The annual event known to most as “JetFest” was recently renamed “2017 Blowsion Northeast John Dady Memorial PWC Rally” to celebrate the life of John Dady. Celebrating its 10th consecutive year, the Blowsion Northeast John Dady Memorial PWC Rally will “continue the traditions and standards established by former JetFest events,” as states the official Facebook page. Hosted by the Adirondack Jetski Club (AJC), an American Watercraft Association (AWA) official charter club, the AJC decided to not only use this year’s venue as an opportunity to celebrate the man who touched so many lives, but also provide for his family.
Also unique for this year, the 2017 Blowsion Northeast John Dady Memorial PWC Rally will offer an unprecedented four (4) personal watercraft (winners need not be present to win but would be responsible for shipping costs) as means to generate a substantial charitable donation for John’s beneficiaries. Individually-numbered memorial decals have been made available through the AJC Support Member Program for purchase online and in person onsite. Online Support Member Program registration will be available at www.adkjetskiclub.org January 1, 2017 through June 1, 2017.
In a recent Facebook post, they wrote: “Available for purchase, the $20 Blowsion Northeast John Dady Memorial PWC Rally decal. All proceeds will be donated directly to John’s beneficiaries. Each decal purchased automatically enters buyers into the June 17, 2017 four (4) personal watercraft sweepstakes. Decals and official rules available exclusively at www.adkjetskiclub.org – click on the “Support Decals” tab. Special thanks to each of the stalwart event sponsor for making this tribute program possible!
“Attention participants who will be attending the event. The $20 decal purchase also covers your entry fee. However, there may be a minor additional cost of a few bucks for “day membership” of the sanctioning body which will be providing event insurance.”
Back in 1999, “Crazy Joe” Davis and his wife, Connie from New Baltimore, Michigan started racing jet skis. They started traveling all over the nation racing on the closed course circuits. From then on, they were hooked. They also brought along their young children, Joe Jr. and Kristen, who were instantly hooked as well. Their infatuation with racing quickly became a lifestyle for the entire Davis family. Living on Lake St. Clair, their summers were spent entirely on the water, whether it was boating or riding jet skis.
As time passed by, the racing scene in the Midwest was on a decline; less people showed up to the races and many of circuits dissolved because of lack of participation and funding. More and more people were venturing into freestyle and leaving the racing scene. This proved true for Crazy Joe and Joe Jr. as they spent more time focusing on freeriding rather than racing. When the aftermarket hulls entered the industry, they both knew this was something they wanted to be apart of, but the cost deferred them from buying one of the many options out there. Already riding SuperJets, an idea sparked in their minds: Why not just make their own hull?
So, they quickly began chopping an old square nose (1990-1995) SuperJet hull they had and after some major changes, ended up with a very ugly, torpedo-like hull. Both said the torpedo hull wasn’t very practical, but the idea of creating their own hull was formed. They rode the torpedo hull for a couple months and wrote down what they liked and disliked about it. They went back to the drawing board and incorporated the changes they wanted to make. They decided to chop up another old SuperJet and this time they were more successful, but were still not satisfied. However, they started to throw every local rider on the chopped up SuperJet. They started taking opinions on the hull and starting making notes of what people said needed to be changed and what needed to be kept. As changes were made and the hull was improved, they finally had something to work off of.
At this point, the father-son duo knew it was time to start building a mold so they could reproduce their skis. However, it wasn’t something they had done before so they reached out to a friend so they could learn from him about the plug-and-mold process. After months and months of research and practice, they had their mold. The first, few skis were tests and only ridden by Crazy Joe and Joe Jr., in order to make sure everything was right. After they had produced a couple, they began to get more quality hulls each time they made one. Eventually, they needed a name for the ski. Both of them came up with the name “BAM” which stood for “By Any Means.” They settled on BAM because they had a commitment to bring an affordable hull to people in the Midwest by any means.
Today, Crazy Joe’s Customs is a custom paint and fiberglass repair shop and is one of the few aftermarket freestyle hull builders in the Midwest. Crazy Joe’s Customs is a family run business, as both Crazy Joe and Joe Jr. run every aspect of the company whether that is production, sales and social media. Besides the BAM hull they offer custom chin pads for aftermarket handle poles, custom chin pads for the 1996 and newer SuperJet and custom footholds.
The BAM hull is priced at the entry-level $4,200 for a new fiberglass hull. The price includes the hull, hood, ride plate, foam, scupper, footholds and all mounts. This also includes a Crazy Joe’s paint job. The price for the carbon hull starts at $5,600. The weight of the hulls typically can range from 40-to-84 pounds, depending on what the customer wants. Since each ski is hand built on the individual needs of the customer, those prices are subject to change depending on how you want it setup.
