While there’s a great deal of detail that could be poured into every step of the tips listed below, we want to share one of the most bare-bones, comprehensive check lists necessary to not only prepare your personal watercraft for a long winter’s nap, but also to properly wake it from hibernation, all courtesy of the crew at PWC Muscle (and its sister site, www.seadooforum.com). Again, it’s lengthy but worth the review:

Winterizing:
Winterizing your boat for the majority of us is the most dreaded day of the year. Warm weather is gone and so starts the wait for spring temperatures so we can hit the water again next season. Take these protective measures to assure your boat will greet you with a happy face when warm weather welcomes you again in a few months.

Standard Winterization
1) Run a fogging solution through the boat engine while it is running to protect internal parts
2) Spray a protective anti-corrosion film on the external parts of engine
3) Drain the engine block and manifolds and fill the engine with anti-freeze
4) Drain the lower unit gear oil and refill with fresh oil (stern drives only)
5) Grease all external fillings on stern drives
6) Disconnect the battery/batteries and store somewhere warm
7) Cover your boat

Optional Winterization
1) Remove spark plugs and spray oil on cylinders, then replace spark plugs
2) Change engine oil and filter
3) Remove prop and grease prop shaft
4) Add fuel stabilizer to prevent condensation in gas tank (run engine briefly to flush stabilized gas through fuel injectors and carburetor)
5) Winterize fresh water system
6) Remove outdrive and grease U-Joint

De-Winterizing
Prepare Your Vessel for the Spring and Summer
So, you have got that itching spring fever to uncover the boat and get her wet for the first time this season. There is nothing worse than being gathered at the dock with a boat-load of people and you turn the key and…rrr..rrr..rrr…and nothing. It is likely this will happen if you do not take the time to de-winterize your boat. Do an inspection before setting out on the first trip of the season. To avoid any embarrassment and frustration, use the following pre-launch checklist to get your boat as ready for the boating season as you are.

Oil Check
If you did not change the engine oil when you put the boat up for the season, now is the time to do it. Make sure you change the oil filter also. Check the oil in the outdrive.

Battery Inspection
1) Reattach the cables.
2) Make sure the terminals are not corroded. If so, wipe them clean. If your battery takes water, fill it up. A dry battery is a bad battery. (I learned that the hard way.) With a battery tester, check the volts and amps. Does it have juice? If it is charged and still no luck, it may be time to buy a new battery.

Cooling System
Hopefully you drained the cooling system if you live in a cold winter climate to prevent freezing. If so, fill ‘er back up. Rinse out the strainer and check the hoses for cracks.

Fuel System
You also should have topped off the tank with gas to prevent any moisture and condensation forming in the tank and diluting the gas. Change the fuel filter. Make sure the fuel line is attached and not cracked. In the winter these hoses can become dry and brittle.

Distributor
Take the distributor cap off and clean it out. Corrosion could have occurred during the winter. Make sure all connections are restored.

Belts
Tighten the belts if needed. You should only be able to push the belt slightly down. If the belts do not fit snugly in their pulley grooves, they may be worn and in need of replacement. Belts that are not tight will wear faster because they will likely begin to slip. The alternator belt usually wears faster than the others. A sign of a worn belt is black soot somewhere in the vicinity of the pulley.

Other Things That Should Not Be Ignored:
Change the spark plugs
Lubricate the engine with WD-40
Check all hoses
Check power steering/cables
Test the bilge pump
Replace the drain plug
Check rudder and shafts
Inspect the prop
Test the horn
Test the VHF radio
Check the trim
Inspect personal flotation devices
Check the fire extinguisher expiration date
Make sure the anchor in on board

* The above de-winterizing tips are only a list of suggested things to do your boat that I’ve collected over the years. Each boat may vary as to what needs to be done to de-winterize it. For complete instructions please see your boat’s owners manual or consult your boat mechanic.

