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.
Australians are embracing personal watercraft more than ever before, so much in fact that Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki combined now represent almost half of the annual sales of all new powered boats. While the overall numbers might be small compared with North America, the latest figures show more than 6800 PWCs were sold in Australia last year out of a total of approximately 15,000 new powered vessels.
The sales figures for PWCs are more accurate to calculate because Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki share their numbers confidentially among each other and with the Australian Boating Industry Association (BIA).
The sales of other powered vessels are more difficult to calculate because each jurisdiction across the country keeps different registration records, and the type of craft ranges from small boats, cruisers, and “tinnies” with outboard motors.
The latest figures from Australia’s Boating Industry Association President, Darren Vaux, showed last year’s tally of 6800 new PWC sales was a 47 percent increase over the past 10 years, with an average growth of 7 percent per year versus 1 to 2 percent for the rest of the powered boating market.
While the PWC manufactures don’t share their sales data publicly, confidential figures show Sea-Doo dominates in Australia with approximately 68 percent share of PWC sales, ahead of Yamaha (27 percent) and Kawasaki (5 percent).
However, the sales split across all three brands varies from region to region across Australia, and Yamaha has a higher proportion of sales, for example, in NSW, Australia’s most populous state, although Sea-Doo still has the lion’s share there, too.
Yamaha and Kawasaki hope to claw back some of their lost ground in 2020 with the arrival of new models. Australia’s BIA says there are now more 76,000 PWCs registered across Australia. Their popularity has prompted authorities to repeat warnings to PWC owners to familiarize themselves with the rules ahead of the summer holidays.
Authorities in NSW, Queensland and Victoria have increased their enforcement of PWC riders and boosted their own PWC fleets in the lead-up to summer.
Queensland authorities recently added four brand-new Sea-Doo GTX155 watercraft decked out in Maritime Safety Queensland livery – to join the fleet of seven Queensland water police and four Queensland fisheries jet skis on patrol.
Police in NSW have just taken delivery of 12 brand-new Sea-Doo RXT-X300s, while Victorian authorities are preparing to enforce new PWC restrictions in Port Phillip Bay.
Australian Recreational Boating Safety Committee Chair, Angus Mitchell, said in a media statement: “The majority of people who ride personal watercraft are people who are keen to do the right thing. There is a minority however who can cause a nuisance and that usually centers around speeding and not keeping a safe distance – especially from people in or by the water.”
He added: “We want everyone to enjoy our diverse waterways, we also want everyone to be considerate of other waterways users during peak times and ultimately we would like to encourage safe practices while operating PWC this coming summer season.”
Chances are you have come to love Sea-Doo’s revolutionary palm rest grip design. Well now there is even more to boast about because Sea-Doo has incorporated heat into the grip.
Yup that’s right, now you can stay even warmer on those cold winter rides by upgrading to the new heated grips. These grips come with an integrated heat adjustment button offering five different levels of heat.
They incorporate the latest palm rest design so for those of you who still have the old cylindrical grips, you get even more of an upgrade here. Best of all, they are easy to install by simply slipping on to the handlebar in place of the old grips.
Continue reading for more information or head on over to the link above to see if your Sea-Doo is compatible with the new heated grips.
SEA-DOO INTRODUCES HEATED GRIPS Along with the introduction of a new platform this year, Sea-Doo launched heated grips. Don’t let cold weather ruin your ride this winter and keep your hands toasty warm.
These heated grips, indicated by a red light, are equipped with five levels of heat, to perfectly fit whatever weather you are riding in. Ride longer, more comfortably with Sea-Doo’s renowned palm rest design. Installation can easily be done yourself, as the grip slip on to replace existing grips. If you’re dealing with even colder temperatures, add on the wind deflectors for maximum performance and warmth.
Compatibility: RXT, RXT-X, GTX, and WAKE PRO (2018 & up), GTI, GTI SE, GTR and WAKE 170 (2020)
Here’s a feel-good story: Mike Gapski has hit the ice with Chicago Blackhawks for over thirty years. He is the head athletic trainer for the Blackhawks and on December 16, he and the team celebrated his 2,500th National Hockey League game. The game was against the Arizona Coyotes and the Blackhawks won and soon after the celebration of trainer Mike Gapski began.
