Yamaha has put together a neatly packaged “how to” video that takes you through every step when you’re ready to add an EX Audio Package to your WaveRunner. The steps are easy to follow, though it is recommended that you have the factory service manual nearby for reference.
Before beginning installation, make sure your WaveRunner is level and secure on a stand or a trailer. Gather all of the necessary tools. These include: a drill with a ¼ inch bit, socket wrench, torque wrench, 3-inch extension, 7/16-inch socket, 10 mm socket, #4 Allen socket, 7/16-inch wrench,5/8-inch wrench, 10MM wrench, and a marker. The audio kit includes: Two T-Bolt couplers, Four ram ball mounts, nuts and washers, and a template.
After everything is gathered, begin installation by cutting out the template and hold in place using painters’ tape. Match the template to the style lines on the EX and then using the center point on the template, mark the location on the WaveRunner and drill a hole using the ¼” drill bit.
Remove seat and the two fasteners from side cover then unscrew the 10MM bolt from the top cover. Now you have access to install the ball mount. Place the mount into the drilled hole and fasten the washer and nut to the mount. Finger tightens.
Using the 5/8” wrench to hold the mount, torque it to the proper specs. Install the round base ram ball into the bottom of speaker. Attach the coupler to the ball mount and tighten everything.
Now reinstall the top cover and side panel. Repeat the process for the other side and you’ll be ready to turn on and listen to music the next time you’re underway on your Yamaha WaveRunner!
Sealver Wave boats are special. They stand out and make an impression. Why? Because they offer multiple models that fit anyone’s lifestyle. One of their most popular models is their Z Hevo lineup. The Z Hevo lineup offers their traditional boat that is powered by a PWC but they also offer other outboard models.
The Z Hevo lineup provides its riders with comfort without sacrificing performance. The Z-Line WB Z6 Hevo is their shortest model but has enough room for seven passengers. Most PWC’s only fit 2 to 3 people so adding a Z6 Hevo to your arsenal allows you to enjoy your time on the water with even more friends and family.
You’ll also look great too with the gorgeous hull and teak foam carpet. With the weather quickly turning for the better, this is a great option for anyone looking to upgrade their ride. The Z6 comes in two options, Standard and Full Wake. The Full Wake comes equipped with a wakeboard tower, two rear sunbathing seats and much more.
The Z-Line WB Z7 Hevo is a step up from the Z6 because it offers a 21’ hull. This means if you have a larger family or wish to take your friends out on the water, you’ll have plenty of room to fit all eight passengers. The Z7 is the perfect models if you are looking for a larger boat but still want the maneuverability of a smaller boat.
Its modern design requires very little maintenance which allows you to spend more time on the water. The Z7 also comes in two options, Standard and Full Wake. While there is nothing wrong with choosing the standard option, the Full Wake offers many amenities that makes your time on the water the best.
The last model in the Z Hevo family is the Z-Line WB Z8 Hevo. This model is almost sure to turn everyone’s head at any beach. With an overall length of 24’, you’ll have more than enough room to enjoy with all ten passengers. This model is a great choice if you love to go on longer rides or travel to different marinas.
The Z8 comes equipped with an extra 26 gallons of fuel which allows you to travel to further places. While you may think that it will be hard to maneuver a 24’ boat from a PWC, you are wrong. Sealver states that “You’ll feel like you’re in control of a powerful, premium sedan”. The Z8 comes in three options, Standard, Medium and Full Wake.
Whether the Z6, Z7 or Z8 works better for your family, they all allow you to detach your PWC if needed. So, if you need to ride over to the fuel dock but don’t want to take the whole family with, join the Sealver Z Hevo family today. Check out Sealver Waveboats website today to find more information and find a dealer near you!
The world of professional jet ski racing has experienced tectonic changes since the days when Larry Rippenkroeger once ruled the water. In those nascent years, earning an IJSBA championship required athletes to excel at buoy course racing, slalom and freestyle. You had to be a triple threat. Yet, to the victor went the spoils, as huge payouts from big name tour sponsors lured athletes from across the globe. Corporate support yielded big dollar results wherein team riders could literally be full-time racers. The stakes were higher, the competition fiercer, and the energy was radioactive.
