If you happened to catch The Watercraft Journal’s annual Top 10 Christmas Gifts For Jet Skiers guide (which, if you haven’t you really ought to. There’s some good stuff in there), you’ll had noticed the inclusion of these Spex Amphibian Eyewear goggles. We had been wearing them pretty regularly before the guide came out and have been using them on and off since then. Now, a few months into our testing process, we’re ready for a review.
There are a few companies offering products that manage to walk the line between sunglasses and goggles, and as such require us to evaluate them using both sets of parameters. As sunglasses how do they stack up? As goggles, do they meet our certain requirements? The Spex Amphibians perform an admirable balancing act all while being smack in the center of the price chart – with a listing of $59.95 – again, making them a well-balanced entry.
As we’ve said before, the Spex Amphibians are unlike any floating sunglasses we’ve seen before. Primarily because they’re not just sunglasses. Equally, they’re not just goggles either. But rather, a blend of the two that make for a unique all-around experience, that is comfortable, lightweight and entirely geared towards PWC. While there’s plenty of unique function, there’s some admirable form in these as well.
The Spex Amphibians feature interchangeable lenses that are fastened to a soft-molded frame – made from a proprietary material called “Floatron” – that is durable, lightweight, and buoyant. Additionally, the soft frame makes them incredibly comfortable. Even a soft neoprene strap keeps the Spex taught but not too tight to your face even if adjusted incorrectly. Everyone who we had try them parroted the same thought: Dang, these are comfortable.
The polarized lenses do not sit in the frames, but in front of them, leaving a thin gap between the two. This gap lets fast-moving air circulate through, keeping the lenses from fogging up or collecting moisture. Equally, it naturally dries them after a heavy splash. On warmer days, this natural ventilation is more than welcome. But when it’s pretty chilly out, you’re going to want something a little better sealed.
When evaluated as floating sunglasses, the Spex Amphibians meet the mark: lightweight, comfortable, polarized and won’t fly off your face at speed. As goggles, they score slightly less. The frames are comfortable for sure, but the soft rubberized material does feel a little weird compared to the breathable foam used by others. It’s a minor quibble but was shared by a few of our testers.
If you’re the kinda rider who keeps extra gear, tools and other needful things, definitely slip in a pair of Spex Amphibian Eyewear. Each pair come in a mesh sock for easy storage and protection. Even if they might not be your go-to’s for everyday riding, the Spex are a fantastic backup if the weather flips suddenly, or you’ve got a second rider who forgot a pair of sunglasses. Definitely a smart choice.
We recently informed you about Alvaro De Marichalar’s journey across the globe where he began his voyage around Spain and to the Canary Islands.
We have just received word that he successfully made the long trip across the Atlantic Ocean and is in the Caribbean. Alvaro has been trekking through Saint Barth’s island, Puerto Rico, and Cuba.
He plans to then journey through the Gulf of Mexico region across Florida, Texas, and down Mexico to the Panama Canal. The next stage of his U.S. visit will take him up the west coast from California to Washington and then up to Alaska.
We imagine his riding gear will be dramatically changing as he nears the polar regions and eventually makes his way along the Alaska coast and across to Russia.
Marichalar then plans to continue back south along Japan and finally westward again on his journey back to Spain. We wish him luck and be sure to stay tuned for more information on his historic 1519 world tour.
We know we usually write about PWC, however, we wanted to let you know about an upcoming event at Clearwater, Florida’s Cycle Springs PowerSports. Block out January 24th and January 25th on your calendarsbecause the 2020 Kawasaki Good Times Demo Tour is heading to Cycle Springs PowerSports. Fifteen bikes will be available to ride from 9am to 4pm during the Kawasaki Good Times Demo Tour.
The Cycle Springs crew is stoked to host two days of the tour. Not only will bikes be available to ride, a Kawasaki Lounge stocked with Monster Energy drinks will be on site as well. The lounge will also feature live entertainment and prize giveaways. Everyone likes free stuff!
