Skylar Mack, the 18-year-old daughter of professional PWC racer Dennis Mack, and Vanjae Ramgeet, a 24-year-old Cayman Islands resident and also professional PWC racer, were both sentenced to 4 months in jail after Mack willfully removed a COVID tracking device during a mandatory 14-day isolation period in the Cayman islands.
After undergoing two negative COVID-19 tests, and her family appealing to President Trump directly, the White House responded by forwarding her case to the appropriate federal agency. Per an article in Gateway Pundit, Jonathan Hughes who is the attorney for Skylar Mack said, “This particular sentence would have a particularly harsh effect on her, and the court ought to have considered that the individual before it, not just the crime.”
Cayman Islands Governor, Martyn Roper stated, “All of us have to show individual and collective responsibility if we’re going to effectively deal with this pandemic.” Ramgeet was charged with “aiding and abetting” Mack and was originally sentenced to 40 hours of community service and a $2,600 fine each; but “under the country’s revised penalties for quarantine breaches,” BuzzFeed News reported, “prosecutors appealed for a harsher sentence that included prison time for the couple.”
After lengthy appeals and international attention placed on this case, both Mack and Ramgeet’s prison sentences were reduced to 2 months on Tuesday, according to court records.
It’s been easily one of our pet favorites since its introduction only a couple of years ago; but the Yamaha EXR WaveRunner has really to really make the impact on the world of performance Rec Lite personal watercraft that we would like to see. Thankfully, folks are getting hip to the 110-horsepower, super lightweight NanoXcel2 2-seater, including some racers.
One such athlete came to RIVA Racing to have a customized 2021 EXR built for IJSBA and ProWatercross racing this coming year, and the results are impressive. The list of go-fast goodies on this little machine are impressive and will definitely help to push this WaveRunner towards the front of the pack if the racer can keep it pinned!
Here’s what RIVA published to its Facebook page just a short while ago: We recently completed this Yamaha EX build for a customer that competes @ijsba & @prowatercross racing. Mods include • MaptunerX ECU Tuning • RIVA Power Filter Kit • Solas Impeller • RIVA Ride Plate • RIVA Top-Loader Intake Grate • RIVA Pro-Series Sponsons• RIVA Billet Steering System • RIVA Bars & ODI Grips • RIVA/Jettrim Seat Cover • RIVA Mirror Block-off Kit
Contact us for expert advice on taking your watercraft to the next level! Click here to shop now!
In this latest action-packed Sea-Doo adventure, media star and adventure seeker Rory Kramer show us how to live the #SeaDooLife; Lake Powell Style.
Rory along with his wife and crew of ultimate fun seekers, turn this beautiful landscape into a backdrop of exploration and thrill-seeking while onboard their Sea-Doo watercraft. Some could call it the ultimate Sea-Doo playground.
According to Sea-Doo, the crew was there for two epic days tearing up the water by jumping, gliding, and surfing their way across the reservoir with an impressive canyon backdrop at every turn.
So keep watching the video below to check out all of the action-packed fun. Want to experience this for yourself? Well you can with the uncharted society. Check it out to book your travel package today and find out all of the ways to enjoy the #SeaDooLife.
The world leader in performance PWC parts and components – as well as a major vendor of all OEM replacement parts – the Greenhulk PWC Performance store is continuing its Holiday Sale all the way through December 31st. That means you can still save on all of the go-fast goods you’ve been eyeing, or simply pick up that replacement piece you need to bring your PWC back to showroom-stock.
Whether you’re looking at RIVA Racing, Fizzle Factory or WORX Racing, the Greenhulk PWC Performance Store has it all – and for an increased discount of 15-percent over the normal 10-percent when you use the coupon code “greenhulk” when checking out. It’s really that easy, guys. Seriously, why pay full price on the same stuff when you can shave literally hundreds of dollars off?
Here’s the original announcement: Use the discount code: greenhulk when completing the checkout process in the Greenhulk PWC Performance Store and save 15% off the listed price of MOST Riva Racing, ALL Fizzle Factory, and ALL WORX Racing and all OEM parts.
Applicable products show much money will be discounted on each individual product page. Promo period: Nov 24th 2020 at 12:01am to Dec 31st, 2020 at 11:59am (EST). Discount qualifies for NEW orders ONLY.
