For many not paying attention, P1 AquaX just made a huge rule update for those racing SHO and SVHO-powered Yamaha WaverRunners in 2017: you’ll now be able to run an aftermarket Blow Off Valve (BOV). Blow off valves help to extend engine and clutch life but siphoning of excess supercharger boost when pressures reach a certain level. Obviously, too much boost makes things go “kaboom” and nobody wants that. Given the offshore conditions found in many AquaX events and the wear-and-tear it can have on a supercharged Yamaha, the rule change is really intended for securing longevity, not giving the Yamaha a performance advantage.
Never to sit back and let the moss grow, Dean’s Team Racing is now offering special pricing on all brand new Worx Blow Off Valve Assemblies. These not only feature a cost effective design, each kit includes a high strength silicone hose incorporating a billet lightweight Blow Off Valve (BOV), necessary vacuum lines and fittings for you to complete the install. The lightweight, fully adjustable BOV installs directly in the factory location, puts less load on the hose (for reduced fatigue and tearing), is easy to disassemble and clean and can be yours for 10-percent off of the Dean’s Team store asking price of $300.
Simply use the code “CHAMPION” at check out and hack 10-percent off on this BOV kit and other performance products available in the store today!
Well, the Miami Boat Show has come and gone, and Sea-Doo once again has made waves in the boating market by bringing home – yet again – the NMMA Innovation Award for its new Sea-Doo Spark Trixx. The freestyle-inspired Spark offers a whole new way for individuals, friends and family to enjoy their time on the water as the design features integrated into this new Spark allow for near-vertical tail stands, nose spins and a variety of other tricks (hence the name).
Weighing in at 422-pounds, the lightweight Trixx is priced at $7,299 and sits two yet is likely best used as a single-rider (although, it would be perfect for ejecting your passenger when the fast-responding VTS is triggered). Clearly the board at the NMMA sees what many of us in the media are viewing as a great new addition to the Spark lineup and applauds Sea-Doo for continually pursuing new and exciting ways to enjoy your PWC.
Here’s the original press release: Miami, FL, February 21, 2017 – BRP won its record-setting ninth NMMA Innovation Award at the 2017 Miami International Boat Show for its new Sea-Doo SPARK TRIXX. The TRIXX model is based on the Sea-Doo SPARK, but with added features that offer a fun new way to play on the water.
“The Sea-Doo Spark TRIXX turns riders into instant trick artists. You go from zero to hero in five minutes,” said Alan Jones, marine journalist and member of the NMMA Innovation Award judging panel.
The Sea-Doo Spark TRIXX targets the next generation of watercraft owners with riding fun that not only changes the game, it helps invent new ones. Redefining what a sit- down watercraft can physically do – especially at an entry-level price – can spur younger generations to more strongly consider ownership.
The ultra-lightweight (422 pounds) SPARK TRIXX is the most compact and nimble watercraft on the market. It adds exclusive features not found on any other production watercraft, each designed to deliver playfulness:
900 HO Rotax ACE engine
Intelligent Brake and Reverse (iBR)
A performance handlebar with adjustable aluminum billet riser to provide more leverage for increased rider input
60° step wedges for secure footing and more confidence while going vertical
Extended Range Variable Trim System (VTS) with 2x the normal range to bury the nose or pop the bow up into a water wheelie easily with the tap of the throttle
“Sea-Doo’s brand promise is, ‘Fun Runs in The Family’. SPARK TRIXX brings this to life for the entire family by providing an enhanced experience on the water,” said Anne-Marie LaBerge, senior vice-president, Global Brands and Communications at BRP. “Winning nine of the prestigious NMMA Innovation awards is an accomplishment BRP proudly celebrates. It is a tribute to our design and development approach, along with our commitment to producing technology that will lead the marine industry into the future.”
For more information on the award-winning Sea-Doo SPARK TRIXX and all of the models in the 2017 lineup, visit www.sea-doo.com and follow Sea-Doo on social media via facebook.com/seadoo and @BRPSeaDoo on Twitter and Instagram.
