Sea-Doo Ambassador, Andrew Hill, catches his biggest haul yet from a Sea-Doo Fish Pro. You can watch him reel in a Kingfish that is almost the length of his 2021 Fish Pro in this YouTube video! The fish weighed almost 60 pounds! Hill is the official Sea-Doo Ambassador for the Fish Pro.
Hill has been fishing since he was a young boy, and he has parlayed his lifelong passion for fishing into a career with Sea-Doo. He lives in New Zealand with his wife and four kids. New Zealand is where he has spent a lifetime fishing and chasing the big one. With his Sea-Doo Fish Pro, he can reach remote locations and hit the shallows due the ski’s maneuverability.
He has a life he only dreamed about. He gets to ride every week, sometimes fishing alone, riding with friends, or taking a group out to fish in New Zealand. Northern New Zealand is his favorite place to ride. He likes that area because it is pristine has minimal fishing pressure. Hill also enjoys exploring areas that are unfamiliar to him due their tranquility and the excitement new territory brings.
Something he would like to see on the Sea-Doo Fish Pro is a front mounted rod holder. His favorite accessory is the Ultimate Reel Cover. It protects fishing reels from saltwater spray and secures the rod to the rod holder. Check out Andrew Hills latest YouTube video to watch him battle that huge Kingfish! Be sure to take a look at the all new 2021 Sea-Doo Fish Pro, so you can go on your own fishing excursion!
If you’re watching this because you’re in the market for one of Yamaha’s best-selling personal watercraft from 2020, you’re gonna want to start looking at Craigslist and Facebook Marketplace. That’s because Yamaha literally sold out of every single 2020 VX Deluxe WaveRunner. Offered in either Yamaha Blue and Yellow, or Ebony and Lime Green – like the unit we got to test ride today – Yamaha dealers across the globe ran out of these family-budget friendly watercraft well before the end of last summer.
And frankly, there’s little wonder why. Priced with an MSRP of $10,699, the VX Deluxe provides a stable-yet-playful platform to accompany 3-riders (although a trio of adults might be a little too close for comfort) that’s good for a spirited cruise around the lake, and plenty of built-in creature comforts to make the first-time buyer feel they’re getting much more than what they paid for. Toss in some pretty stellar fuel economy and Yamaha’s super-easy-to-operate RiDE dual throttle brake & reverse system, and you’ve got a tidy little package.
Beneath the tiered, two-tone sectional bench seat is a 1049cc 3-cylinder, 4-stroke TR-1 High Output Yamaha Marine Engine producing 125-horsepower on 87 octane. That might not sound like a heck of a lot, but when paired to its featherweight 664-pound dry weight, it makes for very responsive power-to-weight ratio. Yamaha shaves down the heft by using its proprietary NanoXcel material to provide a durable-yet-lightweight hull and deck.
Feeding the VX is an impressive 18.5 gallon gas tank, ensuring that you won’t be stopping at the fuel dock anytime soon. And to make sure you get the most mileage from that big tank, the VX Deluxe comes equipped with Cruise Assist and No Wake Mode, meaning you can find the perfect towing speed and easily navigate “No Wake” zones. Lastly, RiDE permits drivers to switch from forward to neutral to reverse with one pull of the left throttle for easier deceleration, reversing and docking.
Although phased out for 2021, the 2020 VX Deluxe came equipped with Yamaha’s Remote Transmitter, a small key fob that controls Low RPM Mode and Security Mode. Whether you use it to increase fuel-efficiency or disable the engine to prevent unauthorized use, this feature has since been integrated into the Yamaha Connext digital dashboard on the current models.
Storage capacity is a respectable 24.6 gallons split up between the bow, glove box (with two molded-in cup holders) and the screw-top rear storage bin beneath the rear passenger. A folding reboarding step is also standard, conveniently tucking up and away when not in use. Additionally, our VX Deluxe came to us with a couple of not-so-standard features that are available through Yamaha’s Parts & Accessories Catalog:
Namely, the VX Stern Mounted Storage bag and RAM-mounted EcoXGear Bluetooth speakers. The rear bag adds an extra 10.5-gallons of storage with zero drilling, and happens to be made from durable, weather resistant compression-molded black EVA foam – and even includes two side-mounted rod holders. The bag is handy but at $249.99 is pretty pricey, particularly as the drop-in cooler is sold separately for $129.99.