Seeing how today’s personal watercraft enthusiasts are looking to push the boundaries of long distance traveling and exploration, The Watercraft Journal sought to develop the easiest, most non-invasive auxiliary fuel system possible. The goal was to provide a secondary fuel supply that would automatically siphon extra gasoline from the rear tank into the factory fuel cell without the need of cutting, drilling or permanently modifying the watercraft in any way.
The Watercraft Journal’s “Long Hauler” Auxiliary Fuel System Kit is the single-most comprehensive yet simple package we could devise. It was purposely engineered so that the least mechanically-savvy can install it in a matter of 10-to-15 minutes using common hand tools. Here we’ll demonstrate each step of the installation process, using this 2020 Yamaha GP1800R SVHO WaveRunner.
Because our system operates using the mechanical vacuum created in the factory fuel cell to organically siphon fuel from our auxiliary tank mounted on the rear deck, our kit will work on all 2004-and-up 4-stroke Kawasaki and Yamaha runabouts, as well as all 2003-through-2011 Sea-Doos. Changes made to the fuel pickup by Sea-Doo in 2012 makes use of our system impossible without major changes to the factory fuel system, which we didn’t want to require.
The Long Hauler Auxiliary Fuel System consists of 9 pieces: a cold-rolled stainless steel-and-black powder coated rack from Kool PWC Stuff, featuring its patent-pending Z-bar adjustable base, lined with thick Hydro-Turf padding; a stainless steel double-hooked turnbuckle; a USCG-certified 12-gallon auxiliary fuel tank featuring a ventilated locking gas cap, internal pickup and even a floating fuel level gauge; two ratchet straps to secure the tank to the rack; 11-feet of non-EFI 50psi-rated fuel line fitted with a brass 5/16-inch hose barb; and two zip-ties to secure the fuel line.
Installation begins by placing the empty rack on the rear swim platform. Make sure that the legs are flat against the deck before adjusting the rear hooks around the bottom of the rear bond rail. Tighten each of the (4) nylock nuts using either a pair of 1/2-inch sockets or wrenches, careful to make sure the adjustable brackets do not loosen in the process.
Once snug, install the turn buckle by inserting one of the hooks through the loop on the front of the rack. You’ll need to loosen the turn buckle to reach the tow eye on the rear of the ski. Once looped through the tow eye, begin tightening the turn buckle by hand by twisting the center section clockwise. You will immediately feel the rack begin to tighten down.
Next, install the auxiliary fuel tank into the rack, with the ventilated gas cap towards the rear, and the fuel gauge towards the front of the watercraft. Now loop the ratchet straps around the tank, feeding the strap inside of the upper rails and around the bottom bars. The hooks hook together on the bottom, letting you tighten down the straps, securing the tank to the rack.
With your rack secure and your tank installed, remove the seats from the watercraft exposing the engine compartment. Begin to install the fuel line by first removing the red safety cap from the tank pick up; then threading in by hand and then tightening down with a 9/16″ wrench the brass fitting into the fuel tank. Because this fuel line isn’t pressurized, there’s no need to add thread tape or plumber’s glue to the threads.
Once tightened down, feed the fuel line from the tank into the engine compartment, running the fuel line away from the exhaust side of the engine. For Yamahas, this often means having to remove the rear storage bin to allow the line to enter in beside the bulkhead. For Kawasakis, we recommend backing off one of the engine compartment vent hoses.
Remember: if the hose is kinked or compressed, fuel will not flow from the fuel tank into the ski’s fuel cell. Route the fuel hose along the intake manifold side of the engine, feeding it forward to the front of the fuel cell. Next, open up the front storage compartment and remove the forward bulkhead. This is often held in place by several plastic push pins. Simply press in the center pin until you hear an audible “click” and the panel will be able to be removed. (For Sea-Doos, the pin needs to be pried out half way before being removed.)
For Kawasaki and Yamaha applications, the removed panel will reveal a thin gauge vent line. This rubber line supplies the factory fuel cell with air as gasoline is mechanically drained out of it by the fuel pump. Prior to removing this line, crack open the factory gas cap to depressurize the fuel cell.
