Personal watercraft safety consumes many of the trending topics today in the PWC world. With many of the machines capable of reaching 60-plus mph, the chance of making an accident increases. But if you are educated in safety, accident prevention and how to help others, your time on the water will be the best.
The 2017 Rescue Water Craft Conference is being held this March 10th and goes till the 18th. It starts at 9 AM and goes to 8 PM. Hosted by Rescue Water Craft Association and K38 Rescue International this conference will have the best instructors. The conference is located in Morro Beach, California which is just up from Pismo Beach. This is a conference that you do not want to miss because of the valuable information you will learn. Rescue Water Craft and K38 are terrific organizations that teach the community about the different techniques needed when rescuing a rider, ways to predict water conditions, and countless other watercraft safety tips.
The conference will consist of modern practices to give you the most up to date information, teach you how to prevent accidents and provide hands on instructional practices. The conference does cost $95.00 to attend but with that you will learn from the best teachers, a free t-shirt, sticker kit, registration bag, one year membership and ID Card with Rescue Water Craft Association.
If you can make this conference it will be well worth your time. It is important to be educated while out on the water to protect yourself and if the situation arises, to help others who are in need. Being knowledgeable in this area could one day save your life and others.
Every year for the past few, Jerry Gaddis of GreenHulk.net and PWCPerformance.com takes it upon himself to build a customized, high performance watercraft that he fully documents for the members of his massive forum. The goal of each year’s build is to not only display his custom ski-building prowess, but also formidably prove the best, sure-fire routes to pick up the most top speed as possible (Jerry’s not a big closed course racer. If you want handling mods, you should check out Dean’s Team).
Wanting to properly illustrate how each item improved engine longevity, opened up untapped performance or increased acceleration, Jerry studiously noted each step in a dedicated thread pinned to the top of the Yamaha Performance section of the forum, which you can view HERE. Unfortunately, ecause he’s now dedicated to his 2017 Yamaha GP1800 room in the garage needed to be made, so the FZS is now available for purchase for a ridiculously bargain-priced $14,500 (particularly if you consider how much was spent in purchasing the ski itself, in parts and labor).
In a last bit of testing before dedicating himself to the GP1800, Jerry was able to click off an impressive 86 miles per hour on pump gas and with the above listed mods – all during some pretty offensively hot temperatures during a blistering Louisiana October.
With 2017’s prime riding season upon us, it’s now time to start getting the finalized schedules for the many regional and local racing series. True to form, the Pacific Northwest’s own Blake Corning has recently announced the 2017 schedule for the IJSBA Water X Regional Series. The Water X – in association with the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) – serves the IJSBA Northwest Region 3 and provides a venue for some of the fastest jet ski racers in the nation.
The closed course buoy race will return to beautiful Bowers Lake in Vance Creek Park, Elma, Washington. Corning wrote: “Racers will compete to earn points for the Northwest Region Championships along with earning their spots to compete in the world finals competition that is held in Lake Havasu Arizona in October of 2017.” He continued, ” This event is free to the public and is a fun and family friendly event. For more detailed information, please visit our Facebook event page at Grays Harbor Watercross.”
Corning also announced that the Water X Series will also premier the first-ever “Water X Talk Show” staring Mike Young, who recently returned to the IJSBA for 2017. Gratefully, all events will be in the same location, making scheduling reliable.
There’s no hiding it; the 2017 Yamaha GP1800 WaveRunner has got to be the most popular machine in the hands of tuners today. The responsiveness to modifications is uncanny, and the results coming out of several builders and tuners is staggering. We’ve already shared insane results from both Dean’s Team and RIVA Racing, as well as from GreenHulk and even privateer racers like Brian Baldwin. Best of all, many of these (and others) have taken to YouTube and various forums to thoroughly document their installations and results.