Ride the bike of your dreams and save up to $500 on select models with Kawi cash. Terms apply to the Kawi cash offer. Read the fine print on site.
According to the Kawasaki Motors Corporation press release, consumers will have the opportunity to ride models from the Ninja family, Versys adventure/touring line, Vulcan sport cruiser line, and the full Z line of naked bikes.
If you plan to ride some bikes, make sure you meet these requirements: In order to be eligible to demo a motorcycle, consumers will need to show their driver’s license with motorcycle endorsement, pass a breathalyzer test, and wear appropriate riding gear; which consists of closed toe shoes, pants, riding jacket, gloves, and a helmet (some loaner gear is available).
Years ago in college, Kawasaki motors made a lovely donation in the form of a brand-new Kawasaki ZX-6R motorcycle to the Formula SAE design team.
This unit was then used to design and build a formula one-style race car using the Kawasaki’s engine, transmission, electronics, and many other components. The experience and knowledge gained was priceless.
Kawasaki has always made tremendous strides in making donations to education and other charitable efforts. Last year, they tallied nearly $100,000 in donations to various causes such as the ALS-Association, Wounded Military Foundation, and CHIPs for KIDS toy drive.
They even donated two 2020 STX-160 Jet Ski’s as well as an Ultra LX to support charities. For full details on all of these efforts, read press-release below.
Foothill Ranch, Calif. – Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A., has proudly supported several local and national charities in raising hundreds and thousands of dollars in 2019, supporting worthy causes with cash and product donations, as well as VIP racing fan experiences at Monster Energy Supercross. The charitable efforts of Kawasaki Motors Corp., U.S.A. and its employees have nearly exceeded $100,000 in value.
“The charities Kawasaki has chosen to work with are a fundamental part of our community,” said Bill Jenkins, SVP Sales and Operations. “We’re thrilled to have the opportunity to support charities such as the Boys and Girls Club of South Coast Area, the CHiPs for Kids Toy Drive, Honoring our Wounded Military (HOWM), Orange County Police Canine Association, and The ALS Association – Orange County Chapter. We have supported these organizations with both financial and product donations for their causes to help our community where we can.”
Kawasaki’s efforts helped to raise $45,000 for the Boys and Girls Club of South Coast Area by donating two 2020 Jet Ski® STX®160 personal watercraft and two VIP Monster Energy Kawasaki Team Supercross experience. The items were auctioned off at the Boys and Girls Club of South Coast 2019 Great Futures Gala.
With the holidays fast approaching, Kawasaki employees always make sure to support those in need by providing toys and other gifts for the California Highway Patrol’s ninth annual CHiPs for KIDS toy drive. In 2019, Kawasaki team members stepped up once again to help deliver a happy holiday to families in Southern California.
Amongst the many important charitable causes Kawasaki supports is the Honoring Our Wounded Military Foundation. For 2019, Kawasaki donated a 2019 Jet Ski® Ultra® LX for the Honoring Our Wounded Military live auction, that helped to raise $40,000, which enabled the foundation to achieve more than $195,000 in donations for 2019.
The ALS Association’s Walk To Defeat event became close to the hearts of many Kawasaki employees in 2019, with many participating on Team Tamura in the ALS Association — Orange County Chapter event. Kawasaki helped to raise more than $1,300 for the organization in tribute to former Kawasaki President Yoshi Tamura, helping ALS Association — Orange County Chapter raise more than $283,000 in 2019.
Kawasaki also raised $1,500 for the Orange County Police Canine Association in 2019.
And as 2019 comes to an end the Kawasaki Motors Corp. Charitable Match Contribution Program employees have additionally raised nearly $10,000 for various charities serving an array of causes across the country.
