For those folks down under, Yamaha WaveRunners (Australia) has a killer promotion currently on to take advantage of! If you’ve been waiting to purchase a brand new Yamaha, it’s time to make your dream a reality and take home a new Yamaha WaveRunner with a super-low 2.99%* Comparison finance rate! This crazy-low offer is available across the entire WaveRunner line-up and is available with terms over 24 and 36 months to fit whatever schedule you are more comfortable with.
As mentioned above, this offer covers the entire WaveRunner line-up including the GP1800, SuperJet, FX SVHO, FX Cruiser SVHO, FX HO, FX Cruiser HO, VXR, VX Deluxe, VX, EX Deluxe and EX models. To make this deal even sweeter, in addition to financing your new WaveRunner, the 2.99%* rate can be used for Yamaha Marine Insurance, a new trailer and any accessories you may wish to purchase with your new Yamaha. Hurry though as this sweet limited offer ends on July 20th, 2017.
Disclaimer: 2.99% comparison rate finance is available on all new Yamaha Waverunner models for approved personal applicants of Yamaha Motor Finance (YMF). Offer available while stocks last, at participating dealers on a loan term of either 24 or 36 month only with an application fee of $325.00. Annual percentage rate is 0.89% and comparison rates is based on a secure loan $10,000 over 3 years. WARNING: This comparison rate is true only for examples given and may not include all fees and charges. Different terms, fees or other loan amounts might result in a different comparison rate. Promotion starts on 15/04/17 and ends on 20/07/17. Credit criteria, fees, charges and terms and conditions apply.
Back in late January, you may remember we announced an awesome online short series of web episodes (or “webisodes” for short) called “Pemby Life”. This new series consisting of four episodes was created from a very popular project called “She Shreds Mountain Adventures”; an all-women’s snowmobile clinic retreat based out of Pemberton, B.C Canada. Creator Julie-Ann Chapman has grown the project massively and has branched out in numerous ways including now welcoming men to their awesome clinics and guided adventures. With a strong emphasis on back country safety, “She Shreds” provides by far one of the best snowmobile adventure learning experiences out there. On top of that, “She Shreds” also provides avalanche safety courses in conjunction with the Canadian Avalanche Association.
“Pemby Life” is supported by a small group of different companies, one of them being Truckboss Decks out of Edmonton, Alberta, Canada. Truckboss truly is the industry leader in all-weather, multi-purpose truck decks. Julie-Ann has previously said, “What I like most about this deck is its slick look, and it’s so easy to load and unload sleds on that any girl can do it. This deck is the most well-thought-out deck on the market.”
In their second episode titled “Respect Adventure: Safety & Being Prepared”, Julie-Ann explains the meaning behind the moto “Be Safe & to Play Safe”. This episode is a must watch for any snowmobiler as not only does it share some potentially life-saving information, but it also shares a ton of breath taking video footage; showing the best of what British Columbia’s mountains have to offer. Julie-Ann is very thorough with explaining everything you should carry with you on your back country snowmobiling adventures so you can ensure you and your group come home safely at the end of the day.
If there was one lesson to be learned this past weekend it was that it pays to ride a Yamaha. Yamaha racers completely shut out the competition sweeping the podium in all three motos of the Pro class, with Chris MacClugage dominating the weekend aboard a FX SVHO. MacClugage – who with his wife, Rachel, started the week by celebrating the birth of their son, Marco – was followed by RIVA Yamaha racer Eric Francis, and Dean’s Team pilot Aero Aswar, both riding GP1800s.
MacClugage also battled with Yamaha rider Brian Baldwin, while Aswar was challenged by lone Sea-Doo rider Erminio Iantosca. Nicholas Rius, also aboard a Yamaha GP1800, was unable to continue competing on Sunday after a back injury during Saturday’s moto.
Here’s the original press release: Daytona Beach, Fla. — April 24, 2017 — The high winds on the Florida coast delivered brutal conditions for the watercraft racers at the P1 AquaX opener held this weekend in Daytona Beach, Fla.; as the majority struggled to keep pace with Yamaha FX SVHO rider Chris MacClugage who swept all three motos in the premier Enduro Pro class.
Joining in on the sweep were Yamaha GP1800 riders Eric Francis and Aero Aswar who finished 2-3 overall. Francis made huge news over the winter when he switched to Yamaha from his longtime sponsor Kawasaki.
