OK, right off the bat we’re gonna tell ya that the Aegis Lifeshirt will not replace your traditional USCG-approved personal flotation device, so don’t expect to never have to don your PFD again. But, what this incredible bit of ingenuity does provide is some added assurance when it comes to keeping your loved ones and yourself alive.
Created by Aegis, the Lifeshirt features an inflatable bladder that inflates around the upper torso and neck to keep the head above water (thanks to a tiny CO2 cylinder woven into a small compartment on the back) when either a shoulder-mounted handle is manually pulled, or automatically when a sensor detect when the wearer has been submerged for a specified period of time.
According to Gizmag, Aegis “keeps the Lifeshirt as comfortable as possible using carefully selected materials and design solutions. The current design is a form-fitting shirt with an internal moisture-wicking liner, mesh ventilation panels and UPF 50+ fabric. The inflation system is built into the upper-middle back. An integrated waistband ensures the shirt stays in place.”
They continue, “Lifeshirt has been approved by the International Standards Organization (ISO) as a Level 50 device. The company has a Level 70 design in the works. ISO classifies Level 50 (50 newtons/11.2 lb of buoyancy) devices as ‘buoyancy aids’ that ‘require the user to make swimming and other postural movements to position the user with the face out of the water” and differentiates them from lifejackets, which “provide face up in-water support to the user regardless of physical conditions.'”
Lastly, while the 50 N rating meets ISO standards, the Florida-based Aegis Lifeshirt does not meet US Coast Guard (USCG) vessel carriage requirements for recreational boats and paddle craft, currently. Aegis has hopes that the USCG will soon come to harmonize its standards with ISO at a future date.
The single most recognizable name in personal watercraft traction mats and equipment – Hydro-Turf – offers its customers much more than its top-of-the-line traction mats, seat covers, and hardware. The venerable brand also supplies its iconic molded foam padding for stand-up paddle boarders, surfers, bass boat fishermen and even duck hunters!
Below, you’ll see a before-and-after example from Camo Toad of this duck hunting low-slung craft being fitted with “swamp camo” camouflage Hydro-Turf matting prior to heading out into the reeds to land their next big prize trophy.
Likewise, Hydro-Turf offers a larger array of products and apparel to get you feeling right for the upcoming season. Case in point: Hydro-Turf’s new baseball caps just in time for Spring!
Available in either black or navy and tan, each cap features a two-tone bill with embroidery on three sides, and an adjustable Velcro strap. Priced at $10 a pop, these caps are both stylish and a bargain! Get yours today and represent the biggest name in the watercraft traction business by ordering one by following this link HERE.
Of course, Hydro-Turf also offers a wide selection of other FlexFit fitted hats, t-shirts, visors and much, much more. So get yours before the season starts!
In cooperation with the city of Charleston, West Virginia; Pro Watercross is very excited to announce that the Pro Watercross National Championship’s Pro finals will air on CBS Sports Network this fall 2016.
The Pro Watercross National Championship which will take place on Charleston’s Magic Island on the dates of August 20-21, 2016. The National Championship will see the world’s top athletes competing in this fast and exciting sport of closed course personal watercraft racing to become the 2016 Pro Watercross National Champions.
As part of a three-year agreement, Charleston has committed to improve the site of the event to better accommodate competitors and their equipment. “Charleston is a great little city with a friendly atmosphere and lots to do in the downtown area. The site improvements are going to make this event first class”; Brian O’Rourke of Team Faith from Nashville, TN stated.
The National Championship is the anchor to the city’s annual SportsFest which includes Beach Volleyball, Charleston 3 on 3 Basketball, Jiu-Jitsu Wrestling as well as tons of tasty local food.