The dual 15-watt speakers easily pair to your smartphone, offer over 15 hours of playtime on a single charge, and are entirely waterproof! Heck, they even float! During testing, we found the sound quality to be pretty good but tends to drown out above 45mph. Priced at $349.99 the WaveRunner EX/VX Audio Package makes a decent option, particularly as factory-installed integrated sound systems weren’t made available on the VX series until the 2021 model line.
On the water, the VX Deluxe didn’t disappoint. The little 1-liter TR-1 HO has enough low-end grunt to pull a tube or wakeboarder at a progressive rate; for today and just having a single rider, it was enough to sprint up to plane with little trouble at all. Top speeds were in the low-50’s (52mph at 7,900rpm, to be exact). Sharing the same mold as the racy GP1800R, the VX’s hull is immensely predictable, tracking straight in choppier water, and going exactly where you point it without a lot of driver input.
Fit and finish is good, with doors and latches padded to keep panels from chattering too bad. The lighter panels feel a bit thin, but that’s too keep weight down. The rear view mirrors are fixed (really just reflective pieces that’ve been glued down) and the LCD dash cluster is spartan. No extra frills here. Again, with a redesigned successor already hitting dealerships as of this recording, and all current 2020 models being already snatched up, you’re going to have to scour the trade-ins and bulletin boards for your shot at one of these. But if you’re in the market, the 2020 VX Deluxe is definitely a smart purchase.
The Pro Watercross has just published their updated National Tour schedule for 2021 sponsored by Liqui Moly this year.
The racing action kicks off in April in Sebring, Florida so start getting your watercraft ready and make sure your registrations are submitted. Here is the press release with dates, but be sure to visit prowatercross.org for the latest details.
Exciting news… the 2021 LIQUI-MOLY Pro Watercross National Tour has evolved with encouraging changes with dates and locations. Keep in mind that the new sites are evolving and as information becomes available, we will get it out to all of you!
The 2021 Tour will start off on April 10-11, on a freshwater lake in Sebring, FL… the flat-water conditions will provide a good start to the season.
When the camera is on World Champion rider Mark Gomez, the results are usually epic. In his latest YouTube series, Mark takes everyone on the journey with him at this year’s Torrent Daytona Freeride.
This vlog is pretty unique and very cool because he not only shows us some of the awesome riding action and events of the 2021 Daytona Freeride, but also shows us a lot of the behind the scenes activities on the professional ride level including logistics of moving these skis and equipment around the country.
He also gives us a sneak peek look into the new Hydro-Turf/Marine Mat joint venture and what some of the manufacturing processes looks like. Be sure to stay tuned to his channel for upcoming and more in depth looks at this scene.
One additional neat item he shows us is his solution to flushing out and rinsing his gear after a ride in the salt water. It’s a mobile flush kit that frankly looks like it has been designed by a team of Kindergarteners and yet works immensely well.
The innovative 5-gallon can strapped inside an old milk crate with a series of hoses, valves, and quick-connects protruding out is the ingenious way to flush everything out on the beach. He simply hooks it up to a 12-volt battery and the pump works its magic.
So, check out this cool vlog video below for some more behind the scenes with Mark Gomez.
With nearly all boat shows cancelled this winter, many folks are turning to other measures to gather all of the necessary information to make a watercraft purchase.
Sea-Doo wants you to know that you don’t have to worry, they have your back with their extensive list of online tools to get you educated about products, help you decide which models are right for you, or to simply help you discover what’s new and exciting.
Want to see what is new this year or what changes Sea-Doo has made to the lineup? Check out this virtual tool that will take you through new products such as the all new RXP-X 300, new iDF system, or the revolutionary LCD full color display with integrated BRP connect.
