Check it out, you can now purchase a RIVA Racing Neoprene Men’s BioLite Life Vest from Greenhulk Performance Parts. The vests are available in solid black with sizes XS to XXXL and come at an affordable price point of $64.95. This is a quality no frills vest that has been designed for straight up function, safety, and comfort no matter what kind of on the water activity you’re participating. Also, the RIVA Racing Biolite vest is approved by the U.S. Coast Guard.
It features a PWC lanyard attachment ring and has both front chest and back shoulder RIVA print logo. The neoprene PFD is a versatile product that can be used for most any water sport. The vest has wide arm holes and its segmented panels keep hinderance of motion at a minimum and it will stay snug in order to help keep you safe on the water thanks to the two adjustable belt clips and front zipper.
BioLite is an environmentally friendly material that breathes better, is lighter, and dries faster than traditional neoprene. Quick dry and light are a good combination! Whether you need to upgrade you current PFD lineup or want to try something different, check out the RIVA Racing Neoprene Men’s BioLite Life Vest on the Greenhulk store. Greenhulk offers worldwide shipping so don’t get discouraged if you’re across the pond and want one of these vests.
Several day’s worth of heavy rain threatened to cancel the 14th annual Mudbug PWC Rally in Morgan City, Louisiana. The downpour had flooded Lake Palourde and the canals surrounding Avoca Island, raising the waterline to dangerous levels. With threats of local police enforcing No Wake Zones through most of the area, many feared that this year’s event wasn’t going to happen. Thankfully, with just a few days left to the June 12th weekend, water levels began to recede as quickly as they rose, and any threat to the high-banked levees were removed. Mudbug was a “GO” and The Watercraft Journal would be arriving in top form.
This year would mark my 6th time attending the event, one which I shared exclusively with my oldest daughter up until this point. In light of the fact that the school year was prematurely ended, and that my other two children were finally old enough to enjoy rides on the water, it was decided that the whole family would join the fun. Thankfully, strong gusts from the Gulf had blown in, clarifying the water and dropping the normally brutal humidity to a very palatable percentile. In fact, our four days in Morgan City were some of the most pleasant to date – with temperatures in the low-to-mid 80s and clear blue skies.
Unlike previous years where the world’s fastest personal watercraft sought to size-off against each other in heads up drag racing and then precision radar runs, recent Mudbug Rallys have focused more on the group rides and winding scenery. Perusing the official event thread on Greenhulk.net teased several potential rides to join; the forum acting as the central hub for those visiting the gulf coastal meet. Although our estimated time of arrival would set us in town by mid-afternoon on Thursday, many adventure-seekers were on-site a day or two earlier, careening the trails that branched from the Atchafalaya River.
Wanting to keep kids and wife comfortable over two days of riding also meant carefully picking which watercraft to bring. For this trip, the trailer was loaded with two units completely redesigned for the model year; The Watercraft Journal‘s long-term loaner, a 2020 Sea-Doo GTI SE 170 in Ice Metal and Orange Crush; and a 2020 Kawasaki STX 160LX JetSki in Ebony and Candy Lime Green. Both units represented each brand’s highest-level entry in the Recreation segment of watercraft – the group most targeted towards family-friendly budgets.
Equally, both machines were equipped from the factory with each brand’s respective on-board sound system – Jetsounds for the Kawasaki and Sea-Doo’s BRP Premium Audio Package on the GTI. Curiously, we discovered early on that the Kawasaki’s Jetsounds system offers no “off” button [correction: the power button’s there, just tucked up high, underneath the handlebar pad – Ed.] and will automatically begin playing music synced through your Bluetooth-connected smart phone whether you want it to or not. So just be mindful of that.
Additional standard features found on both machines include Cruise Control and watertight storage cubbies for cell phones found in the glove box. As equipped, our Sea-Doo would fetch $12,199 on the showroom floor, while the Kawasaki would come in $500 less at $11,699. Of course, it’s important to note that the STX 160LX is lacking a functioning brake system – employing a left-hand reverse lever – versus the Sea-Doo’s Intelligent Brake & Reverse system.
