Some of the best memories are made on top of a PWC. Whether it be riding with friends or a solo mission, exploring new areas, going for a cruise or racing a friend, it’s a lifestyle. While it is fun, being safe out on the water is something many people take for granted. With all of the safety features on the PWC’s, crashes will still occur.

Unfortunately, two riders in St. Augustine, Florida were involved in a PWC crash two miles north away from the inlet. As a result, one of the riders was found in the water unconscious and in cardiac arrest due to a heart attack. A group on a pontoon boat close by was able to rescue them onto their boat and call for help.

The first responders were at the beach promptly to bring both of the riders to Orange Park Medical Center. The second rider involved in the crash was evaluated given his non-life-threatening injuries. There was a third person who was involved in the crash was evaluated at the scene and was released due to minimal injuries.

Riding PWC’s is fun in every aspect but be sure to be safe while riding around others. Accidents can happen so quickly so watch your speed, know where other boaters are and do not drive too fast. We wish the riders a speedy and safe recovery.

Psychologists have detailed how the daily commute can literally shave years off of your life. So it’s understandable when Jersey City resident David Pike began to reevaluate his 90-minute commute to Brooklyn each and every day.

“My company, New York Trolley, is in Brooklyn, and every day it would take me 90 minutes; I’d have to take the bus to the subway to the path to another bus and all the while I’m just looking across the harbor like, ‘I just need to go there, how can I do it?'” he told Good Morning America.

Now, rather than traveling through Manhattan, which took an hour and a half, Pike goes around it, cutting his commute down to a scant 15 minutes – thanks to a used Sea-Doo GTI.

“I went on eBay bought a jet ski – and now it takes me 15 minutes; I just cut straight across the harbor,” he told reporters. Pike said he parks the Sea-Doo at the Brooklyn cruise terminal, alongside the kayak dock.

When asked about rough weather or the colder months, he shrugged, “We’ll see. I have a wetsuit and a dry suit, so I’m planning to go through November.”

Pike continued, saying “it’s so much fun,” but added that he’s “not alone out there.” “The harbor’s really a hive of activity. There’s cruise ships, paddle boards, tourist boats, seagulls, so I feel like I’m in good company,” he said with a smile sitting on his Sea-Doo GTI.

It’s been a heck of a year when it comes to leaks for the 2020 Kawasaki lineup, which if you’re a glass half full-type of thinker, means that there are a whole lot of folks eager to see Kawasaki come back to the market swinging – and we mean really batting for the fences. And despite threats of the brand’s waning interest in the personal watercraft segment, two major reveals published by The Watercraft Journal earlier this summer have shown a refreshed STX-15F touting some interesting redesigns.

As illustrated above, the 2020 STX-15F is not a complete redesign of the 16-year-old platform, but a slight refresh to its top deck, hood, steering and seating arrangement. We also have confirmation that the JetSki’s running gear will be updated with the existing fly-by-wire engine management and throttle hardware – putting it in pace with all existing Ultra machines, be them naturally aspirated or supercharged.

We also have confirmation of three tiers of the STX: a basic entry level; a more optioned unit with Cruise Control, Eco Mode and other drive features; and a heavily-optioned unit equipped with a revised Jetsounds onboard sound system and a thickly bolstered, tiered LX-style seat. Unfortunately, photographs reveal the continued use of a manual reverse lever on this unit, leaving most to believe it to be standard throughout all of the lineup.

That’s not to say that Kawasaki doesn’t have some new tricks up its sleeve. The Watercraft Journal was recently alerted that the manufacturer of the original JetSki applied for a new patent back on August 23, 2018 with the United States Patent Board granting legal ownership of US Patent No. US 10,279,876 B1 on May 7th of this year. The patent is for a split, articulated two-piece seat that literally bisects to reveal a large storage compartment beneath the rear seat.

As shown in the images above (and detailed in the complete 11-page US patent document included below), the seat doesn’t appear all too different from existing two-piece benches sold currently. The driver’s saddle locks into a female receiver at the front and secures to pin-style latch in back. Yet, the front seat shows a slotted track that can receive the two guides protruding from the front of the rear seat. These guides slide into the tracks easily, and allow the rear seat to be unlatched and hinge upwards to access the rear storage tub.

Equally, the openings at the tops of the tracks permit the rear seat to be effortlessly slid out and off of the JetSki as well. By all observations, this new feature is not expected to require much in the way of added plastic material or additional weight to the seat or craft – maybe an extra pound or two. The below schematic shows in detail how the articulated seat is designed to operate as well as illustrates the new, very deep rear storage compartment (a bin we believe will only be available on the naturally-aspirated STX models).