MacClugage’s tactic of coming closer to shore on the home straight saw him produce the highest speeds of anyone in race three, although Francis seemed to have the edge in the corners and was certainly explosive off the start line.
Aswar, the current #1 rider in the World rankings endured a mixed weekend but his third place finish in moto three was enough to put him into third for the weekend, shutting down any chance for a Kawasaki or Sea-Doo overall podium finish.
“For the first race of the year, the new GP1800 came out in force even in the super rough conditions usually dominated by the FX SVHO,” said Yamaha’s race director Scott Watkins. “Whereas most brands hope for one model to put out a strong showing, we have two models that offer the reliability, durability and performance our racers need to sweep the podium in all conditions.”
P1 AquaX racing now heads to Florida’s St. Pete Beach on June 17-18. (Photo credit: Ronny Mac/P1 AquaX)
This past weekend kicked off the first round of P1 AquaX racing in Daytona Beach, Florida, and with it the nation turned its eyes towards the water. Both enthusiasts and manufacturers were locked in as the racers screamed past the checkered buoys. With the weekend’s results (expect a full report here at The Watercraft Journal this week), Sea-Doo also announced big plans for the future of its Sea-Doo X-Team that is sure to stir up some excitement.
In addition to yesterday’s P1 AquaX racing (and throughout the rest of the series), Sea-Doo will be proudly represented by some of the best and most talented racers in 2017. Many of these racers include James Bushell, Erminio Ianstosca, Blaine Spooner, Guy Gee Greenland, and Anthony Radetic, who will be competing in AquaX, the Pro Watercross Tour, IJSBA World Finals and other events throughout the nation and beyond.
Here’s the original press release: Sea-Doo Expands Support Of Watercraft Racing With New Racers And Sponsorship Of P1 AquaX
Valcourt, QC, CANADA– April 21, 2017 – BRP enters the 2017 watercraft racing season with elevated Sea-Doo X-TEAM race programs and the addition of Pro Enduro front runner Blaine Spooner who joins an an all-star roster of Pro watercraft racers led by the winningest world championship runabout racer of the past six years, James Bushell.
The Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 watercraft continues to be the model to beat claiming the 2016 Pro Watercross Pro GP and Pro Stock US championships and sixth consecutive IJSBA Pro Open and Pro GP world championships and has performance fans excited for the start of the 2017 riding season. The 2017 Sea-Doo X-TEAM Bounty program provides all Sea-Doo riders competing in the various disciplines of watercraft racing in North America the opportunity to earn contingency money throughout the season. BRP is also ensuring there are more competition-focused events through the Sea-Doo Promoter support program, sponsoring select race events across North America.
BRP will sponsor premier racing events including the P1 AquaX Series, Pro Watercross Tour, IJSBA World Finals and others and will see elite racers representing the Sea-Doo X-TEAM in 2017. These racers include James Bushell, Erminio Ianstosca, Blaine Spooner, Guy Gee Greenland, and Anthony Radetic. Radetic is a former Army Helicopter pilot and renowned, challenged athlete who has limited use of his legs and is a front runner in the P1 AquaX Amateur 300 class on his RXP-X watercraft. Spooner returns to racing after a one year hiatus after the birth of his two twin daughters and enters the 2017 for the first time as part of the X-TEAM and is considered one of the favorites to finish on the Pro Enduro podium at P1 AquaX events.
Spooner and all Sea-Doo watercraft riders will be eligible for Sea-Doo X-TEAM Bounty. The Sea-Doo X-TEAM contingency is essentially an, “open-sponsorship” that excludes no one, except those competing on other brands. To supercharge the P1 AquaX season opener in Daytona an additional $1500 bonus will be added to the $1000 Pro Enduro win bounty for a $2500 top finish incentive. In addition to the glory that comes with winning on Sea-Doo watercraft, comes the opportunity for extra prize money. In addition, the Sea-Doo X-TEAM Promoter support program provides event producers sponsorship funds to help them produce more, high-quality events. BRP works with promoters to ensure Sea-Doo performance enthusiasts have a place to ride and compete in an organized manner, providing another fun aspect of owning a Sea-Doo watercraft.
“BRP has led the performance watercraft category since the launch of the T3 and Ergolock equipped RXP-X model in 2012 and Sea-Doo X-TEAM fans around the world are ready to see the best handling model compete in 2017,” says Tim McKercher, of Sea-Doo watercraft competition management. “BRP is excited to cheer on all Sea-Doo watercraft racers and to see Blaine Spooner back on Sea-Doo watercraft, joining a team led by James Bushell that will show the world how the RXP-X 300 model is the performance model to beat.