Tim Brady, VP of Sales and Marketing of the Charleston, West Virginia Convention and Visitors Bureau commented; “We’re excited to continue this relationship for at least the next three years. Charleston and Pro Watercross have developed a strong partnership that I believe has benefited both the city and the tour. The event has grown every year and it’s become something that locals look forward to each August. As the tour stop has grown, so too has the entire SportsFest weekend here in Charleston. New events are added each year, but it’s the foundation laid by Pro Watercross that has really made it possible. With the added exposure of CBS Sports this event truly becomes a national showcase for Charleston, as well as the state of West Virginia.”
For additional information about the Pro Watercross National Championship please visit go to www.ProWatercross.com
Sea-Doo is always looking for ways to interact with their fans and customers. This time, they are giving Sea-Doo riders a chance to win some cool Sea-Doo gear, accessories, and clothing, up to a $750 AUD ($540 USD) value. All you have to do to enter is share a video of your epic, exciting Sea-Doo life.
Just share a video demonstrating your awesome experiences and adventures on a Sea-Doo watercraft. Your video will be directed to the Sea-Doo Australia/New Zealand Facebook fan page. Unfortunately, this contest is exclusive to residents of Australia and New Zealand, so those of you here in the States wanting to go out and battle the cold will not be able to enter.
The videos will be judged on creativity and originality. So pretty much, just make a video of you having a blast on a Sea-Doo watercraft, then follow the entry procedure and share it for your chance at winning a prize. The top three entries will win one of the following:
First Prize
One voucher valued at $750 AUD ($540 USD) of Sea-Doo accessories, riding gear, and clothing.
Second Prize
One voucher valued at $500 AUD ($360 USD) of Sea-Doo accessories, riding gear, and clothing.
Third Prize
One voucher valued at $250 AUD ($180 USD) of Sea-Doo accessories, riding gear, and clothing.
It seems that racing in Queensland is off to a great start, with QPWC announcing the next race series via Facebook. “Tropical Heat” which will be a two part series, will be held on March 13th and April 10th at Bells Beach, Redcliffe. The two part series will give racers the opportunity to fine-tune their skis and skills before the one day, Queensland Titles event, which will be hosted by QPWC at the same venue. Although not advertised, I would anticipate the same classes will be offered as per last year, being; Ski, Spark/Sport, Beginners, Stock, and Open runabout.
Whilst Queensland is busy hosting the Tropical Heat series and Queensland Titles, the Australian Jet Sports Boating Association (AJSBA) will be busy working towards the 2016 Nationals – planned for late August-early September 2016 on the Gold Coast with the endurance portion in Sydney. The AJSBA committee has recently called out for any volunteers to assist in the 2016 Nationals Sub-Committee to get involved and contribute to the success of this event.
The Watercraft Journal had the opportunity to catch up with committee members from AJSBA to see how the sport will be progressing this year, not only here in Queensland but in Oz as a whole. It seems our very popular and talked about Vintage boys from Queensland will be traveling down to Sydney next month to build vintage racing south of the border. Whilst relatively new Spark class will be running in Queensland and New South Wales, with the occasional one in Western Australia.
The AJSBA are also working with the Victorian Jet Sports Boating Association to bring racing back to Victoria, as well as liaising with some Freeride clubs to bring Freeride in to the fold with racing. So it seems that committee members from both AJSBA and local clubs are busy planning and working towards a great year for racing. As for us Queenslanders, it’s time to gear up and get ready for March 13th – see you at the first round!
When the first supercharged 2016 Sea-Doo 300 models came out, the immediate question was, “How fast are they?” And when not equipped with the “RS” internationally-tuned ECU, the answer is almost always “around 68.” Sure, some outlets gained a little here and a little there, but for the most part, all domestic Sea-Doos will be safely staying within constraints of the prescribed USCG agreement (unlike some other manufacturers).
Sea-Doo does this via their state-of-the-art GPS-monitored iTC speedometers. When an iControl-equipped Sea-Doo reaches the predetermined speed, the engine’s rpms are cut, immediately backing off the throttle and scrubbing speed. Thankfully, RIVA Racing has found a workaround for the factory speed control in their RIVA Speed Control Override Module.
