Check out this rad video with Mark from GC Jetski Fishing. He is on New Zealand’s west coast and taking us offshore and to the deep blue Pacific Ocean. He loads up his Yamaha WaveRunner FX Cruiser HO, which is powerful enough to take on the rolling swell and wind. The WaveRunner is outfitted for fishing with a rack on the back that holds a cooler, four rods, and a net. Mark gets underway with four heavy-duty bait casting saltwater fishing rods, tackle, and safety gear.
After crossing the Waikato River bar, the hunt was on for big fish that were in the water’s due west. He caught up with a pod of dolphins in about 40 meters of water and rode with them for a while then jetted away from the dolphins after receiving intel about some albacore tuna a little further out. Trolling and jigging from the ski, he hooked into some tuna and kingfish at the 55-meter mark. The snapper were out in full force as well and he easily caught his limit of ten. They were good sized too. It is so cool to watch him reel in those big fish from his jet ski alone in the open water. We can only imagine how it feels to be out there in deep blue among the fishes.
On the way in, Marlin were breaking the surface and a nearby pod of dolphins was also getting in on the action. The dolphins cruised alongside of the ski for a while and this made for the perfect end of a beautiful day on the water for GC Jetski Fishing.
Admittedly, this article is going to come off as pretty silly for most of our more “technically minded” readers. Yet, for those new to personal watercraft or are a little more timid to break out the tools and start wrenching on their brand new Yamaha WaveRunner themselves, we hope to take a little of the fear away and instill you with a bit of confidence. But first, what are we talking about?
Yamaha, unlike any other OE manufacturer, is the only brand to feature what is called a “visibility spout.” This spout shoots a pressurized stream of water vertically from a flush-mounted nozzle in the swim platform, creating a 10-foot-high rooster tail while the WaveRunner is under throttle. It’s purpose is similar to a buggy whip antenna on a four-wheeler or quad, helping nearby boaters identify the presence of the personal watercraft from a distance.
First developed for the original WaveRunner 500 in 1986, the visibility spout has remained a legacy feature for 35 years. Unfortunately, the visibility spout has also become a bit of a nuisance to enthusiasts who ride in large groups, as the spray can inadvertently cascade down into the faces of persons behind you. Equally, riding with extra fuel or a cargo rack means that the spout will blast the underside of the rack the entire day.
Thankfully, disengaging the visibility spout requires almost zero mechanical ability a few tools and a couple of minutes of your time. It begins by removing the quick release linkage attached to the reverse bucket. It’s a spring-loaded sleeve that simply slides back, releasing the ball socket mounted to the bucket. Pull that back and move the reverse cable off to the side.
Next, drop the bucket down to access the jet pump cavity. Here you’ll see a black rubber hose that connects to the jet pump up to a black plastic nozzle that mounts flush to your swim platform. With a flat-head screwdriver or a 5/16’s nut driver, simply back off the worm gear-style hose clamp until its loose. Then you can wiggle the hose free.
If your goal was to just disengage the visibility spout, you’ve done it. The stream of water will now just shoot out of the back of the jet pump. But we like being a little more thorough than that, so remove the bottom end of the hose attaching to the pump. The aluminum nipple on the pump can be plugged with a rubber cap and a hose clamp, but you’re not going to hurt anything by leaving it open. Now just move the reverse bucket back up and reattach the quick release linkage and you’re done.
But, what if you wanted to have a little fun? What if we told you that you could convert your visibility spout into a high speed squirt gun? It’s pretty easy! With the reverse bucket still down and disconnected, unscrew the white plastic retainer holding the flush-mounted nozzle to the swim platform. The two come apart easily.
Next, feed in a length of half-inch inner-diameter rubber or flexible plastic hose. We went with 8-feet of clear vinyl hose from our neighborhood hardware store. While we were at it, we also picked up a brass barbed-end male hose fitting and a regular old garden hose adjustable spray nozzle. The hose slips right over the aluminum nipple jutting out of the jet pump. Tightened that down with a hose clamp.
Next, with your hose coming up through the swim platform, install the brass barbed fitted and screw on your adjustable spray nozzle. Our nozzle hooked nicely on to the handgrips for the rear passenger.