One such video thread comes to us from Joe Zammataro of PWCMuscle.com. Starting with a bone stock GP1800, Joe walks us through the very easy-to-perform mods that have radically improved his Yamaha WaveRunner’s 0-to-60 times gradually with every modification. Joe began with what many would consider one of the more difficult mods: swapping out the impeller for a Solas prop. The impeller is the Solas YV-CD-13/20.
Next came the installation of a Riva Power Filter Kit (RY13110) and Intake Manifold Upgrade Kit (RY12040-IMUK), all intended to greatly enhance the air flow to the SVHO motor. Additionally, listed in the graph below is the reflashing of the ECU with a RIVA MaptunerX – all of which helps push this Yamaha to a staggering 0-to-60 speed of 3.1 seconds. There’s still plenty left to be done, so make sure to check it out.
Like an invading swarm, hundreds of the world’s most daring big wave surfers have descended upon Nazare, the famous Portugal wave location. A recent surge in the Atlantic produced monster-sized waves that came crashing into the coastline. Six years ago, American pro surfer Garrett McNamara caught the largest wave recorded at Nazare in 2011. He told Surfline, “”A hurricane force low (given the name Ewan) was rotating off the coast of Greenland this past weekend, and unleashed the strongest swell of the season toward Europe.”
Italian surfer Francisco Porcella rode a 24 metre (79 foot) tall wave for more than 30 seconds with many cheering on the shore. McNamara was more cautious, “I’m just here helping everybody…you wanna make sure everyone’s safe.” Unfortunately, as the video below shows, not everybody was as lucky. Brazilian big-wave surfer Pedro “Scooby” Vianna was, according to GrindTV, “arguably one of the standouts on the giant tow-in session” before needing to be rescued by PWC rescue driver Lucas Chianca by what photographer Pedro Bala called “probably the biggest one of the day.”
Fatefully, the oncoming wave was too much for Chianca, his white-and-red Yamaha FZR SVHO (and rescue sled with Scooby in tow) being overtaken by the wave. The two were thrown from the WaveRunner and churned in the wash. Amazingly, the two weren’t terribly injured save for a few bruises. It was only a day later, during lighter conditions that Scooby suffered a head injury that required him being taken to the hospital. Big wave surfing is no joke folks. Just watch below:
The Hawaiian Water Patrol (HWP) was founded by former Honolulu City and County lifeguards Terry Ahue and Brian Keaulana. What started out as a couple of guys on jet skis performing rogue water rescues, finally became a legal entity in the mid 1990’s. This was after scores of tickets were issued to Keaulana for launching his jet-ski. It didn’t matter that he had saved lives while off the Hawaiian Islands.
Ahue and Keaulana realized that they should engage in putting together a book of professional guidelines and standards. Prior to becoming an official organization the two men purchased a couple of skis and brought some other skilled lifeguards on board to run rescue at professional surfing events. Soon after, they built a rescue sled for transporting surfers and victims of water related incidents to safety. This method cut down on the amount of time it took to safely bring someone in from a dangerous situation.
The HWP was soon hailed as the top dog of water rescue and Hollywood approached them for stunt and safety coordination. The lifesavers even became members of the Stunt and Screen Actors Guild and that’s when their operation turned into a money maker!
According to a recent piece on surfline.com, Ahue and Keaulana became certified Hollywood stunt and safety coordinators. Technically, the group operates as “Ocean Risk and Management”, a subcontracted private business hired for any water event, film, or surf contest. The Hawaiian Water Patrol has come a long way since its rogue rescue days! The crew is always learning and staying up to date with and creating the latest rescue techniques. Like a fine wine, it gets better with age.
Thus far, throughout the journey of The Watercraft Journal’s short 4-year existence, this publication has continually and steadily grown month after month, year after year. This latest edition of “By The Numbers” will show exactly that, and during yet another “off-season” winter month. Admittedly one of the most moderate February’s in recent record – allowing many to enjoy some unseasonably temperate riding weather – we continued to welcome a 28-percent overall growth in readership, something no other PWC publication can say.