Believe it or not, owning and operating a high performance personal watercraft in the United States is really a low impact purchase. As noted, there’s no national boater license, no mandatory classes, government ID or anything remotely close to operating a motor vehicle on the nation’s highways. In fact, for most states, all you need is a lifevest and for your PWC to be registered, with the appropriate registration numbers on the deck and a copy of your registration (preferably laminated or in a ziplock bag) in your glove box (or crammed in around your fire extinguisher like we used to do on our old 550 standups).
While the Watercraft Superstore can definitely help you with the lifevest, they also can help get your legally registered PWC looking good with a set of Hardline registration decals in a simple all-in-one registration kit. Sure to make your ski stand out, WCSS’ selection of Hardline decal styles are sure to fit the look and color scheme of your machine. And true to WCSS’ description, each package includes one bottle of Sticker-On! Decal Application Fluid for easy installation and one bottle of Sticker-Off! Decal Adhesive Remover for removing the old decal adhesive left behind by previous decals.
But wait! There’s a lot more! Included is a squeegee/scraper tool to help remove old adhesive and apply new decals professionally. All of Hardline’s decals are made with 4 mil. marine grade vinyl, super-stick solvent based adhesive UV coated to resist fuel, fading and scratches; the letters and numbers are 3-inches in size to meet USCG guidelines; factory matched colors; and includes 4 sets of A-Z, 0-9, total of 144 decals. 2 oz. bottle of Sticker-On!, 2 oz. bottle of Sticker-Off! and one squeegee/scraper tool.
Get ’em while they’re hot because these Sea-Doos won’t last long at these great prices. Pre-season is the time to buy because as temperatures rise, so do prices! Cycle Springs Powersports, located in Clearwater, Florida is offering a great promotion on 2017 Sea-Doos. As a buyer you can pick one up with as low as $130 a month with $0 dollars down with approved credit, of course. Grab the 2017 Spark 2-up for $5,125, the GTS 90 for $7,250, or the GTI 90 for $8,150, taxes and fees are additional. These boats are available with 60 or 90-horsepower. The sale ends March 31, 2017.
An exclusive lifetime engine warranty is offered for as long as you own your Sea-Doo purchased from Cycle Springs. Your Sea-Doo will be covered for lifetime when a prepaid maintenance and extended warranty are purchased. The purchaser also agrees to have the vehicle serviced annually by Cycle Springs or as described in the owners manual. Here’s another cool thing about purchasing the extended warranty; Cycle Springs is the only dealership in the Tampa Bay area that will give the buyer a 100% cash refund on an extended warranty as long as no claims are made during the warranty term. As far as the prepaid maintenance goes, Cycle Springs will match your funds applied to your prepaid maintenance card up to a $1000.
If you buy a Sea-Doo from Cycle Springs now, you are eligible for an awesome deal on the warranty based on select models. Three year coverage is available for the new 2017 PWC models and the buyer receives a 12 month Bombardier Recreational Products Inc. (BRP) Limited Warranty plus a 24 month B.E.S.T. coverage. Florida residents receive an even better deal, which is a 36 month BRP Limited Warranty. For more information on this big pre-season sales event; visit cyclesprings.com.
There’s big news for the personal watercraft industry’s most well-known photographer, Ronny Mac. Recently, Ronny (McHenry, aka RonnyMac) was announced as the official photographer of the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) and World Finals. According to the IJSBA’s website, after landing in San Francisco, Ronny went straight to a meeting with the IJSBA, where he immediately got to work rebuilding the group’s website. You can check out the original snippet on the IJSBA’s website HERE.
According to Ronny, he fell in love with photography “purely by accident.” While working with an action sports internet radio talk show, he bought a little point-and-shoot camera so he could grab some nice photos for the show’s website. People loved them, so he upped his game and picked up his first single lens reflex (SLR) camera. He purchased a Canon Rebel 300D, which was the camera that made his photography into an obsession.