The Worldwide Stolen PWC Database has helped us put together a list of steps to take and things to check for when buying a used PWC. The last thing you want when buying a used ski is to purchase a stolen one. We have a list of precautions and procedures to check for when buying to make sure that does not happen:

Check the HIN Every watercraft comes from the factory with a HIN (Hull Identification Number). This number is unique to each ski. When purchasing a used watercraft, it is a good idea to look for evidence of tampering, as this may mean the PWC you’re looking into has been stolen. Look for signs of scratches as well as any oddities in the number itself. For example, the year of the ski is normally the last two numbers in the HIN. If you know the ski you’re looking at is a 2010, but the last two numbers of the HIN are 12, then you should probably steer clear of this PWC and the seller.

Get to Know the Seller It would also be a good idea to get to know the seller as much as possible. A visit to his/her house to look at the ski is generally a good way. While it may be tempting to simply ask to meet on the water so you can go for a test ride, it would be best to go visit the seller’s address, then ask if you could go to the water to test it.

Use an Independent HIN Checking Service There are several sites that hold marine watercraft history and reports that contain information about many different types of marine vessels. From our experience, though, this information varies substantially from site to site. It would be a good idea to make sure you are using a reputable source for your info, such as the Worldwide Stolen PWC Database. They work with many different agencies to gather up the most accurate information they can provide you with.

Commit with a Written Agreement If all the prior check out and you’re ready to make a purchase, then try to get a simple contract for the both of you to sign, just to show the agreement of sale. It does not need to be a 20 page document full of legal terms, just a simple contract stating the facts of the sale (where you both live, what is being sold, the seller is the rightful owner, etc.).

With this signed by both of you, you will have a formal agreement between you and the seller as well as an extra layer of protection for yourself. Don’t forget, verify the seller’s identity by means of an ID, driver’s license, passport, etc.

Use Common Sense While the Worldwide Stolen PWC Database is able to quickly and accurately inform you if the PWC you’re looking to purchase is registered on their database, it should only be used as another tool in your buying arsenal. Remember, unfortunately not everyone reports it to them right away when their PWC has been stolen, so we can’t pass on the warning. If the deal you’re being offered is too good to be true, it probably is.

Check if the service/repair work looks legitimate. If possible, contact the dealer who serviced it to confirm the work.

Keep in mind, sellers will expect you to be a bit skeptical when making a high value purchase. A legitimate seller will be much more comfortable answering any questions you have than somebody who has something to hide.

Throughout the 2015 racing season, the Yamaha brand really put on a show, taking numerous national and world titles in several different sanctioning bodies. You might could even say the 2015 PWC racing season was all but completely dominated by Yamaha WaveRunners. And the AquaX racing series was no different.

In the premier 300 class, Yamaha racer Mike Klippenstein showed true dedication to the sport, coming all the way from Canada to make all six AquaX rounds in FL. After a very strong season of racing, he finished the season with an astounding 56 point lead over the runner up, Eric Francis.

Though the 250 class was won by a Sea-Doo rider Eric Lagopoulos, Yamaha riders Paloma Noceda and Brian Baldwin were nipping on his heels all season. In fact, Noceda had the points lead going into the last round. She fell off her ski in the last moto of the season, though, and gave Lagopoulos the championship by two points. Never the less, Yamaha is proud of the way their riders and machines performed.

The 200 class was mostly Yamaha VXRs. In fact, all but four of the skis in the 200 class were VXRs. Travis Zielasko took the championship with a whopping 61 point lead over fellow Yamaha rider, Rob Greenwald, who took second place on the season. Also, we must mention, the Rookie Cup winner for the year was Hector Toledo, who was racing Yamaha FZR in the 300 class.

