Keppel to the Capital: 2015 Yamaha Variety Jet Trek

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March 25, 2015

We at The Watercraft Journal are big supporters of the many various jet ski events happening across the globe to raise awareness, funds and support for so many worthwhile organizations, charities and medical beneficiaries. One in particular, the annual Yamaha Variety Jet Trek is particularly significant for its support for Variety, the Children’s Charity of Queensland.

In building support for this cause, the folks at Variety have partnered again with Yamaha Motor Australia to sponsor the annual Yamaha Variety Jet Trek – a six-day long ride upon open oceans, stopping at some of Queensland’s most picturesque beaches and sharing the adventure with dozens of like-minded PWC enthusiasts.

Celebrating its 17th year, the Jet Trek asks participants (or “Trekkers”) to raise a minimum donation of $2500 to participate, as well as a $165 application fee. No, it’s not cheap, but it is worth it.

Here’s the original press release:

Over 60 Personal Water Crafts (PWC) and 150 participants (more than ever before!) have already signed up to the 2015 ‘Keppel to the Capital’ Yamaha Variety Jet Trek – an adrenalin packed adventure that kick starts in May. Positions are still available to join this once in a life time adventure!

Event organizers, Variety – the Children’s Charity of Queensland, is calling for any would-be PWC enthusiasts, long time ski experts or anyone in-between to contact the Variety Queensland office for more information about this 6 day, adrenalin packed adventure raising money for kids in need.

Participants, both new to the event and seasoned ‘Trekkers’ come from as far as Tasmania, Western Australia, Sydney and northern Queensland to participate in this unique event.

The Yamaha Variety Jet Trek is now in its 17th year, with the fun on the water, great locations traveled and meeting with the kids Variety is able to support through the ‘Trekkers’’ (as their affectionately known) fundraising efforts, listed as the reasons people keep coming back.

Every personal water craft that is on the water is followed by a road crew tracing along the coast line, loading the skis on and off the water at each over-night stop, making this event a great chance to get a group of mates or the family together to share the time on the water and in the car.

The trek will commence in Yeppoon on 4th May, travel over 600km north over 6 days, to arrive in Sanctuary Cove on the glorious Gold Coast for the finale on Saturday 9 May.

Participants will travel through towns and communities, visiting children and schools along the way and granting equipment, services and experiences to children who need it most. Towns include: Yeppoon, Agnes Water/ 1770, Bargara, Rainbow Beach, Caloundra and Sanctuary Cove.

The Yamaha Variety Jet Trek will again in 2015, raise thousands of dollars for Variety – the Children’s Charity of Queensland and their mission to empower kids who are sick, disadvantaged or have special needs.

Every Trekker must raise a minimum, fully tax deductible donation of $2500 in order to participate in the event, as well as a $165 application fee and a provisions levy that is set closer to the date. Variety is on hand to offer advice and guidance to participants with their fundraising events that can vary from raffles, to barbeques, karaoke nights and bowls days.

For inquiries or to book a place on the adventure, please visit www.variety.org.au/qldjettrek, call 07 3907 9300 or email [email protected]

Gallery: Joe Kenny Pismo Freeride; Spring Break On The Sand

By

Patrick Goldsworthy

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March 25, 2015

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Hot sun, hotter sand, overhead break and 2-stroke mist; drop anchor, you made it to the semi-annual Joe Kenny Pismo Freeride. This year’s Spring Break special was held March 13th through the 15th in Pismo Beach, California and once again brought together the ultimate in riders and freeride skis in the industry today. With everything and everyone on hand, Pismo’s hospitality didn’t disappoint. Arriving Friday morning, the break was holding solid with calm winds, clean skies and a piercing overhead sun.

Saturday proved to be heyday as most rolled in, set up a quick camp and got their piece of action in the surf. The common late-morning wind stayed away, the tide was low and conditions couldn’t get any better. Being too hot for a wetsuit, many chose to ditch it on the shore and tear it up in a pair of board shorts, proving to us all again why we come back every year during the winter.

TC Freeride was front and center on the shoreline Saturday afternoon throwing down a full scale, massive BBQ lunch for anyone that wanted in. On display were rows of Rickter skis in all varieties, with the new “Edge” being demo’d. Late afternoon riding on Saturday proved to be epic as the waves stayed mellow and spread apart, giving a technical surf riding aspect to them.

