P1 Jetcross National Comes To Daytona Beach, FL, April, 22-23

March 28, 2017

Many of you already know that Daytona Beach, Florida is home to some of the best racing and freeriding the states have to offer. With beautiful beaches, sunny weather and a rich history in motorsport racing, it makes a great place to offer round one of the P1 JetCross Pro Tour and National USA Cup.

The race days are set for April 22-23, 2017. It will be the start of a great 2017 race season with many well-known athletes taking to the water. Last year’s event was extremely exciting for the fans but frustrating for the riders as there were 5-6 foot waves crashing in on the shores. It became a true test of man-versus-craft-versus-water conditions. This year riding are hoping and praying for better conditions to give the fans what they want to see.

With sponsors such as Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki, this event will be something you do not want to miss. Having the industry leaders sponsor an event, you know the scale will be off the charts. This is not a IJSBA event however it is sanctioned by them. The purse this year is $4,000 which can definitely be worth the prior investment in performance parts.

*Note: There will be a livestream on the Jetcross Tour Facebook page and TV highlights on Fox Sports Sun.

What to Do When A Boat Needs a Tow

March 28, 2017

You and your friend had a fun day on your ski and on the way to the dock, you notice a boater in distress and possibly in need of a tow. Obviously, jet skis aren’t like other boats and don’t have the same towing capacity as something like a Boston Whaler. Personal watercraft are smaller, weigh less, and don’t have heavy duty engines with the horsepower needed to tow a larger boat. However, that doesn’t mean that one can’t render aid and offer a tow to a lightweight craft, such as a John Boat or small skiff.

First of all, it’s good idea to have two people aboard the ski so one can act as a spotter while the other drives. The spotter will make sure the towline doesn’t get caught in the wash while also keeping a close eye on the vessel that is being transported. If your ski is equipped with a transom that includes a tow hook, then you can tow something within reason!

Speak with the person operating the boat that has run afoul and ask if there is a problem and if so, how you can assist. If the boat simply ran out of fuel, a battery needs a charge, or another minor issue, you may be able to assist in a different manner. Jet skis are efficient speed machines so it would be easy to promptly help out the people in distress by running one of them ashore with you, grabbing what is needed, and making your way back to their boat to take care of the problem.

If you and the captain agree on attempting to pull the boat, size up the situation by circling the vessel in need and make sure your and your ski are capable of performing the task at hand. If a tow is in order and you and your ski can do so safely, go for it as long as one of you has the proper line to use for this particular circumstance.

Nylon is a good choice because of its ability stretch, lack of UV degradation, and reliability. However, it can have terrible consequences due to its ability to snapback. This can cause serious injury and more problems for you and the boaters in distress. A powerful floating tow-line is great, if one is available, otherwise an anchor line in good condition is a reasonable alternative.

You’ll want to approach with your bow into the wind or prevailing current if possible. Throw out a line and make sure you and the boat you’re offering assistance are at least 100 feet apart. When using a jet ski for towing, the stern tow is probably best due to the lack of cleats on a ski. Place your stern to the other vessels bow, using a stern knot, such as a bowline for this type of tow.

A highway man’s knot may be a better choice when using a PWC for towing purposes. This knot is a quick release, which sounds ideal for the person using a ski to pull a boat. Make sure the line is slack! Take your time and also see that everyone is in a life jacket. Also, check the amount of fuel that is in your tank. No need to create a second crisis!

Make sure that you and the captain have a plan before hand as to whether to continue the mission or what to do if it becomes necessary to abort. If the sea surface conditions are not suitable for your ski to tow a boat or if the boat is beyond your scope of capabilities, render aid in another way such as helping the crew to safely wait it out while someone with more capabilities is on the way.

Middle Tennessee Personal Watercraft Club Announces 2017 Ride Schedule

Kevin Shaw

March 27, 2017

We’d be remiss if we didn’t share the latest news from our friends in the Middle Tennessee Personal Watercraft Club as they are the riding club residing the backyard of The Watercraft Journal publishing headquarters. These guys are braving whatever weather Mother Nature throws at the Middle South without complaint, providing a “fun, safe, responsible way for families and friends to enjoy riding Personal Watercraft together and share the beautiful waters that The Middle Tennessee and surrounding states have to offer,” as their mission statement writes.
We recently got an update on the very aggressive ride calendar that was released on the club’s Facebook page, and wanted to share it and the club’s recent update to all:

Middle Tennessee Personal Watercraft Club meets every month of the year, starting each year off In January with lunch & attending the Nashville Boat Show together. February is our Planning meeting this is where each member brings ride ideas to the group, the rides are voted on and dates assigned to them, In March we officially start the season with a ride typically MTPWC has one or two rides each month of the year thru November in December we hold a Christmas Party that is always a great time! Hope you can join us for one of our great ride adventures in 2017….Let’s Ride !

