Amid all the chaos, Yamaha WaterCraft Group has been diligently striving to improve the marine industry’s stewardship, product responsibility and manufacturing advancements across both its PWC and boat lines. A lofty goal for sure, Yamaha’s commitment to improving the environment and water quality, increasing energy conservationism and magnifying the brand’s sustainability has been an ongoing effort over the years.

In a recent press release, Yamaha reaffirmed its commitment to these initiatives, which you can read here:

Yamaha WaterCraft Group today joined forces with Yamaha Marine’s Rightwaters initiative to extend the program’s focus on marine stewardship, product responsibility, and manufacturing advancements across Yamaha’s WaveRunner® and Boat product lines.

Yamaha Rightwaters is the leading national marine sustainability program, focusing efforts toward sustainability from factory floors to the great outdoors. Pursuit of these initiatives includes protecting the environment, improving water quality, increasing energy conservation and recycling, as well as promoting product education.

“For years now, we have quietly worked behind the scenes to promote habitat conservation, increase energy savings and recycling at our manufacturing facilities, and to promote product education so that everyone can enjoy our public waterways,” said Bryan Seti, Yamaha WaterCraft general manager. “Now, together with our colleagues across the Yamaha Marine Business Unit, we are formalizing our efforts under the Yamaha Rightwaters umbrella to better collaborate with key stakeholders on the local, state, and federal level.”

Marine Stewardship
An important issue for Yamaha WaterCraft is habitat conservation that includes invasive species mitigation. Yamaha is also working at the state and federal level, advocating on behalf of boaters for equal access to public waters.

Product Responsibility
Yamaha WaterCraft is at the forefront of promoting product education and responsibility, ensuring that new and existing Yamaha WaveRunner and Boat owners use their products responsibly on the water, which is paramount to the future of recreational boating.

Manufacturing Advancements
Yamaha WaveRunners are manufactured in Newnan, GA and Yamaha Boats are manufactured in Vonore, TN.  These state-of-the-art facilities are part of Yamaha Motor Group’s Global ISO14001 Environmental Management Certification and support Yamaha Motor Corporations’ 2050 Environmental Goals and Action themes.

“Yamaha is the #1 marine brand on the water today,” said Seti. “We will lead the industry on these important fronts, and we can accomplish big things to make recreational boating even more enjoyable by working in concert with our employees, dealers, and industry partners.”

More information on Yamaha Rightwaters can be found at:
YamahaWaveRunners.com/yamaha-rightwaters
YamahaBoats.com/yamaha-rightwaters
YamahaOutboards.com/sustainability

[Update as of 10:45am, 5/26/2021] It would appear that the true story behind these images was out in the public over a year-and-a-half ago. Presented as part of BRP’s 2019 Analyst and Investor Meeting webcast (published on October 28th, 2019), the viewers were entreated to some new projects on the horizon for BRP’s boating lines. Of them was then-Evinrude’s “Project Ghost” propulsion system, which sought to replace the exposed outboard’s propeller with a contained jet drive propulsion system.

Equally, BRP desired to create a “Spark equivalent” to the pontoon market, providing first-time buyers and budget-minded customers with an entry point product, in the same way the Sea-Doo Spark and Can-Am Ryker served their respective markets. The “Project M” line would do exactly that, by offering a trimmed-down, low-frills option while remaining fun and useful to the customer – all while employing the “Ghost” drive system. Equally, the Ghost drive system promised to run quieter and be less disruptive to the environment than traditional outboards.

Admittedly, we at The Watercraft Journal had learned of the Ghost system over a year ago shortly after the presentation, but failed to recall it when shown the outboard-less pontoon images earlier this month. We’ll claim a mea culpa on that one. As a publisher once told us, “A nice helping of crow is good for you every now and again.”

The idea of a jet-driven pontoon still strikes us as a novel idea and we’re excited to see a new batch of Manitou pontoons as well as Alumacraft and QuinTrex boats. As official as it can get, even Tracy Crocker, president of BRP Marine Group, presented the new “Ghost” program and “Project M” initiative, stating that BRP’s goal was “to become the most innovative marine company that builds and integrates boats and engines in a way that gives consumers an unparalleled experience on the water.”

Here’s the unedited original article published at 12:01am 5/26/2021:

In August 2018, BRP confirmed its acquisition of Triton Industries, Inc., the leading North American manufacturer of premium luxury and performance pontoon boats, Manitou. Interestingly, 18 months later in May of 2020, BRP retired Evinrude, dashing a prospective pairing of the two brands. Rather, Manitou’s 29 available models (per the 2021 catalog, including model and length variations) continue to employ Mercury outboards.

