Gallery: EchucaFari Winter Group Ride

By

-

July 16, 2015

The EchucaFari is a social PWC ride that a group of friends have been doing for the last 7-or-so years. It is based from Echuca on the Murray River. The Murray River forms the border between Victoria and New South Wales (NSW) in Australia. Because June-through-August is winter in Australia so this ride is traditionally a very cold ride. Every time we have come back from the ride we get so many of our ride friends saying we wish we had gone.

This year Krazy Koika Nick decided to start the ball rolling by publishing the ride date back in February and selecting the middle weekend of the Victorian School holidays 3-to-5 July 2015. This was set and published on OZPWC.com.

Brett Carroll took the initiative and published the ride as a Facebook event in March. I then invited all of my Facebook friends who had an interest in PWC. The invited list grew to about 180. Of the total invited we had approximately 20 elect to ride in the first month. This grew to approximately 60 going from Facebook event 3 weeks before the ride and approximately 20 OZPWC.com riders who were not on Facebook. Prior to this year our biggest numbers for the ride had been 23.

We confirmed with all of the riders their intention to attend but as always, a big drop off occurs immediately prior to a ride as Life happens. To our friends not able to attend due to ill health we wish you a speedy recovery. By the Thursday before the ride we had 52 skis and 58 riders confirmed.

The River Murray has fluctuating river heights and one week before the ride the river was at its lowest point in years. Lucky for us the river authorities began releasing water into the river and by ride time the river was back to easily navigable levels.

A smaller group headed to Echuca on Friday July 3rd, with riders coming from as far as Sydney NSW (8.5 hour drive) and Berri SA (6 hour drive). After some exciting rescues on the road for broken wheel hubs, we launched 10 skis and explored the Goulburn river branch of the Murray, rotating leaders so everyone had a chance to ride on the mirror smooth waters in the lead. There were lots of snags to navigate around and lots of fun was had.

We will ride more of the Goulburn in the future. As it started getting late we headed back to Echuca. We had covered 65k, with lots of zigzagging. It was great to be back on the water. One of the highlights of the ride was having Bella, the blue heeler dog that traveled all the way from South Australia, along for the ride. She had a barking good time!

Most of the riders stayed at the Neribo Motel and we headed to the Shamrock Hotel for dinner. Numbers grew as our friends who had to work that day progressively arrived. Dinner was served to approximately 50 people. The hotel had “a buy 1 meal, get 50% off a second meal” deal on Friday nights so we felt very looked after. Some riders proceeded to the Star Bar and had sore heads in the morning.

Saturday July 4th we woke to the full moon setting and very cold temperatures ( -1 degree Celsius). After heading to Maccas for a regulation jet ski breakfast, we met at the ramp at 8am for a 9:30am departure. We were riding upriver to Picnic Point. As usual we had people slowly arriving and some who decided to launch from another ramp. This played to our advantage as we were able to group the riders and allow time between group departure times which meant more space on the river.

Hutch, Rebeldoo and Brett lead the first group; Anthony (Diptech) DiPietro and Tony lead the second group of mostly modified skis; River Rat Mike and I led the third group and Krazy Koika Nick and Ed led the stragglers. Corey even managed to get the faster skis to obey the slow speed zones. A big thanks to these guys.

It was a great sight to see all the skis out there having fun in the cold, especially the amount of wake generated by so many skis bunching up and obeying the 8 knot zone. We got to Picnic Point Caravan park for lunch with 38 skis on the river bank. Unfortunately not all of the skis made it. We believe eight skis turned back or did not make the distance. One of the modified skis pulled out with a broken fuel rail? The 46 skis that attempted the ride was a new record for the event.

Most of us had fish and chips for lunch and then refueled before heading back to Echuca. There were lots of opportunities for wide open throttle (WOT) after the slow zones had been negotiated. Several of the riders who still had fuel, continued up the river for another 10 km. We saw several wild horses by the riverbank and found a nice spot to tie up and have an ice cold beer. Heading back we did a sweep to check all riders were accounted for. I was especially pleased to see my ski clock up 200 hours since I had purchased it in September 2014 as we rode at WOT for most of the trip back to Echuca.