For more information on Middle Tennessee Personal Watercraft Club check out our Facebook page, email inquiries to [email protected] or call (615) 428-4943

MTPWC 2017 Ride Calendar:

March 18th Spring Icebreaker TN (Clarksville -to- Lake Barkley State Park)
April 15th Center Hill Lake, TN
May 6th-7th Defeated Creek/Granville, TN (Shute’s Branch-to-Cordell Hull, TN)
May 20th Tim’s Ford Lake, TN
June 10th Wilson Lake, AL
June 24th-25th Douglas & Cherokee, TN
July 14th-16th Ironman Weekend, TN/AL/MS
August 11th-13th Lake Hartwell, SC
August 21st Dark Side of the Moon Ride, TN (Monday ride Cumberland River Spring Creek)
September 23rd Farwell to Summer Run, TN (Shute’s Branch-Ashland City)
Oct 14th Fall Colors Tour, TN River (South Pittsburg, TN-Guntersville, AL)
Nov 11th Frostbite Ride & Cookout
Dec 16th MTPWC Christmas Party

Video: 9th Annual Yamaha Cronulla Rip ‘N Ride Surf Freestyle Recap

Kevin Shaw

March 27, 2017

Late last October, The Watercraft Journal published a complete report and photo gallery from the 9th annual Rip ‘N Ride on Cronulla Beach, Sydney, Australia. One of the continent’s most anticipated freestyle surf (ie. freeride) events has made incredible aerial antics, amazing tricks and frankly, some pretty gorgeous people common place year after year. Add to it the returning title sponsorship from Yamaha Motor Australia, who offered up a brand-new SuperJet to the grand prize winner, and what you’ve got is an awesome event.

While our photo galley came from one of the industry’s best photographers, Andrew “Skip” Donovan, we are always wowed by the video footage captured at this event, and last October’s was no different. From the talents of Andrew Cooney, this past official video of the Yamaha Cronulla Rip ‘N Ride 9 is truly something to behold. It’s a great way to start your week and will definitely make you want to attend this year’s Rip ‘N Ride X (or “ten” for those lacking in the Roman Numeral dept.).

And as Rip ‘N Ride itself wrote, “Big Thank You to all our sponsors, staff, riders and spectators. Look forward to seeing you all at RNRX this coming October.” Enjoy the video below:

Videos: Krash Industries Introduces All-New KV997 Two-Stroke Engine

Kevin Shaw

March 24, 2017

What do you do when there simply isn’t what you need made available in the market? If you’re anything like Krash Industries’ owner and founder Nick Barton, you make it yourself. The freeride/freestyle aftermarket hull manufacturer was struggling to find a suitable powerplant that could perform admirably in the grueling conditions of Australian surf, remain lightweight and somehow stay affordable. After years of building, testing and developing, he found that none truly met his gaze. That is why we made his own. New for 2017, Krash Industries is offering the KV997.

The two-cylinder 2-stroke is completely unique, with none of the parts being compatible with any of those from Yamaha, which nearly all current freeride and freestyle skis employ in some form or another. The entirely new concept was “inspired” by certain Ski-Doo and motocross 2-strokes, noting that “the Yamaha motor is outdated and has been the same thing since the 90’s.” The drafting, casting and development of the KV997 has been the culmination of “years and years of testing” and even joked, “that it was extremely difficult keeping quiet about this for as long as we did.”

Beginning with the backbone of the engine, the crankshaft is 4340 forged steel and weighs in at 7.8kg, giving the motor an 82mm stroke. Each crank is assembled using NSK C3 bearings. Nick notes, “Our rods are 144mm long giving our engine an ideal rod to stroke ratio of 1.76. All pins and surfaces are nitrate treated for increased longevity.”

The KV997’s cylinder is made from A356 high pressure die cast aluminum with pressed-in 88mm bored steel sleeves. It features four auxiliary ports, one boost port, two auxiliary exhaust ports with one main exhaust port per cylinder. “The air and fuel are feed into the intake through the side of the cylinder at a 30-degree angle and wrap around the crank as the piston plunges from TDC to BDC,” Nick continues. “The cylinders are 150mm apart to increase the inner auxiliary ports area for improved bottom end punch.”