Speaking of our competition, it’s worth mentioning some other key distinguishers between The Watercraft Journal and other media outlets that are vying for your advertising dollar. The first being the sheer quantity of dyed-in-the-wool readers who come to our publication each and every day. Last year, we welcomed over 346,000 individuals to our pages. This year will be 400,000-plus. Consider that for a second. Over 400,000 committed and engaged personal watercraft enthusiasts reading up on your company’s products and services. Sounds pretty attractive, right?
Secondly, we’re the single-most consistent publisher of PWC-focused content in the world. No other magazine, website, blog or social media thread produces more usable, informative and uniquely-created content on a daily basis than The Watercraft Journal. Nobody. They all try at some time or another, and they all fall short. Don’t believe it? You’re welcome to look it up yourself (because we check ’em all everyday). Other magazines have dramatically over-promised a video, stories and more only to fall disappointingly short.
Lastly, we know who are readers are. Whether they are championship-holding racers, skilled tuners, avid club members, tire kickers or those out there “shopping around”, we pride ourselves on delivering professionally-written editorial content that can be read, accessed and used as a reference at any time. That’s what we are, after all: a resource. Those who advertise with us find this to be true, help steer the conversation with informative facts, and pierce the fog of opinion with technical reviews and bankable data. Don’t let an Instagram feed dictate popular opinion; convert them with knowledge.
February 2017
February 2016
Growing, Growing and Continuing to Grow
Growth over a year is worth evaluating. While different news and different article topics might draw in various ilks of readership, there is a constant: upward momentum. If you can see our continued skyward trajectory, you’ll know that The Watercraft Journal has yet to stop growing. Our new readership percentages are growing despite having been around for a few years now. And we want you to notice how for being the height of winter for most of the Northern Hemisphere, we are continually outperforming our previous year’s Spring season – and that is reason to take note. On every level, The Watercraft Journal is welcoming more and more readers, and at an accelerated, exponential rate. No other magazine is growing as quickly as The Watercraft Journal and that’s just the beginning.
February 2016
Total number unique readers: 20, 624*
Total number of articles read: 45,465
Percentage of new readers: 62%
February 2017
Total number unique readers: 27,645*
Total number of articles read: 51,142
Percentage of new readers: 61%
*This number is considered equal to an individual sale of a single copy of a magazine.
Consistency Is The Name of The Game
The internet is a funny thing. When you prove yourself as steady as clockwork, people tend to return more often and regularly. As we publish industry news, product reviews, ride reports and more – more regularly than anywhere else – we’ve learned that PWC enthusiasts have come to depend on new and interesting content every single day. And that means we’ve got a responsibility to deliver. Unlike anybody else, The Watercraft Journal maintains a strict publishing schedule of developing and publishing new and informative content about its advertisers and their products, as well as the industry and sport as a whole.
News articles published in January 2017: 28
Feature articles published in January 2017: 8
Total feature word count: 10,236 words
News articles published in February 2017: 27
Feature articles published in February 2017: 9
Total feature word count: 8,463 words*
*When this number is translated to print publication standards equals a 94-page magazine. Please note that this number does not include an average of two uniquely-written news articles published daily.
Putting WCJ In Front of More Eyes Than Ever Before
Many companies chose to use their social media accounts (be them personal or for business) as their sole outlet to accessing new and interested customers. Plain and simple, this is lunacy. Why? Because the people following said accounts already know who you are, and unless they are feverish return customers, you’re not getting the influx of fresh, new customers that a company needs to thrive. That’s why you need The Watercraft Journal. We are your bullhorn to the largest audience in the world. By offering our content freely and easily – whether it’s via a desktop, a laptop or a portable device, anyone can read our content. And with our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and weekly newsletters, we bring our content directly to them. And that’s a huge part of our success!
