Videos: DashPac Hacks Your Factory Dash to Display AFR and Boost

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April 14, 2016

What has got Jerry Gaddis from Greenhulk.net claiming to be the “product of the year?” It the DashPac, and The Watercraft Journal talked to its creator, Evan Kassing who explained how it came to be and what it does:

“About 2 years ago I had a MoTec M150-controlled 2012 Sea-Doo RXP-X. I hated the fact that I was unable to see certain engine values while riding, so I picked up a MoTec C127 color display. [The Watercraft Journal reported on Evan’s MoTec display mod HERE.] This solved all my issues [but] I could never really stop tinkering with the dash though. There were still a few features of the ski that didn’t show up on the dash. For example I couldn’t see gear display or the depth finder readings, things that may not bother most people but I had to figure it out.

“So I went online and purchased the tooling to read the biniary code of the ski’s Controller Area Network (CAN, also known as “CAN Bus”) to find these missing items and put them on the dash. Knowing what I know about the ski’s communications, I could potentially do what I did on the MoTec display with the OEM display. This is where my friend Andy Lamb comes into the picture. He’s a MoTec enthusiast like myself and I mentioned the idea to him. Between my knowledge of CAN Bus systems and his new obsession of coding, we were able to get a few test versions going.”

“Over a period of a few months we were able to nail down the code and then it all came together. We had our main version that comes with an oxygen sensor, lambda controller and CAN Bus chip all in one; it displays boost and air/fuel ratio on any stock ECU ski. It works with Vetech, R&D, and any other reflash on the market. I feel like I was able to solve one of those little annoying things that only a true PWC enthusiast would be bothered by. And with this unit you don’t have to drill holes in your ski for gauges, just hide my little box under your hood and you’re ready to go!

“At this point we are just scratching the surface. There will be a lot more to come from DashPac. Yamaha will be a high priority as well as adding more features. Potentially, we can put any sensor value the ski has on the dash. I feel like with the way technology is evolving, if a guy is going to put a big power adder onto his highly technical machine, the electronics and monitoring of everything is critical, critical in keeping an engine alive for an entire race or for an entire season. This is why Andy and I created DashPac.”

You can buy the DashPac at PWCPerformance.com HERE.

Amateur Hour: AquaX Rookie Cup Round 1, Tavares, FL

By

Kevin Shaw

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April 13, 2016

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It’s amazing how quickly things can change. Two years ago, the new-to-the-States P1 AquaX personal watercraft racing series lured greenhorn and seasoned veteran pros with $50 entry fees, promises of top tier media coverage and “box stock” level competition.

From then to now, AquaX has experienced some necessary growing pains including tripling the entry fee to $150, heavily amending the rules to cater to the new class arrangement, and even picked up for the non-existent IJSBA National Tour, expanding outside of its once Florida-only reach.

For the first round of 2016’s AquaX Rookie Cup series, 34 racers were greeted with noticeably less fanfare than most were accustomed to. Media coverage was effectively absent (apart from this admittedly slapdash report – Ed.), gone were the photographers and camera crews, or the once promised television coverage – clearly being reserved for the “pro show” set to begin in Daytona Beach this weekend.

Racers though were put through a stringent technical inspection that felt to many as being more a demonstration of seriousness than anything else. “I think they were trying to set a precedent,” Brad Clark told The Watercraft Journal. “We were supposed to get out of there by 4pm, but they took until 8 that evening.”

Because of the added rules applied to the Amateur class, only the slightest of handling modifications could be made to the craft ensuring that top speeds didn’t exceed 70 miles per hour. This of course, didn’t dissuade some from trying to push those preset boundaries; “There were a few DQ’s,” Clark continued. “They [AquaX] were really good about tracking the speeds.”

Some racers noted that although AquaX’s use of transponders were effective in monitoring the racers’ speeds, tracking the laps and racers’ positions were still done by sight, which several participants contested the final scoring for the weekend, with one anonymous racer stating, “The scoring was off.”

Nevertheless, the field was rife with new and returning athletes ready to prove themselves and their craft. In the first two tiers (200 and 250 Classes), two of the podiums’ top spots belonged to Yamaha each followed by a lone Sea-Doo.

For the 300 Class, the Top 5 finishers were a blend of SVHO-powered Yamahas and supercharged Kawasakis, surprising many who bandied the theory that Sea-Doo’s new 300-horsepower machines would sweep the podiums. Daniel Steele, Tommy Olswang and Chris Saxon came home the points leaders in their respective classes, all of whom represented Yamaha.

Brad Clark concluded, “It was a very professionally-ran series as always,” praising the thoroughness of the tech crew and event organizers, and even praising the few professional racers who came out to watch: “It was nice to see the pros out there, talking to the racers, cheering them on.”

