In this video, 3ftDeep shows how to check your supercharger for slippage on your Sea-Doo. It is extremely important to check for slippage between the 50-to-100 hours mark because it can be the difference between a running ski or a ski that is in need of having its supercharger rebuilt (not to mention also having poor engine performance). Most guys recommend that you just rebuild your supercharger every 100 hours but that isn’t always the case in your slippage is minimal.

Diagnosing slip from your supercharger is simple and requires few tools. All that’s necessary are a regular screwdriver for hose clamps, spark plug wrench, E8 torx socket, and a torque wrench. If you do not have these tools, ask a friend or invest in them since they will last a long time and are not too expensive. There is no need to buy any gaskets in this process. By doing this investigation by yourself it can be extremely helpful if you don’t have a lot of money to spend and can diagnose if you need to get the charger rebuilt or make it last a few more hours.

Many people may ask why they need to rebuild something that is working just fine at the moment. The answer is that inside of a supercharger there are bearings that spin at extremely fast speeds, washers that after 2 years or 100 hours can become very weak and to make sure that your ski is performing at optimal speeds. By doing all of this maintenance it will extend the life of your motor, cause less head-ache and give you that smile again and again one you feel the boost.

There are a few ways to go about rebuilding your supercharger, taking it to the dealer, sending it to a shop or rebuilding it yourself. Taking it to the dealer can be the most expensive choice but sending it to a jet ski shop can take a while if you are in the summer – busy season. Rebuilding it yourself does require more tools, time, and the chance of a mistake. There are lots of pros and cons but if you feel up to the challenge it can be worth your while to rebuild it on your own. There are lots of videos, instructions, and forum threads to help you out.

Many will know Ken Block from his insanely viral “Gymkhana” videos, as a “talented World Rally Championship racer, X Games medalist and viral video trailblazer,” but did you know that Block also races for Can-Am (BRP)? In late 2015, BRP announced that Block and his Hoonigan team had partnered with BRP to highlight the performance capabilities of the Can-Am Maverick side-by-side vehicle. This relationship clearly has spread to all of BRP’s product line, as yet another GoPro Hero 4 video has sprung up over the weekend, featuring Block and his Hoonigan Racing teammate Andreas Bakkerud, at Lake Powell shredding up the water.

Powell, of course, has seen better days, as drought and California’s woeful mismanagement of an already dwindling water supply has left the lake several hundreds of feet below normal. Besides exposing miles of new shoreline, it’s also opened up secluded and otherwise unseen channels to explore. Previous videos have shown jet skiers charging the canyons, but the nimble nature and small size of the Sea-Doo Spark perfectly allows Block and Bakkerud access to ribbons of water that otherwise wouldn’t have been accessible.

The video below is a brief one, but shows the fun and playful nature of the Rec Lite craft. Thus far, the Sea-Doo Spark has constituted a serious percentage of total new personal watercraft sales. Its low entry price point, modular design (culminating in an impressive 48 different model options), and ease of use makes it a capable introduction to the sport – or as Ken Block demonstrates, a load of fun even for the experienced powersports enthusiast.

The world of freeride (and the entire PWC industry, for that matter) took a serious blow this weekend when news that 47-year-old John Dady, founder of Blowsion, passed away suddenly this passed Saturday morning at his home from a previously undetected congenital heart condition. Dady was first and foremost a husband and father, and is survived by wife Kristy, and sons Colm and Liam. Dady had shown no previous signs of ailment by all public accounts, carrying about with business as usual and busily planning for this coming September’s “Blowsion Surf Slam” freeride event in Pacific City, OR.

Dady was known publicly as the founder and driving force behind Blowsion, freeriding’s biggest domestic promoter, source of custom paint work for helmets, skis and more, and possibly the industry’s largest source for aftermarket watercraft parts and upgrades, almost exclusively focusing on standup jet skis. Dady leveraged his artistic talents and creativity into a custom paint shop that was quickly cultivated into a resource for “dynamic graphic and product design” and kept the company at the sport’s cutting edge. Dady’s style was bold, aggressive and unapologetic both in his work and in life.

Beginning in 1987, a then 19-year-old Dady painted his first ski in his parents’ unfinished garage. That first job segued into several more, affording the young entrepreneur enough capital to open Blowsion’s doors in 1989. Dady continued his formal artistic training, affording his clientele increasingly superior work as he continued to hone his craft. Reaching beyond MX helmets and standup skis, Dady pushed Blowsion into the design and execution of billet components, traction mats, and handle poles, as well as numerous other products that have become commonplace among standup racers, freestyle and freeride enthusiasts.

Dady was a key figure in the preservation and cultivation of the jet skiing community and will be sorely missed by thousands who knew him, knew of him, or simply benefited from his tireless dedication to the sport and the people who occupied it. Due to the unexpected timing of his passing, no information pertaining to memorial services or places to donate in lieu of flowers have been shared. Updates will be posted on Blowsion’s official Facebook page.

[Editor’s Note: A crowdfunding campaign has been launched at “YouCaring” for John’s two sons Colm and Liam. Any donated assistance will be earmarked specifically for the two boys. You can donate by going HERE.]

PWCMuscle’s Joe Zammataro was able to catch time with Dustin Farthing to interview him about his 2016 carbon fiber 600-plus horsepower Sea-Doo race ski. The highest horsepower you can buy from Sea-Doo is now just over 280-horsepower (no, it’s not 300. That’s just the model number), which means Dustin’s Team has modified his ski so much so that it has more than double the normal amount of horses from the factory. To get there he had to install a turbocharger, ported his cylinder head, installed performance rods, pistons, valves, and manifolds.