Waking up to crystal blue skies, we journeyed up the isthmus between Flat Lake and Lake Palourde, to the gathering spot at Doiron’s Landing just over the levee. The Sea-Doo was fitted with the 4.5-gallon LinQ accessory cooler, as a small Igloo cooler was ratchet-strapped to the narrow swim platform on the Kawasaki – both packed with cold drinks and snacks for the day’s ride.
For our Friday excursion, we joined longtime Mudbug veteran and friend Billy Duplessis for a modified “Flat Lake Loop.” Lead by Louisiana native David Fountain, the path provided a wonderful variety of wide open channels, mirror-smooth water and plenty of twisting, narrow trails passing beneath the shade of overhanging cypress trees dripping with Spanish moss.
My wife and two daughters rode effortlessly aboard the Sea-Doo, it’s two-tier Ergolock seat comfortable for the three of them. From above, the GTI’s redesigned bench is somewhat Coke-bottle shaped, with pinches in the middle for rear passengers to sit more comfortably. Equipped with the newly re-engineered, naturally-aspirated 1630 ACE, our GTI fared well in regards to fuel mileage (averaging a little over 5 miles per gallon) but its limited 15.8-gallon fuel cell drained quickly, causing us to pack it in a little early. Conversely, our STX 160LX barely made a dent in its gargantuan 20-and-a-half gallon tank, tempting us to leave the rest of our party behind.
Nevertheless, the two units were loaded back up onto the trailer while the family cooled off inside of the car, it’s air conditioning blasting frigid air from all vents. It wasn’t until well past 6pm that evening that the rest of Duplessis’ party made it back to the launch ramp. The next morning promised a slightly more calm adventure, albeit a familiar one. PWCTrailfinder.com‘s own Billy Crews promised to take us for a personal tour of Bayou Cocodrie and Bayou Chevreuil, both just north of the previous day’s ride.
Joined by Wade Robinsonand Becky Brown aboard his naturally-aspirated Ultra LX JetSki [correction, a naturally-aspirated Honda F-15 Aquatrax – Ed.], our four watercraft sped up the canal and into the marsh. Above Bayou Gunnie are a series of perpendicular lanes cut into the treeline. These man-made channels were cleared by oil companies, who pump out several thousand gallons of crude a week. While the pipelines rested well below the hulls of our watercraft, the ever-present signs and markers were constant reminders.
At one point, Billy stopped and noted at the remoteness of the swamp recalling a family friend who had become stuck on a shallow sand bar while venturing into the bayou for some quiet fishing had to wait overnight for the tide to come in. Traffic was so irregular that nobody had come by during the 12 hours that he was stuck – a fate we did not want to share.
Racking up several hours’ worth of ride time over two days aboard the redesigned STX revealed some quirks that hadn’t appeared during my initial introduction earlier this year. Although the 2020 redesign radically improves upon the deck of the outgoing STX, the hull itself remains unchanged. In doing so, the overall height of the STX was raised over 4-inches (from 41.3 to 45.4-inches), which is substantial.
This added height changes the Kawasaki’s center of gravity. I soon discovered that at speeds between 30-to-45mph, the STX will teeter on its keel from left to right; only when really ripping at top speed (a GPS-confirmed 58mph) does the Kawasaki feel fully planted and secure. Equally, when riding as a passenger, the rearward weight distribution causes the STX 160LX to porpoise, bobbing its nose up and down – even when skirting across mirror-flat water. The Sea-Doo has also done this at times, but toggling its standardized VTS electric trim quickly resolves it.
Concluding Saturday’s ride, the two skis were loaded up on the trailer and dropped off with Greenhulk‘s own Jerry Gaddis for safe keeping. The next morning, we drove an hour back east to New Orleans for a day in the French Quarter. Founded in 1718 by Jean-Baptiste Le Moyne, New Orleans’ French Quarter remains one of the continent’s oldest surviving settlements and has remained the nation’s most contested piece of territory – playing key roles in the Seven Years’ War between the French and Spanish; the American Revolution, the Battle of 1812 and of course, the American Civil War.
