Like the lone voice crying out in the desert, The Watercraft Journal has remained the solitary media outlet espousing the virtues of Kawasaki and the impending redesign of its supercharged Ultra series. Many have taken the cues and ran with the hints we’ve published, but none have produced bankable receipts on what enthusiasts can expect from this long-awaited 2022 reveal.
And what are those tidbits of information, you say? First, the 310-horsepower Ultras (the powertrain will remain largely unchanged with the same 1.5L pressing out 310-ponies via an Eaton TVS supercharger) will receive a new resculpted deck. The Ultra’s industry-leading storage capacity (60-gallons) will go unaltered, save for the redesigned glovebox featuring a waterproof lid (similar to the redesigned STX).
The new Ultra will also share with the new STX its folding rear seat. The bench is expected to be heavily contoured for better ergonomics as well. The biggest reveal will certainly be the incorporation of Kawasaki’s long-awaited brake-and-reverse lever, found on the right hand side being thumb-operated, and not a left-hand side trigger similar to Yamaha and Sea-Doo’s brake.
Forward of the redesigned handlebars will be the Ninja ZX-10R and RR’s TFT full-color digital dash featuring a high contrast, easy-to-read layout, various display layouts and coloring options and Bluetooth connectivity. This is also expected to offer the rider GPS navigation as well as connectivity with the rider’s phone or Bluetooth device to Kawasaki’s Jetsounds onboard sound system.
Whether all of these leaks and predictions that we’ve published here on The Watercraft Journal are true or not will be revealed this coming Tuesday, October 5th at 6am PST. We will be the only outlet with this information ready and waiting for you, so do not miss out! Set your alarm and be ready to be wowed.
Cycle Springs Powersports is paying cash for your powersports vehicles! This is due to increased demand for PWC and other powersports vehicles. Also, Cycle Springs Powersports has been extremely successful during pandemic times. Current market conditions warrant the need for your powersports vehicles.
The current market conditions have created the need to seek alternative ways to get vehicles on the showroom floor since supply chains and manufacturing are huge issues right now. Dealerships can’t get vehicles shipped in a timely manner to meet customer demand.
Cycle Springs is being proactive, so give them a call, text, or send an email to chat with them about your PWC. They are accepting, boats, ATVs, side-by-sides, WaveRunners, and motorcycles. They will pay off your current loan and pay cash for your current powersports vehicle or watercraft. If you have an extra PWC or are looking to get rid of your current ride, now is the time to get top dollar. Contact Cycle Springs Powersports today! They will be stoked to hear from you!
Give them a call at 727.771.1211 to discuss details for selling your craft. If you have a chance, you can also stop by their store located at 29703 US Highway 19 N, Clearwater, FL. Their hours are 9:00 AM-6:00 PM Tuesday-Saturday. The crew will be happy to see you!
For those indecisive among you who struggle to visualize what a cosmetic change will really look like before you make it, Unlimited PWC has just given you the best gift: a true Traction Mat Simulator. Available exclusively on Unlimited PWC’s website, customers are able to select between a Kawasaki Ultra 250/260/300/310 or LX, or STX-12 and 15F or the revised 160LX; or the 2018-and-up Sea-Doo ST3 platform (RXT, RXT-X, GTX or Wake).
Enthusiasts can “experience the change” by choosing the right pattern and two-tone coloring options for their selected PWC as well. With four CNC-cut patterns and dozens of color combinations to choose from, the ability to customize and personalize your personal watercraft has never been easier – or more fun – to explore. Unlimited PWC’s Deckmat Simulator gives you all of the opportunity to see how your PWC will look with a fresh set of mats.
Alas, the days of summer are quickly ebbing and the season of autumn is upon us. For many watching the mercury sink by each passing day, it’s time to consider winterizing your personal watercraft. And with that, so too goes storing extra fuel. Despite the naysayers online, ethanol-blended fuels can survive the changes in weather; modern blends and tighter bonds keep the fuels from delaminating as quickly as previous blends. Yet, the biggest concern is its ability to collect moisture – and that’s where Gas-Shok Plus comes in!
Designed to keep fuel from going bad, Gas-Shok Plus keeps ethanol-rich fuels from absorbing so much moisture, which can oxidize sensitive components in the fuel system. Equally, Gas-Shok Plus isn’t as harsh as other stabilizers, meaning it won’t harm rubber hoses and grommets in the fuel tank, pickup or system as well. It’s a win-win for everyone. Check out the official press release:
As gasoline ages, it becomes stale. This can reduce engine horsepower, diminish mileage and cause difficulty starting, especially if moisture is in the tank. Adding octane-enhancing GAS-SHOK™ Plus eliminates these problems and keeps fuel refinery fresh for 12–18 months. The premium-grade additive from USA Fuel Service is ideal for RV and two- and four-stroke marine engines running pure gas or ethanol blends.