Winter is upon us and we still want to participate in our favorite water activities and Jetski Safaris have provided us with expert knowledge about preparing for winter jet skiing. The water and air temps have dropped considerably so we have to make changes to our gear and what we wear on the water. If you’re new to hitting the water during winter months, this means it’s time to go shopping for the appropriate cold-water gear.
Seek out a reputable dealer for all of your cold-water needs. Depending upon where you live, this will dictate what millimeter wetsuit to wear. If you’re like many others, wetsuits ranging from 2mm to 5mm and spray jackets will be taking up room in your closet.
Booties, gloves, a beanie, or balaclava are also cold-water necessities. 5mm booties with a grippy sole are what are needed for a good safe ride. 3 to 5mm gloves should be enough to keep your hands warm and able to give you what you need to hold onto the handlebars. Goggles or glasses are a good line of defense against the spray.
Try on everything, including your PFD and move around to loosen up and help you get the feel of extra neoprene. This will help make sure that when you take a ride, you’ll be ready.
Now that the gear is purchased, it’s time to learn about the weather and some good apps with websites to keep you in the know in real time. Extrapolate data from a few apps and average them out and you will get a good idea of the water and weather conditions. Windy,windguru.com, and xcweather.com(UK) are three top apps to download and compare data.
Weather is one of the most important things to check before heading out and it’s also a good idea to keep an eye on the forecast while riding. Conditions can change in an instant and when you add the cold water and cold air temps to the mix, this is a recipe for disaster if you aren’t prepared. Fatigue sets in much quicker during the winter months. Depending on the direction of the winds, a rough sea state may occur, forcing you to have to expend extra energy as you work to control your ski. Take frequent breaks when the opportunities arise, eat a snack, and try to get warm.
Before you even head out, make sure your ski is in good operating condition before heading out. Look over the hull for damage, check the oil, look inside the engine bay, and check the engine mounts by trying to lift the engine. If there’s any movement, you may need new mounts or maybe a couple are loose. Also, look for water in the compartment. Use the rule of 1/3rds with fuel when heading out. 1/3 fuel out, 1/3 fuel to return, and 1/3 for emergency backup.
A safety kit is of utmost importance. A VHF radio is a big deal to have on the water and it should be attached to your person at all times. The radio could save your life if you get bounced from your ski and separated. Take a VHF course so you know how to use the radio.
Below is a list of other items that should be carried aboard your PWC at all times.
A tow line is another addition to carry aboard
An inshore flare pack
A small anchor and line should also be part of your kit.
A knife with a serrated edge.
Small First Aid Kit
Spare Killcord
Always leave your float plan with someone so they can for help if you’re well behind schedule. Take a cheap cell phone in case you need to let someone know you’re running late.
If you already have your hands on a brand new 2020 Yamaha SVHO model or are planning on getting one, then RIVA Racing has just released a few engine cooling upgrades that you might be interested in.
Chances are if you plan on modifying your new WaveRunner, then you are familiar with the pump design changes for all 2020 SVHO models. In order to support the ever-changing market, Riva has also designed some fresh new items that are compatible with the latest SVHO WaveRunners.
This includes a new Billet Pump Strainer itself as well as the complete Engine Cooling Upgrade Kit. The full pro-series kit includes the new pump strainer as well as all necessary hoses, fittings, and hardware to install the kit.
These upgrades of course are proven to increase the performance and reliability of the engine’s cooling system. By utilizing the high flow pump strainer and water jacket fittings, the increased water flow gives necessary engine protection when modifying your platform for increased power and performance.
Items plan to become available in February so act soon to retain yours and as always be sure to take advantage of free shipping on all qualifying orders.
For 2020, the upcoming fishing trips out of Doubtless Bay are so popular that they are quickly selling out. The initial trip has already sold out and so adventure fishing has planned another trip for May.
The April 30 – May 3, 2020 trip is on sale and if tickets last, the price is $595 per person which includes a 4-day luxury stay with all meals. This social trip will be a great opportunity since this time of the year offers good fishing in New Zealand.