With a camera-blowing sunset falling into the big blue, it was Liquid Militia that hosted a taco dinner special provided by their team riders. After that was inhaled, LQM had a raffle for one off, custom made swag. Sitting around the ever-growing group fire and watching raw aerial footage of the day’s riding on a big screen revealed we are never alone out there, as a great white shark was caught on film.

Sunday was laid back, weather holding hot and calm, with surf up and overheads almost every set. It was all about checking out and seeing what the variety of skis available could do in the water. Krash Industries had their new “Reaper” tearing it up while a newcomer to the Freeride, RHAAS Products had a custom one-off, insane 550 that was old school at a glance with new school technology hiding in the details.

All in all, this Pismo three-day getaway had everything: killer surf, the best weather many have ever experienced there, a takeover of Mile Marker Four’s camp site and good people. Waiting seven months to do it again in October can’t come soon enough.

All images courtesy of Brandi Rademaker and unaltered originals can be purchased HERE.

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Aquacart’s Beach Blaster And New Retractable Handle Stand

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Kevin Shaw

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March 24, 2015

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Spring is upon us, ladies and gentlemen, which means it’s time to get your skis and gear ready. And there’s no better tool for the enterprising jet skier than one of Aquacart’s awesome Beach Blaster carts. Ideal for standups and two-seater 2-stroke runabouts (Kawasaki X2, Yamaha WaveBlaster, Sea-Doo HX, etc.), the standard cart rides on heavy duty, non-corrosive composite black wheel series rims and 18×9.5 tires (with over-sized sand tires available).

Made from aircraft-grade boxed aluminum (with stainless steel hardware) so it’s incredibly lightweight and it won’t rust, each Beach Blaster cart is easily disassembled and reassembled with no tools required, and can be loaded directly from land with an optional winch kit, or as easily in the water. The Beach Blaster also features self-adjusting bunks to handle a variety of models!

But now, any Beach Blaster can be “plussed” with Aquacart’s new Retractable Beach Blaster Handle Stand! Made from the same aircraft grade aluminum tubing and stainless steel hardware, the Retractable Stand requires a whopping 30 seconds to install (without tools of course) and dramatically helps to make your Beach Blaster into a working cart when needed, or just a great stand.

The Beach Blaster is available for $439 with the Retractable Stand starting at $69. Other options are listed HERE.

Gallery: AJSP OZ Surf Slam Freeride

By

Andrew Donovan

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March 24, 2015

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Is it too late for 8? That is, as in eight IFWA World Championships.

That was the question some were thinking when Pierre Maixent graced the shores of Alexandra Headlands in Australia. The seven-time world champ was here for one reason: to reclaim the world’s number one spot. The IFWA’s first round was at a brand new location in Australia his year, the beautiful Sunshine Coast in Queensland Australia. A town with a holiday atmosphere and and relaxed vibe, the Sunshine Coast is a perfect place to hit the surf and really enjoy what freeriding is all about.

The Sunshine Coast Jetski Club is the local organization that put on this awesome event with Matty O’Conner and Jason Barry as the main people involved in bringing the international JetSki world to Oz. Every year, for the past 4 years the Sunshine Coast has held the AJSP Surf Slam Oz. It’s a fun event with no real competition except some of the usual Biggest air, Best 180, Sickest trick and let us not to forget, the “Dash for Cash.”

All of this happens in conjunction with two days of freeriding with people from all over Australia and sometimes the world. With thousands of dollars worth of prizes up for grabs, it’s always a massive event. So this year the boys decided to invite the IFWA along to join in on their little get-together. What a great move.

With a last minute decision to make Australia the first round of the IFWA left everyone a little unprepared. So for those involved to make it to the land down under from all over the world was a testament to their love and dedication to the sport. So I take my hat off to you all and say thank you (not forgetting the Aussies who traveled sometimes up to 2500 miles to come and compete and catch up with some mates). Well done to all.

Now I know anyone that owns a jet ski has a good idea of how expensive it can be to ride, let alone ride on the other side of the world. Getting yourself a ticket let alone your ski is almost impossible for the average Joe. So when I saw so many international riders making there way down the beach, I was impressed: The Bright Brothers, Brandon Lawlor, Bruno Jacobs and Mark Gomez just to name a few.