Ethanol in gasoline tends to absorb moisture. Professional-strength GAS-SHOK Plus disperses residual water that then gets burned off as steam. It’s rated for engines running E-10 to E-85 blends.
Petroleum-based GAS-SHOK Plus doesn’t contain alcohol or acids, so it won’t damage hoses, gaskets or other components. Used regularly, it keeps the fuel system clean by preventing gum and varnish from accumulating on rings, valves and related parts. Plus, the advanced formula adds lubrication to extend the life of the fuel pump and injectors. These attributes translate into better mileage and an engine that runs as smooth as silk. A video is at bit.ly/GAS-SHOK.
GAS-SHOK Plus is simply added to the fuel tank, one ounce per 10 gallons of gasoline. Ideal for winterizing, it has no impact on engine warranties. An 8 oz. container of GAS-SHOK Plus treats 80 gal. and costs $18.85; 32 oz. remedies 320 gal. and runs $47.20; and one gal. doses 1,280 gal of gasoline and is $139.60.
USA Fuel Service, W 15223 Kelly Rd., Taylor, WI 54659. 866-575-3835. www.usafuelservice.com.
As summer ends, it’s time for some of us to winterize our jet skis. If you are unsure of how to do this or need a refresher, Steven in Sales has a guide. We’ll touch on some key points, and you can check out the complete guide from Steven in Sales here.
Before you begin winterizing your PWC, get your supplies in order. You’ll need a gallon of marine antifreeze per ski, marine fuel stabilizer, multi-purpose lube spray, fogging spray oil, and a smart battery charger. A flushing adapter is necessary for Yamaha brand PWC. Sea-Doo and Kawasaki use a 3ft garden hose for flushing. You’re ready to begin. Follow the steps in Steven’s guide and you can’t go wrong.
Winterizing is a must if you live somewhere where the temperature is below 40F/5C. If you don’t winterize your jet ski, the water inside the engine and intercooler can expand and crack the engine block. We suggest spending the $20-$200 on doing it yourself or paying to have it done at the dealer. This is better than having to replace the engine.
Even if your jet ski is kept in a temperature-controlled garage, Steven recommends winterizing to some extent. Fog the engine, charge the battery, coat the components with anti-corrosion spray, and add fuel stabilizer to the gas.
If you don’t want to handle the winterization and worrying about your PWC during the winter, call your local dealer and ask them about storing and winterizing your jet ski. They may have space. When it’s time to de-winterize, Steven has you covered! Follow his de-winterization steps, and you will be good to go!
Today’s high performance PWC enjoy so much power-on-delivery because of the increased atmospheric pressure that their superchargers generate. That compressed air multiplies the efficacy of the compression stroke, igniting into a potent power stroke of the piston and consequently, horsepower. But what happens to all that extra compressed air when the throttle blades suddenly snap shut? If it’s not “scrubbed” that excess pressure can damage throttle bodies, supercharger clutches and more.
That is why RIVA Racing offers Tial Blow Off Valves (BOVs) with their Yamaha Power Coolers and Upgraded Sea-Doo Intercooler Tubing Kits. “This valve improves supercharger reliability and performance by relieving unwanted pressure during off-throttle operation; reduces supercharger clutch and gear wear and eliminates heat soak in the discharge tube,” per RIVA’s listing online. You can preserve your supercharger and sound cool while doing it too.
The body of the Tial BOV and all internal components are CNC-machined from 6061 aluminum alloy, and features a large 50mm valve and V-Band design aluminum mounting clamp. For Sea-Doo applications, RIVA includes their precision-formed silicone tubing with a specialized molded-in bung for the BOV. For Yamahas, the Tial BOV comes as part of their upgraded “Power Cooler” intercooler kit. For those of you making extra boost and/or revving your PWC well beyond factory specs, do your ski right and get a Tial BOV today.
If you’re in the market for a brand new PWC then you’re in luck! Sea-Doo and Yamaha have both crushed the 2022 model lineup reveal and are bringing loads of new features to the market. Both manufacturers have introduced new products that have broadened the PWC industry and allow consumers to use their PWC like never before.