Check out the full details below or head over the link above to sign up. Note that availability will change as people continue to book trips.
4 day Jetskifishing social trip May 2020, don’t miss out!
The 4 day personal watercraft social trip includes Thursday, Friday, Saturday and Sunday.
If you own a PWC rigged for fishing, join us, all brands are welcome.
Package price per person $595 includes your 4 day luxury stay and all meals.
($200 deposit required per person) Date: February 30th April to 3rd May 2020 Location: Doubtless Bay, Far North Limited availability (Children full price and must be at least 15 years of age to register a spot for the social trip)
P.S. This payment is only your booking deposit and can be paid by credit card, full trip costs listed above and your final payment is due beginning of March 2020.
* No refunds, credits, transfers or exchanges, as other Jetskifisho’s will miss a spot once you book!
It’s becoming cliché to comment on how quickly the previous year has come and gone, and depending on one’s life view, the passing of 2019 has been greeted with elation or exhaustion. For The Watercraft Journal, is was a year marked with some major firsts as well as continued, reliable publishing of the industry’s best personal watercraft news, reviews and feature articles. People came to WCJ in droves in 2019, nearly 675,000 times, in fact (and that’s not including hundreds of thousands of new views to our YouTube channel).
So how about 2019? What were the most popular stories published this outgoing year? Interestingly enough, we saw none of our industry-leading race coverage break into the Top 50. Despite publishing racing coverage faster, with more detail, results and pictures than anywhere else, the worldwide draw was meager. Instead, the highest ranking stories were almost entirely real world, hands-on reviews on the newest PWC, the biggest reveals of new watercraft, and of course, the juiciest gossip on potential future watercraft.
10. Uneven Playing Field: 2019 Yamaha GP1800R WaveRunner (Video)
It only made sense that the model following last year’s Watercraft of The Year award winner would also be one of the year’s most popular articles. The Watercraft Journal’s review of the 2019 Yamaha GP1800R WaveRunner heralded the return of the brand’s infamous “R” designation to a production watercraft. The last time an “R” adorned a WaveRunner was the 2008 GP1300R, the last 2-stroke “musclecraft” produced. Bringing back the “R” was no easy feat either; significant changes were needed to justify the rebranding of the winningest runabout in recent history.
Yamaha began by culling through what the racers and performance aftermarket were achieving. For 2019, the newly minted GP1800R received a new top loader intake grate, reinforced pump tunnel and elongated and sharply straked ride plate. The new plate radically improved the GP’s initial launch and overall attitude at speed, providing increased traction and hookup. 2019 also welcomed a new-and-improved VXR sharing the same lightweight NanoXcel2 material as the GP1800R, as well as the same intake grate and ride plate, and the super-fun EXR.
9. Vicious Rumors & Vile Gossip: Something Turbo This Way Comes
The impetus of this article began with a practical joke; Southern California Rec-Lite racer Justin Black thought a custom decal on his Spark would garner a few laughs on Facebook. The viral response was far more than he ever expected. Enthusiasts, particularly those harboring hopes for a “Spark X” were whipped into a frenzy believing Justin’s murdered-out Spark to be the function prototype rumored about on the message boards. Alas, such was not the case. Yet, what the post did manage to do was reignite the conversation of performance Rec-Lite watercraft.
The 110-horsepower Yamaha EXR was conspicuously banned from racing in Rec-Lite classes in 2019 leaving some to cry politics. Others saw the EXR as a proverbial gauntlet of challenge to Sea-Doo, provoking questions regarding potential turbo applications (borrowing heavily from existing Ski-Doo and Maverick powertrains). The Ski-Doo Renegade X RS Turbo features a 899cc 900 ACE Turbo pushing 12psi of forced induction to a maximum of 150-horsepower – and at a conservative 7,750rpm. Surely a properly-tuned Sea-Doo could spin above 8,600rpm without issue.