About 10 kms from Echuca we came across one of the skis being towed by NSW Waterways (state water police) after it had broken down. Thanks for the assistance. By the time we arrived at the ramp, everyone else had retrieved their skis and we were last off the water. 168 kms for the day.

Saturday night saw us back at the Shamrock Hotel for dinner and for swapping stories about the day. The American Hotel up the road put on a spectacular 4th of July fireworks. Some again went to Star Bar and this started the demise of our numbers.

Sunday was another cold morning and we had another Maccas breakfast to start the day. Assembly was scheduled at the downstream ramp at 8:30 am for a 10 am departure to Torrumbary Weir. We had 18 skis in the water as some of our core group was missing due to heavy celebrations the previous night.

A few of the early arrivals ventured up passed the Port of Echuca in the slow speed zone to check out the Historic site with its still active paddle steamers (see photo of Emmylou). Ten o’clock arrived and we departed. Glenn Snashall had his quadcopter filming our departure from above. He then drove down to the midway point and filmed the skis as the group arrived. We can’t wait to see the video.

Not far from the start a skier’s modified Yamaha had clouds of smoke pouring from it and so they abandoned the ride. Five more latecomers caught up to the bigger group. There was lots of opportunity to ride with your mates and test top speeds while maintaining distance off. Glenn did some more quadcopter filming from Deep Creek, a marina complex on the river.

I called the Lock Master at Torrumbary Weir and arranged with him to open the lock for us at 11:30 am. The Lock is a chamber with massive gates on either end that allows watercraft to move from the higher waters levels above the weir to the lower levels beyond the weir. We moved 18 skis in the chamber and the upriver door was closed.

The water level then dropped in the chamber approximately 18 feet (from the photos you can see the high water waterline mark). When the low water level was achieved the downriver doors were opened. We filed out and headed to a nice sandy bank to refuel. Here we took the group photo. I forgot to organise the bigger group photos on Saturday. Oops.

After our photo opportunity the skis reassembled at the lock and went back through the gates. Some riders decided to skip lunch and blasted at WOT back to Echuca. I heard stories of some skis running out of fuel in the last km. The other riders went to the Deep Creek Hotel and had yummy hamburgers and parmigianas. Afterwards we went WOT back to Echuca with Mark and Rebecca on Mark’s ski and Katie with me on my ski, sweeping the river to ensure all riders had been recovered. 172 km for the day. Total 404 km for the weekend. Last back to the ramp again. Another great ride.

I have been told that one of the riders was very tired on Sunday morning and accidentally filled his ski with diesel fuel. Lucky he did not start the ski but was therefore a non-starter for the day’s ride. The maximum GPS speed on my Seadoo RXT 260RS was 115km/hr on each of the three days, possibly assisted by some downstream river current. Thanks to everyone who came along and had fun.

<

►

>

Video: Kiwi WaveBlasters Charge Narrow Creek, Crash & Sink

By

Kevin Shaw

-

July 15, 2015

1

All the video description says is, “2015 River Run displaying some pretty average riding ability and extreme lack of judgment.” And there could be no truer words spoken. This YouTube video is a fun one, with some pretty ridiculous footage from a trio of helmet cams as a group of friends hailing from Coatesville, New Zealand, charge a very narrow, winding creek (although they call it a river) that is crammed full of fallen logs, branches, moss and low hanging tree branches – making their helmets the smartest decision they made that day.

We’ll spoil the tension and let you know that there’s no heinous infractions of personal watercraft etiquette here, but we do wonder if the threat of being impaled on a snapped branch. Thankfully, the island nation does not share the threat of being bitten by one of the many, many vicious and poisonous snakes indigenous to Australia, which continent truly doesn’t want humans living on. But hey, that’s another story altogether.

The festivities conclude with something we did like and wished to highlight: the evacuation of a swamped two-stroke. One of the ‘Blaster fatefully sinks when it collides with the bank. Immediately, the crew gather around to heave the ski out and get it fired again. Immediately the sparkplugs are pulled and the ignition turned over. The sprite two-stroke coughs up what water it has ingested and voila, it’s good to go again. It’s a little bit of nostalgia that made us smile.