However, each hull is built with top-notch quality and the attention to detail is absolutely insane. You don’t get the long wait period for your hull to arrive or the inferior quality of some of the hull manufacturers out there. Another thing they have done is partner with KP Poles, which gives the customer an aftermarket pole at a very low price.
Every year at Wave Rave, Michigan’s biggest freeride on the beautiful, sandy shores of Lake Michigan, the BAM is always the hull that you see everyone trying. Each time the person riding the BAM comes back, all you can see is a huge grin from one ear to the other. It absolutely shreds and slashes the rough surf of Lake Michigan. On flat water, it is equally impressive as it is can be flipped no problem. During an exclusive test ride, we found the best aspect of this hull is the way it planes out.
It did not have the feeling you get on most aftermarket hulls, that extreme, nose-high “squirleyness” where it feels like you are riding a 2×4 with a powerful motor that can only flip. Riding the BAM, it just felt natural and right. You can just tell that so much R&D had been put in to make this thing perfect. It is definitely a “do-it-all” hull. It has been proven surf worthy handling the surf down at Wave Daze and the Lake Michigan surf. However, it definitely can be a flat water hull at the same time. It would be the perfect hull for someone who is looking at getting an entry-level hull that can perform in more ways than one. Not to mention, the customer service is impeccable.
As far as changes to the BAM hull, you won’t see much difference in 2017. “We weren’t looking to make any visual body changes yet. We will be having some practical changes to the bottom,” said Joe Jr. They decided on the changes after attending freerides and getting as many people on it as possible. They credit the riders who give them their honest, constructive criticisms and what they like about it. One of the two changes was made in the tray. The tray has been widened, which will allow for more room in the tray as well as cover more surface on the water. The second change was made to alter the cavities under the hulls to change the water flow. Keep an eye on their social media pages for any further updates on changes and news.
Some things to look out for would be the new hulls, white with splatter paint and the blue and black pictured, as they are the lightest hulls produced so far. The goal was to build the lightest hull possible without sacrificing strength. “The white hull with the splatter paint job is a special one, and we wanted the paint to represent that,” Joe Jr. mentioned. They credited Art at Engine Tech Superchargers for his guidance on what motor to choose for the white hull. They chose the ET 1107, which is an absolute monster of a motor. Expect some big things from Crazy Joe’s Customs with this white hull.
As for the blue hull, it is almost entirely visual carbon and is an absolute piece of art. Their rider, Alex Anulli, also will be on a new hull that will be unveiled soon. With the move to making things as light as possible and the addition of the ET 1107, it definitely hints at something big to come for 2017. Things are constantly changing at Crazy Joe’s Customs so don’t be surprised if we see something “crazy.” To keep updated on everything Crazy Joe’s Customs, please find all new info on their Facebook and Instagram feeds as well as their YouTube channel. Also, look out for them at upcoming freerides this year for test rides.
The Watercraft Journal: So what’s new with you and the Jet Renu team for 2017?
Nanette Moreno: After long consideration I have made some beneficial changes for 2017. I have decided to separate Jet Renu – Div. of Renu Chem Inc. – from our athletic program by creating Team Jet Renu Inc., a non-profit organization.
WCJ: What will be the focus of this new non-profit division of Renu Chem?
NM: My main focus is promoting the product while endorsing our athletes. By doing so I’m hoping to bring more awareness and focus on our sport. My cause has always been about the riders, and nothing’s changed! These riders spend upward of thousands of dollars on gear, parts, accessories, vehicles and entries and they don’t get enough return on their investments.
There are single parents, grandparents with fixed incomes who can’t afford skis or gear, where some of these are discounted, donated or loaned by sponsors and fellow racers, even entries are still hard to come by. Team Jet Renu helps out where it can – if it can – keeping our kids in sports and out of trouble!
WCJ: How can athletes expect this program to be ran?
NM: I run my sponsorship program like a team sports league. If we are all team players, “we win the game.” With all of my years of coaching many different sports and being team mom, I’ve found that focusing on these athletes is beneficial to any sport and that’s what my purpose is within this sport.
WCJ: That sounds like a whole lot of work to carry on your shoulders! How do you think you’ll draw in the added help needed?