Unfortunately, not many of the riders from abroad could bring their own boats, so it was good to see all the Aussie boys lending out their pride and joy. A person that was instrumental in helping four (yes, four!) international riders to compete was Ben Dayman. An absolute legend that lent out his new Rickter Edge without hesitation. Well, done Mate.

With over 100 riders on the beach made for an awesome sight; SuperJets, Rickters, Krash and Tigercraft were just a few of the major skis getting used.

Now down to business: With so much happening over the three day event, it’s hard to know where to start. Firstly, the waves didn’t turn up for this year’s event; with a 2-foot swell and a bit of wind, the conditions put everyone’s ski handling ability to the test. Only days before the event, a cyclone had brought perfect 7-foot waves onto the coast. It’s always the way.

Anyways, about 30 riders had entered the IFWA and started going through their heats on Thursday with two classes – Blasters and Standups – it was a fast-paced day with the Top 8 from last year instantly progressing to the heats on Friday. This gave a few of the first time riders a chance to experience what the IFWA is all about. It was good to see everyone give it their all to impress the judges.

Friday saw some of the pros hit the water with the likes of Abraham Ho and Pete McAfee on the water. What a privilege it was to see Pete tearing it up on a borrowed Tigercraft. That guy has so much talent, it’s hard to believe he rides with a prosthetic leg. Pete ended getting knocked out just before quarter finals. Well done, mate.

First up in the Quarter Finals was Tiago Geitens and Mark Gomez. A great battle with two riders with such different styles. But with the small waves and Mark’s fast-paced riding, he was able to finish ahead of Geitens.

Pierre Maxient and current world Number Three was up next. Mitch Young and Pierre had a great battle, matching trick for trick the first few waves. Unfortunately for Mitch, Pierre got away from him to take the win.

Jake Bright and Abraham Ho went up next with Abraham borrowing Pierre’s ski. Everything was going good for the boys with some nice variations and some nice extension until Abraham under rotated a flip and lawn darted into to a shallow sand bank. Struggling to start the ski, the look on Pierre’s face was…let’s just say, not happy thinking his ski might be down and out.

This was an opportunity for Jake. But unfortunately for him, after get some practice in on yet another borrowed ski just minutes before his heat, he made a rookie mistake of not topping off his ski with fuel. So at this stage both skis and riders are bobbing about as the clock was ticking away. Jake finally made it ashore to swap skis again just as Abraham’s ski fired and gave him enough time to take the win.

Brodie Copp and World Champion Mick Anthony did battle next. Some close riding with Mick hanging out the back and surfing waves all the way to the beach. While Brodie’s talent at using the wave for both surfing and aerials got him though to the finals.

Mark Gomez took out Abraham for second place after long deliberation by the judges. His “never give up” attitude got him over the line for third in his first IFWA tour.

The battle for first was between Pierre and Brodie. The local young gun against a multiple world champ. It was a battle royal, with the Frenchman’s smooth style and relaxed attitude helping him to master the waves, with massive flip combinations and even multiple Superflips in the tiny chopped up surf.

Not to be outdone, Brodie wasn’t giving a inch with a massive flex flip and some super smooth surf riding. In the end it was, in my opinion, Pierre’s experience and relaxed attitude that got him the win. It’s hard to perform your best under so much pressure. Those years of practice definitely help.

Well done to everyone involved. The event went off without a hitch. The after party was out of control and Jason Barry and his team of helpers were amazing out all the time it took to make this such a great occasion. To all the people that lent their skis and time, I say thank you. Without you none of this could happen. To all the international riders, welcome to Australia and thanks for the awesome show. To the local riders, keep it up boys and girls. You have shown the world what us Aussies can do.

All images courtesy of Photos by Skip and unaltered, full-resolution versions can be purchased HERE.

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Carbon Fighter: 2015 Kawasaki Ultra 310X JetSki

By

Kevin Shaw

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March 23, 2015

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It started in 2007 with the 250-horsepower Kawsaki Ultra 250X. The next year, when rivaled by Sea-Doo’s ’08 255HP X-series, Kawasaki raised the bar to 260. Sea-Doo matched in 2009. Within a year, the Ultra was now a 300X and wielded improved handling on the closed course as much as in the open ocean. And, looking to improve internal engine temperature management and increased combustion efficiency, the 310X was born in 2014.

