When planning for a day on the water with a group of riders, launching a PWC is rather easy; simply have another rider back down the trailer while you are on the ski for entry into the water. However solo riders might find this task more difficult; we have all struggled with using engine power to reverse off of the trailer. Many of us have engineered our own solutions after facing frustration at the boat launch.

Some of these solutions have ended in defeat, whether it be having to swim to an astray ski or slipping on the boat ramp when attempting to give the ski a good shove off the trailer. The last thing any of us want is to be injured when trying to launch a PWC or even worse: finding yourself on the latest ‘JetSki Fails’ YouTube video. Yamaha has a simple solution to safely and efficiently launch your WaveRunner time after time.

Yamaha’s video showing off their reverse assist feature on RiDe equipped WaveRunners offers a simple solution. Yamaha’s reverse assist temporarily offers increases engine RPM for the extra thrust needed when backing off the bunks of a trailer. With two speeds, it is as simple as holding down the RiDe lever and pressing the up arrow on the speed control switch.

When only pressed once engine RPMs are increased from 3,500 to 3,900; for whatever the case may be and you still need additional power, a second press will increase to a maximum of 4,300 RPMs. The higher RPMs offer plenty of power for a smooth entry into the water at all times. The reverse assist is a a result of Yamaha’s keen interest in providing features for safe, fun, and a hassle-free experience whenever you chose to ride a Yamaha WaveRunner.

The mid-sized performance watercraft market has been strictly dominated by Yamaha and Sea-Doo. No other manufacturer offers a watercraft to directly compete with Yamaha’s GP1800R SVHO or Sea-Doo’s RXP-X 300. While Kawasaki does offer the highest horsepower machine money can buy, the Ultra 310 series, it’s hefty size and weight prevents it from competing alongside the best of what Yamaha and Sea-Doo has to offer.

However, Kawasaki does have a fantastic mid-sized watercraft; the Kawasaki STX line of watercraft would be an excellent starting point for the next big high performance ski if it only boasted the 310 horsepower supercharged engine found in it’s big brother. Most recently, Kspeed Performance has published a video showing off their STX310LX conversion ski and covering exactly what entailed fitting the supercharged engine into the STX hull. Last year the Watercraft Journal was fortunate enough to ride the STX310LX; you’ll want to read the full story here.

Kspeed’s STX310LX is a fully functioning watercraft with electric trim, stereo system, and a display from a 2019 Ultra 310. Surprisingly enough, this conversion was built with almost all original Kawasaki manufactured parts. With only modifications needing to be made to the pump shoe, airbox bracket, and intake hoses, this is otherwise a bolt-on installation when utilizing original parts dating back to the Ultra 250. The result is a lightweight, nimble, and 80mph-capable watercraft out of the box.

Kspeed’s creation is not, by any means, an engineering marvel; an individual with any form of mechanical skill can build their own STX310 in their home garage. Being that it is such a simple conversion, thanks to the utilization of almost all factory parts, hopefully Kawasaki will take the hint and offer the STX310 to the masses! If and when the day comes, Yamaha and SeaDoo will certainly have a new competitor on the buoy course!

As it stands, over 50-percent of all new personal watercraft sales have been made by first-time buyers. These are folks who have never owned a PWC before in their lives. Statistically, they’re completely virgin to the ins-and-outs of maintaining, launching and even operating these machines. And its for this cause that we all must be increasingly cognizant of the people we share the launch ramp and water with.

Sadly, on Friday, June 11th, “deputies from the San Bernardino Sheriff’s Department responded to a call for a boating incident at River Shore Estates,” according to a report in ParkerLive.com. Upon arrival, “medical staff from the Buckskin Fire Department and River Medical Ambulance were tending to the victim, Juan Pineda-Flores, 48, from Moreno Valley, California.”

According to witnesses, “Pineda-Flores was attempting to start a personal watercraft that was still on the trailer at the launch ramp. During startup, fuel or vapors inside the hull of the jet ski ignited, causing it to explode. Juan was ejected from the vessel into the water.” Pineda-Flores was immediately brought to the shore and given medical aid; he was later transported to the La Paz Regional Medical Center where he later died.

Fuel vapor can be a major issue with older or even modified personal watercraft. We strongly recommend removing the seats completely, or setting them loosely on the ski while being stored. This will allow the engine compartment to both dry after your most recent washing, as well as ventilate. We’ve seen too many accidents like these and encourage you to consider taking the extra step to be safe during this boating season.

We’ve all seen super dirty, mold-covered watercraft before. Especially if you live somewhere that mold quickly accumulates, the discoloring spores can quickly turn a brightly-hued PWC into a dark, spotted mess. Moreover, there’s nothing quite like seeing a full-blown transformation of a neglected ski into a near-pristine restoration (heck, we at The Watercraft Journal did this nearly a decade ago with a forgotten Sea-Doo GTI).