Real Review: JetPilot A-10 Attack Side-Entry Vest

By

The Watercraft Journal

-

July 15, 2015

0

Since its original days of dayglow wetsuits and iridescent vest, JetPilot has become an almost inseparable part of the PWC racing community over the years. They carry a wide range of life jackets, gloves, wetsuits, and more extreme sports gear. We recently got our hands on a JetPilot A-10 Attack Side-Entry Vest and had the opportunity to put it to the test.

This is a product loaded with innovation. The patented side entry design, U-Flex stretch panels and lightweight foam construction make this a very unique and comfortable fit. So, how do they make a vest so light, buoyant, and comfortable? Constructing it of mostly lightweight 3D air foam cuts back on weight as well as making the vest so buoyant for its size (around 1-inch thick on each side). The 1/4-inch PVC foam on the inside of the vest contributes to making it so comfortable. A neoprene outer shell makes this vest much more comfortable than a nylon vest would be. And last but certainly not least, the foam panels make the A-10 mold to fit your body perfectly.

Like most high quality life vests, the A-10 is wrapped in neoprene, and there are several advantages to doing so. As stated above, it’s a big part in what makes this vest so comfortable. Neoprene is a softer and more flexible material than nylon. Neoprene also makes this vest a much more durable option compared to similar nylon designs. Also, being a water resistant material, it will not take in water like a nylon vest does.

You may be asking “What’s the difference between a compression vest and an average PFD?” There are several differences, but the biggest difference is the fit. A compression vest fits tighter to your body than an average life jacket does. Also, compression vests are usually much thinner than most PFDs, which make them lighter in most cases. The only downside, though, most compression vests such as the A-10 are not USCG approved.

It is designed to be as comfortable and light as possible for racing. And since there are several course marshals keeping a close eye on all the racers and responding when needed, a compression vest doesn’t have to keep you afloat for very long. So this isn’t exactly the ideal vest for a recreational rider, but is a perfect vest for one looking to race. Not to worry, though, rec riders, Jet pilot has a wide variety of life jackets that are USCG approved in their online store.

We know JetPilot takes a lot of pride in the quality of their products, but they also put pride in making their products look great as well. wrapped in JetPilot logos and graphics, we thought this was one cool looking vest! The A-10 comes in a selection of colors, such as green (shown) black, blue and orange.

Overall, we were very impressed with this product. The JetPilot A-10 vest can be found in the JetPilot online store for a price of $99.99. If you are willing to spend a little extra money, it’s a vest you won’t regret buying.

<

►

>

Inside Factory Yamaha Australia’s WPC Race Team

By

Andrew Donovan

-

July 14, 2015

0

Since 2009, Yamaha WaveRunners have benefited from the expertise of the master Yamaha tuners at WaveRunner Performance Centre (WPC). Located on the Gold Coast, Jordan Ross and his tight-knit team have built a pathway for Yamaha racers to compete with the fastest equipment in the racing scene. For 2015, this year marked the second consecutive year where WaveRunner Performance Centre has dominated the AJSBA Pro stock title.

“Yamaha knew at the introduction of the new SVHO platform that they were on to a winner, and the results so far have proven the race pedigree of these new Yamahas,” says Ross. Yamaha selected WaveRunner Performance Centre to partner with when they decided the best way to demonstrate the performance level of the new SVHO was by racing it against other manufacturers in Pro Stock watercraft racing. This initiative paid off spectacularly with the Gold Coast-based outfit going from strength to strength.

In 2014, Yamaha threw their full support behind the team at WaveRunner Performance Centre. Because of their united efforts, the Pro Stock Runabout title was dominated by Denis Mack, an American rider with links to WPC after riding for the team in 2012 at the Australian titles. During 2014, the team won all but one round, with up-and-coming rider Mitch Wayt also claiming third in the 4th round championship.

The success in 2014 was surpassed this year, with Mitch Wayt taking 18 of the available 21 race wins for the season, something unlikely to be repeated again. Along with consecutive Pro Stock titles, WPC also won the endurance championship in Pro Stock, reaffirming the all round performance edge of the Yamaha WaveRunner. Later this year, the riders from WPC will travel to the IJSBA World Finals in the USA and the King’s Cup in Thailand to compete against the world’s best with hopes of besting their third place finish at the King’s Cup in 2014.

