Nearly a year ago, we introduced you to Take Point Now, a group of six – consisting of John Pignone, Greg Raney, John Kilby, Erika Christie, Jim Kieffer and PK Ewing – are preparing to set a new world record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a jet ski.
As we mentioned in a previous article, the team has a great deal of history together, as they served together from 2004 to 2005, in the Al Anbar province in Iraq. Then known as Major Ewing, Staff Sergeant Kilby, Sergeant Raney, Sergeant Pignone, and Lance Corporal Dixon, the team experienced “both physical combat and mental stressors and challenges. Ten years later, the team is still together and focused on a new objective – breaking the Guinness World Record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a personal watercraft (PWC).”
In addition to employing the use of some very cool and custom Kool PWC Stuff cargo racks supplied by owner Chris Chamberlain, the team’s Kawasaki STX-15F and a Yamaha FZS SHO will also be equipped with a sturdy Cargo Wave PWC trailer, supplied by our friends at Cargo Wave, LLC. The full-enclosed trailer will accompany the team on their journey from DC to NY, holding tools, equipment, fluids and a whole lot of other survival gear.
Fraser Island lays off the coast of Hervey Bay, just south of the last of the Great Barrier Reef’s coral cays. Being the world’s largest sand island, it stretches for 123km (76 miles) at its widest point and spans 166,000 hectares (640 square miles). James “Jimmy the Jet” Tod from JetSkishop.com took an intimate one week journey to Fraser Island In April 2015, showcasing his passion and the jet ski lifestyle. In his company was Col. Neil, a respected friend and fellow jet ski adventurist, with over 20 years experience with surf life saving.
“It doesn’t matter if you have a $10,000 jet ski or a $20,000 jet ski. It’s about getting out there and living the adventure Jetski lifestyle.” said Tod.
The adventure began at JetSkishop.com HQ, taking two four wheel drives with a Sea-Doo Spark and Kawasaki 300X. After driving to Noosa and staying overnight at North Shore, the crew drove approximately 80km (50 miles) on the beach to reach In Skip Point, catching the ferry across to 75 Mile Beach. The ferry is operated by Manta Ray Fraser Island Barge service, which is a small, locally-owned and independent Australian company, operating seven days a week. A vehicle with trailer/ski costs approximately $170 return.
After arriving on the Island the crew made their way up to their accommodation at Poyungan Rocks which is located approximately 1/3 of the way up on the Eastern side. There, the group enjoyed four-wheel driving to the western side of the island to the sheltered waters of Harvey Bay, and the awe-inspiring beauty of Lake McKenzie which is one of the most visited natural sites on the island with crystal clear water and white super fine sand.
They also journeyed to Eli Creek, the largest freshwater creek on the eastern coast of the island, offering a number of wooden walkways and the opportunity to swim in the lower reaches. Amazingly, the creek pours approximately four million litres of clear, fresh water into the ocean every hour. Then, they visited the wreck of SS Maherno, which offers both beautiful backdrop and a sense of history. Built in 1905 as one of the first turbine-driven steamers, Maheno is the most famous of Fraser Island’s wrecks and has become a landmark attraction.
And of course, jet skiing on all sides of the Island. We managed to capture the highlights of our trip, but the remarkable beauty of Fraser Island can only truly be experienced in person. “It’s about adventure, it’s about jet skis, and it’s about getting out there and doing it,” said Tod.
There appears to be no stopping Frenchman Jean-Baptiste Botti in his drive towards world domination. Last October, Botti pushed back many of the world’s finest to earn the coveted Pro Runabout Open IJSBA World Championship. Only two months ago, Botti – together with Jean Bruno Pastorello – took the checkered flag at the 11th annual Mark Hahn Memorial Havasu 300. Now, as it to hammer in the final nail into the coffin, Botti has just claimed the championship in the 18th running of the Karujet in Guadeloupe.
Considered the toughest offshore race in the world, the Porto Vecchio native finally stood atop the podium after his fifth attempt at the Karujet. Botti’s overall score only came after a hotly contested win Stage V and a fourth place finish in the final stage. “After winning stage 5 and seeing that Alex had a problem I just took it easy the whole way,” Botti told the UIM in an interview, “I knew I just needed to finish the final stage with a decent time, so I didn’t risk any trouble out there. Happy, very happy.”