On the water, our nozzle setup works pretty good. Obviously, at idle the pump isn’t generating the pressure necessary to shoot a decent stream, so you’re going to need to give it some throttle to really work. (Goosing the RiDE reverse throttle at a standstill works rather well.) Now around 15-to-20mph, we found we could send off a nice spray. At 30mph and above, the wind simply was turning our spray into more of a shower. Still, it’s enough to wash down your friends, so it’s a fun modification that is entirely reversible and can be installed in minutes.
With an end to social distancing still out of reach for most folks coupled with cold weather this time of the year, many people are eager to extend their ride time on the water.
What better way to do so and stay comfortable than by using some great Sea-Doo riding gear including the warm and comfortable Sea-Doo Ride jacket.
This is the perfect cold weather accessory to keep you on the water longer. With a front zip design and deep side pockets, it is designed to be worn over your life jacket. It even looks good when not riding so you can literally multi-purpose wear it all over.
Check out what Sea-Doo has to say about it:
The Sea-Doo Neoprene Ride Jacket is the ultimate cover up when mother nature whips up less than steamy days. The ride jacket is worn overtop your lifevest to keep you warm year round and includes pockets with velcro closures and a hood to keep the splashes from running down your neck. And there are no rules saying you can’t wear this jacket when your feet are on the street. The Sea-Doo life is cool no matter where you wear it.
For more details and info on the Sea-Doo Neoprene Ride Jacket and other cooler weather Sea-Doo riding gear, check the link HERE
Check out this double dose of fun with Randy from Florida Ski Riders and Brandon Jordan from Jiggin’ with Jordan. They got together for an adventure in Egmont Key. They spent the day exploring abandoned war batteries, snorkeling, and taking a ride to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. Randy is well versed in the area and he is the founder of Florida Ski Riders, one of is the largest jet ski clubs in Florida.
Jordan is riding Blue Bae, his Yamaha WaveRunner FX SVHO and Randy is on a Sea-Doo WakePro 230. Both machines were perfect for stowing all the gear they needed for the day, which included camera gear, snorkeling gear, and lunch for a jam-packed day of exploring.
The adventure began at the Fort De Soto Boat Ramp located in Tierra Verde. This is where they met and started filming this fun clip. They loaded their gear onto their jet skis and were soon on their way to check out the Egmont Key War Battery’s. They anchored at a spot just off Egmont Key. Randy provided a history lesson while they toured the Spanish War Batteries. The area is super cool, and the drone footage of the batteries is incredible. Randy provides excellent info on how to get there on a jet ski.
The group left the bunkers and headed to the Egmont Key Ruins to go snorkeling in the beautiful blue water. This part of the video is super relaxing. They left the ruins for Passage Key (Booby Beach) and stopped for lunch. It’s another beautiful spot and so chill. After lunch, they packed up and motored to the Sunshine Skyway Bridge. We get an up-close and personal ride with Randy under the bridge as he rides his Spark down the middle.
Check out the video for some great information on the Egmont Key/Fort De Soto area. Randy lays it out very well. Trailer up your Yamaha WaveRunner or your Sea-Doo and head for the Fort De Soto Boat Ramp and make your way to the clear blue waters of Egmont Key. You’ll be glad you did.
In case you missed our announcement for 2020 Watercraft of the Year, then perhaps you saw in the latest Sea-Doo news letter that Sea-Doo has proudly accepted this award for its 2020 GTI SE 170.
We couldn’t think of any other watercraft more deserving and other industry members are praising the GTI SE 170 as well. It even won the prestigious Good Design Award from Good Design USA thanks to its innovative and creative design.
In case you missed the Sea-Doo newsletter as well, here’s what Sea-Doo had to say about their Watercraft of the Year Award.
The Watercraft Journal recently named the Sea-Doo GTI SE the year’s best PWC noting, “the Sea-Doo GTI SE 170 is without a doubt the single most worthy recipient of Watercraft of the Year we’ve had.”
The editors score each new PWC using their IDEA formula comprised of the categories; innovation, design, overall execution, and lasting affect on the industry. The editors conduct extensive on-water testing over the course of a full year on all new models and at the end of the year they exclaimed, “Awarding the 2020 Sea-Doo GTI SE 170 …was unequivocally one of the easiest decisions we’ve made in years.”