After people have witnessed the performance level of the WPC Yamahas, they ask what is done to the incredibly fast WaveRunner, so The Watercraft Journal asked Ross to share some trade secrets with us:

“The difference between a race boat and something we will build for a social weekend rider is pretty dramatic. A race boat is probably not the nicest thing to ride around socially as the handling and acceleration is very aggressive and touchy; you really have to be paying attention. We spend so much time fine tuning tiny aspects of the skis performance, something that is not needed for a social ski”.

We pushed Ross to expose exactly what they do to make their WaveRunner so fast, “When the new Yamahas arrive, we already know what can and can’t be done in the rules, so we basically strip the brand new ski back to a bare shell and piece it back together.

“The engine gets built to the letter of the rulebook, and we modify things like cooling and water routing, everything that is allowed in the rules, but the big gains come from the engine management computer and the prop selection.”

Ross continued, “We spend hours on just mapping the computer for different conditions and different aims, as well as the effort to match the prop with water conditions. We use pretty much off-of-the-shelf WORX sponsons, as they are really the best handling product around and best of all, they are local and help out immensely, so it’s great to have WORX in our corner too.”

Ross also detailed how they make improvements throughout the season, “When we go testing, we will have two identical skis; they perform the same so we leave one the same and trial changes on the other to see the difference. Sometimes we will spend hours just working on a weakness we may have identified from previous races, this year we definitely made improvements with the race ski, not so much with top speed, but with drivability of the engine power delivery.”

Yamaha Motor Australia has also been excited to see their new performance flagship achieve the results over the past two years, and it has cemented the manufacturer’s ability to provide racers the best possible platform to go racing, and win.

<

►

>

Gear Up With $3000 of In-Store Credit on Selected Yamaha WaveRunners

By

Kevin Shaw

-

July 14, 2015

0

OK, OK. Before we send you Yamaha fanatics into a frothing spasm, this deal is currently an exclusive for our Australian brothers and sisters looking to score up to $3000 of in-store credit on select Yamaha WaveRunner models. As Yamaha WaveRunners Australia’s announcement states, “For a limited time only, Yamaha WaveRunners Australia is offering customers the perfect opportunity to ‘Gear-Up for Good Times’ with up to $3000 of in-store credit on selected WaveRunners.”

Whether you purchase a FZS, FX or SuperJet before the 12th of September 2015, customers will score an in-store credit relative to the WaveRunner purchased on products such as parts, accessories, lifejackets, services and even trailers! Yamaha WaveRunners Australia lists the credit-to-purchase scale as follows:

FZS $3000
FX SVHO Cruiser $2500
FX SVHO $2500
FX SHO $2000
FX HO Cruiser $2000
FX HO $2000
SuperJet $1000

“This sensational limited time offer of up to $3000 of in-store credit is the ideal opportunity for customers looking to purchase the complete WaveRunner package, with all of the extras. Customers can redeem their credit towards any products in-store, including accessories, services and even trailers.” said Iain MacLeod, National Sales Manager for Yamaha WaveRunners in Australia. “With this offer available in dealerships nationwide, now is the perfect time for customers to purchase the complete new Yamaha WaveRunner package.”

Contact your local participating Yamaha WaveRunner Dealership for further details and to secure Yamaha’s limited time offer on selected WaveRunners.

Enter to Win a Brand New Cargo Wave PWC Trailer!

By

Kevin Shaw

-

July 13, 2015

0

So basically, today’s theme on The Watercraft Journal is everybody is giving everything away. Since just before the 4th of July and all the way it seems until the IJSBA World Finals, the PWC aftermarket industry is making it super duper hard not to walk away without winning some sort of free stuff. The latest to toss their hat into the ring is none other than Cargo Wave, LLC., the makers of the the watertight, and lockable Cargo Wave trailer that you tow behind your PWC!

One hundred percent American made, Cargo Wave, LLC. recently introduced the second model in their trailer lineup, a dual opening, canvas-hatched lightweight (85-pounds) model that you can even sleep in (for those really looking to maximize their PWC camping experience, we suppose!). Of course, this comes in after the traditional (110-pound) single, formed-hatch Cargo Wave that stores a cooler, allows for hundreds of pounds of storage and features multi-position strap down cleats to tie down your wares.