February Facebook likes: 20,748
Top Five countries: United States, South Africa, Brazil, Australia, Philippines
Impressive. Most Impressive
The personal watercraft industry is an intimate one. You want to get your brand and product out in front of as many would-be customers as possible, but how do you do it? You go to the one media outlet who welcomes over a third of a million annual readers. We’re looking to surpass every major forum in the way of readership and expand our reach well beyond that of our core industry, helping to introduce more companies to the world of personal watercraft for our readers. Again, we’re a resource. And to be one, you need to act like one. And now more than ever is the time to get your company and products on The Watercraft Journal. To inquire more about advertising with The Watercraft Journal, please email [email protected]
Little more than three weeks ago, the 13th annual Hot Products Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300 Presented by Yamaha kicked off with the bang of a shotgun. It marks a succession of first, including the debut of the Kawasaki SX-R on the race course; the return of several major players including Craig Warner, Tony Beck, Chris “The Flyin’ Fish” Fischetti, Nicolas Rius, and more; and it also heralded the beginning of world class racing here in America in 2017. After five-and-a-half hours of grueling racing, the winners were crowned and the field cleared. But much more than praising those athletes who participated to valiantly that Saturday, the men and women who helped make this year’s event possible. Below is the heartfelt gratitude of organizer Mike Follmer:
Here’s the original press release: Whether you knew him or not, we must all be thankful for the contribution Mark Hahn made to the sport of PWC endurance racing. His spirit and legacy are embodied in the Hot Products Mark Hahn Memorial race that bears his name. From its humble beginning to the Thirteenth Annual race held on February 18, 2017 the Mark Hahn Memorial has become a world class event, welcoming competitors from all parts of the globe to compete in one of the most unique and punishing endurance racing events in the world.
The 36 teams that competed in this year’s event and I owe all the success of this event to Mark’s vision and most importantly to all of the great sponsors and workers who make the event possible through their tireless efforts and generous contributions. Because of the Sunday race date this years entries were down a little, but the number of workers, sponsors, trophies and prizes were greater and along with the announcement of next years Saturday February 24 2018 race date and after the awards banquet everyone once again pledged to do even more next year.
Those who braved this year’s event are to be saluted for they truly endured the greatest test of weather anyone has ever seen at Lake Havasu! Every award and trophy was hard earned. The Mark Hahn Memorial race has always enjoyed an extraordinary amount of favorable coverage in all types of media worldwide, making it one of the most popular events in the world of PWC racing which is the true testament of the great exposure all the sponsors are enjoying.
There are several special people who merit special thanks for their dedication to the Hot Products Mark Hahn Memorial race’s thirteen year growth and success. Tom Perry of Hot Products, Jim Russell of DSM, and Ross Wallach, the race director. We all owe a great debt of gratitude to each of them for their tireless dedication over the years!
In addition to the 36 teams that competed I would really like to thank all the others who make this event the huge success that it has become:
HOT Products – Tom Perry Scott Saito YAMAHA Motor Corporation USA – Andrew Cullen Kawasaki Motor Corp USA – Joe Heim R&D Racing Products – Jettrim Go Fast US.com – Discount Tire PWC Offshore .com – Pro Rider Magazine Lake Havasu Aquatic Center & Staff – Havasu Powersports DSM – Jim Russell & Staff – Riva Racing IJSBA – Scott Frazier – Watercraft Rider.com Coach T’s BBQ – Shawana Menser Ross Wallach – Kay Sikes Missy Beck – Dave Arnold Eric Graff – Kelly Hart
I also want to extend a huge thank you to Anthony Radetic for traveling all the way from Georgia and winning the Ironman Runabout Class and awarded the Mark Hahn Memorial Cup for his outstanding performance – he is an inspiration to us all!