New to watercraft altogether? Here is a video introduction of a lot of information on owning your first personal watercraft. There are even guides within this link that offer tips on operating and cleaning your new Sea-Doo as well as which cleaning products to use.
Think you’re ready to purchase that new Sea-Doo but still aren’t quite sure which model or features you need? Use their useful virtual shopping tool to narrow down which model is right for you.
Simply fill out a few questions including what type of riding you think you will do, how many people you plan to ride with, and price point, and the tool will automatically generate a list of Sea-Doo’s that fit your criteria.
So just because there aren’t any physical boat shows this year, doesn’t mean that you still can’t get a ton of information especially when it comes to Sea-Doo.
Sea-Doo has to walk a fine line when it comes to exhaust systems for performance watercraft. Certainly they don’t want to restrict their 300 ACE engines to the point that they lose horsepower, but on the flip-side, they’re forced to comply with federal noise restrictions and CAFE emissions standards. This, in turn, leaves the factory-equipped 300-horsepower Sea-Doo with a very restrictive – and complicated – exhaust system that frankly, leaves a lot left on the table – especially when it comes to letting that engine roar!
Thankfully, RIVA Racing doesn’t have to comply with any of those rules and now has a very cool Dual Rear Exhaust Kit for all ST3-based RXT and GTX Sea-Doosandthe new 2021-and-up RXP-X 300. Truly “uncork” your supercharged Sea-Doo with this beautifully CAD-designed system that includes mandrel-bent aluminum exhaust tubes (with bead-rolled lips) that that have been powder coated to prevent corrosion; large billet aluminum CNC-machined exhaust outlets, an OEM exhaust outlet block-off and high quality silicone couplers.
Not only are you improving engine performance by reducing back pressure and restriction, but you’re also removing the restrictive sound suppression system located between water box and hull exit, letting all of those ponies be heard when you romp on the throttle. If you thought the exhaust note of a single through-hull exhaust, wait until you hear this thing go! (Watch the video below for sure!) Best of all, this kit can be an upgrade for those already equipped with RIVA’s single Rear Exhaust Kit – and every bit of this kit is made in the USA. (note: not compatible with LinQ retractable ski pylon.)
Are you planning on upgrading your forced induction watercraft in time for this coming ride season? Be sure to check out the latest specials that Broward Motorsports Racing has going on.
Their latest special was the industry leading Tial Blow-Off valve in which they were letting go for 15% off.
The biggest valve in the industry, this thing is sure to vent all your unwanted boost pressure during off-throttle situations.
As you get back on the throttle, you can ensure there will be no interference against all components within the intake tract.
Features of this quality-built system include:
Strongest 4-ply silicone hose available on the market
Reduced wear to clutch and engine components
All components CNC machined from 6061 aluminum alloy
Large ¼” hose for quick actuator response
Aluminum mounting flange with machined grooves precisely fixes location
Aluminum anodized red
Pre-set at 8 PSI
Be sure to check out the links above for all of the latest offers and take advantage of free shipping within the continental U.S. on all orders over $99.
Things are starting to look a little brighter across the pond in Australia as many of the states begin to relax some of the Covid-19 restrictions and the Queensland Personal Watercraft Club has released a tentative race schedule for 2021.
According to the latest reports by The Guardian, the number of reported coronavirus cases has been dropping throughout Australia. Each state is still on alert and monitoring the new strains of the virus so we will have to keep an eye on the race calendar for any changes.
The Guardian also reports that in Queensland, outdoor events can have up to 100 people gather in public outdoor spaces so there is hope that the current schedule of race events will still hold true. Certain events and businesses can of course deviate from this number if they have a Covid-safe plan in place.
The Round 1 Redcliffe event will kick off the series on February 13 followed by Round 2 the following month. The schedule has been posted on the Eight 1 Racing Page so you can check out their Facebook updates or directly at QPWC for all of the latest details.