At this time, we have no more information on this new feature apart from what we can speculate. Kawasaki’s freshening of the STX is a welcomed one and we hope will revitalize the brand’s efforts towards competing in the marketplace alongside Yamaha and Sea-Doo. We’re enthusiastic to see the rest of the lineup roll out in full detail with an unconfirmed reveal in early October. Until that time, we’ll keep an eye out for any further leaks and keep you posted.

The initial cost of buying a PWC can be pretty expensive and without even buying a trailer. Dealerships will try to sell you a trailer with your new ride, but that may not always be the best route. With today’s technology, there are websites such as Craigslist, OfferUp and may other online places with people selling used trailers.  A great way to save money when you are for sure going to buy a PWC is to find a used trailer in good condition for a good price. Buying a new one may look nicer but the added expense can really add up.

For starters, when looking for a trailer, know what size of trailer will best suit your needs. The two most common types of PWC trailers are single and double trailer. Both of them hold their value since many people have only one PWC but there are families and friends who have at least two so they need a double trailer.

The next thing you want to do is decide what type of material you want your trailer to be made out of. The three most common types are steel, aluminum and galvanized. If you are riding in the salt water you are going to want a galvanized or aluminum trailer. They do tend to cost a little more but they hardly rust and hold their value even years after buying it. Aluminum is the best material because it is the lightest and it does not rust. This does mean they cost more. While the overall frame of the trailer may be good whatever it is made out of, check the tires if you are buying used. If the trailer has old tires or they have been sitting out in the sun for a long time, they will dry rot and could cause major problems when going down the road.

Trailers are just like PWC’s, they have their pros and cons and the prices vary across the board. The best bet is to know how much you can spend on one and do a thorough inspection of it before making an offer. Remember to also hook up your trailer lights to your tow vehicle and make sure they are working. Many people forget to hook their lights up as they are anxious to get out on the water. However, if you do not, you could cause an accident or get pulled over. A good rule of thumb is to walk around your trailer at least once doing a thorough inspection. For more information, check out an article over at Steveninsales.com

As many of you know, the Bahamas is a beautiful place. With crystal clear water, great beaches and places to be with friends and family, it only makes sense to bring a major racing series Championship their. While the races will take place on Nassau Paradise Island, the hosting island will be Atlantis, Paradise Island. Atlantis holds the world renowned Atlantis Resort which offers an open-air marine habitat, a waterpark, eleven pools, multiple beaches, a casino and golf course. Giving you plenty of things to do when the races end for the day.

P1 Superstock powerboat racing series just announced that the ProRider Watercraft Magazine and Powerboat Racing World will be teaming up to be the official media sponsors for the 2019 P1 AquaX Bahamas World Championships. The event will start on November 8^th and go until November 10^th on Nassau Paradise Island, Bahamas will feature the top 40 riders in the world who will be competing for the crown. These riders have proven themselves throughout the season as the best and will do everything they can to stand on top of the podium.

The Global Head of P1 AquaX, Lisa Barsby says, “In addition to qualification through continental championships, the position of racers in the P1 AquaX World Rankings, which identifies the most consistent and successful riders in the world, will secure a place in the Bahamas World Championship along with a limited number of wildcard entries.

Riders seeking qualification through racing in the United States national championship will be competing in what is now called the P1 AquaX Race to the Bahamas World Championship . The result will be an elite field of the world’s very best personal watercraft racers. Atlantis, Paradise Island will provide a breathtaking setting for the Championship event and we could not be more elevated to partner with the destination.”

One of the great things about the sport of PWC racing is that the setting is always surreal. Whether it be on a beautiful lake or the Bahamas, the P1 AquaX strives to provide a place where the racers can do their best and give the fans a great place to cheer on from. Pack your bags and reserve a room at the Atlantis Resort. It’ll be a great place to visit and see the best PWC racing in the world.

This summer we have been detailing some of Sea-Doo’s popular LinQ accessories such as the cooler or ski pylon . Well now is the perfect time to highlight the LinQ fuel caddy especially with talk of all of the upcoming and proposed recreation rides.

Designed especially for marine use and an easy-to-pour spout, this four-gallon tank is the perfect complement to those long-range rides or longer day outings. Sea-Doo highlights further below.

The LinQ accessory system allows Sea-Doo watercraft owners to enhance their Sea-Doo life. The cooler is one of eight LinQ accessories that attaches in seconds with no tools. Whatever they want to do on the water, the LinQ accessories allow them to do it further, longer, and with more of the things that they want with them.

The Sea-Doo 4-Gal (15 L) Gas Caddy is fueling your summer adventures allowing you to go further with peace of mind. This useful attachment keeps you doing your favorite Sea-Doo activities longer than ever before. This LinQ accessory is already marinized for saltwater purposes and designed for easy pouring. It also allows for both the SR 21 L LinQ Bag or the LinQ Sport Bag to stack on top of the fuel caddy for even more storage. The LinQ 4-Gal Gas Caddy accessory now fits all platforms and are sold separately for USD $179.99.