraft Journal has included the complete list of affected WaveRunners in the table below. The model names listed are not what the consumer may know them by, but rather the internal corporate designation (ex. “FX1800” would be a FX model equipped with the High Output engine, and so on):
Model name
Model code
Model year
Affected PID range
FB1800
F3V
2021
F3V-0809781 to F3V-0814939
FB1800 (marketed as FX1800F-X and FX1800H-X)
F3V
2022
F3V-0814941 to F3V-0816580
FC1800
F3X
2021
F3X-0813421 to F3X-0822500
FX1800
F5G
2022
F5G-080 0101 to F5G-0801620
GP1800A and GP1800C
F4P
2021-22
F4P-0800101 to F4G-0805780
GP1800B and GP1800D
F4M
2021-22
F4M-0800101 to F4M-0802900
VX1050
F4N
2021-22
F4N-0800101 to F4N-0810860
VX1800
F4S
2021-22
F4S-0800101 to F4S-0806620
In addition to the recall notice, some are finding the engine compartments of their WaveRunners smelling like gas, or in rare examples, finding fuel collecting around the gas tank’s fuel pump/pickup plate. (See image below)
Although an official announcement pertaining to this occurrence in WaveRunners hasn’t been made by Yamaha at the time of this writing, there was a recall issued pertaining to this exact issue on Yamaha jet boats earlier this year. In regards to the jet boats, the repair was a new O-ring gasket fitted below the plate.
As of right now, if you own a 2021-22 Yamaha WaveRunner, we suggest: 1. you remove your seat completely or back the seat off of the mounts to allow the engine compartment to ventilate whenever stored (a good rule of thumb for all PWC); and 2. verify if there is any fuel on your tank (or nearby), or smell the heavy odor of fuel.
If so, do not start your engine. Fuel leakage is no joke and your safety is of the utmost importance, so be very cautious if you’re encountering either of the above two scenarios and contact your dealer’s service department immediately to schedule an appointment as soon as possible.
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.
We also added an engine lubricant to the fuel that has a high concentration of zinc to help with engine break-in. This is not a mandatory step but is something we have done, and want to provide the engine that added protection from the beginning.