The RIVA Speed Control Override Module removes the restrictive GPS speed control function on Sea-Doo iControl models delivering significant increases in top speed with stock ECU. Easy to install module allows system to start in “Sport Mode” for maximum performance. “Touring Mode” can be manually selected after start up.
Removes GPS controlled speed limiter
Increases top speed utilizing stock ECU
Works on all 2016 300hp & 260hp models
Delivers 75mph top speed on 2016 RXP-X 300
Allows further top speed gains through aftermarket modifications
Allows system to start in “Sport Mode”
All original dash functions are retained
Easy plug-in installation
NOTE: Stock ECU limits peak RPM for first 5 hours of operation. Top speed increases should be measured after 5 hour break in period.
Two years ago, Sea-Doo released the Search And Rescue (SAR) Edition GTI with very little fanfare. Made specifically for branches of government specializing in coastal and waterborne rescues, the SAR Edition is specially-equipped with certain key features that make it a tremendous asset to life guards, fire departments and search and rescue teams – particularly the “secondary sponsons” ringing the hull, made from professional grade CSM (Hypalon®) for significantly more stability and buoyancy.
These are topped with new running boards, and a hull treated in a shock protective 2.8 mm elastomer coating and features a large front bumper. Add to that a new “Shallow Water Navigation Kit” including an anti-debris water intake grate, stainless steel wear ring, internal heat exchanger, and shock-protected cooling system (read: no ride plate heat exchanger), it’s truly the perfect life-saving machine.
That is why the latest innovation from 88 Motorsport Sweden AB has got us so baffled. If so desired, 88 Motorsport will outfit your new Sea-Doo Spark with the SAR’s most noticeable addition: a new RIB Hypalon pontoon. The addition understandably provides significantly more buoyancy to the Sea-Doo Spark (which is also available for other models as well).
Weighing only 35 kg, the tubes made of Hypalon Neoprene 1100 Dtex ORCA, are made to be close-fitting to the PWC’s hull, and is “suitable for both professional (monitoring missions, safety and rescue) and recreational needs. It ensures you an incomparable comfort and matchless stability during your operations or your jet ski tour,” according to 88 Motorsport. The conversion comes in at just under $7,400 but does come with a 3 year warranty.
“Winner, winner! Chicken dinner! We’ve got a winner!”
In just over a month’s time, we had nearly 200 entries alone enter to be the Grand Prize winner of the first-ever WCJ 2016 Skyway Show Signup Sweepstakes. The contest was easy enough to enter: simply signup for The Watercraft Journal’s weekly newsletter. For those already signed up, they were encouraged to submit their spouse’s email address or a secondary address (such as work or the one they use for their now defunct AshleyMadison.com account). Then, after the month was over, we gathered up all the email addresses, entered them into a database that randomly selected three finalists.
And careful not to pull a Steve Harvey, we contacted each of the finalists to verify that they were entered into the contest (because some folks just wanted to get the newsletter) and to make sure they were US residents (within the lower 48 states – ’cause screw Alaska and Hawaii, right?), and randomly selected our winner! And that honor belongs to Southern Californian Kirk Mauro. As the Grand Prize winner, Kirk will be flown from sunny SoCal to Tampa, Florida, picked up and whisked away to a beachfront hotel in St. Petersburg for two days. There, Kirk will be gifted with oodles of cool swag like JetPilot riding gear, Sea-Spec goggles, and a bunch of other goodies.
But the real reason for Kirk’s presence in Florida is to be a guest judge at the Skyway Ski Show presented by The Watercraft Superstore. Joined by 5 other panelists, Kirk will get to test ride six of the latest and greatest personal watercraft models produced by Kawasaki, Sea-Doo and Yamaha (specifically the Kawasaki 310X, Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 and Yamaha FZR; and the Kawasaki STX-15F, Sea-Doo GTI SE 130, and Yamaha VX Deluxe). Kirk will also be literally wined and dined while in Florida and featured in the WCSS’s annual “magalog” catalog that publishes the results of the annual review. And all for being a loyal reader of The Watercraft Journal!