Noted Sea-Doo GTI SE highlights included the ability to please so many riders on so many levels with the ultra-stable and predictable hull, Ergolock seating, and onboard experience with the high-quality sound system and LinQ accessory attachment system.
Somehow the family and I managed to navigate 2020 relatively unscathed. Sure, the older kids’ school year was completely borked, leaving them with the longest summer vacation in the history of public education; but for the most part, we didn’t suffer the highs and lows that many had experienced. That being said, with just 3 days left in the year, Jerry Gaddis of Greenhulk.net reached out and asked if I could dash down to Morgan City, Louisiana for a one-day filming session – the results of which, were published earlier this week.
The drive out was uneventful. My 11-year-old daughter, Morgan and I made it to Morgan City in just over 11 hours. That evening Jerry joined me for an episode of The Watercraft Journal IRL, the live YouTube session I host on Sunday nights and took questions in real time. The next morning started well enough; the video session took less than two and a half hours,with Jerry’s son Greg doing most of the heavy lifting.
Afterward, as part of an upcoming video and technical article, Greg pulled the seat from the 2020 Yamaha GP1800R SVHO and plugged in the MaptunerX, uploading RIVA’s “Stock 8,000” tune. The new engine program completely retains the factory ignition timing and fuel curve, but eliminates the internal speed cap as well as push the restrictive RPM limit up to 8,000rpm.
I impatiently jumped on the GP1800R and streaked down the causeway, immediately clicking off a 75mph on the speedometer. It’s not a GPS-confirmed speed, but it was enough to satisfy me. With that task concluded, we had the rest of the day left to spend on our own (Jerry had to go back to work). Thankfully, a text from Billy Duplessis that morning beckoned us to join he and friends William Bagert and Paul Pace for a ride.
Nearly an hour’s drive from Two Sisters Landing were we were was St. James Boat Club in Gramercy, on the Blind River. The Blind River sits just north of the Mississippi River as it lulls east into New Orleans. For the most part, Blind River is a rolling, serpentining path, but as Paul led our group into Smith Bayou, we entered a fast-paced course of hairpins and tight S-turns. That detour exited us into Thunder Bayou, at the bend at Three Rivers Island.
The path before us were man-made, laser-straight canals either heading directly east into Lake Maurepas, or northwest into Amite River. Either way, the depth of the water and slab-sided bulwarks of the canal make the water some of the most unpleasant in Louisiana. Even when it looks calm, the water’s surface oscillates, bobbing your nose while cruising or battering you while at speed.
Hooking right into the eastern end of Amite River took us on a gentle path to Boondocks Bar & Grill. Since it was late December, and temperatures were well below that which the locals would consider comfortable boating weather, the eatery was pretty quiet. The trio were dressed more akin to snowmobilers as Morgan and I donned swimming suits and T-shirts, although the chilled breeze was making me rethink my wardrobe.
As we pulled up to the dock, my daughter dismounted the Yamaha and rightly reached into the bow storage for the dock line. As she uncoiled the rope, my GoPro with which I had filmed portions of the morning’s shootout and all of our Blind River trip, quickly tangled and sprung out of the bow, bouncing off of the deck and into the murky water below. I leapt forward in vain. Quickly tying to the cleat, I stripped off my vest and T-shirt and instinctively dove into the frigid water.
I was wholly unprepared for how cold the water was. My chest viced the air from my lungs and my hands scrambled for the reboarding step on the back of the GP1800R, forever grateful that Yamaha puts them on everything. Pausing to catch my breath, I bobbed deep to see how far below the surface was. I couldn’t feel it. I tried again, but a collision of panic, the stinging pain of the icy water and exhaustion kept me from doing to do any good.
To their credit, William and Paul dedicated the next hour dredging the muddy floor in hopes of snagging the camera’s long mount using a net to no avail. We pulled up sticks, a few beer cans and plenty of mud, but no camera. My daughter was distraught, blaming herself for the whole ordeal and I knew I had to calm the situation. I went over the shots we could easily recreate and that all was not lost. She was upset, I was exhausted, and frankly, ready to get back to the hotel and crawl in bed.