Although disappointed with his 13th overall placing, last year’s winner Ugo Fidelin rounded out a frustrating event winning the final stage. “It’s been a fun event. It didn’t really start well for me but I had a lot of fun. It’s great to end the event with a win here, I’m happy with that.” As the UIM interview states, “Alex Barret who had topped the points table until Stage 5, his hopes ending with mechanical problems, dropping 10 minutes and losing the lead to Botti. He faced more issues in the final stage and unable to finish, ending the event in seventh in the final standings.”
In the end, four of the final Top 5 racers all hailed from France, with Guadalupe’s own Vincent Karam rounding out the pack. American Craig Warner returned for another bout with the grueling seastate aboard a turbo-powered Ultra of his own design, as did Canadian Mike Klippenstein who 17th overall behind Warner’s 15th ranking – despite a strong finish in Stage VI.
Overall:
1. JB Botti (fra) 5:49:52.899; 2. F Medori (fra) + 11:47.436s; 3. A Tarzia (fra) + 16:07.285s; 4. K Carlini (fra) + 17:10.433s; 5. V Karam (gua) + 24:57.928s
If there is one thing to say about the 310-horsepower Kawasaki Ultra JetSkis is that they make insane amounts of power. But if there was a second thing, you might say that the Ultra’s are pretty heavy too. Plenty of aftermarket companies are offering replacement hoods and seats to help shave some much needed fat from the big JetSki, but so many are slapdash in construction or completely eliminate the utility and ease of use from the ski.
That’s why we’re pretty excited about J-Lines’ very cool Unlimited Rear Seat Delete (or Rear Race Seat). The FRP rear seat kit replaces both the third passenger seat as well as the heavy plastic base and handrail, immediately shaving off nearly 20 pounds from the rear of the Ultra. Equally, the lightweight (2.2 lbs.) Rear Seat Delete attaches using the factory mounting hardware so installation is reversible.
The design of the Seat Delete provides significant gains to engine compartment cooling/ventilation, and can also retain the added storage thanks to an attached storage box (sold separately). It’s gloss black look gives the Ultra that racing-style look that many are hungry for, and can be used for all 250X-through-310X Ultra Kawasaki models. J-Lines’ two-piece replacement seat delete is sleek, durable and a very cool addition to your supercharged JetSki.
To see the Unlimited Rear Seat Delete in action, click HERE.
With the winter’s snow finally starting to melt and the mercury in the thermostat slowly starting to climb, it’s time to shake off the seasonal blues, pull back the cover from your runabout, and get out in the water. And for those looking to get a chance at riding a brand new Sea-Doo, we at The Watercraft Journal are very happy to announce the first official date of the 2015 Test Ride Tour: May 2nd and 3rd.
Hosted by friends and longtime advertising supporters, America’s Motor Sports, the Sea-Doo Test Ride Tour will be taking over the familiar Nashville Shores shoreline in Nashville, Tennessee for two days, offering registrants and walk-ups an hour or so to chew up Percy-Priest Lake on Sea-Doo’s dime. The latest models will be on hand, from the innovative entry-level Spark to the luxurious three-seater GTX.
Today, Sea-Doo sent out a formal announcement saying:
BRP will be showing Tennessee first hand how to make their dream of owning a Sea-Doo watercraft come true with the Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Test Ride Event on May 2nd-3rd. The 2015 #SPARKSOMEFUN Tour will be visiting Nashville Shores on Percy Priest Lake offering consumers the chance to experience how accessible, and fun, the award-winning Sea-Doo watercraft truly are.
The Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Test Ride Tour provides current and potential watercraft riders the opportunity to try before they buy. The Sea-Doo event team will assist consumers in finding the right Sea-Doo product to fill their watersports/boating needs. Guests are offered an on-water experience aboard various Sea-Doo models, including models equipped with iBR, the only watercraft braking system. BRP is committed to re-spark the sport of personal watercraft by offering this special test ride event.