The vent line is not pressurized and is held on by a small black zip-tie. Often the line can be removed without cutting the zip-tie, as it is often loosely installed. Remove the vent line and push it aside – then install our new fuel hose to the tank’s vent nipple. Secure it using one of the supplied zip-ties. Once installed, go back towards the engine and use the second supplied zip-tie to secure the fuel hose away from the engine where possible. You do not want the fuel hose to make contact with any heated surfaces.
Now you can reinstall the front bulkhead and pushpins, as well as your seats, careful not to pinch the fuel hose. Finally, double check the tightness of your turn buckle and rear brackets before filling the auxiliary tank with fuel. Before beginning your ride, always remember to open the threaded vent on the auxiliary tank’s gas cap. If this remains closed, the fuel system will not work, and potentially hurt the fuel pump.
As you ride, the fuel gauge on your watercraft’s dashboard will not move until the auxiliary fuel tank is drained dry. When refueling, always refill your ski’s factory fuel cell first, as an empty fuel cell will NOT produce the vacuum necessary to siphon fuel from the auxiliary tank in the rear. If you haven’t bought your Long Hauler Auxiliary Fuel System Kit yet, you can find it for purchase exclusively HERE.
In crowning a Watercraft of The Year award, it’s imperative to weigh each vehicle upon its individual merits, and to do so without leveraging in any personal bias. Over the course of The Watercraft Journal’s near decade of publishing, Original Equipment (OE) manufacturers have come to respect and appreciate the effort taken by The Watercraft Journal’s staff to acknowledge achievements in innovation, design, overall execution and the model’s lasting affect on the marketplace and/or industry.
What we’ve come to call our IDEA score. Each of the aforementioned categories (innovation, design, execution, affect) are capable of earning a maximum of 10 points each, totaling a combined 40 possible points. This year, as we did last year, we have gone ahead and listed each model’s accumulated score, as it’ll clearly show how each model in our Top Three lined up against the other; and the narrow margin that some models were within to its next contender.
Again, judging a potential winner is not merely a matter of subjectivity; we took into account a variety of factors, compared notes with others outside of our staff, culled public opinion, and even considered the past year’s service claims, etc. Moreover, contenders were pulled from the near two-dozen personal watercraft individually reviewed over the 2020 model year. We feel it’s important that no entries were eligible that The Watercraft Journal’s staff didn’t personally review. If we can’t get our hands on it, we won’t review it. It only seems fair – we hope you feel the same.
Finally, as we’ve done over the last few years’ of Watercraft of The Year award, we’ve including the video review of each respective model that earned its place on our podium. The Watercraft Journal is the only personal watercraft magazine that publishes full-length reviews of the newest PWC as well as produces a video to accompany each feature, giving the enthusiasts (and first-time buyers) the best, most comprehensive data to make an informed purchase.
As we’ve said in years previous, each of the machines in this article are worthy of the top honor – in certain key segments, as every PWC excelled in one category over the other. Although awarding one machine the highest honor inevitably incurs some push back from those with dissenting opinions, it is important to know just how close these three watercraft came within of earning the highest award.
2020 Watercraft of The Year 2nd Runner-Up: 2020 Kawasaki STX 160LX JetSki Innovation: 9; Design: 9; Execution: 8; Affect: 8; Total: 34 points
The long-overdue redesign of the STX-15F was both highly speculated and greatly anticipated. What many didn’t expect was the creation of three new models out of the refresh. In revamping much (not all) of Kawasaki’s Recreation segment entry, the brand gave us the STX 160, the STX 160X and the STX 160LX. While the hull and 148mm axial-flow jet pump (as well as many other internal components) remained the same; the new STX’s deck, hood, seat and even its 1,498cc four-cylinder 4-stroke would be upgraded. Equally, new standardized features – particularly, those found on the top tier 160LX model (MSRP $11,699) – gave this 877-pound JetSki a direct-through-the-sternum-into-the-heart injection of adrenaline, earning it a spot on this year’s Watercraft of The Year podium.