RIVA Racing has just announced the re-stocking of a popular item for all you 2003-2011 Kawasaki SX-R 800 owners. This announcement is sure to make you 2-stroke die-hards giddy.
According to the release by RIVA Racing, the SX-R 800 Wet Pipe (PT# FIN800SX02) is lighter than their Dry Pipe thanks to its single wall design. Made by Factory Pipe, this Wet Pipe is based on the proven and tested “B” pipe design so you can have full confidence knowing that it’s reliable and gives you both excellent throttle response and greater power when installed on your PWC. Since it incorporates the tunable head pipe design, you can adjust the power curve to your liking with just the simple turn of an Allen wrench. It doesn’t get any easier than that!
Installation is super easy and no hood modifications to your machine are required. The Wet Pipe is finished in a black, hard anodizing that provides the ultimate in salt-water corrosion resistance. You won’t find any cheap looking, soon to be crusty junk with this killer part.
Please note that RIVA Racing would like to mention that this item does not apply for their free shipping. Priced at $810 USD; grab it while you can!
If you’ve been paying attention to The Watercraft Journal this week, you will have noticed it’s been a busy week for SBT, Inc. and Watercraft Superstore coverage. And that’s great because riding season is truly in full swing across the Northern Hemisphere and these two companies are up and running keeping you and your watercraft ready to hit the water. And we thought what better way to end the week by showing youa fun behind-the-scenes look at the making of the 2017 SBT Calendar featuring Kristy Garett, Playboy’s Miss Playmate February 2016.
For those of you who didn’t already know, SBT, Inc. celebrates each new year with a new calendar featuring a very fetching young lady, who is often a recent Playboy Playmate. And as a little tidbit of publishing insider info, early last year it was widely publicized that Playboy ended its half-century of printing pictorials of nude models, turning the magazine into a more off-the-news-rack-friendly publication. Why? The idea was to open up the magazine to a far wider audience, but sadly hadn’t done much to save the publication. So guess what? They’re bringing back Playboy Classic (although we doubt they’ll call it that).
OK, so nevertheless, Playboy still has a talent for finding some very lovely ladies, and last year’s Miss February 2016, Kristy Garett is now the subject of SBT’s 12 month calendar and a full-sized double sided poster. The calendar ships free with every engine purchase, but is also available for purchase for $9.95. And below is the fun video showing how all of those images were taken. Enjoy!
Unlike our previous review, we thought it wise to photograph our new SBT Racing Hydro Shoes before thoroughly beating them to death. If you click the link to our previous review, you’ll see how the Hydro Shoes hold up after 8 months of constant use. The Hydro Shoes are made with a breathable neoprene sock that is cut low below the ankle for an easy, unrestricted range of motion. Equally, the shoe’s liner features a durable elastic band around the opening that remains taut regardless of use. The neoprene sock is glued to a two-part rubber sole that supplies a thick, cushioned sole similar to a tennis shoe more than boat shoe.
Because the Hydro Shoes are strictly slip-ons, there is no lacing required to keep them on. Unfortunately, this also means that you cannot cinch the shoe up any tighter than it already is, which might not work for persons looking for that extra bit of tightness or support. Although the neoprene drains and wicks water well, there aren’t any drains perforating the soles making for a slower drain and drying time. We noted that traction is equal to most racing boots and water shoes we’ve come across, so there’s no loss there either. We did wish that there was a little bit more padding at the toe and heel though, as those points tend to get beat up more than elsewhere.
For whose with experience, neoprene booties typically don’t age well. The soft, breathable material has a tendency to snag, tear and lose much of its springiness. This is often attributed to plenty of exposure to the elements, as well as use in salt water and being embedded with sand, silt and mud. Obviously, proper care will ensure your Hydro Shoe will last longer than those who do not, so do as your mother asked and take better care of your things! In our previous pair of water shoes, we found the glue bonding the neoprene sock to the sole began to leech out, discoloring the two parts and looking rather unsightly. Thankfully, in our two months of use, the Hydro Shoe hasn’t shown such signs, so hopefully a better glue has been employed here.
Priced an incredibly bargain-friendly $21.95, SBT Racing’s Hydro Shoes are one of the better deals we’ve encountered. Whether you’re looking for a new pair of go-to shoes, a spare pair to keep in your gear bag, or something to keep on hand for a friend, these are worth the minor investment, like having an extra rope on board or can of sunscreen.