Gapinski is the longest-tenured active trainer in the NHL. Only Pete Demers, a retired Hockey Hall of Famer has worked more games as a trainer. He hit 2,632, all completed with the Los Angeles Kings.
The Chicago Blackhawks showed their appreciation for Gapski’s service to the team by presenting him with a brand new red and white Yamaha EX Sport. Gapski became emotional as he was being recognized by the players in such a special way. He walked across the ice and sat on the trailered machine, absolutely thrilled and honored to be part of an organization that doesn’t take him for granted. The team knows he loves life on the lake and will thoroughly enjoy his new PWC. He will get a lot of use of that Yamaha WaveRunner.
“That was pretty cool,” Blackhawks captain Jonathan Toews said of Monday’s spectacle. “I didn’t know a jet ski would make ‘Gapper emotional, but I think he likes life out at the lake in the summer. He likes to get out there, so it’s a nice little toy for him to enjoy and it’d be nice to see the big guy ripping around on that thing, getting some rays.”
It was about a year ago after reviewing a foam-lined cold weather head sock that a reader reached out and recommended that I try out a protective face shield. In my review I had complained that while it helped to retain some heat, the constant onslaught of chilled wind and rain was just too much for a soft, felt head sock. A face shield, he proposed, was the best thing to block cold wind and rain while retaining breathability and comfort. Admittedly, I didn’t give it much thought afterwards until one Fall day when I was caught on the lake by a sudden northern rain storm that dropped both the temperature and sheets of rain.
While a few small outfits were making single-piece face shields, I was tempted by the two-piece, detachable design marketed to motorsports and enthusiasts and, conspicuously enough, fabricators alike. Listed solely as “Safety Face Shield Mask Goggles Kits Anti Dust Mouth Filter Work Eye Protection” on eBay and all over Google, this face shield has no official brand name or even a catchy label – meaning one thing: these were Chinese made knock-offs of something else. So if you’re interested in learning more about these, you’re either going to have to Google the exact sentence I just wrote, or click one of the hyperlinks I’ve highlighted.
The two-piece system is attached using a quartet of plastic hooks on the face mask that attach to the flexible TPU frame of the goggles. The unisex goggle frame fits all adults thanks to a non-slip, wide adjustable elastic band, and can be ordered in either black, white, red, or blue. Equally, the UV-resistant, PC lenses are available in silver, yellow, grey, clear, or a prismatic rainbow. And yes, the goggles can be worn separately without the mask at any time. The contact surface of the goggles is comfortable too, allowing your skin to breathe without fogging up the lens. After a month of testing, the goggles’ lenses are not easily removed and replaced, so be warned.
The mask itself is pliable but nowhere near as flexible as the goggles. It sits far enough to not make contact with your nose, but wraps closely enough to feel enclosed (but not claustrophobic). The front mouth piece features a high-density sponge with great ventilation, all while performing its job as a breathable filter keeping out most splashes and raindrops. Two bilateral “blowhole” vents at the cheeks provide better air permeability too. With masks like these, air ventilation at speed isn’t an issue (as air is forced through the vents) but while standing still, and thankfully, breathing while stationary is just as comfortable.
Although the mask is listed as a good face shield for laboratory, carpentry or otherwise, it does not provide the necessary filtration for activities using toxic chemicals like painting, stripping, or otherwise. Therefore, I strongly recommend using it strictly for outdoor sports like motorcycling, PWC, snowmobile, airsoft, skiing and the like. My use of the protective face mask was primarily for use in cold weather, so it was always used with a soft felt-lined head sock. This kept ice from collection around the mouth and nose, as well as moisture from chilling my ears.
In all, this two-piece protective face mask-and-goggle combination has been an ideal addition to my foul weather gear. I know I’ll be packing it along year-round when I go on trips where the threat of rain is also eminent as well. If anything, the extra set of goggles are always welcomed. Priced at a ludicrously low sum of $11.59, it’s worth buying just as a backup. Again, these lenses aren’t as nice as you’d expect from superior American-made goggle companies, but the utility makes up for the cost of admission.
