As the cold weather mornings are in effect for many of us, it is a sign for some to start thinking about winterizing your watercraft. Thankfully, BRP is here to help with their all new lineup of XPS cleaning and maintenance products.
These products are not only great for post-ride cleaning care, but also for winterizing and long-term storage of your watercraft. Sea-Doo would like to give you the below guideline tips for proper storage preparation which consists of the following items.
Clean jet pump
Inspect jet pump
Stabilize the fuel system
Replace engine oil and filter
Flush and drain exhaust system
Internal engine lubrication
Battery care
Hull and body cleaning
Handling these tasks becomes a breeze with XPS products and now with new and improved products to choose from, you are sure to find the right items to keep your watercraft in excellent shape. Read below for the full news release on these brand new XPS products and for detailed winterizing tips, be sure to check out the Sea-Doo Blog.
In addition to the new 2020 Sea-Doo Models, we’ve introduced a whole new line of XPS cleaning products to keep your watercraft looking pristine. XPS products are specially engineered to remove grime and water stains from your Sea-Doo. They take care of marine organisms as well.
With cleaning products designed specifically for your Sea-Doo, you will see superior shine and protection compared to generic products. These easy to use products will keep your Sea-Doo looking brand new and keep a smile on your face!
The world’s biggest store for all things personal watercraft recently released the newest competitor for affordable and reliable replacement impellers – Adonis Impellers. Sold exclusively through The Watercraft Superstore and its super-popular Amazon online store, Adonis Impellers provides watercraft owners, service departments, repair shops and rental outfits a resource for affordable replacement impellers for most brands and makes of PWC.
Meeting the Watercraft Superstore’s exacting specifications, each Adonis Impeller is made from high quality stainless steel, pitched and polished to OEM specifications. Replete with a one year manufacturer’s warranty, every Adonis Impeller is guaranteed a direct replacement for your bent, cracked, corroded or damaged OEM impeller. And being under the direction of an industry leader, you can be assured a quick and painless delivery.
Additionally, Adonis and the Watercraft Superstore offer a complete line of products to complete your replacement, whether that’s a driveshaft tool for a Yamaha, or an anodized collar for your Kawasaki, they’ve got it in stock and ready for deliver. If your PWC is looking worn, torn, or a little tired, check out the massive Watercraft Superstore catalog, chocked full of everything you need to bring your watercraft back to life.
The sport of PWC is full of adrenaline, racers traveling at fast speeds in tight buoy courses. While this is what fuels every racer with energy, collisions can occur and leave devastating impacts. In October 2015, Chris Leo was racing in a AquaX 300 PWC Race in Tavares, Florida. During the race, a boat entered the area causing a wake to come through the course and knock Chris off into the water. After being in the water for only a matter of seconds, a fellow racer who was traveling at 80+mph crashed into Chris. The result was a fractured face and broken jaw.
The result of the crash came with a lot of therapy and surgeries, medical bills and a long recovery. Chris’s parents struggled with insurance as they submitted claims but continued to get denied. They even had full coverage for Chris and his PWC. In August of 2019, Chris and his family received good news about a doctor in Maitland, Florida who could perform a reconstructive surgery to replace his teeth and bring back his smile. The family submitted another claim for insurance but were denied again.
Chris’s mother, Theresa Zorn has since started a fundraiser on Facebook to help fund the surgery. The family has had multiple medical bills over the last four years which forced them to shut down their repair shop which Chris was the foreman of. Chris is now working as a mechanic in Brevard County while raising four children.
Dear PWC community, this is a terrible accident that happened to someone in our community. Please donate whatever you can, even donating a few dollars makes a huge difference. Feel free to share the link with anyone because the more people who read about Chris’s story, the higher the chance of reaching their final goal will be. Here is the link to the fundraiser along with a description written by Chris’s mother.
While many personal watercraft enthusiasts are focused on the top-end models from Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki, not everyone wants to start out on some of the fastest machines on the water. Which is where these two come in. While the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx and Yamaha WaveRunner EXR are not direct competitors, they are closely priced once a few options on the Sea-Doo are ticked – and both deliver a heap of fun for the money.