BRP’s Sea-Doo Spark is a paradigm-shifting product as the most accessible watercraft on the market, making the dream of being on the water possible for more families. The Sea-Doo Spark’s nimble, compact design features an all-new Exoskel architecture utilizing a new lightweight, durable, 100% recyclable Polytec material. The Spark offers six steps of customization; a choice between 2up or 3up platforms, choice between the most fuel-efficient watercraft engine available2, the Rotax 900 ACE3 or Rotax 900 HO ACE delivering a top speed of 40 and close to 50 mph respectfully4, option to add BRP’s intelligent Brake & Reverse (iBR)5, optional convenience package, choice of five colors, and ability to further personalize, including 20 Attitude Graphics Kits. The Sea-Doo Spark is a compact platform with a price close to 40% lower than the closest competitive model6 and at half the weight, making it easy to store and tow, and a blast to ride.
The Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Test Ride event is free to the boating public7 and is managed by the Sea-Doo events team – comprised of industry and product experts – and partnering authorized Sea-Doo watercraft dealer, America’s Motorsports. Each Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Event is designed for both experienced and first time boating families to live the Sea-Doo lifestyle in a casual, fun filled atmosphere. Attendees will have the opportunity to experience first hand the fun the Sea-Doo Spark delivers starting at $4999. They will also be able to try the full-sized Sea-Doo GTI, WAKE PRO 215 and luxury benchmark, GTX Limited iS 260 back-to-back to help them decide on the right Sea-Doo model to fit their watersports needs.
The America’s Motorsports Sea-Doo #SPARKSOMEFUN Test Ride Event will take place: WHEN: Saturday, May 2 and Sunday, May 3rd from 10AM-5PM WHERE: Nashville Shores, 4001 Bell Road, Hermitage, Tennessee , 37076 HOW: Talk to a America’s Motorsposrts sales representative to determine which time is best for you. WHO: Those 18 years or older with a valid drivers licence with “good” credit. One minor may ride as a passenger as long as both feet firmly touch both footwells of the watercraft. Riders will be required to wear a PFD (provided) and protective bottoms (neoprene shorts will be provided). Protective eyewear, footwear, and gloves are recommended while not provided. WHY: To experience the different Sea-Doo models back-to-back to determine which Sea-Doo watercraft is right for you.
OK, let’s be a tad more specific: meatheads love the Kawasaki JetSki 650 TS, that is according to Rob Lowe’s hilarious string of DirecTV advertisements. The television spots feature the seminal “St. Elmo’s Fire” Hollywood star squaring off against somewhat less glamorous doppelgangers, with the prior representing DirecTV and the other traditional cable service.
Recently, Lowe’s ads have come under fire from from ‘”shy bladder” groups, cable companies, and the Better Business Bureau’ according to The Atlantic. Unfortunately, several groups representing individuals didn’t find Lowe’s ads all that funny, and they, together with the National Advertising Division (NAD), sought to shut them down.
https://youtu.be/KGeJV7_0Wsg
The International Paruresis Association (IPA), which advocates for the 21 million Americans who, as Lowe’s alter ego put it, “can’t go with other people in the room,” cried discrimination while NAD’s complaint was “that DirecTV wasn’t being truthful about the reliability, picture quality, and customer satisfaction of its service when placed beside cable.”
Nearly a dozen of these 30-second spots have been made with Lowe pairing up against “Creepy Rob Lowe,” “Painfully Awkward Rob Lowe,” and “Deadbeat Dad Rob Lowe.” The ad in question though, is “Meathead Rob Lowe” who provides a glimpse of his garage well-stocked with a year’s worth of protein supplements and shake mix, speed bag and resistance bands, and of course, his own tanning bed. But the real kicker is the gold-flamed ’95 650cc TS behind it.
Sure, we’re OK with making fun of excessively hairy people or those with nervous bladders, but seriously, why do you ya gotta hate on jet skis, Rob?
How would you like to grace the pages of Jobe PWC’s 2016 catalog? Nope, you don’t have to be a professional model or a dashing personal trainer, but you do have to be a dyed-in-the-wool PWC enthusiast. All you need to do to enter is showcase your favorite “ruthless moment” by hashtagging #jobemoments on a Facebook or Instagram post. Once you do, your photo will be entered into a contest to be selected to be featured in Jobe’s next product catalog.