THANKS AGAIN! And I hope to see you all again next year at the 2018 – 14th Annual Mark Hahn Memorial! – Mike Follmer
“There’s a lot riding on it,” a friend cautioned over the phone. “They’re worried about what’s being said about it.” The “they” in this conversation was Kawasaki, and the “it” was the new 1,498cc 4-stroke, 160-horsepower SX-R. Since its release to the general public over a month ago, a purported 900 units have been shipped to the fulfill the existing 2,400 units requested by dealers. Earlier this month, nine SX-Rs participated in the annual Mark Hahn Memorial (ie. Havasu 300); and to date, the SX-R has graced the covers and filled the pages of Japanese and European publications as domestic PWC and boating magazines await an overdue press introduction, scheduled for this coming April. Thus far, public opinions have been predominantly good with several vocalizing the potential impact the coming SX-R will have on the racing landscape. “Remember when the [800] came out – what? Like 15 years ago? Everyone with a 750 thought the SX-R was a pig. Now look at it,” my friend continued. “Everybody wants one. It’s the standard for racing. That’s what this thing is going to do.”
At first blush, the 8-foot, 7-inch length, and 551-pound heft of the 2017 SX-R is a lot to take in. For some, it’s too much altogether. “It’s a standabout!” commenters have howled in forums and on social media. But the truth is often quietly found below the din of so many opinions. To date, all radar and GPS records have the new JetSki reaching slightly over 62 miles per hour in showroom stock trim. These speeds were only achieved by race fuel-fed triples and turbocharged Hydros previously. Equally, the unusually tiered nose (featuring splash deflectors) and deep channels running along the strakes adds to the claims that much of the SX-R’s design DNA is culled from the STX-15F – not to mention almost the entirety of its powertrain. When questioned, the answer was clarion clear: “Because it was designed for those big, stupid IJSBA race courses. That’s why.” The tight, complex buoy course that elevated Jeff Jacobs, Chris Fischetti, and Larry Rippenkroeger to stardom have ballooned in the decades following their tenure, replacing complicated, technical courses with long straightaways, sweeping turns and the like.
Above: From its earliest beginnings, the Kawasaki JetSki existed to own a segment, to stand solitary on a precipice unoccupied and or wholly unchallenged.
Above: The progression of the Kawasaki JetSki continued as a response to the innovations of pioneering tuners and the boundaries pushed by racers such as Chris “The Flyin’ Fish” Fischetti.
Evolution within a specific sport is commonplace. From its earliest years in the Harvard Yard to the gridiron of today’s NFL, the equipment, padding, footwear and in-field communication equipment of today’s professional football players dwarfs that of thick, woolen sweaters, cotton trousers and Naugahyde-stitched leather caps of a century earlier. So to have gone the rough-hewn fiberglass hulls, and two-cylinder 2-strokes that filled the starting lines of the Budweiser IJSBA National Tour nearly 30 years ago. That progress doesn’t diminish the achievements or talents of those racers, builders and tuners; rather we owe today’s superior machines to them in large degree. The Christy Carlsons, Dave Gordons, Victor Sheldons, Scott Watkins, and Bill Chapins of the 1980s and 1990s gave us what we have (and often take for granted) today.
Certainly aftermarket hulls from skilled designers (ie. ProForce, Bullett, Trinity, etc.) have taken from existing designs and magnified their abilities to ride on the rail nearly perpendicularly to the water, their pumps remaining engaged, the rider articulated in such a precarious position that a snapshot taken mid-turn looks like a balance of chaos and ballet. By many accounts reporting in, the SX-R neither requires such acrobatics nor responds to such drastic rider inputs. Overshadowed by its power output and sheer size, the truly remarkable talent of the new 2017 JetSki SX-R very well may be its ability to preserve the rider during dire conditions. The SX-R is slowly revealing itself as the potential champion of offshore surf races, brutally wind-chopped lakes and the churning turmoil of a multi-lap race course. Mike Klippenstein who competed in three classes simultaneously at this year’s Mark Hahn Memorial (two runabout, one standup), praised the SX-R for tackling 20-30 mph wind-whipped seas, the standup actually surpassing several runabouts in the chop.
Above: The records of the sport’s biggest names in racing might have already been eclipsed, but their accomplishments remain ever as important. Persons such as Jeff Jacobs and the aforementioned Fischetti, among many, many others have raised the bar significantly.