The Trixx arrived in late 2017 as a 2018 model year as an addition to the regular Spark range that came out in 2014. Clever adjustment of the jet pump at the press of a button and the addition of some rear foot wedges enabled the Trixx to easily perform the jet ski equivalent of a “wheelstand.”
Meanwhile, in late 2018 for the 2019 model year Yamaha added a model with a more powerful engine and a lighter hull to its EX range introduced in 2016. Yamaha called it EXR and added it to its performance line-up. While the Yamaha can’t perform a “wheelstand,” it likes to jump out of the water on take-off and can perform super-sharp U-turns.
The Spark Trixx costs from $7,599 as a two-seater and $8,199 as a three-seater ($8,749 when equipped with the BRP Audio-Portable System boombox), not including trailer and registration charges. The EXR (there is only a three-seater version) costs from $9,399, not including trailer and registration charges. While each has a seating capacity for up to two or three people, that’s a lot of weight for these small craft. We reckon they’re better off used solo or, at a pinch, two up. Here’s how they compare:
The Spark Trixx comes with the 90-horsepower version of Sea-Doo’s 899cc three-cylinder Rotax 4-stroke ACE 900 engine. The three-seater gets an attachment that lengthens the rear deck, comes with a slighter longer seat, and has a towing hook. The two-seater tested here has a shorter seat and no rear deck extension.
It becomes easier to climb aboard the Spark Trixx from the water once you master the one-sided folding knee-step, and how to best avoid the foot wedges. However, the Yamaha is the easier of the two in this regard thanks to its larger and flatter rear deck area.
Being one of the lightest watercraft on the market makes the Spark Trixx easy to maneuver. The dry weight difference on the Trixx variants is modest: 423-pounds for the two-seater and 438-pounds for the three-seater (versus 405 and 421-pounds for the regular Spark two- and three-seat models).
Service intervals for Sparks are 12 months or 100 hours but there’s no easy customer access to the engine bay; the top deck needs to be removed with tools for routine servicing. Popular accessories include a large portable and detachable Bluetooth audio speaker pod, a 7-gallon front storage bin, a rear re-boarding step, and a LinQ fitting to attach a soft dry-storage case onto the rear deck.
Another option worth considering is the security key which is paired electronically to your specific watercraft. On standard Spark models anyone with a Sea-doo lanyard can ride it away as it’s effectively “unlocked.”
The key to the Trixx’s capability is the extended range variable trim system, or VTS. The VTS switch on the left handlebar and the software behind it add 10 degrees of movement to the standard trim settings (17 degrees upward and 6 degrees downward). There are nine positions in total, including a clearly marked neutral setting, for flatter riding.
In “wheelie” mode it points the jet pump further upwards. With your feet on the wedges near the rear of the deck the Trixx can stand nearly vertical if you get the balance right. The up and down buttons can be a bit too sensitive and you end up developing patience while you tap them carefully so you don’t end up in the wrong mode.
The digital dash display shows the remaining fuel in the 8-gallon tank, your speed in MPH or KMH, and is a gateway to two driving modes: touring and sport. The sport mode doesn’t deliver more power but it does change throttle sensitivity and makes it feel more lively. The 50mph top speed is modest compared to the big boys (and a little under 5mph behind the EXR) but it’s extremely intuitive to maneuver, making it easy for novice riders to quickly build their confidence.
Room for improvement? The glovebox is too small to stow a large smartphone in a waterproof case (or a tube of sunscreen), so it’s worth adding the optional front storage bin. Just be aware it’s not waterproof, so carrying a phone or camera could still be tricky.
The EXR is powered by the same 1049cc three-cylinder from the rest of the EX range but it gets a power boost from 101HP to 110HP, due to engine calibration changes and a higher rev limit, from 7,300 to 8,000rpm. A jet pump extension and an added foil on the intake grate are designed to provide quicker throttle response.
The EXR also gains a lighter NanoXcel2 hull — which brings the overall weight of the craft down from 600-pounds to 540-pounds for an improved power-to-weight ratio. By comparison, the Spark Trixx has 90-horsepower and weighs 423-pounds (three seater is 438-pounds).