In presenting a Watercraft of The Year award to an Original Equipment (OE) manufacturer, The Watercraft Journal acknowledges achievements in innovation, design, overall execution and the model’s lasting affect on the marketplace and/or industry. Contenders were culled from the near two-dozen personal watercraft individually reviewed over the 2019 model year. No entries were eligible that The Watercraft Journal’s staff didn’t personally review. Maintaining abject objectivity is key. In many cases, certain watercraft that were personal favorites of the WCJ staff (like the ’19 Yamaha EXR, a favorite for this author) didn’t make the cut. Others that hadn’t been considered came away with irrefutably high scores.
And that leads us to The Watercraft Journal’s Watercraft of The Year award scoring, or IDEA score. Each of the aforementioned four categories (innovation, design, execution, affect) account for a maximum of 10 points each, totaling a combined 40 possible points. This year, we thought it prudent to list each model’s accumulated score, as it’ll show the narrow margin that some models were within of its next contender. Again, judging a potential winner is not merely a matter of subjectivity, but weighing several key factors, comparing notes, weighing public opinion, reviewing a year’s worth of service claims, etc.
Finally, as we did for last year’s Watercraft of The Year award, we’re including the video review of each respective model that earned its place on the dais. The Watercraft Journal is the only personal watercraft magazine that religiously publishes full-length reviews of the newest PWC and produces a video to accompany each feature, giving the enthusiasts (and first-time buyers) the best, most comprehensive data to make an informed purchase. 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 garners grumbles from the opposition, it is important to know just how close these three watercraft came within the margin of earning the overall award.
2019 Watercraft of The Year 2nd Runner-Up: 2019 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner Innovation: 9; Design: 9; Execution: 8; Affect: 8; Total: 34 points
What if we told you that the only two-time Watercraft of The Year winner and the winningest runabout in the past decade would be nearly completely replaced by a full-sized three-seater? Well in 2019, that’s exactly what happened. Yamaha radically redesigned its FX SVHO WaveRunner for 2019, and the result was a full-sized runabout that behaved like a machine half its size. The 2019 FX SVHO wowed performance enthusiasts with its light weight (818-pounds versus the previous model’s 833-pounds) despite being marginally larger (140.9-inches long vs. 140.4-inches; 48.4-inches tall vs. 48-inches; and 50-inches wide vs. 48-inches); it’s sporty inside lean when put through a tight chicane; and most notably, it’s rough water prowess.
These three factors elevated the ’19 FX SVHO in to race-worthy status. Racers looking for a runabout that could soak up the bumps, jostles and bangs of open ocean racing almost unanimously gravitated from their stripped-down, bare bones GP1800R raceboats toward the FX SVHO. By the end of the season, lineups at AquaX events were almost all FX Yamahas. This pattern was no more prevalent than at the 2019 IJSBA World Finals, where the Pro Stock Class lineup was entirely Yamahas, the majority being FX’s. Although somewhat slower on the top end, the GP-inspired FX hull proved itself as being predictable even in brutal conditions. The craft’s steadiness at speed, intuitive handling and natural cornering gave it an irrefutable edge.
Moreover, the newly minted FX featured innovation that pushed the PWC industry further: namely, the advent of the industry’s first full-color, digital touchscreen dashboard, footwell drains and innovative RAM multi-mount accessory system. Other additions included a radical increase in storage capacity (44-gal. vs. 33.2-gal.), a one-touch electric-assisted engine starter, and a truly watertight glove box. The ConNext digital dashboard is of special note as it helped raise the bar for onboard PWC instrumentation. Its 4.6-inch screen is compact, yes, but is easy-to-read while at speed, customizable and best of all, easy-to-operate. All of this combined to make the ’19 FX SVHO a truly remarkable watercraft.