Lining the banks of the Mississippi River and facing Algiers Point, New Orleans’ French Quarter is one of the nation’s most treasured locations. Upon our arrival, we quickly joined the line for a bag of piping hot beignets from Cafe Du Monde, the renowned open-air coffee shop located on Decatur Street first opened in 1862. After loading up on these traditional French doughnuts doused in layers of powdered sugar, we decided to walk off the sugar rush by touring Decatur Street down to the Place de France displaying its gilded statue of Joan of Arc.
Doubling back towards Jackson Square, we passed by confectioneries selling candied pralines, restaurants preparing slow-cooked gumbo, and even a store arranging for jazz funeral marches. Prior to becoming the gated city park it is today, Jackson Square was once a military parade ground as well as the site for public executions. Even under the shadow of the peaked St. Louis Cathedral, the severed heads of convicted criminals and escaped slaves once hung on display (yikes!).
Next door to the whitewashed walls of the basilica is the Cabildo, the once Spanish colonial city hall. Today the edifice stands as the Louisiana State Museum and location where the final transfer papers for the Louisiana Purchase were signed. As we walked the cobblestone streets, ornate wrought iron balconies and galleries hung above our heads. Decorated with multi-colored strands of beads, flags and Mardi Gras novelties, the entirety of our circuit up and down Royal and Bourbon Streets was a sight to behold – even on a quiet Sunday morning.
Signs advertising ghost tours, voodoo rituals and even a haunted apartment for rent caught my eye. Landmarks like the historical New Orleans Pharmacy & Apothecary, Hotel St. Helene, and even the former home of playwright Tennessee Williams beckoned to my inner history-lover. Instead, we loaded up the family and do some first-hand ghost hunting ourselves at the famed above-ground tombs of the St. Louis Cemetery number 2.
Infamously known as New Orleans’ second Necropolis or “City of The Dead,” the second cemetery was open to the public while the older first above-ground cemetery was closed for renovations. Here early 19th century city planners began relocating their dead in order to stave off the spread of cholera. Here lies the remains of several noteworthy New Orleans Jazz musicians as well as famed French privateer Dominique You who joined General Jackson in his defense against the impending British invasion.
Seeking relief from the delta sun, we hurried over to Sal’s Sno-Ball Stand. A local favorite since 1960, Sal’s has been serving up dozens of different flavors of icy treats – and came to me as a “must go to” stop by Wade Robinson before leaving for home the next day. Doused in a multitude of colorful sugary syrups, we each enjoyed our sno-ball before heading back to Morgan City. That evening we hitched up the trailer yet again, stopped to take the obligatory photograph in front of the Morgan City sign, and readied for the long drive back to Tennessee.
The Mudbug PWC Rally might’ve changed over the years, but the quality of memories made here are no less valuable. Friendships are made and rekindled here. Newfound experiences and stories that can be shared for years always happen at the Mudbug and it’s an annual tradition I strive to never miss.
Additional photography provided by Billy Duplessis.
Dean Banyon and the WaveRunner Fishing Family have done it again! They put together another outstanding video. This clip showcases a fishing trip aboard their two Yamaha WaveRunners. Dean and son ventured 22 miles offshore in the Florida Keys. This would be the furthest they’ve gone.
They rigged two Yamaha WaveRunners for a day of trolling for Mahi. The Banyons were underway before sunrise with food, fuel, and a good amount of tackle. Motoring out, they captured some nice footage of dolphins breaking the water with the sun just peaking in the background. The water was slick glass, making for a great ride well offshore to prime fishing grounds. It is hard to believe that while filming this video, Hurricane Dorian was looming in the distance. The guys were fishing 20 miles off Islamorada, FL under beautiful blue skies
Fifteen miles offshore, in 600 feet of water, they wet some hooks baited with dead ballyhoo in hopes of reeling in Mahi or king mackerel. The area didn’t have a weed line and they weren’t getting any hits, so they left there in favor a spot in 900 feet with a weed line. Bam! Fish on, one right after another. Mahi and Kings all day long. Using dead ballyhoo and cut up tuna, the guys scored fish after fish, so many that Dino ran out of room in his cooler. He handed off a good-sized Mahi for his dad to put on ice.