The EXR has more standard storage space than a standard Spark Trixx. The Yamaha EXR’s glovebox can accommodate a large phone, a wallet and a tube of sunscreen, though we also used it to stow a long tow sling during our test. You can even fit a large beach towel. There’s also a slim storage area under the nose cover, but it’s not waterproof. In total there is up to 7.7-gallons of storage space versus half a gallon in the Spark Trixx.
The EXR offers incredible precision and control at your fingertips, although it is easy to put yourself in the water if you lean too far over and haven’t grabbed enough throttle to get out of trouble. Fortunately, it’s reasonably harmless when you fall off at low speeds, which you will inevitably do as your bravado increases and you challenge yourself to take tighter turns.
However, the Yamaha’s fuel tank is 13.2-gallons, which gives the EXR greater range than the Spark Trixx’s 30 litre tank. I ran out of energy before I could run the EXR empty. This is a lot of fuel capacity for a small ski – and it is very much welcome. The EXR hull is made from Yamaha’s lightweight NanoXcel2 material rather than the standard EX model’s stronger but heavier sheet molded compound (SMC).
No watercraft really like being beached (unless the keel has been fitted with a protective guard or coating such as those used by surf lifesavers) but it’s probably best to avoid or minimize riding the EXR onto sand. Yamaha recommends routine maintenance every 100 hours or 12 months. For those who want to service the craft themselves, access to the engine bay is limited but not impossible.
Both of these jet skis are an absolute blast and a great way to get into the sport. If you want to perform “wheelstands” and listen to music as you ride – or unclip the optional speaker system and listen to your tunes on the beach – the Sea-Doo Spark Trixx is a great choice. The Yamaha WaveRunner EXR, while a touch more expensive, delivers a different level of fun and superior top-endperformance. Budget and buyer tastes will ultimately be deciding factors, but you can’t go wrong with either of these watercraft.
OK, this review is gonna be a little mean. No, not in that way, but I mean, mean to you, the reader. Why? Because the Sea-Doo Floating Sunglasses aren’t available yet. I say “yet” because these are expected to be made available on November 6th along with the entire 2020 riding gear collection on sea-doo.com and Sea-Doo dealers. So as much as you may want a pair of these (and trust me, you do), you can’t – well, at least, not yet. And that’s just mean, I mean.
So how did I get my hands on these, then? You ask. Well, shortly before departing from the 2020 Sea-Doo press introduction event in Austin, Texas last month, I was handed a pair of their brand-new Sea-Doo brand Floating Sunglasses. We weren’t even given a chance to try ’em out while we test rode the new 2020 GTIs and GTR 230’s for two days. It was kind of a tease, really.
Thankfully, that was a month ago and I’ve gotten plenty of time to try ’em out on the water since then. As many of The Watercraft Journal’s readers will note, I’m a pretty tough stickler on what makes a good pair of sunglasses for riding a PWC. First, flat frames are a no-go, as they can be easily whipped off of your face with a slight turn of your head. (Ask me how I know.)
Next, they gotta float but without requiring big ol’ slabs of buoyant Hydro-Turf being glued to their sides. Nobody wants that, and anyone who tells you different is lying. And finally, they’ve got to be polarized and UV resistant. Those last two are pretty much no-brainers, but you’d be surprised how much needs to be spelled out these days. Any added features are extra bonuses, but you gotta hit these four requirements.
Smartly, Sea-Doo knows a thing or two about what personal watercraft enthusiasts like, and these floating sunglasses hit all the marks right in the dead center. These frames are perfectly contoured to match your face (without feeling claustrophobic) and rest lightly on your ears and bridge of your nose. The soft and rubberized perch for the nose runs all the way up to the brow, which is very nice too.
The reflective polarized lenses are big, wide and don’t have big ol’ blind spots either. Made with the same superior materials and build quality as our trusty Windrider Floating Sunglasses, the Sea-Doo shades are slightly less narrow, and are tethered together at the arms by an adjustable neoprene lanyard to ensure that they stay on your face, even while peering over your shoulder as you keep the throttle down.