Yamaha was kind enough to fly me out to their home base, stick me into a hotel suite, and let me have an entire day on the water with all their new products for 2022. They may have rolled out the red carpet for me, but I was far more interested in an action-packed day on the water. The big hit from Yamaha is going to be the all-new JetBlaster! The addition of the light-weight, compact JetBlaster is going to add to Yamaha’s freestyle segment and appeal to adrenaline junkies and thrill seekers alike.
Even though the JetBlaster was truly a “blast” to ride, I must say the changes made to the FX series was the highlight of my trip. Yamaha is now offering a unique platform, the RecDeck, for all 2019-current FX models. The RecDeck is a removable extension added to the stern of the watercraft where an endless number of accessories from both Yamaha and the aftermarket can be added. Yamaha will be offering two fishing packages, a rack package, a lounge chair package, and a tow sports package to add to the RecDeck.
I love to fish just about as much as I love high-performance PWC so the RecDeck is going to be a huge hit in my garage this year! While Sea-Doo has produced a designated fishing model for several years now, it just isn’t the right fit for me. The Sea-Doo FishPro is a wonderful watercraft for avid anglers and recreational riders, but it is limited to a naturally-aspirated engine. The beauty behind Yamaha’s RecDeck is that it can be fitted to both the naturally-aspirated and Supercharged FX models so performance enthusiasts, like myself, will have plenty of speed when trying to get to our favorite fishing spots!
Not only does the RecDeck have the capability to be fitted to my FX of choice, but I love how highly versatile that it is. I will have the ability to get my fishing setup dialed in and quickly changed to a long-distance riding setup in a matter of minutes. Yamaha will also be adding a new digital display that is GPS equipped, an audio system, and several other features to the FX line this year. With the combination of the RecDeck and added features to the FX line, you can bet I will be catching some monster fish in the Summer of 2022! The 2022 model lineup from Yamaha is for sure to bring more riders into the PWC industry, but Sea-Doo has managed to break away from the traditional PWC market.
The highlight from Sea-Doo’s extensive 2022 model release is going to be none other than the Switch. Admittedly, I was a bit skeptical about a jet-powered pontoon boat with handlebars; having countless hours behind the wheel of a boat, the idea just didn’t seem fitting. However, I was quickly proven wrong after I spent a day on Lake Minnetonka to experience all the Switch models. The versatility of the Sea-Doo Switch is unmatched by any other pontoon boat, or any boat, on the market! If you want comfortable furniture for the entire family, then Sea-Doo has you covered with configurable seating.
If you want a sundeck on your Switch, then Sea-Doo has you covered with the optional deck mats. If you want an open layout for fishing, then yes, Sea-Doo has you covered too. One Sea-Doo Switch can be configured to your liking and rearranged in a matter of minutes. Sea-Doo’s LinQ system and an almost Lego-styled deck allows the Switch to be setup in countless configurations on just one single boat. Yes, the versatility of the Sea-Doo Switch is brilliant, but the performance of this pontoon boat caught me by surprise.
The Switch is considered a tri-toon with a larger center hull and two smaller hulls on the outside for added stability. The center hull greatly resembles one of a traditional PWC, sits lower in the water than the outer pontoons, and even has sponsons in the rear! This entire combination made for a sporty ride that felt like a PWC; no other pontoon boat on the planet will lean in for a turn, do donuts, and create as many smiles as the Sea-Doo Switch! Surprisingly, the handlebars at the helm only added to the fun factor. I was able to whip the boat around and have much more control than a boat equipped with a traditional steering wheel.
The 13-foot compact Switch model paired with the 170 horsepower 1630cc engine left me speechless! I was astonished as to how close it resembled the riding characteristics of a traditional PWC but yet the 13-foot Switch can still take the whole family on board! Admittedly, I probably had far too much fun at the helm of the 13-foot Sea-Doo Switch; maybe one day I’ll have to buy one for myself! My condolences go out to the Sea-Doo staff and media outlets who had the unfortunate opportunity to tag along for my joyride; I hope y’all did not hit the deck too hard!
After the release of the 2022 models from Sea-Doo and Yamaha we can all agree that there are more ways to use a PWC, or a pontoon boat, than ever before! I am truly amazed at the creative new products being released from both manufactures. Whether you want to fish, go out for long cruises, or even take a group of friends or family with you, the 2022 model lineup from both Yamaha and Sea-Doo will have something for you.