2019 Watercraft of The Year 1st Runner-Up: 2019 Sea-Doo Fish Pro Innovation: 10; Design: 10; Execution: 8; Affect: 7; Total: 35 points
It almost goes without saying that what Sea-Doo achieved with the 2019 Sea-Doo Fish Pro is nothing short of extraordinary. Not only did the industry leader specifically address one of the fastest-growing sub-segments of the personal watercraft industry (ie. PWC fishing), but radically demonstrated the modularity of its ST3 platform. With the introduction of the Fish Pro came a veritable avalanche of new features, accessories and components that Sea-Doo owners across the board suddenly “had to have.” Today, hundreds (if not thousands) of Sea-Doos have been upgraded with items first revealed on the Fish Pro. Sea-Doo wisely capitalized on this, even going so far to make color variants of key accessories available through its Parts & Accessories division.
Fishing enthusiasts have been adapting PWC for angling use for decades now, but Sea-Doo raised the stakes by equipping the Fish Pro with the very best the industry could offer. Foremost is the Fish Pro’s Garmin ECHOMAP Plus 62cv Fish Finder and in-hull transducer. The 6-inch, full-color screen displays pages of charts, depth and seafloor mapping, all using CHIRP technology producing high definition live imaging. An 11-inch deck extension adds to the Fish Pro’s overall length, providing ample room for a second set of LinQ mounts and it’s massive 13.5-gallon LinQ cooler (that can be easily plumbed to become a live well tank) replete with a cutting board integrated into the lid, a cargo net for tools, and multi-place rod holder system.
Additional touches included the angled footwell guards; a thicker, flat-topped bench seat makes maneuverability around the Fish Pro a little easier; the new iTC (Intelligent Throttle Control) feature “Trolling Mode,” permitting fishermen to toggle through low speed presets, from 2mph to 9mph; and of course, the 18.5-gallon fuel tank. By no fault of its own, the 2019 Sea-Doo Fish Pro’s sales were hindered by it’s limited market segment. The Sea-Doo sold strongest where PWC fishing was already popular, as one might expect; but the true test was where newfound interest was kindled. The 2019 Fish Pro didn’t just fill a hole in the marketplace, but introduced the uninitiated with a product that could do what a population didn’t previously consider. And that in itself is praiseworthy.
2019 Watercraft of The Year Winner: 2019 Yamaha VX Cruiser HO WaveRunner Innovation: 7; Design: 9; Execution: 10; Affect: 10; Total: 36 points
The poet John Lydgate famously cautioned, “You can please some of the people all of the time, you can please all of the people some of the time, but you can’t please all of the people all of the time.” And while some will cry that there’s nothing particularly unique about the 2019 Yamaha VX Cruiser HO WaveRunner, it manages to perform Lydgate’s final act surprisingly well…so much so that this WaveRunner has outsold every single other PWC on the market for the second consecutive year in a row. That, and its deceptively simple-yet-masterfully balanced package has fatefully earned it The Watercraft Journal’s 2019 Watercraft of The Year award!
Its popularity is an even greater feat when you realize that this $11,499 mid-sized runabout outsold Rec-Lite watercraft for half the cost – particularly among first time buyers. So what makes the VX Cruiser HO so successful? As any salesmen will tell you, it’s about quality and value. Despite being more expensive, customers were more likely to spent a little extra for the 767-pound, 3-seater as long as it checked all the right boxes – storage (24.6-gallons), fuel capacity (18.5-gallons) and consumption (an estimated 13.5-gallons per hour at WOT), and ease of use (cruising, touring, towing, reboarding, etc.) – and the 2019 VX Cruiser HO certainly does.
Yet, nearly as important as all of these attributes was mechanical dependability, and the 1,812cc High Output 4-stroke four-cylinder is easily one of the best. Producing a naturally-aspirated 180-horsepower, almost every VX Cruiser HO owner we talked to parroted similar feelings: “I wanted something dependable,” “I didn’t want a [PWC] that needed a lot of upkeep,” “It had to be reliable,” and the comments go on.
It’s hard to argue with the overwhelming majority, and thousands have voted with their wallets in favor of the VX Cruiser HO. Maxing out at a tad over 62mph @ 7,500rpm, the VX won’t set the world on fire, but being the fastest PWC on the water is not the goal here. Yamaha created a machine that strikes the perfect balance for the widest audience – effectively pleasing all of the people all of the time, and for that earns this year’s Watercraft of The Year award.
The announcement of 2019 being the end of the 