Shortly before heading back, Dean showed off his sweet tackle center which doubles as a leaning post for when a fish is hooked. The post helps to keep the ski stable while fighting a fish. A few hours later, they headed toward home with six nice sized fish. They made a pit stop along the way at sandbar popular with the locals. They were greeted with cheers as they floated into the cozy little spot to have a drink. These guys are living the dream! After taking a nice break on the sandbar, they made their way back home after an epic day of fishing.
Are you looking to add some extra speed to your Kawasaki Ultra 300/310? If so, Brisbane Kawasaki is offering affordable starter kits for $750. The KSpeed Starter Kit with SCOM removes the factory speed limiter enabling your ski to go past the factory top speed of 67.5mph (108kph).
Add on the $50 installation of KSpeed 2-degree pump wedge and increase the ski’s top end speed. This is achieved by changing the angle of the factory jet pump in a way that it lifts the bow out of the water.
The kit also includes a KSpeed Intake Grate. The intake grate is a way to change the angle of water entry, allowing more water into the pump, therefore improving hook-up in all conditions.
This also means you’ll get a better hole shot and will not lose as much speed when riding in rough conditions.
Your machine may also gain up to 3-10kph (2-6mph) putting your otherwise stock Ultra 300/310X well into the mid-70’s. (Of course, the amount of speed gained is dependent on water conditions.)
If you’ve decided to grab a KSpeed Starter Kit, book an appointment with Brisbane Kawasaki or order online. Usually, they guys at Brisbane Kawasaki can provide same day service. Get on it!
Sometimes bad things happen to good people. Thankfully, in this case, we’re here to help make things better. Over the weekend, the world witnessed a record-shattering top speed run of 135 miles per hour on a Yamaha GP1800R WaveRunner during the IJSBA Hydrodrags in Tavares, Florida. While trying to capture this historic event, the official event photographer almost drowned while trying to save his camera equipment (and footage) as it fell from the side of a PWC.
Manuel Valdes of MVP Productions fell from the side of the watercraft he was filming from, and being laden down with expensive camera equipment, quickly submerged below the waterline. Noticing the fall, others quickly jumped in to rescue Manny, who was nearly as concerned with saving the footage on his cameras as he was not drowning. Thankfully, much of the footage was saved (The Watercraft Journal will have a full report and interview with the record-breaking team shortly), but the expensive camera equipment wasn’t.
Sea-Doo has already revolutionized the industry when it comes to accessible storage items. With some of the highest amount of storage and most accessible of all the watercraft manufacturers out there, it is definitely not a challenge to bring all of the essentials with you.
So what about organization of all this storage? You definitely don’t want to be rummaging around and digging when it comes time to find that sunscreen or other prized possessions. Thankfully Sea-Doo has a solution for that too with their removable bin organizers.
Check out the Sea-Doo content description below and be sure to click the link to pick up yours today.
We all know the feeling of opening the storage of our personal watercraft and rummaging through your supplies to find the one that is usually buried at the bottom. Sea-Doo has solved this problem with the addition of the Storage Bin Organizers.
The Sea-Doo Removable Storage Bin Organizer has changed the game out on the water. Now you can store all your supplies neatly and efficiently allowing you to grab them quickly. Whether you are storing snacks, drinks, gear, or sunglasses, the organizer makes it easy for you with easy to reach compartments. This breathable material is perfect for storing wet clothes while not getting the rest of gear wet.
The Removable Storage Bin Organizer is available in all full-size Sea-Doo Models which include the GTI, Wake, GTR, Wake Pro, GTX, and RXT.
For more information on Sea-Doo Removable Storage Bin Organizer, check the links below:
Sea-Doo recently wanted to ask the question ‘what happens when you take a bunch of Redbull athletes and put them to work using Sea-Doo Wake Pro’s?’
Well not only did they ask that question but they answered it in reality. Sea-Doo recently teamed up with some professional athletes including wake skaters and skateboarders and went out for an awesome day in Miami.