NM: Our sponsorship program is growing and I am overwhelmed, however with that said, I have a lot of work to do to make it successful. This year, I’d like to run “national raffles” on a larger scale. Prize giveaways would be other types of accessories that pertain to our type of industry, added to every vehicle cleaning regimen such as pressure washers, orbital buffers along with products to go with. I’m hoping it will be fun for all of the sports industries that we sponsor and beneficial to our program.
WCJ: Besides funds from these raffles, how else do you plan to financially support this effort?
NM: Jet Renu donates 15% of sales back to our sponsorship program along with what I donate personally. Renu Chem funds advertising/promotions and product giveaways which is thousands and thousands of dollars. So it made sense to incorporate Team Jet Renu Inc. non-profit. Where I can fund raise and run raffles outside of the sports, to my circle of businesses and bring more awareness to this sport and support our sponsorship program so it can bloom.
WCJ: Where do you see this program ending? What are your goals?
NM: I’d like to see Mark Gomez on a Wheaties box and the jet ski industry acknowledged like Supercross. I’m only one voice however. Each one of my 15 products help with that. Every time I run a new product ad and endorse a new rider, I bring awareness to other brands by cross branding and cross marketing, I feel we all benefit. It’s a win-win.
WCJ: How will this effect the future of Jet Renu as a brand? Will this change how the company operates?
NM: I have decided to allow the kids run the product sales side for Jet Renu as executive representatives of Renu Chem. Inc. Jet Renu was developed and created for the jet ski industry and it only seems right that it be sold by the people that make the sport what it is.
It was only last November – a whopping three months ago – when Cuban-born Uva Perez set the world record at 114.6 mph. The closed course racer-turned-world record holder abandoned the buoys when an on-water collision nearly broke his leg. Since that time, nearly 8 years ago, Perez has been in the pursuit of setting world speed records. Heading the U Jet Team, Perez and teammates have been loyal to the Yamaha FZR SVHO platform, including retaining a fiberglass hull (although it being far from a factory stock machine).
In an interview with The Bradenton Herald, Perez spoke candidly, “The speed was always there. The problem was the condition of the water.” In exploring the topic of last November’s 114-plus-mph run further, Perez had commented online, “I want you to know that I didn’t use [nitrous] because it was too rough.” With superior conditions on the Manatee River last Saturday, Perez’s U Jet Yamaha WaveRunner achieved a staggering 118.0 miles per hour within a breakneck 3.8-seconds. And add to the fact that Perez achieved the speeds on denser salt water, compared to last November when his 114-plus-mph record was set on fresh water.
“There’s a lot of people who want to break that record,” Perez continued, “so I wanted to set it pretty high.” Perez and the U Jet team came to the third-annual Bradenton Area River Regatta already holding the honor of the fastest personal watercraft in the world, and was looking to retain his title with his new nitrous-fed turbocharged SVHO-powered ski. “It’s faster than the other one,” Perez smiled, “and more reliable.” And Perez understands the need for reliability at all levels; he runs a personal watercraft shop, U Jet Ski Service, in Miami with the help of his two sons.
Since it’s introduction, Yamaha’s supercharged SVHO-powered GP1800 has been the darling of aftermarket tuners and builders. The lightweight, nimble hull, aggressive stance, and almost unnatural reception to performance tweaks and components has made the newest WaveRunner easily one of the most anticipated machines for the 2017 racing season. And no company has been more actively engaged in developing this machine to reach its full potential than RIVA Racing.
Recently, RIVA produced a quick installation video for their RIVA Yamaha GP1800/VXR/VXS Steering System Part (PT# RY20110). First debuted on RIVA Racing’s Limited Edition GP1800R specialty-built machine, the new steering system, which includes a RIVA Pro-Bar 32-inch Runabout Bars (PT# RY204) and ODI ROGUE Lock-On Grips, 130MM, no flange (PT# L31RGB-S), is an ideal fit for the performance minded GP1800 owner, as the system shaves weight while adding significantly more strength.
Typically, installation comes in around 1 1/2 hours, especially if you’re using power tools over conventional sockets and hand-twisted screwdrivers. The process does require a bit of disassembly, so make sure to take notes while watching the video or simply read RIVA’s instructions HERE. In all, the process requires very little trimming or cutting, so don’t fear about any irreversible modifications. So again, enjoy the video below and when it’s done, check out the RIVA Racing Yamaha GP1800 Steering System HERE.
For years Hydro-Turf has been providing the public with quality traction mats and upholstery. These are a necessity for any riders as having a good traction mat can be the one thing that stands in your way of making that jump or getting the inside lane on the turn. But as with any part or accessories it all costs money. Many riders have visions for their watercraft but do not have the means, so why not get a sponsor to help you out!