We finished up our food, reboarded our watercraft and retraced the path we had taken. As our Yamaha was equipped with The Watercraft Journal’s Long Haul Auxiliary Fuel System Kit, we had yet to even tap into our WaveRunner’s fuel supply, still drinking from the USCG-approved marine grade tank on the back. Unable to film anything, we casually rode the way back to the St. James Boat Club launch, loaded up the trailers and chatted a while.
That’s when I noticed my worn-to-the-bone 230,000-mile Dodge Ram began to overheat. Morgan was inside with the heater on as I socialized around the tailgate, so I didn’t think much of it. But as dusk rolled in and we began our drive back to Morgan City, the temperature gauge failed to normalize. It continued to climb despite nightfall setting in. We have a heating problem I cautioned. We gotta get to a gas station.
I limped into the Marathon station in South Vacherie, steam erupting from the radiator. Calls to friends beckoned Jerry as well as William and Billy Duplessis. We quickly diagnosed that a fissure between the side tank and the aluminum core had formed, and when pressurized, the cooling system would erupt a plume of scalding steam. But, when the cap was left on but unsealed, the truck could hold coolant and a constant 190º; safe enough to get us back to Morgan City.
We tailed Jerry back to the hotel with an appointment to have the radiator replaced the next morning. Thankfully and somewhat miraculously, a replacement radiator was located in town (a near impossibility, according to Jerry) and the repair was made. In the interim, Jerry and I recreated the lost video segments using my other camera. And although we left town 5 hours later than expected (and with one less camera and a new radiator), we could say it was an eventful trip.
All of us like to have a good time on the water, especially when taking the kids out for a day of fun. Club Marine TV presents an easy-to-follow video on how to safely and economically get out there and have a good time while using your Sea-Doo or other PWC to tow.
Towing a raft, tube, or a wakeboard adds to the excitement of being on the water and the whole family can enjoy taking turns being towed and be safe while doing it. Sea-Doo has built the perfect watercraft for towing. They are not only affordable, but they also come with just enough bells and whistles to provide us with everything we need for a big day of towing. You provide the toys and Sea-Doo provides the tow points.
The well thought out Sea-Doo watercraft come with a removable and retractable ski pole that is located near the back of the ski. It is a load restrictive tow point, so if you want to pull a tube with two or three kids, the tow point located off the stern of the ski is made to handle heavier loads. Both tow connections are very easy to attach a tow rope. Use a floating bright colored rope for increased visibility.
Shorten the rope when towing kids and make sure they are always behind the ski. Never allow slack in the tow rope and always keep it away from the jet. Have an observer seated on the back of the ski to keep an eye on the riders and other boaters. Hand signals are key for communicating between riders and the observer. Go over the signals with riders prior to hitting the water so everyone is on the same page. Safety is key.
At the end of the day, it’s the driver’s responsibility to observe hazards above and below the water and to keep the riders safe. Other boats, logs, signs, and sand bars above the water are potential threats to safety. Also watch for rocks and other obstructions below the surface. It is imperative to keep whoever is being towed out of danger and away from these objects. Follow the local regulations for the area you choose to put your ski in.
It’s incredible what a few tweaks to an existing platform can make. In 2017, Yamaha introduced to the world the GP1800 – with the “R” designation coming out two years later in 2019. The change from “GP1800” to “GP1800R” gave the WaveRunner a redesigned a top-loader intake grate and race-designed ride plate for greater precision and predictability in rough water. These two changes alone radically improved initial acceleration as well as kept the pump loaded while making aggressive maneuvers and tracking through chop.
Out of the gate, this meant a difference of nearly half a second in 5-to-60 miles-per-hour times between the first 2017 models and the 2019. Yet in 2018, Sea-Doo came swinging with its redesigned RXT-X 300, and blew that number out of the water. Many will recall the shootout The Watercraft Journal conducted between a factory-stock 2018 Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 and a 2018 Yamaha GP1800, resulting in the RXT-X clicking off an 4.36 5-to-60mph time versus the Yamaha’s 4.42.