Our pair came in black-and-gray with silver argent lenses, which suited my tastes just fine. We were told other colors may be soon-coming. They also come in a very nice, breathable mesh bag. Since these have yet to be released to the public, there’s no listed price to give you or even an official part number. So really, all I can give you is my very happy recommendation and a strong suggestion to keep your eyes peeled for their release on November 6th along with the rest of the 2020 riding gear collection.
It was a sight to behold. The entire lineup of Pro Runabout Stock class was filled with Yamaha WaveRunners. No, that’s not hyperbole. Every. Single. Watercraft. That’s a heck of a thing to see at the IJSBA World Finals, and no one was happier to see it than the brass at Yamaha Motor Corp.
One brand being preferred by all competitors is staggering, but given the SVHO’s track record, understandable.
Now, with the lake still churning from the weekend’s World Finals’ racing, the tally of World Championships for Yamaha is substantive: Pro Runabout Stock; Pro Runabout Limited; Pro-Am Women’s Runabout; and Pro Runabout Limited 1100.
Here’s Yamaha’s official press release: Yamaha, the premier brand on the water, dominated the premier pro classes at the 2019 IJSBA World Finals held in Lake Havasu City, Arizona; winning World Championships in the Pro Runabout Stock, Pro Runabout Limited, Pro-Am Womens Runabout and Pro Runabout Limited 1100 classes.
In the Pro Runabout Stock class, also known as the Manufacturers’ Cup because the racing machines in the class are the best representation of out-of-the box performance, Yamaha GP1800R rider Brian Baldwin won the world title followed by Yamaha GP1800R racer Abdullah Alfadhel and FX SVHO rider Eric Francis, who finished second and third respectively.
In Pro Runabout Limited racing action, Yamaha FX SVHO racer Troy Snyder won the world championship followed by fellow FX SVHO racer Eric Francis, who rounded out the podium with a gutsy performance and Moto 2 win.
In Pro-Am Women’s Runabout racing, Thailand’s Oraphan Teerapatpanich won the world title aboard her Yamaha GP1800R followed closely by Yamaha FX SVHO racer Sophie Francis who finished third overall with an exciting 3-2 performance.
In the Pro Runabout Limited 1100 class, Yamaha EXR rider BJ Ang from the Philippines won the world title, dominating the field of Sea-Doo Sparks.
“I couldn’t be more excited for our world champions and the awesome showing by the Yamaha GP1800R, FX SVHO, and EXR that have dominated pro racing all year long, and especially this weekend at the World Finals,” said Yamaha WaveRunner Racing Manager Bryce Parker.
“Yamaha is the premier performance brand on the water and we continue to prove ourselves on the closed course and in ocean endurance racing. And what’s exciting for Yamaha as a manufacturer is that our wins are translating to big sales with the Yamaha GP1800R being the best-selling performance model and the second best-selling model in the industry for the past several years.”
Congratulations to all the Yamaha WaveRunner racers who competed at the IJSBA World Finals this year, and special thanks to Broward Motorsports, RIVA Racing, Dean’s Team, Kommander Industries, and to the families and friends who support personal watercraft racing.
It can be hard trying to figure out where you want to plant your roots. Most of the time, the decision comes down to our careers or how close our family will be to us. While many of you know that Lake Havasu is the mecca for all watercraft racing and Free Style PWC events, we are not able to pack up the family and move there. Luckily, Mark Gomez, a triple world title owner was able to talk with his fiancé and make the move to live in Lake Havasu permanently.
Mark Gomez and Kaley McNay make the perfect couple, their love for the water is what brought them together and allows them to experience new adventures. While riding a freestyle watercraft at the highest level along with many other events is a dream job for many of us, nothing was given to Gomez. He had to work hard on his skills before sponsoring companies would even talk to him. With Gomez’s hard work and dedication, he has been able to secure some of the industry leading companies as sponsors. Hydro-Turf is one of the industry leaders in PWC traction mats and they have been able to support Gomez is his very successful career.
Lake Havasu is the perfect place to call home when you are a professional freestyle rider and your soon-to-be wife loves to wake board and wake surf. While Gomez’s job requires him to travel a lot, being able to have his home where the 2019 World Finals will be held will allow him to focus on winning another world title this year.