Let’s just begin with this: None of us guessed this one right. And frankly, there’s gonna be some seriously obnoxious gloating online. Nevertheless, it was an inevitability that once Yamaha released a redesigned and slightly upgraded GP1800R SVHO WaveRunner for 2021 only weeks before a near-completely overhauled RXP-X 300 was revealed by Sea-Doo that the two would collide in a showdown. As such, heads up drag races have sprung up across the globe and few of them bothered to conduct them with any sort of scientific prowess. Just a vocal countdown or a nod of the head, and off they went.
For us at The Watercraft Journal and Jerry Gaddis of Greenhulk.net, such a showdown is wholly valueless. For years, our two media outlets have attempted to perform the most accurate measurements of speed with entirely repeatable results. No black magic. No voodoo (save for whatever evil spirits haunt the bayous of Morgan City at night). Recently, Jerry’s son, Greg has taken the reins over for the official YouTube channel, Greenhulk Garage, and has definitely picked up the pace when it comes to video production. (If you haven’t yet, make sure to subscribe.)
Greg Gaddis was instrumental in our previous acceleration shootout between the 2021 GP1800R SVHO and the 2020 GP1800R SVHO. A little over a week ago, the Gaddis’ long overdue 2021 RXP-X 300 finally reached their local dealer and Greg wasted little time breaking in the purple Sea-Doo. For those unaware, Sea-Doo restricts the full output of the 300 ACE engine until the craft has surpassed 5 operation hours. Then Sport mode, Launch Control and other X-series features can be used to their fullest, as well as the craft reaching its top speed – albeit limited via speed limit controller.
By the numbers, the two models would seem rather well-matched. Weighing in at 772-pounds, the SVHO-propelled GP1800R fetches an MSRP of $14,749, touts a 18.5-gallon fuel cell, 28.4-gallons of storage, and comes equipped with a folding rear swim step, adjustable tilt steering, and a full-color digital dashboard, not to mention RiDE, No Wake Mode, Cruise Control, digital Launch Control and even a new Auto Trim cornering assist.
Opposedly, the RXP-X 300 tips the scales at 780-pounds, a scant 8-pounds heavier than the Yamaha. Wielding a $16,899 MSRP when equipped with BRP’s Premium Audio Package ($800) and the Midnight Purple livery ($300), the ‘Doo is significantly pricier. Fuel capacity is equal at 18.5-gallons, and the Sea-Doo’s 40.6-gallons worth of storage dwarfs that of the WaveRunner. Added features include a new Ergolock R single-place adjustable saddle, iBR, Launch Control, iTC modes, and angled foot wedges.
Of course, the biggest gap between the two is horsepower, right? Interestingly, RIVA Racing’s own Jesus Garcia shed some insight. “Horsepower [outputs] between [the] Sea-Doo 300 ACE and Yamaha SVHO engines are very similar. [The] SVHO engines deliver 250 horsepower at 7,300rpm, boosting around 7 psi; but before the speed limiter starts to work, RPM goes up to 7,700 and boost is around 10psi, which makes the engine deliver around 285 horsepower.”
“[The] same thing happens with Sea-Doo. While the break in period is active, boost and speed is limited. Once you put the hours on it, the engine will produce between 7,500 and 7,800 rpm (depending on which model) and around 10 psi, which makes around 290 horsepower. Removing the [Yamaha’s] speed limiter will make [SVHO] produce approximately 10 psi [at] around 7,800 rpm, [which] is going to be around 290 horsepower (it still has a boost limiter).
“On the other hand, once you remove the speed limiter [the] Sea-Doo will produce 8,000rpm and around 13 psi (there is no boost limit) [making] around 300 horsepower in ideal conditions.” Jesus concludes, “[The] difference in speed is not coming from [the] horsepower difference between the two boats; it’s coming from the difference in hull design, tunnel, pump, etc. That’s why also the handling, the feeling when you go through rough water, the cornering, etc. are so different between them.”
Above left: The 2021 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 blisters the water with a 5-to-60mph of 3.60-seconds, and that’s also with a full tank of gas and the added weight of the BRP Premium Audio System. Above right: Believe it or not, the slower 5-to-60 time was recorded with the use of Launch Control. Greg was able to repeatedly outpace the Launch Control using the VTS manually.