Anyhow, Cargo Wave, LLC is now offering a free Cargo Wave trailer just by proving your membership in a PWC club or sanctioning body! All you need to do to enter the raffle drawing is send an email ([email protected]) or traditional letter (Cargo Wave, LLC, PO Box 827, Lakeland, MN 55043) with proof of your club membership and a brief description of how your club would use and benefit from winning the Cargo Wave. Next, “Like” Cargo Wave’s Facebook page to follow weekly giveaway updates and shared clubs’ info as the drawing will be held on August 31, 2015.

All entrants must be within the continental US for free freight/shipping of Cargo Wave trailer.

Get a FREE Pair of Pro-Series Sponsons With a RIVA Performance Kit

By

Kevin Shaw

-

July 13, 2015

0

Man, there’s just a TON of deals to be taken advantage of nowadays. Although not an extension of their stellar 4th of July sale from a week prior, RIVA Racing is literally giving away some serious performance parts. Right now, and for a limited time, you can score a free pair of RIVA Pro-Series sponsons with the online purchase of a RIVA Performance Kit. Literally enter the word “SPONSONS” into the coupon code at checkout, and BAM! you just walked away with some sweet handling gear.

RIVA’s “kits” are all-inclusive performance packages that wipe away any of the guesswork when trying to find the right combination of parts. Helping each customer to reach their individual performance goals, wants and needs, RIVA’s engineers have created several “stages” of their Performance Kits to help the PWC enthusiast achieve exactly what they want. As RIVA’s online store states, “our Performance Development Technicians have spent hundreds of hours testing numerous combinations of parts both on our in-house Dyno and on the water to maximize the performance and reliability of our kits.”

So if you’re in the market to seriously increase the power output of your Kawasaki, Sea-Doo or Yamaha watercraft, and love the idea of scoring some sweet free Pro-Series sponsons, you best act quick. This offer expires Sunday July 15th, 2015.

Get Boosted On RIVA’s Sea-Doo XXX-2 Supercharger

By

The Watercraft Journal

-

July 10, 2015

0

If you are trying to get more performance out of your supercharged Sea-Doo, the RIVA Racing XXX-2 supercharger is definitely an item to look into. It will significantly increase the throttle response, horsepower, and top speed of any supercharged 215, 255, or 260 horsepower Sea-Doo.

The RIVA XXX-2 supercharger features a lightweight 140mm billet aluminum supercharger impeller, which is precision-balanced for smooth, linear power delivery. It is also built with a billet spacer, aftermarket bearings for higher RPM, and also re-machined housings for increased volume and air flow.

So now that we know what makes this supercharger so special, what kind of boost does it make? At 8200RPM, the XXX-2 makes 15psi, at 8500RPM it’s making 16psi, and at 9000RPM it is capable of 18psi! That’s twice the boost that a stock 260 supercharger makes!

Best of all, this is a direct replacement of the OEM supercharger, so no need for any custom work. It does require some other parts as well, though. To run this supercharger, you would need an aftermarket tuned ECU, larger injectors, and also a RIVA fuel pressure regulator kit.

Who is the targeted market? Well, pretty much anyone looking to get the most performance possible out of their Sea-Doo. Whether you are a weekend warrior trying to have a faster ski than all your friends or an Open class racer, the RIVA XXX-2 supercharger is worth a look. RIVA Racing sponsored rider Erminio Iantosca uses this on his supercharged Open class RXP-X 260. The Sea-Doo XXX-2 supercharger is available in the RIVA online store for $1699.95.

Five Personal Watercraft Rules to Live By

By

Kevin Shaw

-

July 9, 2015

0

Listen, this goes without saying – but apparently not. There are still waaay too many accidents happening each year in association with personal watercraft, and most (if not all) were completely avoidable. Nobody should lose their life on a watercraft. Seriously. Nor should there be anyone seriously injured. Today’s runabouts are safer than most traditional boats on the water with the advent of brake controls on Sea-Doos and Yamahas (take note, Kawasaki!), electronic throttle controls, cushioned and padded surfaces, modern lightweight and durable materials, and the list goes on and on.