According to a piece on the IJSBA website, a long time affiliate, Cayman Islands Watercraft Association (CIWA) started its 2017 season in the Caribbean with a small, yet serious competition. The first round of the CIWA National Championships Series of racing took place east of the Red Bay Dock on Sunday March 26, 2017 with Mike Young helping in race administration and in the booth as an announcer.
Four classes competed and those consisted of expert, amateur, novice, and beginner. The water was flat so it made it easy to run at top speeds and Gary “GJ” Whittaker took advantage of the glassy conditions by winning all three motos in the expert class. He was the top dog for the Nuttin 2 Lose team.
Vanjee “VJ” Ramgeet of BYP Racing grabbed two second place finishes and a third and ended his day with a second place overall. Nathan Ebanks, a rider for Tony’s Toys finished with a third place overall. Nicholas Hydes of SHO picked up fourth and Wayne Cato of Proven Performance snagged a fifth overall finish.
Matthew Panton of Nuttin 2 Lose won two motos, which put him in the number one slot in the Amateur category. Ramgeet ranked second in the amateur division. The top spot in the novice class went to Tyler Watler of Turnt Up Racing. Thase Walter, another team rider for Turnt Up Racing placed third overall.
Tiamma Ramgeet of RTP-RAM TECH Racing was the first female rider to win a race in the Cayman Islands. She jumped right in there with the guys and managed to pull off a win in the finale in the beginner class. Ramgeet’s ski suffered mechanical problems in the first two motos and once those were repaired, she was good to go and finished second in her class.
CIWA President, Vincent Ramgeet was stoked with the first event of the season and told CaymanSportsBuzz.com, “It’s been quite a day. A few crafts went down [with mechanical problems] but that’s racing for you. The top guys are putting on quite a show.”
We’ve eaten at plenty of places claiming “the world’s best” what have you, be it a hamburger, ribs or BBQ. We’ve also visited plenty of touristy “world’s biggest” or “most famous” all to very little fanfare. There’s no shortage of spots on the map claiming such things but having very little actual evidence to prove (or disprove) their claim. That is why it’s so impressive when we share that Clearwater, Florida’s own Cycle Springs Powersports is not only the “world’s largest Yamaha dealer,” but it’s celebrating its third year as a Pro Yamaha Platinum level dealer.
This might not mean much to the everyday powersports enthusiasts, but for those who truly know what they’re looking for, a Pro Yamaha Platinum dealer is the highest level a dealer can achieve for Pro Yamaha. This award recognizes the dealers who are committed to providing a truly superior experience in Sales, Service and Customer Satisfaction and creating a “Customer for Life”, and Cycle Springs Powersports has been doing that with aplomb. With their exclusive “Lifetime Engine Warranty”, mobile watercraft service vehicles, special pricing and so much more, Cycle Springs Powersports is the world’s largest for a very good reason.
Here we go again in Australia: A small amount of irresponsible jet ski operators have become such a nuisance; the water police are cracking down on everyone. Transport Safety Victoria (TSV) has added more water police to the known hot spots in order to catch and fine the riders who aren’t obeying the laws, according to OZPWC.
There have been many PWC crashes and other negative incidents involving personal watercraft in the waters in Victoria. These numbers have risen during the last couple of years so the TSV has taken harsh measures to reduce the amount of PWC related problems in order to get careless riders to comply with the laws set forth. In December and January, there were 10 personal watercraft crashes and three of them resulted in serious injuries. That’s bad, considering that in the years 2015-2016, there were 5 crashes and only one in 2014-2015.
Peter Corcoran, Director of Maritime Safety at TSV proclaims,“To combat this trend, we are putting more resources into compliance. Riders, and all those on or being towed by the PWC, must wear a life jacket, keep their distance from others, travel at a safe speed and keep a good lookout at all times.”
It is unfortunate that a small number of riders have caused so many problems, that the majority of PWC operators are frowned upon. PWC manufacturers and riders have come up with a neat idea, which is called a Responsible Riding Code of Conduct. By signing the code, some of the pressure is taken off the reputable riders by helping them set a good example for other jet ski operators and the people along the beaches, like swimmers and regular beach goers.
A copy of the rules and laws can be found HERE. It is quite a list and yet very straightforward. The laws are comprised of items an experienced operator should already follow and are great for new riders as well. We suggest checking them out, if for no other reason, just to refresh your memory.