Well over a decade later, Ronny has the opportunity to shoot events all over the world and enjoys the lifestyle. We were first introduced to Ronny’s talents back in 2007, while The Watercraft Journal‘s Editor-in-Chief, Kevin Shaw worked as Editor of Personal Watercraft Illustrated. “Ronny was always trying to sell me images from APBA events, but I needed stories to go with them,” Kevin recalls. “It took a lot of coaxing, but I finally pushed him into writing stories and supplying images. After that, Ronny was one of our most reliable contributors.”
Ronny has delved into other aspects of photography as well, such as design work and print media, which talents he has turned into his own brand “RonnyMac”. He was led into this particular realm of photography after the now defunct AWA’s Ride Magazine asked him if he would create an event layout for an issue. In 2011, Ronny partnered with Mike Ratti to launch Pro Rider Magazine. Ronny did the majority of the design work, including the logo and website which are proud accomplishments for him. He spent four years with the group before parting ways.
RonnyMac wanted to make sure people could easily purchase his images so he created ronnymac.com, where he offers introductory packages for riders who simply want him to take shots of them all the way to a team package which includes all the bells and whistles. As for his current position with the IJSBA, we wish Ronny well and look forward to seeing his creative touch on the IJSBA site and great photos as they come in.
Yamaha has a new four stroke ski on the market and boy is it giving everyone a run for their money! Yamaha riders Tony Beck and Chris “The Flyin’ Fish” Fischetti hooked up with Dean’s Team Racing and rode the new GP1800 for the win in Four-Stroke Runabout Stock class during the 2017 Mark Hahn Memorial 300 race.
Mark Klippenstein and Brian Baldwin rode to victory on a Yamaha FX SHVO in the Manufacturers Runabout Stock Class. Baldwin told The Watercraft Journal, “I think being on a bone stock boat really played to our advantage. We are able to lap every single person except for first and second in the Open class.”
The only modifications allowed for Manufacture Stock are handgrips and the seatcover so it is literally a bone stock ski. Baldwin continued, “I rode the first 200 miles straight and then switched off with my teammate Mike [Klippenstein], who was racing two other classes – it’s Mike who I have to thank for getting me out there to compete. If it wasn’t for him I wouldn’t have made it.”
Paul Pham and teammate Derek Diep grabbed first on their Yamaha FX SHO in the Veteran Master’s Open class. What a great day for Yamaha with teams prevailing in three classes.
Conditions were not ideal for racing with 35 mile-per-hour winds wreaking havoc along the 300 mile course. The racers persevered under demanding conditions and Executive Director, Mike Follmer acknowledged this feat by congratulating the Yamaha riders for taking on the 300 mile endurance race in gale force winds and choppy seas.
Yamaha’s Race Director, Scott Watkins had this to say about the GP1800, “We knew the GP on the closed course was going to be the boat to beat in 2017. But with a win in a 300 mile race with rough conditions, it’s clear this model is going to be more than just a champ in the closed course. “We are looking forward to the 2017 AquaX tour where the GP will make its debut on the closed course.”
Operating a personal watercraft is not easy, especially when you are riding at high speeds in a populated area. We hear it time and time again in the news about how people are renting some personal watercraft and it usually ends in both parties walking away with minor injuries. Sadly, a couple that was on a vacation in Phuket, Thailand were involved in a high speed crash which resulted in the death of Emily Collie, according to OZPWC.com.
Collie was on a vacation with her boyfriend Thomas Keating out enjoying the nice weather and decided to rent a pair of personal watercraft. The sun was shining bright and according to Keating’s representatives, the “strong sunlight reflecting from the sea made it impossible for him to see the jet ski being ridden by his girlfriend, Emily Jayne Collie.” While authorities do not believe that Keating caused the crash on purpose, he will be facing charges of reckless driving causing her death. His family has expressed their remorse because they had the opportunity to know Collie for the 18 months she had been dating Keating.
Many riders take riding their craft as second nature, but being inexperienced can prove to be fatal. According to Thai law, anyone using a jet ski is supposed to have a ‘captain’s permit’. Many tourists do not have a permit and many rental companies just write on the paperwork that they do.