Congratulations, Kirk! We look forward to seeing you on the sand.
You’re about to make a rather big purchase on a PWC you’ve been wanting for a while now. You’re buying a sleek looking performance ski loaded down with all the bells and whistles. You don’t want your life vest to look any less cool than your new toy. Don’t be “that guy” wearing an old, ragged vest that looks like it came straight out of the ’90s. And sure, a cool, new vest would help your style, but it will also provide the proper protection.
An old PFD may have lost some of its buoyant qualities, and a cheaply made vest may fall apart when hitting the water at speed. A good, quality life vest should be both fashionable and functional. Also, a USCG (United States Coast Guard) approved vest is a requirement by law for all PWC riders.
There are many types of PFDs, making sure you pick the right one for you is important. A story published by Sea-Doo was very helpful in providing several tips. The first decision you will have to make is what material you’re wanting. You basically have three options when choosing a material. Each has their benefits and disadvantages. You can choose from nylon, neoprene, or ecoprene.
Nylon
Nylon vests are lightweight and dry quickly. They are also normally more affordable than vests made of other material, such as neoprene. A downside to nylon vests is that they are not as comfortable to the touch as a neoprene vest.
Neoprene
Neoprene vests are good for active riding styles. They will fit to your body perfectly and are usually more durable than nylon vests. They add warmth by trapping a thin layer of water between you and the foam of the vest. Also, they are much more comfortable to the touch than a nylon vest. The cons of having a nylon vest are that they take longer to dry out than vests made of other materials, and they are more expensive than nylon vests.
Ecoprene
Ecoprene is not a widely produced material, but some manufacturers, such as Sea-Doo, do make them. It is an Eco-friendly vest, made of environmentally friendly material. It is a balance between the Neoprene and Nylon, as far as characteristics go. It dries quickly, as nylon does. It doesn’t absorb much water, allows ventilation, and is 30% lighter than neoprene vests when wet. The pricing is in between nylon and neoprene. Ecoprene promises to be a well balanced PFD.
Many of you reading this month’s installment of “By The Numbers” don’t know that our parent company – Shaw Group Media – publishes a similar daily online publication but for brand-specific muscle cars and trucks named Mopar Connection Magazine. This publication, unlike The Watercraft Journal (WCJ), doesn’t require the efforts (such as this monthly feature) to educate and inform current and potential advertisers as to the legitimacy of its performance within its niche industry. Why? Primarily because it, again unlike WCJ, is not the only magazine of its kind to successfully operate within this medium. There are dozens of similar digital outlets for daily magazine-grade content that charge their readers no subscription fees, require sign-in passwords or large downloads to access their articles.
Unfortunately, such is not the case with WCJ. 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 intimating 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?
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 2016
May 2015
A Proven Rate of Growth
You might be looking above and wondering why exactly we’re publishing two performance reports – one from this past January and the other from May, 2015. We do so intentionally, as we want you to notice how January, 2016’s readership eclipsed that of May, 2015. When the month most noted for being the height of winter for most of the Northern Hemisphere outperforms effectively the first month of the summer season, there’s 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.
December 2015
Total number unique readers: 19,360*
Total number of articles read: 43,309
Percentage of new readers: 60.4%
January 2016
Total number unique readers: 24,221*
Total number of articles read: 57,448
Percentage of new readers: 60%
*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 2015: 24
Feature articles published in December 2015: 13
Total feature word count: 13,947 words
News articles published in January 2015: 25
Feature articles published in January 2015: 12
Total feature word count: 11,040 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!
December Facebook likes: 15,000
Top Five countries: United States, Australia, France, Canada, French Polynesia
We’ve Got That Going For Us
So what do you do with a quarter million annual readers with over one million page views in a year? You go up and you keep going up. We have no plans to slow down and no dreams of contentment to grapple with. 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]