Check out this video RedPoints, featuring the top five personal watercraft inventions that were on the market in 2019. It begins with the Cabaratec, an inflatable e-foil made in Czech Republic. This thing is big, like ironing board big. It weighs in at 14 kg plus 6kg battery, making it a lightweight piece of equipment. A single charge gets you 80 minutes of ride time using the Li-ion battery.
Next up is another foil, the Hydrofoiler XE-1. It’s a waterbike from Manta5, a company out of New Zealand. It looks like a lot of work to get it to the water for launching. It must be carried in pieces and assembled on site. It looks like a good workout once you get assembled and into the water. The ride time is up to 4 hours and top speed is 12 mph. The frame is aluminum with carbon fiber foils. It comes with a Garmin 2Bike Remote that can be used with an app to keep track of various data.
Next on the list is the Burrasca, which we have covered extensively. It is one bad ass machine in both looks and performance. The crew at Belassi doesn’t cut corners when building these machines. They use state-of-the-art technology and everything about this watercraft is high performance, down to the colorways!
Now we’re off to the air with the Zapata Racing FlyRide. The FlyRide is designed to be used with a jet ski. Connect the hose to your ski and take off! It makes hydroflight a real thing. It looks like a fun thing to do on vacation.
Rounding out the top five is the Renegade Hovercraft. These things look fun! They are fast and furious on the water. It comes with a 4-stroke engine and is styled with aircraft in mind. They are user friendly, simple to drive, and quiet. With four different models to choose from, there is one for every type of driver.
Check out the RedPoints video to see all five watercraft in action and let us know if you have seen any of the above watercraft in your travels.
The Watercraft Journal spoke to Billy Dearman to ask about his new hull and how racing went at the Pro Watercross Round 6 tour stop in Racine, Wisconsin.
The Watercraft Journal: The Pro Watercross Tour has been splitting fairly evenly between ocean and lake racing lately. Which is your favorite?
Bill Dearman: That’s a hard question. This new hull we’ve got does really well in choppy water, so basically (the Racine race weekend) wasn’t to my advantage because the water ended up just being really flat. On Saturday, the water was kinda choppy and we had real good water for our hull, but for Sunday’s race, basically the water was flat and when we’ve got the younger kids in there racing against us on the Wammers, the Wammers just turn so hard.
I’ve got one of those as well, and when you’re racing those things, you just don’t have to lift the gas. And on these new boats, basically it just won’t corner like the Wammer will. It’s got more top end and it handles the chop better, but when we’re out here on flat water, it’s just not going to run through the buoys like they will. So we were fighting a battle with that (at Racine.). We got out front in every moto, but then the younger kids were chasing us down and right on me after four or five laps. It just works out that way.
I love surf races, I think they’re fun, and then we’re really good at flat water too because we’ve got the big motor. Some days go better than others, but any time we can get out here and race and nobody gets hurt, it’s a good day.
WCJ: The younger racers are definitely giving everyone a run for their money. How does the age difference impact your training and your racing, and do you find yourself running more of a mental race and focusing on strategy?
BD: As I have gotten older, I’ve had to do way more training than I used to. I remember back when I was doing this and I was 16 years old and back then it was ‘okay, we’re going racing,’ and you didn’t have to change up anything in your daily routine, you just go and get on the jet ski and go racing. Now, you’ve got 30 miles worth of running you do every week and two to three day’s worth of lifting and so many days of riding your bike, and VersaClimber, and all that.
It becomes more of a full-time gig to be able to race at this level, but I’ve been doing this almost 30 years now, and these kids are coming around and there is no way to get around the fact that they are 26-28 years younger than I am, and if I want to compete on their level, I’m going to have to put in the work. And some days, it doesn’t matter how much work I put in, I’m still not going to be able to run with a 16-year-old kid.
As some of us have gotten older, we’ve learned to race smarter, and that’s a big part of the game out here. But at the end of the day, you can only do so much to try and make up for that much of an age gap.
WCJ: Let’s talk about your new hull. Why build a new hull, and what is unique about it?
BD: We wanted to improve the game. This is a boat we have been working on for three years, and Judge Motosports teamed up with Jerry Marquis of Watusee Hull Designs, a guy that has been building hulls for decades. I approached him with an idea of what I wanted to do and basically, we took a race hull of Jerry’s and made it to fit under a lightweight WaveBlaster 3 copy.