The newly molded deck gives the 2020 STX 160LX deeper and wider footwells, a stepped rear swim platform featuring a soft foam-padded folding swim step that integrates into the bumper rail. Kawasaki integrated a two-rung reboarding ladder behind the rear passenger seat and tucked in a rubberized pouch that stows a dock line or tow rope. Two-tone, CNC-cut Hydro-Turf traction matting looks sharp as does the grippy, two-tone seat cover (using the same heat resistant material found on Kawasaki’s Ultra 310LX). A neat new feature is Kawasaki’s hinged rear seat that folds up to reveal a removable, deep well storage tub. For the pilot, two cup holders were molded into the top deck, fore of the LCD dashboard. (But don’t be too surprised to find a manually-operated reverse lever; brakes are still on the horizon.)
Below the STX’s redesigned handlebars is a split glove box with a separate waterproof phone pocket, a USB socket and Kawasaki’s “Immobilizer” colored key anti-theft system. And while its 35-gallon total storage capacity is competitive with Yamaha’s VX, its massive 20.6-gallon fuel cell gives the STX the largest fuel capacity of any entry into the segment. Of course, the major change was the addition of Kawasaki’s full fly-by-wire throttle, ignition and engine management system, giving the STX – most noticeably – Cruise Control and No Wake mode. The 160LX designation also gives the Ebony-and-Candy Lime Green JetSki the Jetsounds audio system providing a pair of 30-watt waterproof speakers powered by an amp rated at 20W (x2 channels, max 40W x2) that can play all of the MP3s your smartphone (or other digital music player) can carry.
2020 Watercraft of The Year 1st Runner-Up: 2020 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner Innovation: 8; Design: 9; Execution: 9; Affect: 10; Total: 36 points
Admittedly, changes made from 2019 to 2020 were entirely aesthetic. Yet within that single production year, the Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner has become the most successful full-sized 3-seater runabout in professional racing. Since its 2019 redesign, the FX SVHO and smaller GP1800R were the ONLY two machines ridden by competitors in the Pro Stock class at 2019’s IJSBA World Finals. This alone is absolutely astounding. Evolving from a staid, somewhat tame 3-seater into a full-sized runabout that can cut hairpin turns around a buoy course or slamming through open ocean waves is a remarkable feat, and the FX SVHO can do so with aplomb. Long (140.9-inches long) and lean (818-pounds dry weight), the only change Yamaha could make was to paint the whole damn thing black.
From bow-to-stern, the 2020 FX SVHO (MSRP $15,699) is slathered in a two-tone combination of inky gloss and textured flat black. Sure, black is difficult to see at times; it can get hot as blazes baking under the sun; and it’s the single-most difficult color to keep clean but daaang, is it gorgeous. Beneath its seat is the supercharged-and-intercooled 1,812cc Super Vortex High Output delivering lightning quick fly-by-wire throttle response from the industry’s largest-displacement 4-cylinder four-stroke. The 4.3-inch Yamaha Connext touchscreen dashboard offers data on fuel consumption rates, miles to empty, or a 4-digit security PIN number, among a bevy of other analytics.
Yamaha’s RiDE brake & reverse system is standard fare, as are Yamaha’s No Wake Mode and Cruise Assist. No Wake Mode’s default speed is 5mph, with an adjustment of 1 mile per hour either up or down. For Cruise Assist, you’re given up to 5mph of advancement or deceleration, before being required to reset to a different speed. For 2020, we tested Yamaha’s optional JL Audio System pounding out of a face-melting 600-watt, 4-channel amp through two pressure-washer safe, waterproof footwell speakers. Priced at $1,800, the dealer-installed option is best paired with the available 8-inch subwoofer kit, which goes for an additional grand and eats up much of the FX’s watertight glove box, cutting down the FX’s 44-gallons of storage a bit. The trade though is without a doubt, the clearest, most explosive sound system we’ve seen (or heard) available on a PWC.
2020 Watercraft of The Year: 2020 Sea-Doo GTI SE 170 Innovation: 10; Design: 9; Execution: 10; Affect: 9; Total: 38 points
Awarding the 2020 Sea-Doo GTI SE 170 as The Watercraft Journal’s Watercraft of The Year was unequivocally one of the easiest decisions we’ve made in years. Starting with an entirely fresh sheet of paper, Sea-Doo managed to design and execute one of the most innovative, groundbreaking and just plain enjoyable personal watercraft we’ve had the pleasure of testing. It’s not often when one PWC can please on so many levels, but the all-new 2020 GTI SE 170 (MSRP $11,399) does it – and does it right. Everything about the 2020 GTI is new; the fiberglass-stringer reinforced Polytec 2.0 hull material; the multi-strake, low-angle V-design of the hull; and the 170-horsepower, naturally-aspirated 1630 ACE engine – and everything is spot on.