8. 2018 Yamaha vs Sea-Doo vs Kawasaki
Interestingly, this was far less of a shootout and was a brief overview of key features and characteristics of existing models and brands known thus far (the article was published in October 2017). Somehow it managed to pick up new legs in the middle of 2019 and went insanely viral; well before the confirmation of Kawasaki’s newfound charge into the Recreation segment with three new tiers of STX JetSkis, the redesigned Sea-Doo GTI lineup, or any revelations from Yamaha’s camp either. Frankly, we’re a little confused why this was so popular.
The biggest takeaway from this article’s popularity was first, the personal watercraft enthusiasts’ interest in a knock-down, blood-and-guts shootout between the three brands; and secondly, the revelation of which segment all three OE’s are focused on: Recreation. No, they’re not putting all their eggs into the Rec-Lite or Touring segments, and they’re definitely not counting on the top tier performance group to keep their lights on, it’s the mom-and-pop, fun-for-the-whole-family Recreation group of watercraft that makes the world turn.
7. Hook, Line & Sinker: 2019 Sea-Doo Fish Pro (Video)
Admittedly, the 2019 Sea-Doo Fish Pro was this author’s pick to win the gold prize at this year’s Watercraft of The Year awards. Not only did I find my time on the Fish Pro immensely enjoyable, even when nothing was tugging at my lures, but genuinely a fresh and unique experience unlike any other I had had on a personal watercraft. The boldness of a OE manufacturer to dive head-first into the marketplace with a fully-equipped, ready-to-ride PWC fishing rig (save for rods, reels and bait) absolutely blows my mind.
It’s a bit satisfying to know how popular The Watercraft Journal’s review of the Fish Pro has been, particularly our video review on YouTube. Unconventional fishermen have stumbled across our review and collected valuable information before making a final purchase – and for that we’re grateful to have played a small part. The Fish Pro deserves all of the praise being heaped upon it, and hopefully the sport of PWC fishing grows to match (and eventually outpace) that of kayak fishing – because that just sounds like a total drag to me.
6. The Hits Keep Coming: 2018 Yamaha GP1800 WaveRunner
How ridiculous is this? The review of the 2018 Yamaha GP1800 not only broke into our Top 10 articles for 2019, but the review on the 2018 model was more popular than the 2019 unit! Frankly, we accredit it to the superior Yamaha Racing Blue-and-White livery (although the white bumpers and rub rails were an absolute pain in the rear to keep clean). Coming off of a major win as not only the winner of the envied Watercraft of The Year award, but its second consecutive year winning it, the 2018 GP1800 clearly had a lot of momentum behind it.
Interestingly, the differences between the 2018 and 2019 models were significant albeit subtle. Prior to the 2019 reveal, the “non-R” GP1800 had a nearly flat ride plate that ended abruptly at the transom. This lent itself towards leaning heavier on the nose. Equally, the intake grate was consisted of three vertical beams and a mild curved scoop. The two added up for a runabout that lacked in initial hookup, cavitating as the big 1,812cc SVHO engine spun wildly to pick up traction. The aftermarket quickly resolved both issues, inspiring Factory Yamaha to follow shortly thereafter.
5. Debunking Myths & Better Understanding Sea-Doo’s Carbon Ring Seal
Among all of the mechanical and engineering differences between all three major OE manufacturers, the single most controversial is Sea-Doo’s use of the carbon ring seal. Instead of using a driveshaft seal like Kawasaki or Yamaha, the carbon ring seal is the “consumable” barrier sealing the inside of the hull from the outside as the prop shaft passes through it. The patented design is unique to the industry leader, and in recent years garnered quite a bit of infamy by online detractors, so The Watercraft Journal wanted to shed some light on it.