Please be a defensive rider and understand that when riding in a populated area to not reach high speeds. Save that for open areas, because doing so could save someone’s life. We send our condolences out to the family and friends of Emily Collie.
And speaking of the RXP-X, despite Sea-Doo’s introduction of the 300-horsepower unit and its RXT-X sibling, much of the field for AquaX (and Pro Watercross, for that matter) consisted of big-inch Yamahas, the most surprising being the FX SVHO’s dark horse dominance over many offshore and endurance events in 2016, even usurping the mainstay Ultra 310X at the Long Beach to Catalina and KaruJet. And of course, how could we not mention Yamaha’s mothballing of the FZR (and S) for the smaller, lighter and more powerful (via power-to-weight) GP1800?
No doubt last year was one of surprises and unexpected turnarounds, and while we feel a little less equipped with supposed “insider information” (some of which happened to be purposefully misguiding), we do have enough deductive reasoning to make some solid predictions for this year (and more yet to come) that we’re 95-percent positive. Now, admittedly we’re over a month late with this story and have seen some motions to help solidify these prophecies, so we’re cheating just a little bit.
Kawasaki
It has been purported that prior to 2017, Kawasaki’s total annual production runs have averaged around 3,500 units. That includes all Ultra configurations (LX, 310X, 310X Special Edition (SE), 310R and 310LX) as well as the aforementioned STX-15F. It was expressed to The Watercraft Journal that in order for Kawasaki to have justified building the new SX-R JetSki, a total 3,000 units would need to be sold in 2017 (whether that is domestic or international sales remains uncertain). Priced at $9,999 MSRP, the big JetSki has all the potential to meet that goal, but Kawasaki’s existing PWC dealer network will be tested to its limits.
We’ve already heard of faithful Kawasaki motorcycle and UTV dealers who’ve since jettisoned their watercraft offerings being “heavily encouraged” to pick up flooring of the SX-R – if only that one model. Surely, the heat is on for Kawasaki to move as many 160-horsepower JetSkis as possible to quantify the gamble. As a bit of insider info, we recently learned that foreign-built SX-Rs differ from domestics in its “labels, certification numbers, fuel tank, etc.,” in order to meet emission and regulatory differences in the US. This is good news, as the 4-stroke SX-R was designed to meet all 50-states’ clean air legislation.
As for the rest of the Kawasaki lineup, expect only the most minor in changes (meaning colors and graphics). We don’t expect Jetsounds or the premium LX seat to be found on the naturally-aspirated LX – although to us, it’s a perfectly logical addition. No, Kawasaki has placed all of its PWC eggs in the SX-R basket and will not be taking its eyes off of this prize for a good long while. The strategic efforts to shoehorn the SX-R into a variety of stand up ski classes for all existing sanctioning bodies should cement the brand’s motivations in anyone’s mind.
Sea-Doo
The brand gearing up for the biggest revolution in personal watercraft manufacturing has been doing so ever-so-quietly beneath many of our noses. Sea-Doo released two machines in 2017 that spell the inevitable future of the brand’s runabout lineup: the GTR-X and GTI ACE 900. Personally, we find the new GTR-X 230 one of the most outright fun machines we’ve ever had the pleasure of riding. The loose shallow-V hull of the GTI paired with the Ergolock seat of the RXP-X and powered by a torquier and hard-hitting supercharged ACE 1500 makes it an absolute blast to ride, but it is its CM-Tech deck that speaks loudest here.
Sea-Doo uprooted its conventional deck molding process for a new process of laying multi-layer thermoformed sheets of Acrylic and ABS into the mold before the fiberglass is injected. This results in a high gloss acrylic finish on the top deck that is more resistant to chipping and cracking due to the flexible nature of the acrylic sheets (as well as a smooth inner surface). This new, flexible CM-Tech material will be ideal when all medium and full-sized runabout hulls are eventually replaced with Polytec. *Gasp!* Yeah, you read that right. Sea-Doo is getting out of the fiberglass hull game…but not for a while. We give it 4-to-5 years before it all goes Polytech.