Recently, Hydro-Turf posted on Facebook saying that they are look to sponsor riders for the upcoming 2017 year. This could be your time to send in your information and let this company who has helped grow our personal watercraft community promote you. Hyrdo-Turf is known globally as the one of the leaders in the traction mat industry. So, you are probably wondering how you sign up and if the class you race in is available.
Well good news for you, all events are open. Anywhere to closed course racing to freestyle to runs and riders to poker runs. They want to hear what you are all about and help achieve your goals for this year.
As outlined in the original post, here is the step by step way to apply for your sponsorship:
Once you are on that page, copy the information into your email and fill it out. Once it is all filled out, email the one and only Mark Gomez at [email protected]
Make sure when answering the questions to elaborate on all of your abilities to best represent yourself.
Remember that this is a limited opportunity and the deadline is February 3rd! So, don’t wait, fill out the form and you could be the next rider to support this awesome company. Plus if you are currently a sponsored Hydro-Turf rider and would like to renew your membership they would love to hear from you and your upcoming plans and goals.
Friday November 11, 2016 was race day for 24 teams consisting of riders on Jet Skis and Quad bikes. The teams competed in a relay race held on Marina Beach in Kuwait. Qualifying rounds took place on November 10th for the Red Bull Bar Bahr relay race. Tracks were laid out for both land and water competition. Participants were required to show proof of ownership of their Quad Bikes and it was mandatory for the Jet Ski Racers to have a license from the Marine Sports Club of Kuwait.
The top 3 teams were awarded medals and the winning team was presented with a Kawasaki 300 LX Jet Ski in addition to trophies. How cool was that?
The event was organized by Basel Salem Al-Sabah Motorsport Club with the sponsorship of Nissan Al-Babtain, Public Authority For Youth and Sports, Kawasaki, Pirelli, GoPro, Acqua Eva, Marina Mall, Al Anbaa Newspaper, Kuwait Times Newspaper, and Studentalk Magazine.
Instead of basing the race on scores, the fastest times were calculated and the 12 quickest teams were chosen to compete in the semi-finals. The semi-finals were then narrowed to six teams, also based on the time it took for them to complete their runs. All vehicles had to meet certain requirements to be eligible to race. Quad bike standards were held to a maximum length of six feet, a maximum width of almost four feet, and a maximum height of nearly four feet. The race officials left the engine choice up to the participants as long as it was run on normal fuel like gasoline, and safety belts were required.
Jet Skis specifically designed for racing were required and had to be equipped with one or two seats. The overall length requirements were twelve feet with a maximum width of around four feet. Jet Ski racers were also allowed to choose what type of engines they used as long as it held standard fuel.
Quad bikes were lined up on the beach and the drivers had to run to them at the start of the race and then quickly reach their teammates who waited on Jet Skis. Once the quad riders met their teammates, they handed them the key to their PWC. The race was then completed on the water track. You can check out the race by clicking here. It looked exciting!
Four years. The Watercraft Journal has been in circulation for four years now. In that time, we’ve welcomed nearly three quarters of a million readers and just shy of two million articles read. Last year, we grew to a record 343,000-plus unique readers. To put that in perspective, it was once explained to me that Splash – arguably the most iconic paper magazine from our industry’s “heydays” – topped out at just under 160,000 annual readers. Obviously, today’s technology allows The Watercraft Journal’s readers to effectively keep a copy of our magazine in their hip pocket at all times (over keeping their paper copy of Splash on top of the toilet tank), making accessibility a whole lot easier, but that’s how evolution goes. Today’s readers want immediacy. They want the newest news, the inside info, and the best event coverage right now. And unlike paper, The Watercraft Journal delivers.
And how is that? Because there are no other online publications, blogs or digital outlets that maintain any sort of comparable reliability, professionalism or readership. By either divvying up an already intimate niche of enthusiasts, or just by failing to reliably publish on a steady and dependable schedule, those attempting to be our competitors fail to access the vast majority of personal watercraft enthusiasts, thus failing their responsibility to present their supporting advertisers before the widest audience of self-identifying PWC enthusiasts as possible. And as a paying advertiser, you want your brand and products before the widest audience of potential customers as possible, don’t you? Of course you do.