Oh, but there is one catch: your picture has to “reference” Jobe. Creativity is encouraged, so put on your thinking caps and get to work. There could be 15,000 copies of Jobe’s 2016 catalog with your face in it!
Below is the original release:
What’s you ruthless moment? Jobe launched a new campaign called Jobe ruthless moments. This campaign is created for all the Jobe fans who want to share their favourite moments with the world. Jobe’s giving YOU the chance with this new campaign to be in the official 2016 Jobe PWC catalogue! Do you want to take your moment of glory? Join the Jobe ruthless moments!
Jobe wants to show the world the Jobe ruthless family is all over the world. With the new campaign you can join the Jobe ruthless family by yourself. Use the hashtag #Jobemoments on Facebook or Instagram and have a chance your photo will be featured in over 15.000 printed catalogues!
There’s only one restriction to this unique campaign: the photo needs a reference to Jobe. Be as creative as possible! How cool is it to build your own Jobe sand castle and post this?! The Jobe PWC athletes are also joining this campaign, so get inspired by them and share all your Jobe moments!
Demi Morgan, a teenage jet skier from Aostin, Washington, was 9-years-old when she purchased her first jet ski. Two years later she became passionate about riding personal watercraft after she spent a summer honing her skills by going upriver on her ski every weekend with friends.
She began competing at an amateur level in March 2014 and placed 9th in her first event where she also picked up her first sponsor, Blowsion. She was competing at their event, the Blowsion Surf Slam and the crew saw potential in her skills and has continued to push her capabilities as a Jet Ski pilot.
Morgan is currently 16 with aspirations of becoming a pro rider in a couple of years. Her goal should not be an issue since she is one of the few females who can land a backflip. In an interview with KLEW3 she claimed:
“I landed it, and hit it so perfectly that when I landed I landed flat, and usually you don’t land flat, you nose it in, and I looked around, and I yelled Wooo and ran onto the beach and all the Blowsion crew was running at me and they hugged me and were like that was crazy!” said Morgan.
She has not had an easy path to her new found fame. The 6-day a week workouts were not in her plan until the ambitious professional inside her began really driving its way to the surface. Her social life is fairly non-existent due to her constant drive to get better and compete on an elite level. Morgan is so focused on her goal that she does not have time to hang out with her friends and that is okay with her.
She hopes to set an example for other kids by showing them that they can set goals and achieve them as well by following through and putting forth the effort.
“I wanna show girls and just other kids in general that they can go after their dream,” said Morgan. “Money’s a big part of it but really if you work towards something and put in the effort, you can always accomplish what you want to accomplish.”
Morgan credits much of her success and confidence to her parents; coach Brice Barnes at Riverview Marina, and her sponsor Blowsion.
If there is only one thing that you take away from this review, it should be that Kawasaki’s 2015 Ultra 310R JetSki makes a lot of power. A brutal, rotator cuff-tearing amount of power. If you’re not ready for it, not properly conditioned both mentally and physically, it will fight you back… And make no mistake, the 310R will win. So much so that we toyed with the idea of naming this review “Corporeal Punishment.”
Last year marked the introduction of the R-class Ultra and its lauded 310-horsepower. The jump from 300 to 310 ponies was not merely an advertising ploy by Kawasaki to push ahead (way ahead) of the competition, but rather a happy accident. By radically improving engine oiling, reducing heat soak and lowering internal engine temperatures throughout the engine’s powerband, Kawasaki managed to free up the extra power by making major improvements in the engine’s efficiency.
The 1,498cc, 83.0 x 69.2mm (bore x stroke) liquid-cooled inline four-cylinder received a newly re-engineered crankcase with thicker water jackets, larger oiling passages for quicker oil return to the redesigned baffled pan that reduces oil windage and sloshing, a second sprayer to each under-piston cooling oil jet comprising a semi-dry sump system, new lightweight 8.2:1 cast pistons featuring additional ring land V-grooves, a larger capacity fuel pump and 500cc injectors.
Last year’s supercharged Ultra also got a brand-new long-runner intake manifold made from heat-resistant plastic, fed by an Eaton TVS constant-displacement, four-lobe supercharger pressing 16.8psi past two blow-off valves. And speaking of valves, new hardened nickel 33.4mm intake and 28.3mm exhaust valves ingest and expel the spent fumes.