All photography courtesy of Danielle Gavagni, from whom originals can be purchased.

Video: World Champion Eli Kemnitz Shows His Freestyle Tricks For GoPro

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Kevin Shaw

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April 13, 2016

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In a fantastic bit of honesty, IJSBA 2014 Freestyle World Champion Eli Kemnitz shares the struggles and payoffs of dedicating oneself to the sport of flatwater freestyle jet skiing in a revelatory video that was published yesterday on YouTube. Kemnitz, brother of Derrick Jr. and son of Derrick Sr., not only displays his aptitude at flipping his Hurricane Industries ski, building the custom machines in his brother’s shop, but peals back the curtain on the costs of being in contention for a world championship.

“I had to sell my car to buy a new engine for my ski,” Kemnitz shares, noting that the state of today’s sport cannot support the level of equipment that it requires to remain competitive, noting that “one of these skis costs anywhere from 30 to 40 grand.” Even in light of Kemnitz’s own sibling producing the Hurricane hulls he rides (citing, “It’s pretty crazy to think that we start with a roll of fabric and my brother turns that into a hull.”), things add up. But he vows never to quit, sharing, “It’s where my heart is.”

The video has already taken in several thousand views and will undoubtedly rake in many, many more as the action is stellar and the quality of the video production is sharp. So much so that Full Spectrum’s own Edward Brazina wrote, “No other family in our sport has accomplished what “Team Ski Clinic” has done. Two brothers, two World Freestyle Championships! To Eli, ‘Keep the momentum going.’ Excellent video, nice work.”

RIVA Racing Has All of Your Factory OE PWC Covers

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Cody Cole

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April 12, 2016

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Now that you’ve de-winterized your runabout, greased your trailer’s bearings, and maybe even recarpeted your bunks, it’s also time to consider keeping your ski protected from the sun’s harmful UV rays. That’s where RIVA Racing comes in. See, RIVA Racing is your go-to source for PWC covers – as well as everything performance.

Your personal watercraft is not only a big investment but for most, a very important part of your life; so naturally you want to keep it in perfect shape. A big part of that is how your PWC is stored when you’re not using it. To keep your PWC safe from scratches and bumps while being stored, you are going to want to get yourself a quality cover.

Not only that, but purchasing the wrong PWC cover – be one made from inferior materials or the wrong size – can result in scratching, hazing and marring your gel coat, snagging on your trim’s sharper edges or worse. Equally, skis stored outside can quickly fade beneath the beating summer sun, bleaching and breaking down your seats, traction mats and softer materials.

That is why RIVA Racing has all the brands covered including Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Kawasaki and Honda; ranging from $164.89 to $278.89 depending on the brand of your PWC, RIVA Racing has them all!

Hydro-Turf Returns As Title Sponsor of 2016 Surf & Turf Tour

By

Kevin Shaw

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April 12, 2016

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If this past weekend’s AquaX action in Tavares, Florida just wasn’t enough to quell your thirst, then we’ve got news for you: the first two rounds of the 2016 HydroTurf Surf and Turf Tour will be held this coming weekend (April 16-17) at Wooten Park Extension. Marking the occasion is the return of Hydro-Turf as the title sponsor of the Surf and Turf Tour presented by City of Tavares, Yamaha, Sea-Doo, RIVA Racing, and co-sponsored by Jet Pilot, Team Mean, Ross Nemo Racing, Ben’s Performance, and Fizzle Intercoolers, Key West Resort, Tiki West. Promoter Mikey Young has also arranged for a swell discount ($69 per night) for participants and spectators as the host hotel, Inn on the Green when you mention the Surf and Turf Tour.

For those already planning to attend, here is the schedule of events for this weekend’s Hydro-Turf Surf and Turf Tour:

Friday
9am – 5pm Event Load in
6pm – 9pm Racer check-in

Saturday
8am – 9am Late check-in/safety inspection
9:00am Racers meeting (mandatory)
9:30am – 10:30am Practice
10:30am – 12:30 1st motos
12:30am – 1:00pm Freestyle
1:30pm – 4:30pm 2nd motos

Sunday
9:00am Racers meeting
9:15am Last chance practice
9:30am 1st motos
11:30am Lunch
12:30pm Freestyle
1:00pm 2nd motos
4:00pm Awards for both days at pavilion

And on an additional (albeit side note), we at The Watercraft Journal would like to congratulate Hydro-Turf President and CEO Arno Olbricht who was inducted into the Wake of Fame by the Rescue Water Craft Association for “the contributions of Hydro-Turf for safety applications of the traction pads supplied for trailer and personal water craft use.”