The experience was nothing short of amazing so keep reading the below Sea-Doo content alert to find out what happened and to check out a link to the video.
What do you get when you give some professional skaters and wake skaters a new Sea-Doo Wake Pro in Miami? You get an amazing day filled with incredible tricks and a great time living the Sea-Doo Life!
Professional Wake Skater and Sea-Doo Ambassador Nick Taylor recently met up a star-studded crew of Redbull athletes for an adventure in Miami, Florida. The crew was a mixture of athletes from different sports are here to see what the Sea-Doo Life is all about. Professional skateboarders Leticia Bufoni and Jamie Foy were among the athletes who were stoked to cool off and give wake skating a try behind the 2020 Sea-Doo Wake Pro. With natural board sport talents, the pro skaters learned quick with the help of the Sea-Doo Wake Pro pulling them with Ski Mode. Ski Mode allows the riders to set a preprogrammed acceleration and speed to keep perfect for the individual getting pulled.
Next stop on the adventure was a short Sea-Doo cruise over to a local skate spot right in the heart of Miami Beach. The crew pulled up to the skate ledge on water, hopped off the Sea-Doo’s and went to business. Both skaters got a trick then jumped back on the Sea-Doo’s to head to lunch. The accessibility and ease of operation of the Sea-Doo’s made this unique quick stop possible. The day was epic to say the least.
Check out the full adventure video at the link below:
It’s official, with COVID-19 still wreaking havoc across the nation, the 2020 Pro Watercross National Tour will be making its third stop in Saint Augustine, Florida’s Vilano Beach with Liqui Moly onboard as the title sponsor. The race runs August 8-9, and this will be the first time the tour has stopped in northeast Florida.
Airstream Ventures partnered with St. Augustine Pointe Vedra and the Beaches Visitors Center and Convention to bring the race to Florida. It will bring much needed revenue for area since most big events are canceled during these pandemic times.
With more than 400 hotel rooms expected to be filled for this event; tourism will get a nice boost. Moreover, a recap of the Pro Watercross race will air nationwide on CBS Sports Network.
This year also marks the 25th anniversary of Pro Watercross, a non-profit organization focusing on safety education, amateur riders, and preserving the environment.
The event will open Saturday morning with practice beginning at 9:15 am. Races will begin late afternoon. Sunday, racing will get underway at 8:45 am. Both days will be jampacked with six hours of racing. Vilano Beach offers incredible views of the entire course so spectators can catch all the action.
“We are excited to add another sports event to our area in bringing Pro Watercross to Vilano Beach,” said Alan Verlander, Founder and CEO of Airstream Ventures. “Thanks to AJ with Pro Watercross and Richard and his team, we are going to provide a first-class experience and look forward to making this an annual event. Bringing another national televised event for our region continues the push to make our area of Florida a true sports destination.”
For more information on Pro Watercross and the Vilano Beach event, visit prowatercross.org.
We recently informed you about the three Red Dot Awards that BRP took home this year from their various product lines. One of those awards came thanks to the 2020 Sea-Doo GTI. So why was this platform worthy of such a prestigious award?
Well the BRP and Sea-Doo design teams made it an easy decision thanks in part to the all new design of this watercraft as well as a plethora of premium yet budget-friendly features all listed below in the Sea-Doo content alert. Continue reading to see what the panel jury had to say.
In the great words of legendary Sea-Doo Fan DJ Khaled, “Another One!” Sea-Doo has brought home yet another award in 2020, this time from Red Dot. BRP won a total of 3 Red Dot awards. The spotlight this time was on the Sea-Doo GTI SE, for obvious reasons.
The GTI SE has blown away the competition this year in the recreation class of personal watercraft. The amount of value and innovation packed into each of these machines is incredible. The BRP design team completely redesigned this model and gave it some higher end features without breaking the bank. With features like the LinQ System, speakers, larger storage, swim platform, and Ergolock seating, the innovation and value on the GTI SE is clear. We will certainly be seeing more awards this year for the Sea-Doo GTI SE
Have you dreamed of exploring exotic destinations aboard a Sea-Doo? Perhaps you would be interested in carving through Rocky Mountain snowy terrain with a brand new Ski-Doo snowmobile or even meandering a desolate western landscape using a Can-Am off road vehicle.