The KV997 is fed by two “Black Ops” carburetors, with Nick explaining, “Our Black OPS Carburetors stand 84mm tall and are complimented with individual air pods and carbon fibre reeds.” But the big innovation comes in the KV997’s electrical system.

“The DC-CDI comes with four pre-set maps to take you from 70hp, 100hp, 120hp, 160hp at the rotation of the switch. The 7075-T6 flywheel weighs 1.2kg and faces away from the engine, with the pickup at the back of the flywheel this enables the user to bolt on a 384 gram total loss flywheel for more responsive power.” Also, the way the flywheel is set facing away from the motor with the pickup on the rear, making a total loss flywheel swap incredibly easy.

Additionally, Nick explained that performance upgrade packages will be available, such as the “Rev Kit” which will include a High Compression Dome Kit, Jetting Kit for Black Ops 48mm Carbs and a Total Loss Flywheel, pushing the total output of the KV997 that much further ahead. As Krash Industries prepares to launch a new, complete range of watercraft, the KV997 will be the heart of the entire lineup.

Jules Hopkins Graces Cover of Western Powersports’ 2017 PWC Catalog

Kevin Shaw

March 23, 2017

Biloxi, Mississippi native Jules Hopkins is a semi-professional Ski class racer and full-time mechanic at Performance Jetski And Cycle when he’s not on the buoy course. Hopkins – aboard his #85 IPD Graphics-wrapped Yamaha SuperJet (and previously on a Trinity SX-R) – has been a mainstay in the Pro Watercross Tour for several seasons and has climbed up the rungs to become a venerable force to be reckoned with.

Because of this and his high standing as a sponsored Fly Racing rider, Hopkins recently announced his pleasure of being featured on the cover of Western Powersports’ 2017 Watercraft Parts & Accessories catalog, stating:

“I am glad I can finally share one of the coolest things that I have gotten to be apart of in my career! I want to thank Rich and Fly Racing for giving me the opportunity to be on the cover of the 2017 WPS Watercraft Catalog! It is honestly a blessing having been chosen for such an awesome position. I have been with Fly Racing since day 1 of my racing career and I could not imagine where I would be without my #flyracingfamily Being with Fly Racing has opened so many opportunities that I never would have even dreamt of having. I am so proud of everything we have accomplished together and can not wait for the many years to come! Thank you Fly Racing!”

Headquartered in Boise, Idaho, Western Powersports, the parent company of Fly Racing, is one of the single-largest distributors of off-road and street motorcycle, ATV, snowmobile, and watercraft parts and accessories in the world, shipping over 120,000 products to literally thousands of dealers nationwide.

Score $400 in Free Riding Gear With The Purchase of a New Yamaha EX

Kevin Shaw

March 23, 2017

Yamaha is giving you no excuse to get out and ride this year. Whether you’re taking advantage of the “everything but the kitchen sink” Limited packages available with the VX and FX Cruiser Limited, or looking at getting into something a little more befitting your budget like the new EX WaveRunner, Yamaha is helping equip you with more accessories and fun than ever before.

Now, exclusively through Australian dealerships, customers will walk home with $400 worth of free lifevest (PDFs) and a special Yamaha-branded gear bag with the purchase of a EX or EX Deluxe. Not only do you get to enjoy one of the most fun runabouts to come from Yamaha but you’ll also have brand-new gear to help enjoy it even more.

Here’s the original press release:
For a limited time, Yamaha is offering customers a FREE Yamaha branded Gear Bag and two Yamaha Neoprene Life Jackets (PFD) with all Yamaha EX and EX Deluxe WaveRunner models purchased.

FREE Gear Bag & 2x PFDs with 2017 EX
FREE Gear Bag & 2x PFDs with 2017 EX Deluxe

Offer available to customers who purchase a new eligible WaveRunner between the 17th of March 2017 and the 31st of May 2017.

So what are you waiting for? Gear Up with Yamaha! Contact your local participating Yamaha WaveRunner Retailer for details and to take advantage of Yamaha’s limited time offer.