As much as you might like the different takes on Kawasaki’s Ultra JetSki – nothing beats the original. In these pages you’ll find reports on the 310R, the 310X Special Edition and the top-of-the-heap 310LX, and you’ll find praise for each of them in their own right. But at their core, and what ultimately attracts performance enthusiasts is the straight-laced, bare-knuckled street fighter, the 2015 Kawasaki Ultra 310X JetSki.

Strip away the luscious burnt orange hue of the Special Edition, the racy motocross-inspired handlebars and narrowed seat of the 310R, or the over-the-top Jetsound system (with in-dash radio controls) and heat-resistant bolstered seat of the 310LX, and you’re left with the 310X, which in our experience, is what people really want anyways. Of course, what can be said of the Kawasaki Ultra JetSki that hasn’t already been said? Give us a minute…

From the outside, the Ultra 310X is handsome in its simplicity. There’s nothing super busy about it. No complex angles, chrome louvers or business to confuse it with a Michael Bay production. Twin snouts are angrily flared, as the hood’s curves flow up and over the fairings into a low and broad saddle and back up into a pointed rear grip. The footwells are wide and deep, the rear tray spacious. The Ebony and Metallic Phantom Silver livery touched with highlights of iconic Kawasaki Green.

Beneath the front bonnet and within the glove box is a cavernous 56 gallons of combined storage, as well as a removable weather-sealed bin. Tilt steering offers five different riding postures, the highest and the lowest ideal for extreme positions for offshore and closed course, respectively. A spring-loaded retractable swimstep leads to thick Hydro-Turf traction matting on the deck, with a lower and higher handgrips for easy boarding. A tow-eye is also found beneath the stern handrail.

Ergonomically, the bench is wider than many craft considered its competition with only slight contouring. Newly redesigned rearview mirrors and a pistol-like grip of the left-hand reverse lever are nice touches, although the absence of a handlebar-mounted brake and reverse lever is all the more amplified now with Yamaha’s RiDE system (new for 2015) following Sea-Doo’s lead with iBR in 2009. It’s certain Kawasaki engineers have likely drawn up their own version of the technology that far surpasses anything we could imagine.

The dashboard’s LCD screen fans out nicely and allows for easy reading of instrumentation while at speed all while mitigating glare. The handlebars now feature up and down toggles for Cruise Control, electronic trim and Kawasaki’s own take on ECO mode.

We did find ECO mode to be the most aggressive of all three brands’ fuel-saving tunes, capping the 310X’s powerband to low 60’s mph, rather than say, Sea-Doo’s that restricts their craft deep into the 40’s. For true fuel savings, we found the use of Kawasaki’s yellow “Learner Key” to be far more successful in reigning in the Ultra’s bridle.

Beneath the seat though, is where the 310X truly starts to get interesting. Currently, the second-largest displacement 4-stroke in the industry (1,498cc) delivers by far, the most horsepower of any personal watercraft available, spooled by an Eaton Twin Vortices Series (TVS) roots-style supercharger (with air-to-water intercooler) producing an impressive 16.8 psi.

The dual overhead camshaft (DOHC), four valves per cylinder, inline four-cylinder presses all that boost past 8.2:1 compression pistons through a direct-drive coupler to a massive axial-flow, single stage 160mm jet pump, spinning a three-blade, oval-edge stainless steel impeller to produce 1,890 lbs. of thrust. If that sounds impressive, it is. But it’s also not cheap.

Even with the use of advanced Digital Fuel Injection (DFI) with intelligent engine mapping, the big Ultra is thirsty, and that 20.6 gallon tank of 91 octane can vanish quickly if the 60mm throttle body is left wide open. Even casual play with plenty of hot dogging emptied three quarters of the tank by lunchtime. What’s the old saying go? You gotta pay to play…

Make no bones about it, there is nothing gentle about the Kawasaki 310X – or those that share its powertain. It comes on hard, and we mean it. To our knowledge, this craft has racked up more championships in its bone stock form than any of its contemporaries. That alone should speak volumes. And to reiterate previous evaluations, we have yet to encounter a runabout to manage rough water or the open seas as aptly as the Kawasaki Ultra.