We molded the WaveBlaster 3 top deck, made it a lightweight top deck, and then we put one of Watussee’s race hulls underneath it. So, it’s a completely different design on the bottom of the boat – larger intake grate, deeper chines, you know, better handling and things like that; things that will help it get off the line harder and hook up better in rough water. The bad thing is, for the class that we built this hull for, we just don’t get a lot of attendance during the year at the Pro Watercross races or the AquaX races or the Powerboat Nationals. There’s just not a lot of attendance for Sport GP. But when we get to World Finals, or you go overseas and you race over there, Sport GP is the race everyone wants to be in.
So that is where all the competition is, so basically going and running the tour, we’re just training for World Finals – I wish everyone would just start showing up like they used to instead of just trying to start arguments online and bicker and moan instead of showing up to the races to see what they can do to help improve our sport.
WCJ: Do you see any way to bring this sport back to what it was in the 80s and 90s?
BD: Well, yes. There are ways to bring it back, but unfortunately, in my opinion, it has to start at the top, because we’re not the ones, the racers are not the ones running these events. So, in my opinion, it has to start with the people sanctioning the races. Basically, they need to hire a marketing department. It happened again at Racine.
We’re in Racine all weekend, the city is paying us to come here, we show up, we have an event, and I have people walking up to us on the beach and saying they live here and had no idea there was anything going on. Without marketing, without the guys in charge putting the effort in and doing what it takes, putting money back into our sport, advertising, letting people know this is what we do, this is the event, stirring up new interest for new riders to come on board – until something like that happens, we’re just spinning our wheels.
WCJ: You’ve been racing a long time, are you still learning new things?
BD: Oh absolutely. Especially when we break out new boats like this. It’s basically that we’re starting from scratch all over again because nobody knows what this boat is going to do. We haven’t seen it on the track before so we don’t know what it’s capable of so all we can do is take it out, test it, push it, push it and push it. You just keep pushing the limits till something goes wrong, then you know, okay, that’s what it can do and that’s what it can’t, and you learn where you need to back off a bit and you learn where you can push it harder.
WCJ: What advice would you give to a young kid, or even an adult, who is just coming into the sport?
BD: Show up. Get to the races. All of us here that have been racing for years are more than happy to help you guys, just come to the races. We’re never going to grow the sport and we’ll never get the big money back into these events unless we start getting larger events and more people showing up. As much as anyone else, I want to see 300 riders showing up at an event for a regional race. I want to see that happening again. I want to see qualifiers at regional races. In the early and mid and even into the late-90s, regional racing had qualifying.
You might show up at a regional race in Region 7 where our home is; you’d show up, for example, to one of Mike Young’s races in Fort Walton and you might not race the main because you didn’t make it through the qualifier. You would show up and it would just be a typical regional race and there would be 25 people in one class, and if you didn’t hit the top 15, you weren’t going to race the main. I would love to see our sport get back to that, but for us to get there, we need some help. We need some help from the leadership. We need some money put into marketing.
WCJ: Last question. Who do you want to thank?
BD: Same as always; Tim Judge, Judge Motosports, Jettrim Jetpilot… I’ll even throw a little shout-out to my company because my company keeps the bills paid for those other guys – Dearman Corp Properties/ Vacation with Dearman Corp.
But primarily, Judge Motosports, Jettrim, JetPilot, Skat-Trak, all those guys that have been helping me for so long – I can’t do this without them. My kids are just now getting to the point where they’re about to start racing, and those companies are already throwing stuff at them to help them out. We can’t look forward enough for the next generation to get out there and do the same thing.
All of us at The Watercraft Journal are perpetually wowed by the absolutely gorgeous content that comes out of the JSCS Crew (@JetskiClubStavanger) or the Stavanger Sandnes Jetski Club. These Nordic Sea-Doo enthusiasts never fail to deliver with some of the most striking content that you can find online. No really, if you haven’t subscribed their YouTube channel literally go there now. We’ll wait…
OK good, you’re back. As we were saying, the JSCS Crew provided us with some knockout content who filmed the video “Proximity” using two Insta360 One X2 cameras. They explained, “We always ride with a plan. Most of the time we start very early, sometimes before sunrise, especially in the autumn when the days are shorter.”
“Perfectly flat mirrors like water and the rising sun that’s what makes every ride special. Also, early morning or just before the sunset (“Golden Hour”) with the right weather is one of the most important “ingredients” for the beautiful looking jet skiing video,” they continued.
“As of today the best 360 camera of choice for us is Insta360 ONE X2. It’s amazing how good looking quality video you can get from such a small camera. That being said it might take 2x more time to choose the desired angle and edit a video compared to a regular non 360 camera. But when you get the hang of it the final results speak for itself and it’s really worth it.”