Nevertheless, hundreds of PWC enthusiasts are severely injured each year in the United States and it’s not the racers or freeriders pushing themselves (and their machines) to their very limits skewing the numbers, either. We’re not going to tell you to never jump a wave (or boat wake), to tow your friends on a raft a little too fast, or race alongside your buddies. You’re gonna do those things regardless of what we say. Rather, we want many of you to stop and think. We know, we know. That’s tough, particularly when the adrenaline is pumping.

So with a little contemplation, we wanted to share these “5 Easy Rules” for safe and enjoyable PWC use provided courtesy of safetyresource.org:

☻ Always, always, always wear a life jacket. Guess what, you don’t float as well as you might think, and chances are you’re not in the best of shape to tread water until somebody comes to pick you up. Wear a life jacket. We don’t care if you think you look dorky. Wear. The. Stinkin’. Life. Jacket.

☻ Use the ski’s safety features. Some PWC have brakes (as mentioned above). All others employ an engine-deactivating lanyard. Strap that lanyard to your wrist, or your life vest. If you’ve never ridden a personal watercraft before (which, thanks for reading The Watercraft Journal) it’s either a red cord with a red neoprene strap that can loop around your wrist or life vest’s front buckle, or on a Sea-Doo, a black cord with either a yellow or green foam cover. Your ski won’t start without it.

☻ Stay alert. It’s easy to get caught up in all the fun once you grab a handful of throttle. We get it. But seriously, keep your eyes open and on the lookout for other boats, skiers, divers, or swimmers. You move a lot faster than they do, so you’re responsible for seeing them before they see you.

☻ Don’t drink alcohol. Seriously?! Is this even a question? But y’know what, apparently we need to go over this again. Alcohol is a retardant. It slows down your brain’s ability to receive and process information, and then dictate commands. Alcohol makes you stupid. But hey, what you do on your own time is up to you. But operating a 1,000-pound supercharged PWC should never be one of them.

☻ You’re likely not as good as you think you are. There is only one Chris MacClugage, Pierre Maxient and Mark Gomez. Here’s a pro tip: chances are you’re nowhere near as talented as they are. So, unless you’re training to compete, quit trying to show off to your friends and family. That leg drag you’ve always wanted to try will probably end in a hernia.

☻Oh, and one more thing. Make sure to always strap your skis down securely to your trailer and drive cautiously. Accidents happen by accident. Nobody plans for bad things to happen, so try to think ahead.

Introducing Jobe EVO Wakeboard Modular Bindings

By

Kevin Shaw

-

July 9, 2015

0

We love the advancement of technology, particularly when it enters into our hobbies and daily lives. Can you imagine football where players still wore leather caps and wool sweaters instead of the modern pads and helmets of today? That’s what we’re talking about! So, it would only make sense that we cheer when we see an industry leader step up the technological design of their products such as what Jobe has recently done.

Wakeboard bindings are typically a big, clumsy affair that are very slightly removed from their snowboard siblings. Taking a page from the advancements in snowboard bindings, Jobe sought to create the first-ever “modular” wakeboard binding, giving birth to the EVO. The EVO is a sneaker that is separate from the binding itself, allowing for the wakeboarder to quickly insert and remove their foot without all of the effort of typical bindings.

The new modular system also offers superior contact with the board surface, allowing for the wakeboarder to retain an intimate feel of the board while riding. It’s pretty exciting stuff, so read Jobe’s original press release and watch the video below:

The moment where you all have been waiting for is finally here: today Jobe uncovered the final details of their game-changing new product: Jobe EVO. We have to be honest here: expectations were a bit high because of all the promises made in their recent Jobe EVO product video, but they seemed to have fulfilled all!

Both the new website and action video show why Jobe EVO truly is an evolution in wakeboarding. The video clearly shows how it’s modular binding system makes it easy for you get on the board, saving you important wakeboarding time. Because your EVO sneaker is separate from the EVO housing, the more expensive (ánd fashion-proof) sneaker is less likely to wear out fast. This saves you a lot of money in the long run!

Furthermore, the Jobe EVO improves your direct control. The heel lift is fully eliminated and your heel cap is also gone, leading to more direct contact with your board. The total weight is equal to other high-end Jobe bindings, making it a very low weight product. More advantages of the Jobe EVO can be seen on the brand new website. One last notable thing: the designs are fully customizable, so if you want to create your own style: it is possible now!