Above: Engaging No Wake mode is effortless compared to setting Cruise Control, which we struggled to master. While cruising past the No Wake buoys, the Ultra tracks smoothly and dryly – with no nose-plowing. We noted that adjusting the trim requires holding down the toggle, something we marked as bothersome particularly while on the move.
Other goods included a large oil breather/catch can and articulated sprung belt tensioner, and a check valve system fixed between the cylinder jacket and water muffler that shuts water flow off above 2,000rpm, keeping the cooling water inside the cylinder jacket for optimum cooling performance. Finally, a voluminous 160mm 8-vane pump houses a repitched 3-blade long-snout prop.
The 310R gained a new Sportseat, wrapped in a grippy textured canvas and a molded Hydro-Turf traction mat kit. One final addition to the R-class was a fixed electro-polished stainless steel steering neck and race-grade MX-style handlebars replacing the standard tilt steering. These new MX bars can be adjusted fore and aft by loosening the hex head bolts to 12 different positions.
The changes made to the 2015 310R are miniscule but intentional: First, a mid-production adjustment was made to the big 1,498cc’s engine management program during last year’s run that is now standard on all Ultras. (Contrary to claims that a new ECU was introduced.) Next, tweaks in the race bred Ultra’s livery – namely the change from 2014’s blue pinstripe to silver, and the almost boring “Kawasaki” hood decals – were made to accommodate racers who replace stock graphics with race numbers and sponsors’ decals.
A final, albeit purely aesthetic change, are the addition of green sponsons. Literally identical to last year’s and to other 2015 models, the choice to make the 310R’s sponsons green is elusive, if not as purely a conversation piece. Although they’re fixed in position, they offer measurable traction in tight turns, even throughout the Ultra’s 5-position electronically-adjustable trim settings. Other controls include Cruise Control with accompanying toggles, 5mph No Wake mode and Kawasaki’s own take on Eco mode.
Beneath the glove box door is a capacious bin that combined with the underhood stowage equals a class-leading 56-gallons worth of storage, and the keyway ignition for a choice of Kawasaki’s yellow SLO (Smart Learning Operation) to reign in the Ultra’s throttle, or the normal use green key, which unleashes the 310R’s full fury. Even with Eco engaged, throttle response is taut if not only slightly muted from standard operation, and capable of top speeds in the low 60s.
When released from its Eco setting, the whine of the JetSki’s Eaton supercharger is only dwarfed by the whistle of wind blowing past your ears. Launching from a crawl, the Kawasaki comes to plane in seconds, its 22.5-degree deadrise sluicing through chop like Luke Skywalker’s lightsaber. At wide-open, the blown 4-stroke four-cylinder propels a single rider to 67.2mph with bravado.
The 2015 Kawasaki Ultra 310R breaks from its limited run last year of just over 500 units, and comes ready to rock with an asking price of $16,299.
A day spent behind the bars of the 310-horsepower Ultra will be one of face-stretching acceleration, and knee-in-the-tray hairpin turns that will kick up Gibraltar-sized walls of seafoam with every corner, not to mention maybe one or two stops at the fuel dock. With all that power comes not-so-great fuel mileage, and the 310R’s 20.6-gallon tank will surprise you with how speedily it can be drained.
We attribute a fair amount of that unquenchable thirst to the Ultra’s shotgun-like throttle response. Again, acceleration comes on strong behind the bars of the 310R (and not without some recoil), and easing the fly-by-wire trigger takes a great deal of finesse and restraint. Truly, the 310R’s throttle not only manipulates the Ultra’s big 60mm throttle body, but also your brain’s endorphins.
We took particular note of the 310R’s redesigned seat, as its low bolster is slightly set further back than the big scallops of the luxurious 310LX and is narrowed at the knees compared to standard 310X’s. The grippy material offers plenty of bite without irritating exposed skin as well. Taller riders might struggle with the low slung position of the bars (ideal for seated closed course racing, rather than standing upright for offshore riding).