According to a recent Facebook post, Olbricht wrote, “This is an incredible award to receive from within the personal watercraft indsutry. We at Hydro-Turf are honored to be recognized for these contributions to injury and accident prevention. Thank you for supporting our company and using the same products that water safety professionals rely upon.”

Videos: Jet Skiing Community Bids Farewell to Bob McCord

By

Kevin Shaw

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April 11, 2016

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It’s regretful that we announce the passing of one of the original testers and pioneers in the sport of jet skiing, Bob “Big Mac” McCord.

An official announcement was made as was a memorial Facebook page yesterday, stating:

“We regret to inform you that our dear friend and colleague Bob McCord passed peacefully and with great love surrounding him today.

“His journey was a strong one in this life he shared. Our condolences to his beloved and his loving children, grandchildren, nieces, nephews and the collective of friends. Bob was directly responsible for all of us enjoying the sport of Jet Skiing today. He was the influence who kept Kawasaki from ditching the Jet Ski Project. Otherwise we would not be here today in this great sport we all love as much as Bob does.

“We were so proud and honored to have Bob be present at the Wake of Fame awards and to receive his induction. This meant so much to all of us in friendship and praise because he made such a significant impact in every aspect of our sport, and few understood today where their history footprint elevated their efforts, for this we are eternally grateful for Bob’s influence. Please let out a shout of love to a life well lived! Get after it in Heaven Bob!”

In 2015, McCord was inducted into the Wake of Fame, here’s the video of that ceremony:

The Wake of Fame also honored McCord with a biographical recount of his life and experience with Kawasaki’s JetSki during its early development and rise in popularity:

Case of The Mondays: Franky Zapata Invents The Human Drone

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Kevin Shaw

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April 11, 2016

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Multi-time World Champion jet ski racer and now full-time inventor, Franky Zapata has brought the world one step closer to actualizing Herbert Spencer‘s philosophy “survival of the fittest”. Christened the “Flyboard Air,” this battery-powered, fan-propelled one-man drone is just another in Zapata Racing’s inventions almost intentionally devised to cull the human herd of the dumb and daring.

The inventor of the jet pump-propelled Flyboard, Hoverboard, Flyboard Pro and Jetpack, the Flyboard Air is a single-person platform that does away with hydro-propulsion and elevates the rider an impressive 3.55 minutes at a maximum speed of 55km (34-plus mph), and although not listed, we estimate a maximum height of between 40-60 feet.

Of course, the video first unveiled last Friday and included below, is a record of the first successful test of the Flyboard Air, only ensuring that many more are to follow. With the current Flyboards and other jet-powered aerial stunt toys just one serious life threatening injury away from a class action lawsuit away; and the FAA pushing for legislation to monitor, register and restrict private use of quadcopters, we’re not going to hold our breath when it comes to the Flyboard Air…taking off any time soon.

Dean’s Team Yamaha Racer Paloma Noceda Vies For Peruvian Congress

By

Kevin Shaw

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April 8, 2016

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For most multi-time world championship racers, their post racing career is often found within the sport itself or closely associated to powersports, be them custom ski builders, trainers and coaches, and even dealership owners. But for Peru’s Paloma Noceda, a larger calling beckoned.

According to a report published at Deansteam.com, the nine-time National Title and three-time World Championship winner, Paloma Noceda is making a run for Congress in her home country of Peru. In a Facebook post back in May, she announced her decision with the following post (translated):

“Many will be surprised by my decision to run for Congress of the Republic. It wasn’t an easy decision, because after 18 years of hard work in sport and placing the Peru at the top of the podium, today I retire momentarily to assume a greater challenge with our country.

“For those who don’t know me, I can say that I have a clean record and many goals reached: Industrial Engineer entitled at the university of Lima, master of science in Entrepreneurship (Entrepreneurship) of the university of Bristol in England, magister in administration of the agribusiness Esan University. I have a family that I love, I’m a mother of a girl and a boy and I have a partner who respects me, supports me and goes with it.”

“I want to be a congressman because I feel like a big commitment for our country and I am prepared to contribute. I don’t want to keep complaining because things don’t work out, because we don’t have security, because we are always the peruvians in recent posts in education, health and development. I’m tired of seeing injustices, that our people hasn’t got a chance, that the bureaucracy we consume.

“I believe in the proposal of keiko and the great team of people’s strength. The plan Peru is the result of the dialogue with the communities to the length and breadth of our country, the work of years of an entire team, listening to the peruvians and knowing their problems. I can vouch for that, because I’ve lived hard these last few weeks, ever since I was invited to take part of this proposal.