Sea-Doo pulled from its recent years of innovative development to pour it all into the entirely redesigned 2020 GTI platform. The deep footwells and unmatched Ergolock seating are stellar, flowing back into a removable rear passenger seat and LinQ accessory attachment system. Whether you’re bringing along Sea-Doo’s 4.2-gallon cooler or the massive 13.5-gallon Fish Pro cooler, the GTI can haul it. A spring-loaded rear swim step snaps taut to the bondrail; integrated grips are molded into the bow for easy loading; and a class-leading 42.5-gallons of storage gives this Recreation-segment PWC far more capacity than even Sea-Doo’s full-sized skis (including a giant 2.3-gallon glove box with a watertight phone storage case).
Optional is BRP’s 100-watt Bluetooth-controlled Premium Audio package. A new 4.5-inch digital display (featuring an orange backlight) reads off the vitals. As in 2019, gone is a conventional cruise control, replaced by Sea-Doo’s Slow Mode. Acting as a speed regulator, Slow Mode permits the driver to set a top speed, and when the GTI set at neutral, to program a low “no wake” speed for idling through marinas or the like. Sharing the same left hand side toggle pad as the GTI’s Variable Trim System (VTS), Sea-Doo lets the operator choose from several low speed presets – from a near dead crawl to upwards of 9mph. When used while under throttle, engaging Slow Mode artificially caps the GTI’s top speed, giving you an ideal feature for novices learning to operate the GTI.
With 2020, Sea-Doo retired the 1503 Rotax engines and introduced a 1,630cc naturally-aspirated ACE 1630 3-cylinder, cranking out 170-horsepower; making it the most powerful naturally-aspirated engine ever produced by Rotax. The larger displacement and added 15-horsepower gives the 170 variant a 20% improvement in acceleration over the previous 155, equating a 5.2-second 0-to-50mph against the outgoing 155-horse GTI’s 6.6 second run. We managed a top speed of 57.4 mph at 7,700rpm. And as mentioned, the new Polytec 2.0 hull is not only a far superior shape in a variety of water conditions, but tracks and handles more predictably than any other model Sea-Doo offers. Add to that a reduced curb weight of 739-pounds (51-pounds less than last year’s GTI SE 155), and the 2020 Sea-Doo GTI SE 170 is without a doubt the single-most worthy recipient of Watercraft of The Year we’ve had.
Let’s just get right to it; 2020 pretty much screwed everyone’s plans up. Especially in regards to racing. Sure, promoters did their damnedest to keep events rolling, but even in the rare instances when local governments weren’t enforcing austere shutdowns, travel between states and countries for that matter, was all but impossible. So what is there to do? You pick up where you left off and try again in 2021 – and that’s exactly what the team at AquaX USA are doing.
We at The Watercraft Journal just received notice of AquaX USA’s race schedule for next year. Not only do we see THREE series – the National Pro Series, the Florida Series and the Indiana Series – but also a World Championships Pro Enduro in Nassau. Certainly, several of these series will overlap during specific events, but we’re excited to see so many events planned and in two states. We’re hoping racers will feel the same and we see a killer turnout!
The official press release reads as follows: As P1 AquaX prepares to celebrate its tenth season of racing, the international personal watercraft racing promoter has released plans that will see it stage three series in the United States in 2021. Two new venues – La Porte in northwest Indiana and St. Petersburg on Florida’s west coast – join the race calendar with AquaX racing returning to Cocoa Beach and Sarasota.
The three championships will feature Pro Enduro and Am Enduro action, with a Pro National Championship, Am Florida Series and Am Indiana Series that will be preceded by a promo event in Michigan City in July. A Sprint calendar will be announced next month.