Hey! Are you unwilling to call it quits for 2015? Well, then if you’ve got a few thousand dollars lying around (or some serious frequent flyer miles you can cash in), then might we suggest crating up your favorite watercraft and hoping a flight to the World Jet Raid Championship in Peru this upcoming November 14th through the 21th. If you were on hand for the 2015 quakysense IJSBA World Finals, then you might’ve heard all of the announcements about this race, otherwise here’s the skinny:

According the IJSBA’s own website: “Jet Raid comes to Peru to joint one of the many high profile Endurance Races that are developing in 2015. Jet Raid is a mix of endurance and closed course over several days.” As of the announcement, more than 15 countries have already confirmed, with racers from Europe, North America and Asia coming to compete for the 8 days of racing. (and over 1000 kms of travel along the coast of Perou, starting in a desert Dakarian camp in Ancash.

Although the €1,000 ($1075 USD) entry fee for racers sounds steep, it does include your hotel, meals and transportation to and from the race site. Flights thought do add up, with the race being so close (upwards to $1,200), and don’t forget the cost of shipping your ski, tow vehicle and tools! Crew members’ entry is slightly less at €750 ($805 USD). Again, racing ain’t cheap and comes at a great personal expense to the racer, their crew and sponsors, so that’s why we ALWAYS want to support the few promoters who actually offer cash purses!

Tech Insider posted a cool video of the floating city that French Architecht, Jaques Rogerie designed in the shape of a Manta Ray. He named it the City of Meriens, which translates to “City of Oceanites”. It was engineered for marine research and designed with an oceanic university city in mind. The structure measures 3,000 feet long, 1,650 feet wide, and is capable of housing 7,000 researchers, professors, and students. The floating city is completely sustainable, operating on renewable marine energy, with zero waste. The upper deck is lined with wind turbines.

The university on water is equipped with living quarters, classrooms, marine labs, and areas to relax. A lagoon in the shape of a manta ray’s tail was installed on the back of the Meriens to hold the Sea Orbiter, an underwater mobile research vessel that Rogerie put more than 30 years into designing. It is capable of housing a crew of 22 and will allow 24/7 observations of marine life. The underwater vessel serves as a laboratory, home, space simulator, multi media platform, and an all around underwater base for gathering important marine data.

According to Fondation Jaques Rougerie, Jacques Rougerie has successfully melded his two passions, the sea and architecture. His research and the structures he builds are based on a bionic architecture inspired by marine forms and a concern for sustainable development. He has built underwater habitats, laboratories, marine research centers, vessels with see-through hulls, sub-aquatic museums, and designed underwater villages, and structures to focus on the beauty and fragility of the sea and its major role in society.

Rougerie, inspired by the imaginary work of Jules Verne, adopted his motto: “Anything one man can imagine, other men can make real”.

Earlier this year, The Watercraft Journal was the first to publish what later would be a viral sequence of IFWA World Champion (and occasional WCJ contributor) Mark Gomez barrel-rolling a specialized Sea-Doo Spark from WORX Racing. The sequence was captured during a session held shortly after the year’s first round of the AJSP OZ Surf Slam. Although Gomez stuck the landing on the barrel roll, the part-time stuntman and full-time freerider failed to land the multiple backflip attempts before needing to hop a plane back to the States.

This left the virgin territory of successfully executing a backflip on a Sea-Doo Spark wide open. To WORX and Gomez’s credit it took the better part of six months and one of the most decorated freeriders on God’s green earth – Pierre Maixent – to pull it off, and how! Maixent’s company MX100 Factory is a freeride and freestyle shop specializing in building custom skis “on demand” as well as selling of all the “sickest products” in the industry. Likewise, Maixent applies his experience as a 7-time world champion to advise other freeriders.

Recently, MX100 unveiled a new “Spark Division” with the announcement of MX100’s Spark re-mapping services, as well as offering a full array of WORX Racing components specifically for the Spark – all of which add up to an impressive 120-horsepower. The company’s prototype is a handsome Pineapple Yellow 2-up unit wrapped in a custom vinyl kit and touting all the goods necessary to propel Maixent not only through one successful backflip but a recorded two others – including a one-handed flip for good measure.

Below the video published on Antoine Mortoire’s Facebook page was filmed in Montalivet, France only three days ago and has since gone stupidly viral. We only share it here to those who haven’t seen it yet. Enjoy!