At the time, we teamed up with Greenhulk.net’s own Jerry Gaddis and established a few parameters that would render the most realistic (and repeatable) result. First, both vehicles would have their fuel tanks topped off. At 6-pounds a gallon, and it being two years before the RXT-X 300 would received Sea-Doo’s enlarged 18.6-gallon fuel cell, many cried foul. Equally, since the GP1800 didn’t come equipped with Launch Control (and the Sea-Doo did) we thought it fair not to use it. Again, folks cried foul.
Lastly, we used Jerry’s Vbox Sport – one of the most trusted performance accelerometers available today – and opted (like we did before) to measure each ski individually from an idle speed of 5mph rather than trying to record a 0-to-60mph speed. Why? Because a true zero is impossible with an idling personal watercraft, even if it’s in neutral. Equally, we would have the Vbox also record a peak top speed. All of this was done to conduct the most scientific and fair comparison possible, and we felt that we had done the very best.
At the close of summer last year, Yamaha rolled out the near entirely redesigned GP1800R SVHO for 2021. Retaining the same hull mold as that of 2017-and-up, the rest of the SVHO was revised in one way or another. Obviously, the most overt change was to the top deck, giving the GP1800R a curvier shape, a more contoured seat, Yamaha’s full-color Connext digital dashboard, larger engine access, and a wholly re-engineered steering system with a 5-way adjustable tilt neck.
Below the removable top deck was the same Super Vortex High Output 1,812cc 4-cylinder four-stroke, but touting a new larger diameter supercharger clutch reducing slippage and wear. Equally, the inner hull liner redistributed the WaveRunner’s weight by moving the 18.5-gallon fuel cell amidships by 3-inches, as well as lowering it deeper into the hull by over an inch. Finally, Yamaha re-machined the aluminum transom plate from 155mm to a true 160mm opening, removing the alternating taper that caused so much cavitation from a standstill.
Of course, when it comes to out-of-the-gate hookup, nothing beats a really aggressive top-loader intake grate, and that’s exactly what Yamaha bolted to the 2021 GP. The new grate features a 20-percent larger inlet “chip” or ramp, ensuring more volume entering the pump at all speeds. When we at The Watercraft Journal first tested the 2021 GP1800R SVHO, we knew it pulled demonstrably harder than before…but how much more? For that, we decided to head back down to Louisiana and pay our friend Jerry a call.
Recently, Jerry handed the reigns to the Greenhulk Garage YouTube channel over to his son, Greg Gaddis, who as of recently, has been regularly testing a brand new 2021 GP1800R SVHO. Conversely, we had in our possession an impressively low-mileage 2020 GP1800R and thought it the perfect opportunity to conduct a showdown just like before. This time, this face-off would be less about brand loyalties and rather, measuring the improvements that Yamaha had made to the GP1800R platform over the years.
Per our established parameters, both WaveRunners would be ran with completely full tanks of fuel (18.5-gallons coming in at a total of 111-pounds). Equally, our conditions were nominal: 72-degrees outside with a faint 5-mph wind and zero current in the stretch of locked canal where we were testing. We tagged Greg to serve as our guinea pig, since he weighs 90-pounds less than either of us. And while it would prove less effective, we did conduct several passes on the 2021 using Launch Control, although Greg was able to fare better results manually.
Beginning with the 2020 Yamaha GP1800R, Greg was able to click off a respectable 3.77-second 5-to-60mph acceleration time, with a GPS-confirmed peak top speed of 70.5mph – that is, before the speed limiter pulled back on the throttle, dropping it back down to 68mph. In the video, the 2020 pulls hard, but almost immediately begins to cavitate, struggling to ingest and process the quantity of water necessary to maintain thrust. Worse, off as it reached peak speeds, the engine began “bouncing” off of rev limiter, causing the ski to surge.
Switching to the black-and-green 2021 GP1800R, the supercharged 1.8-liter launched hard and rocketed to an impressive 5-to-60mph of 3.51-seconds and again, a peak top speed of 71.2mph. From a crawl, the 2021 bites into the water hard and yanks Greg to 70-miles per hour almost without flinching. Again, attempts were made to best this time using the newly-added Launch Control feature, but Greg’s toggling the electric trim manually fared better results.