Daytona Beach will kick off the season in mid-April, with a total of more than one hundred riders expected to tackle the famous surf. This will be the seventh year of AquaX racing at this mecca for motorsport on Florida’s Atlantic coast and Hard Rock will again be the host hotel. The following month the series will make its fourth visit to Cocoa Beach on the Space Coast where for the first time it will to join the Thunder on Cocoa Beach offshore powerboat racing.
Sarasota will welcome the riders at the end of June before the action heads north to Indiana in July where La Porte and Michigan City, with its army of enthusiastic fans, will host two race weekends following an open day. The final stop in early September will be St. Petersburg on the Gulf Coast as it hosts an AquaX event for the first time. In addition to the Cocoa Beach event, Sarasota, Michigan City and St. Petersburg will stage a ‘double bill’ of AquaX and powerboat racing.
Unveiling the calendar at P1’s race headquarters in Orlando, USA Championship Manager Michelle Petro said:
“After the enforced break this year we can’t wait to get back on the water in April. Our three series will deliver an extensive, 5-month program of free-to-watch racing in Florida and Indiana, with a promo event in Michigan City before the Indiana Series begins in July. Outstanding locations and host venues contribute enormously to our event offering, with the focus on raising the profile of the venue, attracting visitors, encouraging local involvement and stimulating the local economy. We’ll be announcing further details next month, including television coverage and a print media partner.”
Austere COVID restrictions had kept Dale McLaughlan from seeing his girlfriend, Jessica Radcliffe for weeks. The self-employed roofer from Irvine, Scotland first met Radcliffe while working on a on the Isle of Man during a four week work permit issued under the island’s strict pandemic guidelines.
Returning home, McLaughlan sought to visit Radcliffe again, but was denied permission twice by authorities. So, he purchased a used pink Sea-Doo Spark and planned his next move. Police reported that McLaughlin towed the Spark the 70-miles from his home to the beach on the Isle of Whithorn, where his journey began at 8am.
McLaughlan estimated that the 25-mile open ocean trek would take 40 minutes, but due to foul weather on the Irish Sea and McLaughlan’s inexperience on a PWC, took nearly five hours, arriving on land at 1pm. Then he hiked another 15-miles by foot, following the road signs to his girlfriend’s home in Anagh Coar.
After spending the next 36 hours together with Radcliffe, authorities arrested McLaughlin, where he was jailed for 4 weeks citing, “Not only did you place the population of the Isle of Man at risk, but you put yourself at significant risk of harm.”
Concerned whether McLaughlin would “infect” the population of Isle of Man, he told police that he “had taken a COVID test four days before he had traveled and it had come back negative.” Prepared to take a second test, McLaughlin’s results came back negative a second time.
McLaughlin pleaded guilty to a single charge of ‘failing to comply with the emergency powers regulations’ by entering the island without an exemption notice or permit. In a statement, the police said: ‘The circumstances have been investigated and Public Health are satisfied there is no wider risk to the public.”
As you might’ve heard, getting your hands on a brand-new 2021 Yamaha WaveRunner or boat has been a little difficult. While Yamaha’s Newnan, Georgia facility is in full production mode, the COVID-19 pandemic has hindered production for smaller manufacturers who supply Yamaha with several key components necessary to completing near-finished units.
In fact, we recently heard that dozens of Yamaha jet boats sat in a warehouse waiting for pallets of windshields to arrive from suppliers. The same situation goes for many different WaveRunners models. Again, Yamaha corporate is shipping completed machines out as fast as possible, but the logjam has many would-by buyers anxiously waiting for dealers to receive them.
Thankfully, Cycle Springs Powersports, out of Clearwater, Florida is the nation’s leading Yamaha boat and WaveRunner dealer – therefore, more than other “more seasonal” dealers have been getting units first. In a recent Facebook post, Cycle Springs celebrated three customers who picked up a ’21 SuperJet, ’21 Yamaha FSH 195 Sport, and a ’21 VX Cruiser HO WaveRunner.
So to reiterate, Yamaha is pushing out new 2021 models as quickly as they can complete them – but look to top rated dealers like Cycle Springs Powersports to get them on the showroom floor faster. Contact them directly at (727) 771-1211 or visit in person at 29703 US Hwy 19 N., Clearwater, FL 33761.