Personally, we doubt we’ll see much in the way of changes for the 310X in the next few years. And rightfully so. Kawasaki has persistently raised the bar of performance, and we can’t imagine them changing that philosophy. The Ultra 310X is a brute, and Kawasaki meant it that way.

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Videos: Diptech Performance Powers Very Happy Customers

By

Kevin Shaw

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March 23, 2015

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A few weeks back we got a note from our friends at Diptech Performance, “Don’t be fooled by any dealership out there that will tell you where you have to get your jet ski serviced so that your warranty is not voided. The team at Diptech Performance provide a service that is second to none and above all DOES NOT void warranty. We use genuine parts and follow all service procedures as a dealership would and more. Please call us for more information.”

All of us at The Watercraft Journal can attest that the technicians at Diptech are some of the best found in Melbourne, Australia. But rather than simply pontificating on and on about their professional staff and top-level skills at not only servicing personal watercraft, but finely tuning performance craft for all levels of enjoyment, we thought it best to leave the talking up to some of Diptech’s most satisfied customers.

It didn’t take long to receive an influx of videos from very satisfied customers very happy to share their exploits aboard their newly tuned and serviced Sea-Doos, Yamaha WaveRunners and Kawasaki JetSkis. Below are just a sample of locals getting the most from their machines during Australia’s prime riding season:

Post by Christian Patrold.

Post by Peter Vissaris.

Kevin Shaw: It’s Time To Start Thinking Bigger

By

Kevin Shaw

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March 20, 2015

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I find that if you shut up and let people talk, they’ll tell you more about themselves than you could ever discover on your own. These past two weeks have been a whirlwind of travel, salty photo sessions, tanlines, in-depth conversations with people waaay above my pay grade, hotel rooms with lousy pillows and tiny shampoo bottles, endless hours of driving and flying, and really, really nice meals that I haven’t had to pay for. Add to that possibly the most exciting exclusive The Watercraft Journal has ever landed and the launch of our parent company’s second magazine, sleep has been a necessary inconvenience. Oh yeah, and I lost my wallet like a complete moron.

All that being said, throughout my exploits I was able to sit back and listen to a huge range of personal watercraft enthusiasts from all walks of life share their experiences in and out of our sport. Sadly, I was left feeling like I wish I hadn’t. What bothered me most was first, how negative people were toward others (be them groups, clubs, racers, sanctioning bodies or persons with slightly contrasting interests), and secondly, how isolated they all felt. (This is where your sense of irony should be kicking in, folks.) Again, it’s been said that you can learn a lot about a person if you’d just shut up and let them talk, and I did my best to do exactly that this past two weeks.

“It was amazing,” Kev Hemingway said to me. “All I wanted to do was see if they’d want to join us.” Hemingway’s Jetski Junkies group is considered one of the most successful in the nation, with a variety of adventure rides ranging from half-day jaunts to week-long excursions across some of the most picturesque water in the continental United States. When he approached another Florida club about partnering for a multi-day event, he wasn’t just met with disinterest, but outright contempt. “The guy swore me out until I hung up. It was ridiculous. Seriously, what’s wrong with these guys?”

Unfortunately, contention between many riding clubs and groups – particularly in popular areas like Southern California and Florida’s coastline – is as hot as rival Hawaiian surf brotherhoods. It’s understood that athletes need that competitive spirit to drive them. It’s tough to be a happy-go-lucky kind of guy or gal when you’re facing off against the competition on the field of battle, I get it. But I always knew that the difference between an athlete and a sportsman (y’know, what your mom called being a “good sport”) was how you behaved both on and off the field.

“You wouldn’t believe the hate I got for that,” Mark Gomez glowered. Gomez had participated in a one-day heat of AquaMoto racing in between surf sessions at this year’s Daytona Freeride. Amid a lineup of seasoned and novice standup racers, the celebrated freerider took to the buoy course on his Rickter Edge. Spectators reveled as Gomez not only dominated the competition but happily threw in multiple backflips and barrel rolls throughout the race for good measure. “People got all on me for showing off. And I was like, ‘Hey, I’m not going to waste these waves.'”