Yet, as the current world of professional jet ski racing is so dramatically distanced from those early years, it gives Rippenkroeger’s “Hot Water” an underlying melancholic sentimentality that lurks beneath the surface – particularly for the audience who remember what “it used to be like.”
Initially, that’s what many of us felt Rippenkroeger’s film was targeting to do: illustrate an optimized world where professional jet ski racing thrived in a modern world. A sort of thesis on “how it ought to be.” Rather, “Hot Water” leaves out any commentary on the current state of the sport or how it could be bettered.
Of course, challenging the status quo was never Rippenkroeger’s intent. “Hot Water” began as a collection of vignettes, scenes reenacting anecdotes collected over decades spent on the road competing on the IJSBA National Tour.
It was only in lacing these events into a cohesive narrative did the film’s story begin to form: a hotshot kid with aspirations to be a professional jet ski racer is taken under the wing of a retired undefeated champion. Albeit formulaic, this structure follows American mythologist Joseph Campbell’s The Hero’s Journey almost to a “T”, all amid a backdrop of a fictional National Tour and extraneous circumstances.
Campbell details the hero’s journey in seven key steps: 1. the call to action; 2. crossing the threshold from the known to the unknown; 3. receiving supernatural aid from a teacher or mentor; 4. making new allies; 5. facing challenges and/or temptations; 6. reaching the abyss, death and rebirth; 7. returning home a transformed being. This template underpins almost all of the greatest tales ever told, be them historical fact or entertaining fiction. From the life of Jesus Christ to that of Luke Skywalker. Many screenwriters follow it unknowingly, while others hold to it like a navigational chart.
The proverbial hot shot in Rippenkroeger’s “Hot Water” is Glenn McCuen playing novice racer Billy Burnett. For the most part, McCuen’s portrayal is somewhat monotone, letting the actor’s wry smile carry his Burnett through most of the film’s 100-minute runtime. It’s only in Burnett’s lowest point do we see McCuen give his character something truly to bite into. [minor spoiler alert] As he contemplates quitting, McCuen tries to play it cool over the phone to his mother, but we the audience know – as does his mom, played by Vanessa Angel – that Burnett is at his lowest point. It’s brief but it’s easily McCuen’s best scene.
Serving as Burnett’s mentor is 5-time World Champion jet ski racer Jared Harper played by Hallmark Channel go-to and “90210” heartthrob Trevor Donovan. Initially, Donovan’s Harper is entirely all-too one-dimensional as the reticent veteran unsure of his newest ward. Harper is a neutral character, never giving the audience reason to like or dislike him, as his irritation with Brunett is equal to the viewer’s. And somewhat comedically, after multiple mentions of Harper’s time spent with monks in Tibet (wait, what?) when it’s time for Harper to impart some mystical wisdom, Donovan produces actually pragmatic advice.
Despite Donovan’s near entire screentime seen either half, or in one extended scene, completely naked, it’s in “Hot Water’s” quietest scene [minor spoiler alert] where a newly humbled Harper confronts Burnett’s distant father where Donovan’s talent truly shines. In doing so Harper successfully marries the two halves of his student’s fractured world, gifting Burnett the means to carry forward. It too survives as a slow paced character piece in the midst of the whirlwind that is an action comedy, so be warned. If you blink, you might miss it. But it’s there, and its easily the second best scene in the film. Donovan and Michael Papajohn do great work here.
Yet, the film’s greatest standout is Nikki Leigh playing Burnett’s love interest and Women’s National Champion, Kelly Weber. Not only is Weber’s story arc demonstrably more compelling than the rest of the characters, but Leigh’s performance is easily the strongest of the cast. In what could have been a thankless role, Leigh’s Weber is complex, nuanced, and thoughtful. It’s clear Rippenkroeger saw this during the production and gave Leigh the film’s climax. Weber’s conflict isn’t so much between risking her career for a newfound relationship, but risking the safety of her current sponsorship for winning on her own terms. Her motives are her own. Again, Leigh’s performance here is the film’s high point.