A preloaded billet hat presses up against the compressed carbon ring forming a low-friction seal, keeping outside water from penetrating the watertight hull. Unfortunately, the ring is susceptible to premature wear and eventual failure when the runabout is ran in shallow, sandy water; up beaches where sand and debris can permeate the ring; when excessive wave jumping can misalign the engine/powertrain; if the protective boot is not properly maintained; and several other instances which we outline. Understanding is the first step in maintenance and this article looked to help educate those looking to keep their Sea-Doo’s operational.
4. Vicious Rumors & Vile Gossip: Kawasaki’s Big Play for 2020; Two New STX-15F Models
If 2019 was stirred up about one subject it would be the future of Kawasaki JetSkis. Rumors of the brand’s departure from watersports were quickly debunked when grainy cellphone images of a prototype Recreation-segment runabout hit the internet. What was shown was not the final product (as seen in the image above) but a plain Jane red-and-white 2020 STX-160. The JetSki showed enough cues to affirm reports that the STX was redesigned from the bondline up – a new deck, seating, hood, etc.
Yet, what The Watercraft Journal got wrong was the redesigned hull to go with the new top half. Yes, much of the STX’s super-successful hull attributes carried over from the 17-year-old hull, but enough was added to give the runabout its own personality. In the images appeared to be a luxury-class tiered seat and Jetsounds sound system embedded into the footwells. The rider showed to be higher in the saddle with deeper footwells too. All of this stoked interest in Kawasaki again, and the final reveal showed not just one, but three new STX models to choose from! Very exciting!
3. USCG Imposes New Small Craft Minimum Visibility Requirements
Oh my, was this a good one. Seven years into publishing The Watercraft Journal, and we still manage to sucker some poor folks into believing anything we publish on April 1st is anything but totally bogus malarkey. For 2019, we actually published two April Fool’s Day jokes, but of the pair this article spurred more vitriol, more ire in personal watercraft enthusiasts than anything else. So what was it? A totally made-up United States Coast Guard law requiring all PWC to run a “vertical sprayer”.
Known by Yamaha as a “visibility spout,” the vertical plume of water is to act as a long-distance identifier, similar to a flag atop a buggy whip on a ATV (“quad”). It’s also one of the first modifications people make to their Yamahas (removing it, that is). So conjuring up a totally fake minimum requirement addendum and decreeing that ALL watercraft – regardless of brand or model year – needed to run one or face severe penalties and fines drove people up the wall. Meanwhile, nobody seems to click the final hyperlink (which takes you to Rick Astley’s “Never Gonna Give You Up”). Oh well.
2. Gallery: Introducing The 2020 Sea-Doo Lineup
As you might be able to guess, a year’s worth of anticipation culminated in a big reveal for Sea-Doo’s 2020 lineup. Certain “must haves” were expected for the new decade, including a total redesign of the Recreation segment. Consisting of the various GTI offerings, the GTI-based Wake model and the supercharged GTR; many wondered what the future would bring Sea-Doo’s most prolific and popular-sellers. A whole new platform built using Sea-Doo’s Polytec material (this time 50-percent thicker with a fiberglass inner liner) was used for all of the GTI-based runabouts. The hull shape proved a huge winner, tracking smartly through chop, turning upon demand, and remaining balanced at idle.
Paired with the new Polytec (version 2.0) was an entirely new deck design. Borrowing heavily from the larger ST3 platform, the new Recreation segment machines employ the same engine inspection cover that integrates the Retractable Ski Pylon portal and retractable LinQ mounts. A redesigned front bin and massive glove box (which includes the waterproof phone case from the ST3) boost the GTI’s overall storage to that higher than the full-sized runabouts! And lastly, the 1503 Rotax engines were retired; replaced with two naturally-aspirated ACE 1630 outputs (130 and 170) as well as a 230-horsepower supercharged ACE 1630.