So with all of that said, what about the above image that was leaked to The Watercraft Journal, you may be asking? Frankly, we’re not sure. It’s clearly an artistic rendering, that much is clear (and no, it’s not our artistic rendering. We save all of our half-assed photoshopping for April Fool’s jokes). The two pontoon boats (what we surmise to be tritoons) appear to be relatively small – we estimate about 15 or 16-feet in total length – well below Manitou’s smallest craft, the Aurora LE at 18-feet.

Curiously, both images appearing to show a set of Sea-Doo handlebars instead of a traditional helm. This is what led our “informant” to believe that these were yet-to-be-revealed BRP vehicles. Dubbed “Project M,” the Recreational Edition features a dual-strut Bimini top and similar seating arrangement as the aforementioned Aurora LE. The Fishing Edition is an open deck configuration with a low railing and swivel-mount seat at the bow (and a fun pseudo-camouflage livery).

Of course, the big question yet to be answered is means of propulsion. Obviously, there’s no outboard and the presence of a Sea-Doo handlebar system implies the use of a Sea-Doo jet propulsion system. The concept of a jet drive fixed into a center pontoon is an exciting one – and we’d definitely love to see how it works. Judging by its size and lightweight construction, it wouldn’t require much to get these two to plane.

But again, seeing as we can’t verify whose image this is, all we can do is speculate. So whether this official Sea-Doo contraband, a fun bit of art whipped up by fan, or the proposal for a possible aftermarket boat manufacturer we cannot say. Either way, it’s a glimpse at a possible jet-powered future pontoon boat, and that’s pretty cool to us.

Check it out everyone; Adam Williams and the team at Broward Motorsports Racing have partnered with Jet Rider Nation to give the Rec Ride Community 10% off everything in the store. If you need any parts or accessories for your Kawasaki, Sea-Doo, or Yamaha PWC, now is good time to grab them. Head to the Broward Motorsports Racing website and fill your shopping cart. They have everything you need to get your ski ready for the upcoming recreational rides.

Broward Motorsports Racing carries Sea-Doo LinQ accessories so if you’ve been on the fence about buying a cooler for your Sea-Doo, now is the time to grab one. If you’ve wanted to add speakers to your ride, BMS has audio packages in stock for Yamaha WaveRunners and Sea-Doo’s. Plenty of parts are on offer as well and they have everything you need to tune up your ski. If you’re looking to spice up your Yamaha, pick up a flash kit.

They have the Stage 1 and Stage 2 kits in stock, including the Stage 1 Kit for the SuperJet. You can also take this opportunity to do that last minute ski prep or to splurge on some new gear. BMS Racing will appreciate it! Enter the promo code, jetridernation, when you checkout and your 10% discount will be applied to your purchase.

Remember, the Jet Rider Nation discount applies to EVERYTHING in the store! The Rec Ride Community sends out a big thanks out to Adam Williams and the team at Broward Motorsports for setting up this awesome discount. They are stoked!

We discovered an alarming piece of news on Mount Pleasant’s Count on News 2 website. There seems to be an attack on the jet ski community by South Carolina lawmakers who are in the process of discussing Bill 497, presented by Senator Chip Campsen. The bill would make it a requirement to obtain a safety certificate before being able to operate a jet ski in the state.

This is bad news for jet ski rental operators because it would be a direct threat to their livelihoods. The bulk of their business is based on PWC rentals and something like this could crush them. Also, it isn’t realistic to think that people are going to sit in a class for hours just to rent a jet ski for an hour. They will find something else to do.

Tidal Wave Water Sports Rental owner, Michael Fiem feels like the bill unfairly targets jet skis and not the complete boating community. Furthermore, 2019 statistics point to boats having more accidents than PWC. The numbers show that of the 613 boating related fatalities, only 46 involved jet skis in South Carolina. One would think that with those kinds of numbers, that the legislative body would come up with a bill that includes the complete boating community, not just a segment.

Boat owners and business agree that additional boating safety is needed in South Carolina. That need is for all types of boats and Senate Bill 497 needs some work and the tour industry wants to help: “A lot of boating captains and people in the tour industry, we’re on the water more than anybody,” says Fiem. “We’re the experts, ask the experts. Let us help.”

Senator Campsen’s bill is currently in a state House Judiciary Committee to be discussed further by state leaders. We will update you as more information becomes available.

Who wants to go to Atlantic City? Whoo! OK, now who wants to cruise the open ocean? Well, how about both? The Jersey Show PWC Riders are putting on an awesome group ride that not only promises to deliver on a once-in-a-lifetime ride along some of New Jersey’s coastline, but also benefits the children of the Make-a-Wish foundation! Named the Make-A-Wish @ Beesley Point Sea-Doo Charity Ride, hundreds are expected to come.