For those of you that are sports fans, whenever you go to a game, you have to have on your game day attire. Whether it is your favorite players jersey, hat or even both, you can’t leave home without it. Well, when you go to PWC Races, you have to make sure you are decked out in the latest gear. If you are in need of gear or looking to update your wardrobe, RIVA Racing has some new gear to keep you looking good!
RIVA Racing just came out with some new chino hats designed just for the females! From pink, black and charcoal there is something for everyone. One of the key features about these hats are that they have adjustable back straps allowing you to get a perfect fit. They are embroidered on the front and on the left side of the hat. Along with hats, RIVA offers shirts, rash guards and more for men and women.
Showing up to the races is a great way to show case a great hat made by a great company. It’ll block the sun from your face and you’ll fit right in with the crowd. Offered at a competitive price, check out RIVA Racing today and order yourself a new hat!
Our good friends over at Broward Motorsports have just come out with a Stage 1 Performance Kit for the new Yamaha WaveRunner EX and EXR models. The time is now to unlock the true potential your Yamaha EX and EXR has!
The main function about this stage 1 kit is that it unlocks your factory ECU and reprograms it. By reprogramming the ECU, it unlocks a whole new PWC for you. Some of the key features about the stage 1 kit is that it increases your overall horsepower by using a new maps that enhances your timing and fuel consumption, provides a quicker throttle response while riding, is overall more efficient when riding at higher RPM’s, increases your rev limiter higher, provides more torque throughout the powerband and when you add all of these key features up, it equals a more efficient PWC that can reach a higher top speed.
An important thing to note when applying a stage 1 kit, is that you need to use 93 octane fuel to satisfy your motor without running lean. An additional note is that you will need to send in your stock ECU to Broward Motorsports to get reflashed. By clicking on this link, it will provide you with all of the details to start your order.
IF you have been shopping around for a Stage 1 Kit for you Yamaha EX and EXR, there are multiple reasons to purchase from BMS. One, they offer free shipping on all orders over $125. The cost of the Stage 1 Kit is $599.00. Another reason is that by using “BMS10” when checking out, you will receive 10% off your entire order! After these discounts if you are still trying to crunch the numbers to purchase this kit, BMS has partnered with Affirm to offering a financing option as low as $56 a month! Broward Motorsports want to provide the best option for their customers, if you have any questions or concerns, feel free to reach out to them and they will be happy to talk with you!
Whether you are still riding your watercraft, enjoying some last-minute warm weather or getting ready for the season to end, it’s always important to take some time after each ride to keep your watercraft in good shape by performing some necessary maintenance.
Earlier this year we did a quick recap on an original article from personalwatercraft.com which gives some good tips on post-ride maintenance. For those of you still enjoying the season, here is the list of items we told you about in the last article.
For those who are done riding for the year, these maintenance tips are still good to follow when storing your watercraft. You can always check out our list of how-to articles for other great in-season and out-of-season maintenance tips.
First and foremost, flush and rinse your ski especially after those saltwater rides. You want to get all of that contamination out of your exhaust or engine. Flushing should take place after every ride no matter what type of water you ride in.
Rinsing off your watercraft is not mandatory after every ride unless it was playtime in the brine. You should however give it a good wash after every few rides even when riding in freshwater to keep it free of grime or water spots.
Don’t forget your engine compartment either since it is not completely watertight. Over time you will learn how much water is actually entering your particular watercraft’s compartments but it is generally a good idea to give it a light rinsing and possibly a light spray of anti-corrosion lubricant on metal surfaces especially if you notice corrosion spots developing. Just avoid using a pressure washer inside the engine compartment.
Also keeping your seat and drain plugs open will help dry out all of the leftover moisture. If you burn through your full tank of fuel during each ride and your next ride is just around the corner, don’t worry about fuel stabilizer however if your fuel will be sitting for some time then it is a good idea to keep it fresh with stabilizer.
Checking your oil level before or after each ride is also a good idea and changing the oil when it is due will keep your watercraft running longer. For more details on these and many other tips, be sure to check out the links above.