At the first of every month, we publish “By The Numbers” primarily as a tool to inform the many companies within our industry who either have yet to consider advertising on The Watercraft Journal, or those currently considering joining our continually-growing family of supporting advertisers. For those who do come to enjoy the benefits of working with WCJ, they find measurable and evidenced results. In fact, so much so that we have written testimony of avid WCJ readers purchasing the latest models from both Sea-Doo and Yamaha upon our recommendation, as well as several of the products we’ve reviewed, from new runabouts all the way down to riding boots, gloves and battery chargers. More than any other magazine in our industry, advertising on The Watercraft Journal results in proven sales.
January 2017
January 2016
A Proven Rate of Growth
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.
January 2016
Total number unique readers: 24,221*
Total number of articles read: 57,448
Percentage of new readers: 60%
January 2017
Total number unique readers: 27,490*
Total number of articles read: 51,565
Percentage of new readers: 63%
*This number is considered equal to an individual sale of a single copy of a magazine.
The Reason We Stand Alone
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 December 2016: 27
Feature articles published in December 2016: 10
Total feature word count: 10,283 words
News articles published in January 2017: 28
Feature articles published in January 2017: 8
Total feature word count: 10,236 words*
*When this number is translated to print publication standards equals a 102-page magazine. Please note that this number does not include an average of two uniquely-written news articles published daily.
Bringing WCJ Before Social Creatures
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!
January Facebook likes: 20,367
Top Five countries: United States, Australia, Canada, France, Japan
A Better Solution to Your Problem
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]
While this might not be earth-shattering news, it was recently announced that the new 160-horsepower 1.5L, 552-pound, 8-foot-7-inch-long Kawasaki SX-R has been officially homologated for competition by the International Jet Sport Boat Association (IJSBA), Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), which includes the P1 AquaX Sprint Races and UIM GP Ski Class, as well as the Pro Watercross Series – specifically the GP Ski and Ski 4-Stroke Stock classes.
Currently, manufacturers are scrambling to get their hands on a production unit to begin test fitting and developing aftermarket parts for the formidable standup. Already RIVA Racing, R&D Racing and Kommander Industries are boasting significant performance gains as well as radically improving the handling of what otherwise might be considered an ungainly craft. We at The Watercraft Journal are anxious to test ride one ourselves and look forward to when Kawasaki will finally allow the media to ride it.
Here’s Kawasaki’s official press release: Kawasaki Jet Ski SX-R Watercraft Prepared To Race In 2017 The new Kawasaki Jet Ski® SX-R™ stand-up watercraft will be eligible to race in IJSBA, AQUA-X and Pro Watercross competition.
As excitement continues to build for the Kawasaki Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft, racing sanctioning bodies around the globe are announcing eligibility for the four-stroke stand-up in 2017.
In International Jet Sport Boat Association (IJSBA) competition the Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft will be eligible to race in the Ski Stock Class and Ski Modified Class at all sanctioned events, including the Mark Hahn 300 Endurance Race and the World Finals. Both events are held in Lake Havasu City, Arizona.
For events sanctioned by the Union Internationale Motonautique (UIM), including P1 AquaX Sprint Races, the Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft is eligible to compete in the UIM GP Ski Class. In the independent Pro Watercross Series, the Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft qualifies for the GP Ski class and Ski 4-Stroke Stock class.
Equipped with Kawasaki’s proven 1498cc four-stroke marine engine, the Jet Ski SX-R personal watercraft produces twice the power of Kawasaki’s previous stand-up model while also delivering plenty of low-to-mid-range torque. This combination gives unprecedented performance on the water for riders of all experience levels. The 2017 Jet Ski SX-R watercraft stands alone in performance and fun on the water.
There might still be snow on the ground but that doesn’t mean that you have to put off preparing for this year’s riding season. Our friends at The Watercraft Superstore (WCSS) just announced that all of their 2017 inventory is now is stock! That’s right, all of the latest riding gear as well as the newest life vests from JetPilot are all ready and in waiting for you. Whether you’re shopping for nylon front entries, or neoprene side-entries, The Watercraft Superstore has it.
Of course, most all of us know who JetPilot is, from their earliest days in the jet ski racing industry to expanding into MX, BMX, surf and wakesports over the years. Today, JetPilot reaches millions of water- and powersport enthusiasts, developing product to ensure safety while increasing comfort and longevity (because we all know how hard we can be on our riding gear). And WCSS is one of the world’s largest distributors of JetPilot PWC gear. And that’s a fact.
But remember, if you’re also looking for riding apparel and race gear that WCSS has its own line of vests, tour coats, slip-on booties and more! It’s all new for 2017 and you can score big now that WCSS is offering free shipping on orders that exceed $75 (with some restrictions).
WCJ: What will be the focus of this new non-profit division of Renu Chem?