[Minor spoilers ahead] Burnett’s arc from an arrogant-yet-talented jet skier to a polished racer as well as a team player is satisfactory, and in pushing through his tendency to quit when the going gets tough, he regains his father’s trust. Conversely, Harper’s distancing from the sport is never truly resolved; he left due to an injury and fear of failing were he to return. Doing so vicariously through Burnett provides this resolution, but its less personal. Weber’s is the most triumphant; having labored to achieve her success, she openly defies protocol to win – both morally and professionally – on her terms.
I was disappointed to see the film’s conclusion literally shown in the promotional material. Burnett’s conclusive win, flanked by his teammates, love interest and estranged father was featured in both the teaser trailer and on the website. It’s a small irritation, given that it would be wholly expected that the hero would succeed in his goal – particularly in a film like this, but it would’ve been nice to have kept some scenes a secret. And while trying to play the typical foil to the protagonists, Brian Combs’ dastardly Richard Hurt is entirely underdeveloped – being told of his underhanded ways rather than being shown. [end spoilers]
In all, “Hot Water” is a really fun, summertime romp that’s reminiscent of equally low budget action comedies like “Ski School,” “Rad” and “Airborne” chocked full of on-the-water jet ski racing action, attractive people and about 1 1/2-minutes of Chris MacClugage’s buck naked buttocks. (No, really.) With all of that, “Hot Water” is well worth the price of admission. Even without COVID-19 shutting down cinemas, “Hot Water” was not expected to see a widespread theatrical release. So permitting folks to digitally rent the film via Vimeo was a smart strategic move, and will hopefully drum up the kind of word of mouth that propelled theater underdogs into cult classics like “This is Spinal Tap” and “Dazed and Confused.”
While there are multiple things that you can purchase to enhance your time out on the water, gloves often aren’t talked about. While many of PWC riders are always looking for way to make their craft go faster, there are a few other items that you should take into consideration.
Slipper Wetsuits has just announced their 2020 lineup of riding gloves and they are special. Wearing gloves while riding can be a huge game changer. The 2020 Slippery Flex Lite Glove offers a tight fit without feeling bulky. Nobody wants to feel like they are riding with snow gloves on. Slipper wanted to make sure that their riders were comfortable while also enhancing the grip.
It doesn’t matter how much power your PWC has, being able to hold on while safely operating your PWC is crucial. These gloves have a 4-way stretched mesh material which allows you to move your hands without stretching your skin. Another great feature is how they included an anti-slip gel print that ensure you hand, and fingers will not slip when using the throttle and hanging onto the handlebars.
Slipper offers two options for gloves, the Flex Lite Glove and the Circuit Glove. The Circuit glove is a step above the Flex Lite because it has neoprene finger padding for extra comfort. After a long day of riding, you hands can get sore, especially if you encounter some waves. Wherever you ride, choosing to purchase Slippery Gloves can make you handle your PWC better and safer. Both options come in multiple color options which allows you to match your gloves to the color of your PWC or life vest. With a price tag of $24.95 and $29.95 respectively, the only question you should be asking is when you can go use them!
Sam Nehme, owner of Broward Motorsports understands the severity of the COVID-19 virus and is taking all precautions. However, they have adapted to the current situation and are still able to practice social distancing. With that being said, there is some good news. Broward Motorsports and all of their locations will remain open and able to continue serving you.
Whether you are looking for parts or service work, their departments are open and ready to get you back onto the water. They are also doing curbside pickup to ensure the safety of their customers and employees during this time. Broward Motorsports is well-known throughout the PWC community and are her to help their customers with whatever they need. While the current situation regarding COVID-19 is not ideal for business, they have found ways to still operate and get their customers back on the water safely.