As demonstrated previously, all acceleration tests are conducted at sea level (this day it was 67º degrees with 80% humidity, and 5mph winds). Both skis had their fuel tanks topped off to prove that one wasn’t favored over another (at 6-pounds per gallon, 18.5-gallons calculates to 111-pounds). More importantly, as tracking a true zero-to-60 is impossible with a watercraft, Greg set the Vbox accelerometer to begin recording at 5mph. He also recorded a peak top speed before each machine’s speed limiter kicked in.
To say the results were surprising is quite the understatement. In every test, the RXP-X 300 was substantially quicker – and faster overall. For both watercraft, Greg’s deft toggling of the electric trim was able to out perform the factory preset Launch Control settings, netting superior results each time. Greg noted, “Interestingly enough, the Sea-Doo was very inconsistent with the Launch Control and was almost half a second slower numerous times.”
Above left: Coming in .25-seconds behind the Sea-Doo was the 2021 Yamaha GP1800R SVHO. Weighing nearly 50-pounds less than the as-equipped RXP-X, the GP1800R lost precious seconds as it cavitated out of the hole, fighting to bite the water. Above right: Even with Launch Control engaged, the GP1800R couldn’t close the gap, in fact, Greg actually recorded slower numbers with the feature engaged.
Nevertheless, Greg recorded a staggering 72.0mph on the RXP-X before the GPS-monitored dashboard manually eased back the throttle and slowed the craft down to 69mph. For those taking note, Sea-Doo advertises a mid-3-second 0-to-60 time, and per Greg’s findings, 3.60-seconds proves there’s no baloney in the advertised claim. As Jerry observed, “[There’s] zero cavitation; it just rockets out of the hole.”
Conversely, the GP1800R struggled to bite down out of the gate. Even with the larger 160mm pump and transom plate, the SVHO couldn’t reel in the RXP-X’s lead of two tenths of a second. Greg recorded a peak top speed of 70.6mph before being throttled down; and like the Sea-Doo, he managed better results without the Launch Control than with it engaged – although we have both with and without recorded here.
In drag racing parlance, a tenth of a second is equal to a car length, which is considerable. Ultimately, the Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 out-accelerates the GP1800R SVHO, and that’s pretty impressive given the improvements Yamaha has made over the years with this model (as The Watercraft Journal’s test proved weeks ago). This of course, doesn’t calculate in any other attribute such as cornering, rough water tracking or handling – just flat water acceleration. Now, we’ll leave it to the message boards to hash it out.
Young phenom, freestyle racer Coy Curtis, shows us what’s up in this latest Instagram video posted by Hydro-Turf. Curtis throws down some huge moves, flowing from one to the next while throwing his Rickter Ninja X like it’s nothing. The young gun has been riding since he was four years old and he’s now eleven and throwing down like he’s the Mark Gomez. This kid has a big future and he’s one of Hydro-Turf’s team riders. Curtis rides the Rickter Ninja X, specially designed for kids up to 120 pounds.
The ski is outfitted with Hydro-Turf’s white cut waffle, which keeps him locked in so he can go big without losing his footing. A 9mm Hydro-Turf plush pad underneath keeps him safe and comfortable for when he lands those big tricks. It’s the softest underpad they make, and it has excellent compression recovery for extreme riders. It’s perfect for a rider like Coy Curtis who goes hard and takes riding to the next level by launching and landing huge hucks and flips.
Follow Coy Curtis HERE on Instagram so you can keep up with all of his cool outings. His content is full of adventure and good times. Also, make sure you keep up with at Hydro-Turf. They are always doing fun stuff and showing off new product. Get your own product from Hydro-Turf so you can stay locked in when you’re pulling big moves or for when you’re out cruising and want to open it up a little.
Are you planning on upgrading your forced induction watercraft in time for this coming ride season? Be sure to check out the latest specials that 
Things are starting to look a little brighter across the pond in Australia as many of the states begin to relax some of the Covid-19 restrictions and the 