Above: Today, modern standup racing takes many forms, many of which are both distant and not so far removed from decades earlier. The new Kawasaki SX-R aims to reclaim its class dominance in this segment by offering superior power, added stability and less wear on the rider – particularly in rough conditions.
“This isn’t the same 550 that you and I grew up on,” the voice on the other end of the line continued. “It’s not the ski you threw into the bed of your pickup, drove down to the lake, chucked out a couple buoys and ripped around on.” Rather, the JetSki that Kawasaki is rolling out is purpose-built for race class dominance. “It’s almost unfair. It’s gonna kill those guys on triples, or who have finally sunk all their money into a Hydro. You’re gonna hear a lot of crying,” he added. The thought was maddening, but relatable. It has been a very long time since a manufacturer produced a product so perfectly designed for class dominance that its introduction immediately antiquates the competition. It’s as exciting as it is frustrating – yet, the process is nothing new. The earliest decades of this sport were strictly Kawasaki territory. Even Yamaha’s early SuperJets (first introduced in 1989) took a while to earn their place on the podium. From there, the race was neck-and-neck, with various models of ski being introduced in an effort to lock in a class or out-do the other.
Certainly, the new SX-R will appeal to the civilian jet ski enthusiasts, those who wish to enjoy the thrill of standup jet skiing in lakes and bodies of water where two-strokes have since been outlawed. Equally, as given early reports of the SX-R’s characteristics, older or slightly less athletic riders will enjoy its buoyed stability and the even temperament of the digitally-fuel injected 4-stroke. Yet, the goal is singular: complete and total dominance of a category that Kawasaki has long since been absent. It’s been told that the development of the new SX-R was fueled strictly by passion, passion on behalf of Minoru Kanamori and Craig “Fuzzy” Boyd. That it was birthed during early morning testing sessions and late-in-to-the-evening wrenching hours. That it exists because of sure willpower, not because it made sense on paper or was a market segment needing to be filled. For that, much needs to be said but hasn’t. Rather, in keeping with Kanamori’s humility, he’s let the SX-R slowly speak for itself. And as the weeks and months proceed, and the Kawasakis continue to fill podiums, we’re going to know assuredly what this machine was bred to do. And that is why it needed to be built.
Go Get Wet,
Kevin
[I realize this is the second editorial in a single month, so for that I apologize. The advent of the new SX-R has been consuming my thoughts for months now – to the point of madness – and felt it necessary to expound. – Ed.]
It’s a story most all of us know by heart: Inventor and designer Clayton Jacobson II first birthed the notion of a motorized personal watercraft that was sold to Bombardier (later BRP: Bombardier Recreational Products) as the first Sea-Doo. The bright yellow two-stroke was produced for a few years before dwindling into the shadow of powersport history. Jacobson’s second design for a “dirt bike for the water” was picked up by Kawasaki and later released as the JetSki (first a 400cc model, then a 440, 550 and so forth). But, the question remains: was Jacobson’s Sea-Doo the very first PWC?
A few years ago, an archived video showing four lovely ladies and their “water scooters” produced by a company in London resurfaced. Riders were shown sitting, standing and even kneeling on these runabouts; yes, they shared many of the same physical characteristics of today’s modern sit-downs albeit sublimely antiquated. The scooters – Vincent Amanda Water Scooter, produced by the British Vincent Motorcycles Company – were propelled to a maximum 15mph by a 2-stroke, single cylinder engine that even circled the rider if they happened to fall off, something many of us remember with the earlier generation JetSkis.
The Amanda was built upon a fiberglass hull and deck, but as fiberglass was still in its infancy, when exposed to prolonged direct sunlight, the hull would distort badly. Besides this issue, the Amanda’s enjoyed decent performance, as Vincent was better known for their high-performance motorcycles and industrial engines for lawn mowers. The Amandas went through three engine configurations, the first being the original air-cooled single-cylinder 2-stroke 75cc model. That was followed by a 2.1-horsepower 100cc version of the 75cc motor, and finally a 200cc twin rated at 5.6 horsepower, using the same bore and stroke as the 100cc single.