Blacktip Jetsports Racer Anthony Radetic Honored With Iron Warrant Award

Kevin Shaw

March 22, 2017

Those in the jet skiing community who know him, know Anthony Radetic as a “real good dude.” But it goes so much further than that. The Blacktip Jetsports and Sea-Doo X-Team racer is an accomplished paralympic athlete, excelling in skiing, swimming and cycling; even participating in the “2016 Invictus games in Orlando, Florida, during which he competed in the swimming and cycling competitions,” according to an article by the US Army.

Of course, before Radetic’s motorcycle accident over 6 years ago, Radetic served his nation as a communications NCO before transitioning into Aviation and becoming a warrant officer. Because of his service, dedication and motivational ceaselessness to never let his injury define or deter him, Radetic was recently honored – along with 87 soldiers from the Warrant Officer Candidate School Class 17-06 – for becoming warrant officers during a graduation ceremony at the U.S. Army Aviation Museum this past March 2nd.

“The 1st Warrant Officer Company Iron Warrant Award, which was awarded during the ceremony, will now be known as the W01 Anthony Radetic Iron Warrant Award in honor of a former warrant officer who was able to overcome seemingly insurmountable odds, according to CW2 Mark Gonzalez, 1st WOC.

“‘The Iron Warrant Award is awarded to the most physically dexterous candidate through each warrant officer class,” he said. “This particular award was the first award that we presented since officially naming it the W01 Anthony Radetic Iron Warrant Award.'”

The article continued, “It’s the level of dedication and motivation that Radetic displayed in the face of overwhelming adversity that he was selected as the namesake for the award, said Gonzalez. Before a decision was made, there were about six different potential honorees that the unit researched and voted on.”

Video: Belassi Teases 333HP B3R Runabout Reveal for April 4th

Kevin Shaw

March 22, 2017

It’s not often we hear much out of Belassi, but when we do we try to share the news as quickly as possible. According to a recent Facebook post by 88 Motorsport Sweden, the “new Belassi B3R 333hp will be introduced on 4th April in their factory in Austria. We will report detail information of the new unit and their concept. Stay tuned!” Although there’s not a whole heck of a lot to go off of this single post, we do know that the road to the B3R’s release (and that of the B3S standup) has been a rocky one at best.

In June of last year, The Watercraft Journal was the only source to report that the Belassi standup, which was absent from a woefully regrettable demo session during the Top Marques show held in Monaco the previous April 14-17, 2016, was also suffering from hull failures caused by manufacturing issues. And while no word on the ski – powered by a naturally aspirated, multipoint fuel injected I3C16 Marine 3-cylinder 4-stroke, displacing 1602cc and producing 180 horsepower – the post notes that the B3R will be in full display at the Linz, Austria plant in a couple of weeks.

The runabout, which has been honed and tested rigorously by World Champion Gyorgy Kasza who has been serving as a test rider. When WCJ asked Kasza regarding his role as a test rider for Belassi, Kasza remarked that “we will see how [the Belassi runabouts] turn out,” and that the process has been “difficult.” The video below, as shared by Belassi in late December of last year, notes that over 400 hours have been clocked in testing and refining the new B3R runabouts. Until the full reveal on April 4th, we’ll have to wait and see.

Quick! You Can Own Macc’s Dean’s Team-Built ’16 Yamaha FZS Pro Stock Ski

Kevin Shaw

March 21, 2017

There’s the adage of “dress for the job you want” that sort of applies here. Sure, you might lack the talent, physical prowess or literally near-30 years of riding experience of multi-multi-world champion Chris MacClugage, but that doesn’t mean you can’t ride what he rides. In fact, you can do so quite literally as he has recently posted his 2016 Yamaha FZS Pro Stock or Pro Enduro Championship Race Boat up for sale.

The blue-and-white FZS is adorned in a very strikingly similar paint and decal scheme as acclaimed Super Sportbike racer Valentino Rossi – even wielding the same iridescent-yellow 46 on the hood – who is a personal source of inspiration for the 42-year-old PWC racer. Although currently compliant with Stock and AquaX regulations, Macc adds that “This ski can be set up to accommodate closed course or off shore racing.”

With a total 11 hours on the clock (with a scant 2 hours on a new engine), the Yamaha was built by Dean’s Team with all Worx products (meaning their FZ Drop-In Steering Stem, Special Insert Edition Race Sponsons, Intake Grate, FZ Ride Plate and Pump Seal Kit, and very likely a few other items we might’ve left out), and a hand-stitched Jettrim seat cover. Right now, the asking price is a cool $19,000, but Macc is also up for reasonable offers – so make sure to private message him through Facebook if you’re a serious buyer.

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