Broward Motorsports also has their website which is a great way to get your PWC ready once and abide by the social distancing law. Their website is extremely easy-to-use and breaks down parts for your specific PWC. They offer free shipping to the continental USA on all orders over $125 plus if you use the promo code “BMS10” you will receive 10% off your entire order. Broward Motorsports wants everyone to stay safe and healthy during this time. They will bring you any part or accessories off of their showroom floor to your car in case you want to get a jump start on your PWC project.
Even the best doctors will recommend getting a second opinion on a prognosis, and we at The Watercraft Journal are no different. While we’ve shared our views on the 2020 GTI lineup from Sea-Doo – particularly in regards to the wider use of Polytec (in this case, a newly coined second generation of Polytec deemed “2.0”) for the model segment’s hulls – in previous articles and reviews, we submit this video review from Joe Zammataro of PWCmuscle.com.
He writes, “Can a plastic hull really work in a full sized ski? With the new 2020 GTI lineup, PolyTec 2.0 has been launched and is used exclusively through all GTI models, even the GTR230. These are full-sized skis using the plastic hull, significantly heavier than the Spark. So do they hold up? Do they feel cheap? Would this hull work for a ski I’d own? These are the questions I set off to answer as we tested out the new models in the GTI lineup.”
And true to his word, Joe details a list of pros and cons to the new GTI and GTR models, how he saw how the lightweight Polytec material holds up in a variety of conditions, and whether he’d recommend its purchase to friends and family. As a bit of a spoiler, we feel we’re on the same page with Joe for the most part, and glad to see so many in the industry take a shine to this latest innovation from Sea-Doo.
Traction is what makes or breaks a performance watercraft, and there’s no machine that benefits from improved traction and hookup than the Yamaha GP1800. Prior to the 2019 upgrade to the GP1800R, the GP1800 had a rather lackluster intake grate. Many noted initial acceleration suffered from cavitation in its factory form. Yet, all that changed when RIVA Racing introduced it’s top loader intake grate.
Now, if you order one of RIVA’s intake grates for the GP1800 or VXR, you’re going to score a $80 Pump Seal Kit completely free! That’s right, you’re going to enjoy improved top speed in rough water conditions (with zero speed loss in smooth conditions); excellent handling; dramatic gains in acceleration and hookup; and most importantly, reduced cavitation.
The one-two-punch combination package (PT# RS22110-PS) is priced at $299.95 and lands you RIVA’s bulletproof stainless steel intake grate and matching Pump Seal Kit for all Yamaha GP1800s and GP1800Rs, and 2015-and-up VXR and VXS WaveRunners! Act now by clicking here!
As you might already know, most of the summer’s major movies have been pushed back by the studios – some as far back as next year! With people unable to fill a movie theater to capacity, it only makes sense that the rollout of Larry Rippenkroeger’s “Hot Water” movie also be altered.
But rather than push a very obviously summertime film back to the Fall, Ripper and team have smartly decided to make it available for viewing online! The “Hot Water” team announced yesterday, “Starting April 23rd you’ll be able to go to www.hotwatermovie.com and click a link that will be an embedded Vimeo On Demand page. Since this is a special sneak peak you will only be able to rent it and the price will be $11.99. This will be a limited time engagement.”
If you’re impatient to see Ripper’s film (like we are) then jump on the opportunity before it’s taken down once all this lock down hubbub is done with. Why? Because “Hot Water” won’t be available again until late this summer on the larger streaming platforms where you will be able to rent it or purchase it as a digital download. This is promising to be the fun, rowdy jet racing movie you’ve been waiting to see forever, so do not miss your chance to catch it early – it sure beats binging episodes of “Tiger King.”
For the uninitiated or the would-be shopper, gathering as much information about the newest offerings from Sea-Doo can be a wee bit overwhelming. Considering the avalanche of features, options and configurations, deciding which model best suits you, your budget, your intended use, and riding style can leave many scratching their heads. For this reason, The Watercraft Journal partnered up with Sea-Doo Public Relations’ Tim McKercher to walk us through the many similarities between the 2020 GTX 170 and the all-new GTI SE 170, as well as what differences distinguish the two.