1. Gallery: Introducing the 2020 Yamaha WaveRunner Lineup
Albeit a little surprising, considering that not much was expected in the way of changes for 2020, the reveal of the new Yamaha WaveRunners was the single-most popular article on The Watercraft Journal in 2019. Apart from some splashy new colors, a very weird name change, and a whole slew of accessories, Yamaha Motor Corp. USA felt that nothing was broke, so there was no need to fix it. The recently redesigned FX platform was immediately well-received, so a slight switch up of coloring was all that was needed – including some very menacing gloss-on-flat black coloring for the FX SVHO and FX Limited SVHO.
In a way of further tying the two sportier Performance segment siblings together, Yamaha decided to rename the VXR the GP1800R HO and the GP1800R the GP1800R SVHO, making the engine the sole designation between the two. Lastly, as mentioned Yamaha’s Parts & Accessories division rolled out a series of unobtrusive add-ons to maximize your riding experience. Top of the list were a totally redesigned pair of wireless Exogear Speakers with 30-watt 4-inch woofers and separate tweeters that fit comfortably in the cup holders on the FX’s dashboard. There’s new storage bags, coolers, fishing rod holders and phone cases too – opening up a world of fun and exploration aboard a WaveRunner for you.
Got your eye on a new Sea-Doo that you didn’t find under the Christmas tree? Not to worry, Sea-Doo is rolling out the red carpet on their upcoming venue list of boat shows nationwide.
Starting this month through March, you can find the latest Sea-Doo watercraft at a show near you. Check out all of the new designs including the Brand New GTI and find some great offers that can be found exclusively through the boat shows including 4-year warranty coverage and next-to-nothing interest rates.
Check out the details and full show line-up below.
EXPERIENCE THE SEA-DOO LIFE AT A BOAT SHOW NEAR YOU Tis the season… the boat show season that is! Come see what the Sea-Doo life is all about and take advantage of EXCLUSIVE boat show offers. We will have the whole line up on display, including the revolutionary new GTI platform!
Bring out the whole family to experience our immersive Sea-Doo booth at a boat show near you! Purchase any 2020 Sea-Doo model during your boat show visit and get 4-year coverage on your watercraft and 1.9% interest for 36 months.
Houston Boat Show January 3rd – 12th Chicago Boat Show January 8th – 12th Atlanta Boat Show January 16th – 19th Los Angeles Boat Show January 9th – 12th New York Boat Show January 22nd – 26th Minneapolis Boat Show January 23rd – 26th Seattle Boat Show January 24th – February 1st Mid-Atlantic Boat Show January 24th – 26th Miami Boat Show February 13th – 17th Detroit Boat Show January 18th – 26th New England Boat Show February 8th – 16th Atlantic City Boat Show February 26th – March 1st
According to all accounts, 2019 marked the end of a fifteen-year long saga in the world’s longest PWC endurance race…..or so we thought!
The announcement of 2019 being the end of the Mark Hahn 300 Race sparked so much uproar and publicity that event promoters have finally decided to bring it back for 2020. This will now mark the 16th annual event.
Starting back in Spring 2019, there was some afterthought and speculation about a possible 2020 event. It was then announced shortly thereafter that the 16th annual event would take place pending sufficient entry form submissions.
In recent years the event has been in decline of funding and racer participation. Many teams had been experiencing losses that inhibited their success in future events however the 2019 event took a huge turnaround.
Racers came out in droves and the event finally regained profitability. Many suspect that the sentiment that accompanied the so-called final event helped boost the in-flux of racers and drove the success of this past event so promoters have been approaching the 2020 event with caution.
It appears the event will now take place due to the generation of a number of entries. Entry forms are still being accepted for the February 22, 2020 Yamaha IJSBA Mark Hahn 300 but everyone hopes that interest is still there and that the level of participation will match last year’s.
Time will only tell what the future holds for this long-time running endurance race.
Seek out a reputable dealer for all of your cold-water needs. Depending upon where you live, this will dictate what millimeter wetsuit to wear. If you’re like many others, 
The announcement of 2019 being the end of the