Sea-Doo’s new Spark-DNA-infused-GTI, the GTI ACE 900 is not a fluke or some runabout they built on a lark. There is a whole heck of a lot of forethought in this machine and it bears noting the incredible expense it took to develop a Polytec hull for a medium-sized runabout. Obviously, as of right now, the Polytech hull can only withstand the power delivered by the 90-horsepower ACE 900, but don’t expect that to last. We’ve heard of extensive testing involving a “Polytec 2.0” that will be able to handle the larger 130 and 155-horsepower Rotax engines (or 110-plus-horsepower ACE 3-cylinders. Hmm?) so a complete replacement of the fiberglass GTI hull is possible in the near future.
Last year we predicted a TR-1 powered SuperJet, and with the reveal of the EX Series and its completely redesigned pump configuration and lower horsepower (100HP vs. 110HP), makes the complete EX powertrain a direct replacement for the outdated SuperJet. We’ve been told directly that Yamaha is very inclined to sit back and watch how Kawasaki’s SX-R sells this year, and see how sales behave during its second year before launching its “SJ1000” (the name we’ve heard a few times). Equally, Yamaha is big on tradition and anniversaries, and 2019 marks exactly 30 years from when the first SuperJet was introduced. While we’d love to see the 4-stroke SuperJet hit the streets a year earlier, it all makes logical sense when you think like a multi-million dollar corporation.
So for 2017, don’t expect much in the way of changes to its current lineup. Yamaha squeezed a few new models into the gray areas it had in its line (the VX Cruiser HO and FX Cruiser Limited), so we’re thinking they’re pretty tidy in their offerings. New colors and graphics will be enough to satisfy most although we’re tickled with the idea of a 125-horsepower EX GP, but that’s a story for another day.
According to OZPWC, three men were arrested for allegedly stealing personal watercraft, boats and other motorized vehicles in Sydney, Australia. The men, ages 22, 29,and 32 were accused of altering registrations and reselling stolen cars and various types of boats. Several groups of law enforcement agencies were involved in the sting operation. A group called Strike Force Eastcode, comprised of the Marine Area Command and the State Crime Command’s Property Squad, began the investigation into the auto scam in February 2016.
Officers from the Marine Area Command along with assistance from the Property Crime Squad, Public Order and Riot Squad, and Region Enforcement Squad executed four search warrants in Punchbowl, Wiley Park, Milperra, and Greenacre. That is when officers took possession of three vehicles, two boats, and numerous engine parts. All of these items were believed to be stolen property and will be further investigated by forensics teams. The warrants were issued Tuesday, February 14, 2017, a year after law enforcement began their operation into the alleged fraudaulant activity of reselling stolen vehicles.
At this time, Strike Force Eastcote has seized twelve jet skis, eight boats, and four cars and the Force isn’t finished! The investigation will continue until police officers are satisfied. The police would love your assistance in this ongoing investigation so if you have any information, call Crime Stoppers at 1800.333.000 or contact them online.
Surfing has been an extremely popular water activity that is known for having a relaxed lifestyle, pushing yourself to new limits and “catching the perfect wave.” In the recent years, companies such as Red Bull, Monster and other action sport companies have helped grow the sport of surfing. With it growing at an extremely fast rate, surfing is getting unprecedented exposure. With the exposure, the sport has reached out to skilled personal watercraft riders to tow the surfers out in the water so that the surfers are not exhausted when a perfect wave comes. It is no easy task to maneuver a large, three-person watercraft with crashing waves. The rider is risking their life so that the surfer can find their perfect wave.
Recently, Strong Island Jet Ski Instagram Account posted a video featuring a tow boat and a surfer out in the ocean. Unfortunately for this tow boat rider, it ended bad as a crashing wave overpowered him and threw him off his craft. While the video does not show if the rider was okay, we know that it would have definitely had an impact on him. We hope that every tow boat rider, freestyle rider and average coast rider who ventures out into the rough ocean stays safe. It is a ton of fun but it is extremely dangerous. Please understand your skills and if the weather forecast calls for bigger swells than your capabilities maybe you should just wait till next weekend. Be safe out there and have fun.