First, it’s important to understand that the GTX 170 rides on the larger ST3 hull, bringing the GTX’s overall dimensions in at 135.9-inches long, 49.4-inches wide and a total of 776-pounds. Compare that to the GTI SE 170 and its smaller and lighter platform, and you’re looking at a difference of 4.5-inches in length (130.6-inches long), .2-inch in width (49.2-inches wide), and 37-pounds (739-pounds total dry weight). Moreover, the larger GTX touts a massive 18.6-gallon fuel cell compared to the GTI’s 15.9-gallon tank.
Interestingly, while total rider capacity is identical at 600-pounds, the GTI has a total storage capacity of 42.5-gallons compared to the GTX’s surprising 26.1-gallons. Yet, as Tim illustrates in the video below, accessing the cargo aboard the GTX is made demonstrably easier thanks to Sea-Doo’s central storage system. Unlike the GTI’s more traditional bow storage that requires a little bit of flexibility to reach the bottom, leaning down into the belly of the GTX can be done from the driver’s seat. And so can refilling the gas tank, as the filler cap is found directly under the GTX’s glove box.
While both the GTI and GTX feature Sea-Doo’s watertight phone storage pocket, the glove box of the GTI is far roomier, permitting the storage of a couple bottles of water, sunscreen, or even a digital camera. As both machines are equipped with the identical 1630 ACE four-stroke, both enjoy robust torque delivery from Rotax’s efficient 3-cylinder engines; yet, it’s the lighter GTI that claims a dramatic increase in 0-to-30 acceleration over its previous iteration (or the GTX for that matter). And both come equipped with Sea-Doo’s third-generation of iBR (Intelligent Brake & Reverse).
When first introduced in 2018, the newly redesigned GTX rode on Sea-Doo’s innovative ST3 platform. The hull is a blend of an ocean-going 23-degree deadrise at its bow that tapers to a smoother, wide – almost flat – second half. This gives the ST3 phenomenal balance and buoyancy at low speeds. The 2020 GTI, on the other hand, is entirely new for this year and rides on a very unique hull. The shape itself is tremendous, well balanced and predictable with a progressive 17-degree deadrise. Yet, what’s most unique is Sea-Doo’s use of a second-generation Polytec that is both scratch resistant and lightweight.
Above the bondline, both the GTX and GTI employ Sea-Doo’s industry-leading “Ergolock” tapered seating and ergonomics, as well as its modular accessory system “LinQ.” Featuring twin pop-up cleats, both watercraft can carry one of two coolers, a gas caddy, or storage cases. Additionally, a removable puck reveals a port to install the retractable ski pylon – making either of these two machines into its own “Wake” model. McKercher further details the many features – including Speed Control, optional iControl speed settings, and much more – so watch the whole video below.
In today’s world, we are constantly using the internet. Whether it be to check up on social media or online shopping, it is the way we live our lives. When shopping online, the best and least frustrating way to view the products and conduct a purchase is through an easy-to-use website. It can be extremely frustrating when a website is difficult to use or confusing. However, Sealver Waveboats is different, they have just launched their new online website.
For those of you that do not know, Sealver Waveboats takes your own water experience to a whole new level. With 11 different models offered they have something for everyone. Their WB, RIB and Z Line HEVO models act as an attachment to any major PWC offered on the market. They latch into the model and turn your two or three-seater PWC into a boat powered by your PWC.
You now have the chance to turn your day out on to the water to a day out on the water with friends and family. Their newly designed website allows you to look all of their models and see which model fits best with your style. Sealver also offers 3 HYBRIS models that are equipped with an outboard motor if that suits your needs better.
Whether you are in the market for making this summer the best one yet or curious about Sealver Waveboats, their new website has all the information you need. Check them out today!
Yet, as the current world of professional jet ski racing is so dramatically distanced from those early years, it gives Rippenkroeger’s 