After several passes and both engines sufficiently heat soaked, acceleration numbers were delayed but the placements did not. The 2020 pulled to 60mph in 3.96-seconds, while the 2021 sped to 60mph in 3.76-seconds (which was faster than the 2020 with the engine cool). Of course, the biggest revelation was how much better the 2021 GP1800R does compared to the original 2018 GP1800 we tested over two years earlier: 4.42-seconds versus 3.51-seconds is nearly nine-tenths of a second, or effectively, nine carlengths if you’re talking drag racing.
In all, the advancements made to the GP1800R platform speak for themselves. We certainly we able to quantify the performance gains – at least in regards to initial acceleration – but there’s still so much left to verify. Cornering prowess is certainly palpable to the keen rider; the WaveRunner’s lean-in, and pull through the apex of a corner is exhilarating. Equally, the SVHO tracks so predictable through a variety of water conditions it’s almost boring. We’ll definitely be watching the professional racing circuit for those results, so until then, enjoy the video below:
The all new all white Yamaha 4-stroke 2021 SuperJet is just begging for some color and IPD Graphics delivered with one of their new wraps. They spiced this one up with a race inspired design of black with bronze accents. The vinyl wrap is clean, and the bronze accents give it a nice pop.
The all white SuperJet provides the perfect canvas for design with its clean lines and refined design. The ski has an actual chiseled appearance, something we don’t often see. The 2021 SuperJet 4-Stroke model comes in at under $10,000 and the IPD graphics cost $339 enabling you to customize a new ski for just over $10,000.
We like this ski for its minimalist approach and the ability to make it ours with a custom graphics kit from IPD Graphics. The kits are made of a durable long-lasting vinyl enabling them to take a beating for quite some time. You don’t have to be a pro to install the kit on your new SuperJet nor do you have to be a pro to experience the challenge of riding the all-new Yamaha 4-stroke SuperJet.
Yamaha wants you to know that the latest innovation of the SuperJet is built for the next generation of stand-up riders who are looking for the next big thing. Grab yours now and give it a great looking wrap from IPD Graphics. You might become the next big thing on the water!
Steven in Sales presents another great article that asks the question: Can you ride a jet ski at night? The answer is “no” and we’re going to tell you why.
First of all, navigation lights are forbidden on jet skis and you will get fined by water patrol if they catch you with the lights. This has to do with the size of jet skis and the confusion that lights cause other boaters. Jet skis can make sudden moves, and this causes further confusion within the boating community at night. PWC are difficult to see during the day and impossible to see at night.
During the day, at least a rooster tail can be seen. It would be invisible at night. Also, people do stupid things on PWC (c’mon, admit it) and what’s to prevent them from doing those stupid things at night? This is a good time to bring up life jackets. Most life jackets don’t have reflectors; so if you fall off, no one can see you in the water. Moreover, it’s best not to ride your PWC in fog and when it rains. If you are riding and a freak storm pops up, get to a dock or land as quickly as possible, especially if you’re in a thunderstorm.
If you do find yourself trapped after dark on your jet ski, motor to the nearest launch or land because you aren’t visible on the water and this makes you a sitting duck. A good thing to have is a membership with one of the boat towing companies. Towing memberships are awesome and will pay for themselves with one tow and a tow isn’t cheap to get a tow! Ask us how we know. If you don’t have a membership, use your phone to call someone and then buy a membership for the next time you’re on the water. You will be glad you did.
There are some exceptions to the “do not drive your PWC at night” rule and this pertains to PWC specific to search and rescue teams, such as the Sea-Doo SAR. The SAR is available only to search and rescue teams. It is a rescue specific machine, and it is outfitted with navigation lights and it is a beast. The craft is excellent for night ops because sometimes a jet ski is needed to use for the hard-to-reach places and rescue can be required at any time. Enjoy your watercraft between sunrise and sunset because when the sun is gone, you cannot drive your jet ski.
With an end to social distancing still out of reach for most folks coupled with cold weather this time of the year, many people are eager to extend their ride time on the water.
The all white SuperJet provides the perfect canvas for design with its clean lines and refined design. The ski has an actual chiseled appearance, something we don’t often see. The 2021 SuperJet 4-Stroke model comes in at under $10,000 and the 