These parts are what makes him able to reach speeds of upper 80’s during races and lower 90’s when just tearing up the lake. But what really makes this boat stand out from the rest of its class is that in 1.8-seconds from the starting line, Dustin is already going 60mph. That acceleration is faster than a Lamborghini, Ferrari and Bugatti 0-to-60 time. All of these great parts can quickly add up so it is nice that Dustin is backed by a sponsorship from Factory Monster Energy Sea-Doo and Mountain Motorsports along with a few other smaller sponsorships.

High speeds can cause huge adrenaline rushes but you must be able to hold on especially if turning since you can experience G-force if turning hard enough at fast enough speeds.

If you are reading this and want to start modify you craft to start seeing faster speeds Dustin points out a few things that can get you higher numbers. If you are starting with a Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 a V-Tech Tune, SOLAS Impeller, and Air Intake System will get you to see upwards of 80mph. These modifications will keep the reliability of your craft if you plan to use it for racing or just recreational use.

The Sunshine Coast Jet Sports Club put on a great event for its riders earlier this year (which The Watercraft Journal covered in detail here). SBT was the main sponsor of the first annual “The King of Freeride 2016.” This event showcased some of the best freestyle riders around. The club encouraged all riders no matter age or skill level to come out and enjoy this great two day event.

With skis ranging from older stock hulls to full carbon fiber hulls with bored over motors, lightweight handle poles, and high pitched impellers, the audience knew that the king of the competition was sure to turn some heads. It was good to see such a huge turnout for this event, the more people who are able to get exposed to events like this will definitely make this sport grow. While there were some excellent performances by riders doing all sorts and insane tricks and flips, Zane Taylor was crowned the 2016 King of Freeride.

SBT was the title sponsor of this event but there were plenty others such as Jet Pilot, Gold Coast Jet Ski World, Krash Industries, 701 Industries and many others. These companies want this sport to grow and provided parts, tools, advice and guidance which really make this huge event a great success. While it can be expensive to sponsor an event, it can be worth it because you can help grow the sport you love while still getting your business exposure to a new audience. Sunshine Coast Jet Sports Club is a club that has one mission; to grow the sport by providing a safe area, proper riding conditions and to mainly just have fun!

OK, you’ve heard all of our rumors, gossip and blatant lies – now its time to see the real thing. Sea-Doo is willing to give you a very personal and unique sneak peek at Sea-Doo’s 2017 lineup before anyone else – including The Watercraft Journal. Starting yesterday (oops!), you can enter to become not only some of the rare few to take a look at what Sea-Doo’s got coming for next year, but also enter to win one of the newest machines from the industry leader in PWC!

All you need to do is enter your name and contact info HERE, and you’ll be automatically entered as a contestant – plus you’ll also get a snapshot of one or two of Sea-Doo’s 2017 personal watercraft. It’s really super easy and what you get in return is the chance at a brand new Sea-Doo. What’s there to lose?

Here’s the original press release:
Valcourt, QC, Canada – BRP is preparing to launch the 2017 Sea-Doo watercraft line and is offering fans the opportunity to register to unlock spy shots of the highly-anticipated new models and a chance to win a new 2017 Sea-Doo watercraft° of their own.

BRP is the world leader in watercraft sales, a result of continual industry leading innovation to improve the Sea-Doo watercraft owners’ riding experience. In 2017 BRP will introduce more of what people want to make good days on the water great. The 2017 Sea-Doo watercraft line will be launched Tuesday, August 16th and fans will be able to see the new models live from CLUB BRP in Orlando, Florida through an exclusive Facebook Live video broadcast on the Sea-Doo brand Facebook channel starting at approximately 9:30PM EST– www.facebook.com/seadoo.

Watercraft fans and water lovers alike can go to sea-doo.com/coming-soon starting Wednesday, August 10th to register to unlock spy shots of the new models and get a chance to win a 2017 Sea-Doo watercraft. Plus, get information on the Facebook Live feed.

The excitement builds as the launch of the next line of Sea-Doo watercraft fast approaches. Follow Sea-Doo social media channels as visitors are offered a sneak peek starting on August 12th up to the August 16th launch.

Connecticut resident Chris Kyttle is getting quite a bit of internet fame with a video he shared earlier this week. He wrote, “My buddy threw an 1100 in his Jet Mate this weekend. Little test run before taking it 60 miles to Atlantic City…” Let’s let that sink in for second, shall we? Classified as a “passenger boat,” the Kawasaki Jet Mate was originally powered by a 650cc two-stroke – the very same plant powering the brand’s 650SX JetSki.

First introduced in 1989, the unique, flat-bottom design featured an open cabin that sat three, with two passengers sharing a rear bench and the pilot occupying a captain’s chair controlling the boat via an articulated joystick. Kawasaki integrated molded-in side ladders for easy re-entry. Under ideal conditions, the Jet Mate was estimated at a top speed of roughly 30 miles per hour.

Because of its low draft and quickness, several Jet Mates found use as patrol and rescue boats, but never high-end performance machines. In addition to the big Kawasaki triple, the Jet Mate was fitted with a 650 pump with a “huge ocean pro nozzle” with a SX-R prop, according to Kyttle. Although some re-shaping went into the hull prior to the build, Kyttle joked, “[It takes a] lot of leaning to make it turn.”

Whether the modded Jet Mate has made the trek to Atlantic City yet remains to be answered, but we look forward to seeing some future video with this machine ejecting riders in the surf.