“I could have decided not to get involved, don’t have an opinion about politics and get on with my usual routine, but this is an opportunity to put my strength, my passion and my training at the service of the country. I’ve made a commitment and to achieve this i need the support of you, to build a peru opportunities, so that peruvians we get a 20 in sport, a 20 in education and a 20 in entrepreneurship.

“To those who trust in my, so much appreciate your support to disseminate the information in this campaign. Kontigo to Congress!”

Quick Tech: Installing A SCS Unlimited Wrap on a Sea-Doo Spark (Video)

By

Kevin Shaw

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April 7, 2016

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One of the most intriguing selling points for the Sea-Doo Spark (apart from its low cost entry point, lightweight, radical departure from conventional FMC fiberglass construction and its stellar ACE 900 DOHC motor) is its adaptability to being personalized. Unlike other personal watercraft wherein the choice of brand, trim and model are only sometimes met with a choice of color, the Spark lineup is some near-50 options deep. From a handful of brightly hued colors, two and three-seat configurations, 60 or 90-horsepower engine tunes, to a litany of other accessories and add-ons, the Spark is potentially the single-most optimized PWC in the market.

One central option offered to would-be Spark owners is the availability of literally dozens of specially-designed graphic kits through a partnership between BRP Sea-Doo and SCS Unlimited. Because of the unique PolyTec composite material from which the Spark is build, traditional graphics and decals often fail to properly adhere to the porous, textured surface. SCS Unlimited’s graphic kits were specifically designed in cooperation with Sea-Doo and are the only kits officially licensed through BRP. While we knew installation would only take an hour or so, we thought it best to let the trained eyes and hands at America’s Motor Sports handle the installation rather than doing so in our backyard – particularly as you want a clean environment to work in.

Additionally, America’s Motor Sports had all the tools to properly prep and apply our kit; namely an electric heat gun, microfiber towels, soft rubber-edged squeegees, a mild adhesive remover and a spray bottle for wet applications. In unpacking our graphic kit from its tube, we allowed the vinyl sheets to layout and flatten on their own, letting the material relax after being packed for so long.

As we did so, we began stripping the original Sea-Doo decals off using the heat gun (in a back-and-forth motion) to warm the adhesive holding decal, allowing us to peel them off relatively easy. Where some residue remained, we applied the adhesive remover (ie. “Goo-Off” or other such brands) and wiped our surface clean. Lastly, prior to installation, we thoroughly cleaned the surface of any dirt, oil or particulates that could contaminate our adhesion.

Following the printed and numbered installation key, we began applying the larger, more central panels and “worked our way out” from there, tackling the smaller panels later. Wetting the surface allows the decal to be moved, readjusted or peeled off and completely reapplied if so needed. SCS offers differing degrees of wrap kits, from simple to complex, and ours leaned more on the difficult side (we ordered the new “Starfish” pattern at $450), so we were careful to take our time and follow the key precisely. As we applied each panel on the wet surface, we used our squeegee to squeeze the water out from underneath the decal’s surface. Make note that there is still some residual moisture beneath the decal that needs to dry on its own, so give your Spark’s kit at least 24 hours to dry before riding.

With our SCS Unlimited kit installed and cured, we were finally able to sit back and admire our work. A new kit not only can pump some new life into a one or two-year-old Spark, but also toss in a new highlight color or provide some added personality to your ride. And when exploring SCS Unlimited’s website, make sure to note that every kit allows for a full spectrum of color changes for each pattern, effectively allowing you to radically change the color and look of your ski within an hour’s time.

Dustin Farthing Partners With Sea-Doo For Championship in 2016

By

Kevin Shaw

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April 7, 2016

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It’s worth noting when one of the sport’s winningest racers steps back into the ring to battle it out with the current stock of competitors. In the case of 17-time Pro Class champion Dustin Farthing, the venerable racer took his competitive edge spirit off of the closed course and applied it to a lucrative partnership between he and Ryan Hardwick, expanding Georgia’s chain of Mountain Motorsports powersports dealerships. Those following Farthing via social media will note that the champ lacks for very little these days, so his return to the saddle is clearly motivated by more than the new purse being dangled before today’s racers.

Farthing wrote on his Instagram page the following: I’m excited to be racing again in 2016 on a new Sea-Doo RXPX 300. I started playing around with the idea of returning to the sport a few months ago, and with the help of Monster Energy Sea-Doo, those thoughts have now become a reality. I previously raced for Sea-Doo back in 1997 and 1998, and during those two seasons I won two National and one World Championship. I’m looking forward to returning to a mutually beneficial partnership with this great manufacturer and continuing on to earn additional championships in 2016.”

We look forward to welcoming back “King D” to the world of closed course, and anticipate an announcement outlying his intended race schedule.