While we were on lockdown, RIVA Racing went all out and upgraded two of Yamaha SVHO-powered WaveRunners into their own specialized Limited Editions as only RIVA can do. This year, they put out 15 units each of the 2021 Yamaha GP1800R Limited Editionand 2021 Yamaha FX1800R Limited Edition. For the look this year, the RIVA team went with a stealthier vision for the 2021 models, wrapping them in black with touches of a striking electric blue and dashes of white stripes in all of the right places. The electric blue really pops, and the machines look absolutely fierce!
Digging into the vast array of components that RIVA used to build the Limited Edition Yamaha GP1800R, it all begins with the RIVA MaptunerX Yamaha License. This accesses the RIVA tuning library and making it easy to switch between performance tunes and back to stock settings. RIVA upgraded the fuel system with the RIVA Yamaha 1.8L High Flow Billet Fuel Rail. This supports the increased horsepower when used with the supercharger modification, as it replaces the restrictive factory fuel rail for improved fuel delivery – plus it makes the engine bay look waaay better.
In order to keep the engine cool, a RIVA Yamaha 2021 GP1800R SVHO Power Filter Kit was added. The power filter provides the supercharged engine a steady flow of cool air that also increases acceleration by replacing the restrictive stock air box with a high-volume, precision-formed intake duct. A RIVA Yamaha 1.8L Engine Breather Upgrade Kit was installed to eliminate pesky power-robbing crankcase emissions from the engine’s air intake – also help increase horsepower.
The factory supercharged was fitted with the RIVA Yamaha Supercharger Shaft Upgrade Kit. With this kit, comes the ultimate in reliability for high boost applications and it features an innovative hydraulic shaft stabilization bearing that limits wear and shaft deflection. A through-shaft oiling system maximizes lubrication. RIVA added the all-new Gen-3 Power Cooler Kit to this machine as well. This bad boy’s cooler element is rated for up to 600-horsepower with exit temperatures averaging 50F cooler than stock.
Speaking of cooling, a SVHO Pro-Series Engine Cooling Upgrade was added. This improves cooling to the engine and the intercooler, adding increased performance and reliability. Another component that increases engine reliability is the Yamaha Valve Retainer Upgrade Kit. The valve retainer reduces the possibility of valve float at high rpm. The crew replaced the stock exhaust with one of their Yamaha rear exhaust kits. The RIVA rear exhaust kit allows for removal of restrictive sound suppression system and improves engine performance with the reduction of back pressure and restriction.
A non-slip RIVA Yamaha 2021 GP1800R Seat Cover with black and blue stitching ties in perfectly with the Yamaha 2021 GP1800R Limited Edition graphics. This watercraft wouldn’t be complete without a set of RIVA Yamaha GP1800 Pro-Series Sponsons. They greatly improve handling and straight-line stability, enabling you to easily leave your opponent in the dust at the starting line. There are only a few differences in components between the 2021 RIVA Yamaha GP1800R and the 2021 RIVA Yamaha FX1800R Limited Editions and they are as follows:
Each one of these boats a roaring 350-horsepower that delivers amazing acceleration with blistering speeds of up to 86 mph. (Remember, a stock GP1800R hits a maximum speed of 68mph.) We’re talking an increase of 20mph…that’s huge! The 2021 Yamaha GP1800R Limited Edition and the 2021 Yamaha FX1800R Limited Edition are priced at $29,895 each.
These machines were built for professional riders who demand the ultimate in power and performance. They definitely are not suitable for the average Joe. The Limited Edition units are offered exclusively through RIVA Racing, a division of RIVA Motorsports. For more information or to order, contact RIVA at [email protected] or call (954) 785-2684.
[As of the publishing of this story, all 15 of the 2021 RIVA Racing GP1800R Limited Edition WaveRunners have been claimed and sold. Availability on the 2021 RIVA Racing FX1800R Limited Edition remains currently open – so if you want one, you better act quickly. –Ed.]
Returning home, McLaughlan sought to visit Radcliffe again, but was denied permission twice by authorities. So, he purchased a used pink Sea-Doo Spark and planned his next move. Police reported that McLaughlin towed the Spark the 70-miles from his home to the beach on the Isle of Whithorn, where his journey began at 8am.