Well if you’re like most folks, buying one of these vehicles to make a once in a lifetime trip is out of the question. Let’s face it even if you lived in North Dakota, owned a couple of Sea-Doo’s and wanted to take the family to explore the Gulf of Mexico, it would take you an extra week of travel there and back causing you to burn through your time off of work.
Now BRP is testing a new solution to all of this. They have launched a pilot project called Uncharted Society which aims to offer these unique experiences. Experiences that allow you to explore epic playgrounds in various locations using their different powersports vehicles.
Whether it’s exploring the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, the Rockies and more, BRP thinks they have a solution and frankly we think this is an awesome opportunity. From the sounds of it, BRP is poised to unlock a market of potential that has never before existed.
Now you can own the moment without having to own the ride. Check out the full press release below.
Valcourt, Quebec, Canada, July 9, 2020 – Today, BRP (TSX: DOO, NASDAQ: DOOO) launched a new pilot program, Uncharted Society, that will offer more than 40 expertly curated experiences using powersports vehicles in the United States. From the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, the Gulf of Mexico, the Rockies, Joshua Tree, and many more bucket-list destinations, you will be able to live out unique experiences on Sea-Doo watercraft, Can-Am off road and on-road vehicles, and Ski-Doo snowmobiles.
At a time where everyone is looking for accessible and local options while respecting social distancing, these packaged adventures are the perfect solution. Convenient, easy and affordable, every outdoor enthusiast will find the adventure they’re looking for. Uncharted Society gives adventure seekers an outlet to explore the unexplored in totally unique ways, and make what was once only accessible to a few, accessible to anyone. This new platform also allows BRP to give consumers the power to own the moment without having to own the ride with experiences enabled by the full line of BRP powersports products.
With these packaged adventures, we expect to encourage more outdoor enthusiasts to experience the thrill of powersports and for new audiences to live awesome adventures. This will in turn increase awareness of and access to BRP vehicles, and introduce them to a new generation that might not have had traditionally been exposed to the thrill of powersports.
“Over the past few months, we have been working with some of the best outfitters out there to reimagine powersports adventures and what they can offer to guests. Uncharted Society is our first step in making experiencing our products more accessible by bringing to the market a curated premium collection of adventures for all,” mentioned Simon Cazelais, Director, Content Strategy & BRP-X Innovation Lab.
Our renowned expert outfitters For each of our adventures, we are collaborating with the best certified local outfitters to ensure we provide the best, most memorable experience possible. Wilderness Collective offers a wide variety of adventures on various terrain types using different BRP product lines. “Our collaboration with Uncharted Society and BRP goes so much further than offering the best machines to our customers; we align on a passion for adventure, a deep understanding of our customers and a bold vision for the future of powersports adventures.” Steve Dubbeldam, CEO of the Wilderness Collective.
Uncharted Society also announced an exclusive collaboration with GetMyBoat, the world’s largest boat rental and water experience marketplace, to launch a series of Sea-Doo experiences and rental options to make the most of your summer on the water. “We are thrilled to team with Uncharted Society. Together, we are exposing a new generation to countless options of water experiences,” Doug Bird, VP of Sales and Business Development, GetMyBoat.
For more information, visit unchartedsociety.com IG: @UnchartedSociety FB @UnchartedSociety
Add on the $50 installation of KSpeed 2-degree pump wedge and increase the ski’s top end speed. This is achieved by changing the angle of the factory jet pump in a way that it lifts the bow out of the water.
We all know the feeling of opening the storage of our personal watercraft and rummaging through your supplies to find the one that is usually buried at the bottom. Sea-Doo has solved this problem with the addition of the Storage Bin Organizers.
It’s official, with COVID-19 still wreaking havoc across the nation, the 2020 Pro Watercross National Tour will be making its third stop in Saint Augustine, Florida’s Vilano Beach with 