The event synopsis states, “We are pleased to announce, Saturday June 19th, Make-a-Wish along with Jersey Shore PWC Riders, have come together for an amazing charity ride! On Saturday morning at 10am at Beesley’s Point Sea-Doo on the beach we will start the check-in with the rider safety briefing to follow shortly after.

“We then will cruise to Atlantic City on the ocean searching for dolphins (conditions permitting) and arrive and dock amongst the million dollar boats and yachts at Golden Nugget Casino. There we will eat an amazing lunch then leave for some awesome marsh riding and back bays! Then with the partnership of our amazing sponsors we’ll come back and have Chinese-style auction and giveaways! Again this is all for the children!”

The Watercraft Journal spoke with club founder Jason Frank, who expressed, “I’m so excited to share that the Jersey Shore PWC Riders are teaming up with Make-a-Wish (along with Beesley’s Point Sea-Doo) for an epic ride and auction for the children! With all of the proceeds going to charity!” If you want to learn more about this ride and how you can join, please go to the Make-A-Wish @ Beesley Point Sea-Doo Charity Ride event page.

For years, Yamaha had been developing a brand new four-stroke SuperJet. For 2021, they finally released this revolutionary new watercraft and the results are stunning.

Their hard work has paid off because it just earned the top spot in Boating Industry Magazine’s 2021 Top Products. The SuperJet has turned out to be an extremely coveted unit within its community of stand-up riders.

It has also been a highly sought-after prize for new riders alike, advancing its product category forward. This combined with the innovative features has earned it the Top Product Prize. Read the full news story below.

Boating Industry magazine today announced its honor roll of Top Products for 2021 with Yamaha’s new four-stroke SuperJet standup watercraft at the top of the list. 

According to Boating Industry magazine, the products named to this coveted accolade stood out from the rest of the pack for their impact on the industry, innovations, and how it advances its product category.

“Yamaha’s redesign and rebirth of the SuperJet is a welcome gift to the personal watercraft industry,” said Boating Industry managing editor Adam Quandt. “The SuperJet offers both a challenge to experienced riders looking for something new, or an affordable entry point for a new rider to gain a new passion. A home run on all fronts.” 

No longer reserved for professional racers and requiring a racing license, the new 2021 SuperJet appeals to racers and recreational riders alike.

The SuperJet is powered by Yamaha’s award-winning three-cylinder, four-stroke TR-1 marine engine. This compact, lightweight 1,049cc engine delivers the exhilarating acceleration that standup riders love throughout the engine RPM range. 

Feeding the TR-1 engine is a larger 5.0-gallon fuel tank that delivers plenty of range for the standup rider, and there is an easy-to-read Low Fuel meter placed conspicuously on the deck.  

And for novice riders, there is an L-MODE that reduces the engine performance of the SuperJet to 85 percent or approximately 40 miles per hour.  

The SuperJet deck features a three-position adjustable handle pole that can extend up to 50mm in length, race-inspired handlebars, and a wide padded foot tray with an integrated reboarding holder. Under the waterline, the new SuperJet hull is designed for greater static and dynamic stability while maintaining the SuperJet’s thrilling turning abilities. 

Completing the SuperJet is a stark white color scheme with a minimalist black graphics combination that looks amazing. 

Head to Broward Motorsports Tequesta, FL location to score a deal on a new Yamaha WaveRunner. The Yamaha Perfect Choice Sales Event is going on until June 6!  There’s a PWC for everyone’s riding preference. Whether you are a racer or recreational rider, Broward Motorsports can get you set up with a ski that fits your budget and your riding style.

Grab the “No payments for 90 days with $0 down” deal for qualified buyers. This offer applies to the purchase of a new 2015-2021 Yamaha WaveRunner. Finance charges will accrue during the deferment period.

Another good deal is available for well qualified tier A1 credit customers who finance through Yamaha Financial Services. Buyers will get a 3.99% APR for 36 months at $13.38 per month per $1,000 financed, regardless of down payment. Higher finance rates apply for buyers with lower credit scores.

The third offer is great for the couple who rides together. Score two WaveRunners at 6.49% APR for 96 months. This offer applies to the well qualified tier A1 credit customers who finance through Yamaha Financial Services. Everyone won’t qualify and if you’re in the lower credit pool, you may be subject to higher financing rates. See the dealer for complete details of the sale.

Stop in and see the crew at Broward Motorsports and take advantage of the Yamaha Perfect Choice Sales Event.