Of course, such minor quibbles pale in the shadow of the 310R’s true purpose. Even in light of its 1047.4 lbs. curb weight, the 2015 Kawasaki Ultra 310R’s horsepower will hit you like a hammerfist. It will cut turns like a steel tracked rollercoaster and it will blast through lake chop like a heated knife through room temperature butter. As far as watercraft go, there is no Kawasaki more unapologetic for being this punishing to your senses. The sights, sounds and sensations conjured by the Ultra 310R can be overwhelming to lesser men. We suppose that is why we love it so much.
After the busy weekend at the sunny coast battling it out in the IFWA first round, I made my way back to the Gold Coast of Australia to spend time with my local friends and catch up with my family at WORX Racing Components. Gary and Emma Watson have recently purchased the brand and have been doing a fantastic job of building the brand up by improving production quality, and coming out with new innovative components for several different watercraft outside of the known sponsons, intake grates, and ride plates.
They had recently finished building a 2015 Sea-Doo Spark and bolted on all of their accessories and handling components onto it including their ECU reflash. I had a chance to ride a stock Spark a few days before and was impressed by its handling but was a bit let down overall by its lack of performance for such small fun craft. I then took out the WORX Spark and absolutely loved it with a night and day noticeable difference.
The WORX Billet Steering System feels much smoother and stable. Combined with the easy ergonomic billet finger throttle and start/stop button housing is a must-have for anyone who owns a Spark. The ECU reflash/tune made a considerable difference in throttle response with the fly-by-wire system set in sport mode. With their rideplate, sponsons, and intake grate, the ski felt like it was on rails, completely hooked up in every corner making it a fun, aggressive, and smooth tracking ski to ride.
Feeling out all of these new changes, I got their blessing and took it out to where I feel most comfortable and the hardest R&D test conditions for the ski and parts – in the surf! Not knowing what to expect, I eased into a few waves and really started to enjoy how flickable the ski was especially with the durability of the added WORX steering system and power from the ECU tune. I had so much fun that toward the end of the trip I mentioned to Gary Watson (the owner of WORX), that I believed flipping it would be possible.
He again gave me his blessing to get it done, so I extended my trip an extra week to have the best shot at making this Spark flip happen. We removed the top deck and we installed Hydro-Turf 9mm underpadding into the foot trays along with some modeled diamond turf for traction and shock absorption. Along with that, we installed DaKine footstraps to keep me locked in and in control when going inverted off the waves.
I took the Spark out a few times, quickly learning its strengths and weaknesses in the surf when pushed into things like barrel rolls and nose stabs. I quickly got the hang of nose stabs, which lead to getting barrel rolls down in a sequence Skippy got during a rainy day at Kingscliff. The next time I rode at stride, I attempted the backflip but miscalculated my approach to the wave and didn’t get the pop off the lip that I needed to completely bring the rotation around.
Landing upside down, I learned that the removable maintenance panels need to be secured so that they don’t pop off like they did and immediately sink the capsized ski. With plenty of on-board floatation we got it to the beach, drained it and then got it back to the shop where I spent the rest of the day getting the water out of the engine and running again.
The day before I left, we took off to Straddle early in the morning to attempt another flip with all the repairs and modifications in place. Unfortunately, the surf was not at my side so I decided to go for a barrel roll to warm things up and with an awkward rotation ended up landing completely flat and sideways tweaking my ankle and ending my ride. The PolyTec hull is light and is extremely buoyant making the landing awfully hard because it didn’t want to penetrate the water as much as fiberglass skis do with the extra weight.
Working on this Spark flip production with WORX has been one heck of an adventure and learning experience putting me hands on with all of their quality built performance products and this new ski overall. I had a blast trying some barrel rolls, catching some waves, attempting to flip the thing, and getting some cool photo sequences out of it. I gave it my best and realized that the Spark backflip is absolutely possible with the right things in place. That being said, I strongly advise against anyone to attempt it without the right safety equipment, and overall surf riding experience.
Thank you to Andrew Donovan for all of the photos and being apart of the rescue and production team as well as Gary and Emma Watson, Matty Elliot, and Justin Belczowski at WORX for making this experience all possible.
All images courtesy of Photos by Skip and unaltered, full-resolution versions can be purchased HERE.