While we labored with Jet Renu’s total care line, the car detailing gurus at AMMO NYC jumped on a Sea-Doo GTI 130 picked up form an estate sale. Equally moldy and discolored, AMMO NYC details how they restore this Sea-Doo’s finish. Mind you, they mistakenly diagnose this PWC as having gel coat and clear coat, and that is simply not the case. Nonetheless, this video is informative, very well detailed and if anything at all, satisfying to see it restored.

They write, “This is my friend Andy’s jet ski that he found at an estate sale for $500. It was left unused for a few years (not sure how many) as the estate had no idea, but judging by the spiderwebs, mold, and mildew it was more than a season or 2. My guess is this had been tied up to a boat dock outside, as the gel coat was severely faded and the mold in the footwell around the grips was disgusting. In this episode Jason Rose from Rupes USA helps me understand the difference between Gel Coat vs Clear Coat. Hope you enjoy the boat transformation”

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5F8PX7Bk8GQ&list=WL&index=4

The personal watercraft industry is booming at an alarming rate! With more first time buyers and uninformed operators behind the handle bars, it is important to safe this summer out on the water. Marion Knaus with Northern Ontario Travel touched on some simple yet important key factors that are often forgotten by new riders when operating a PWC: not using the safety lanyard properly, not riding in shallow water, unprepared docking, forgetting to refuel, forgetting the drain plug. To some this may come as common knowledge, but to a first time rider, this could certainly ruin what was supposed to be an adventurous day on your new ride. So let’s recap these key factors to avoid any mishaps. 

All PWC are required to have a safety lanyard and it must be used properly at all times. If your watercraft is equipped with a safety lanyard that is worn on your wrist, be sure to tighten it rather than just leaving it loose. In the event that you may fall off, your ski’s engine will stay running instead of coming to a stop. Sea-Doo solves this problem entirely; their lanyard clips to your life vest to avoid the possibility of the lanyard slipping off.

To some it may come as a surprise, but your low draft PWC is not a shallow water capable machine! Riding through shallow water, beaching your ski, or even encountering weeds could end your day on the water if not handled properly. If you’re lucky, you will simply have a jet pump that needs to be unclogged and is a rather quick fix. However, damage to the jet pump or the hull of your ski is very likely when riding in these conditions. It is best to ride in a minimum of two feet of water and anchor when necessary.

Just like parallel parking a car, docking your ski is a skill that takes time and practice to learn. It is important to get a feel of your watercraft’s reverse system and how it responds before approaching a dock for your first time. When the time comes to dock your ski, have your dock lines ready and keep all hands and feet inside the vessel just in case of collision. Most importantly, if you see a fellow rider struggling at the boat dock, lend a helping hand. Offering some pointers to someone who needs it may be the difference between them returning to the water and listing their ski for sale.

If you plan to be out on the water all day, be sure you have the fuel to do so. If you don’t have any fuel stops on the water, you may want to consider bringing extra fuel with you. The Watercraft Journals’s “Long Hauler Auxiliary Fuel System is an ingenious way of toting plenty of extra fuel on your ski. It is compatible with all 2004-and-newer Kawasaki and Yamaha 4-stroke models, 2003-through-2011 4-stroke Sea-Doos, and 2002 through 2009 4-stroke Honda Aquatrax models. It provides an extra USCG certified 12-gallons and automatically fills your fuel tank. The days of manually refilling with fuel jugs and risking spillage are over!

Lastly, forgetting the drain plug is a common mistake that many of us have made, including myself. It is one of those things that you typically only forget once and will become something that you triple check on every ride. If the plug happens to be left out, the ski will rapidly take on water until it is screwed back in. To avoid this problem, RIVA Racing offers self bailing drain plugs. These plugs will automatically drain water from your hull but never allow water in. These are available for purchase at greenulk.net at a 10 percent discount! Don’t sink your ski, check your drain plugs.

Summer is in full swing and with 2020’s pandemic isolation in the rearview mirror, it’s open season on the water in 2021.  Sea-Doo has your safety in mind with their tips on how to ride responsibly and safely. If you’re in a hurry to get out on your new Sea-Doo, here’s a quick rundown on what you need to know before you get your ride on.

You must be 16 years old to ride a Sea-Doo and never use drugs or drink alcohol before riding. Always wear a Coast Guard approved personal flotation device when riding. Don’t be a reckless rider and ruin your day or someone else’s. Attach a tether cord to your PFD or to your wrist and keep it free from the handlebars.

Take it easy on the throttle until you’ve reached a clear area away from shore. Always play well with others and be a responsible rider. Check out the Sea-Doo piece on Responsible Fun. It includes pertinent information on seamanship and waterway etiquette, and it is an excellent read for new riders or a review for the old salts.

There is also a chapter on Social Responsibility from the Personal Watercraft Industry Association. It encompasses an array of environmental items that we as watercraft operators, can put into practice every time we go out on the water. We all have a part in keeping the ecosystem healthy and safe from damage.

We are all responsible for making sure that we do no harm to the environment, and we can accomplish these things by using safe boating practices so that we may enjoy healthy waterways in the future.

Sea-Doo has given us an excellent source for information pertaining to getting on the water safely and having fun doing it