Let me reiterate: Gomez, who is defensibly at the height of his game, is fielding spite and hatred for excelling. But that is a tale as told as time. Those who rise above the status quo are seen as upsetting the curve, angering the mainstream with the knowledge that to retain their mediocrity they need to try a little harder (or less, as it were) than before. No, the facts are that competition breeds excellence and those who strive for continual and constant growth and improvement chase this unceasingly, while those who seek to be comfortable rationalize their station until they find complacency.

Currently, the world of American jet ski racing is in a rift. The fracturing of AJ Handler’s Pro Watercross Tour and the IJSBA has yet to reveal what the landscape of American PWC racing will look like in a year’s time. The feud between Handler and IJSBA’s Frazier has been almost a constant subject for racers. To those completely disinterested in racing, it’s a non-topic. Personally, I won’t pretend to put on airs that I even care as to the details of the rivalry (I don’t). All that I do care about is the divisiveness and dissent that the break has caused. The backbiting, contention, bemoaning and bitterness is toxic, and poisoning a sport that is already trying to mend.

Lastly, one final story: Marcos Smith of RIVA Racing, is new to personal watercraft having joined the company from working at Red Bull, a company who knows a think or two about growing sports too. Smith’s introduction to performance PWC couldn’t be more intensive than working with the brilliant minds behind the sport’s single-largest manufacturer of aftermarket performance equipment, as well as beneath one of the sport’s greatest supporters, Dave Bamdas. Yet, his experience with jet skiers has been soured. “I looked around online and found a local group,” Smith told me. “All I wanted to do was find a bunch of guys to go riding with, but when he found out I worked at RIVA, he was like, ‘No thanks. We don’t want any corporate guys on our rides.’ All I could say was, ‘Wow’.”

Yesterday, we published a story about how Queensland, Australia is considering more sanctions on PWC near local beaches and surf spots. Many of your comments on the story were, “It’s not fair that a few individuals ruin things for everyone else.” Yes, it is sad. But I keep hearing more and more tales like Smith’s, or Gomez’s or Hemingway’s. Personally, apart from being a listening ear, much of the negativity doesn’t affect my life or enjoyment out on the water. And for a large part of our readership, nor they. But for so many who have dedicated their lives to our sport, it’s corrosive and damning.

How can people expect this sport to grow with so many people pulling one another down? As I sat at a meal with some of the biggest names and brightest minds in our industry, I was asked my take on all of this to which I replied, “The sport will remain small because so many within it are small. They think small. They act small. When people start thinking big and acting like grownups, like professionals, things will start growing again.”

Go Get Wet,
Kevin

Additional images courtesy of Watercraft Superstore.

Videos: Game Over Racing’s 100-Plus MPH Boosted Demon PWC

By

Kevin Shaw

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March 19, 2015

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There’s no denying the facts, when pursuing the big triple numbers, the first step is acquiring a 15-year-old Yamaha GP1300R hull. The design of this particular hull has become the standard from which all top speed Open class Hydrodrag racers have built upon in their race towards world domination. From this singular foundation, all of the fastest personal watercraft racers in the world then insert their own formula of performance to push them to that coveted 110-plus-mile per hour level.

One such racer is Ray Sanchez. Piloting the “Boosted Demon” built by Game Over Racing, Sanchez has chased the world record of 112mph closely now. Below, we’ve included two videos from Gregg Mandigo’s “unsane” YouTube channel documenting Sanchez’s pursuit, the first run was taken during Round 3 of the 2014 Hydrodrags in Polk City, Fl. on July 13, 2014. Verified by a Stalker Radar Gun, Sanchez clicked off a 104.5mph pass even while navigating 3-inch chop.

As you watch the second video, wherein Ray clicks off an impressive 109.5mph pass, you’ll see the difference absolute glass makes for skis at these speeds to keep them hooked up. Sanchez will chase the record again this year and look to overthrow Mikael Gonzalez’s standing as the fastest personal watercraft in the world.

Australia Considers Another Potential Ban on Jet Skis

By

Ocean Priselac

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March 19, 2015

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Areas of Queensland, Australia’s Pumicestone Passage may be blocked to jet skis to stop “cowboys” on the hectic waterway according to an article in the Noosa News.

Mark McArdle, Member for Caloundra said he was examining the change and introducing rangers after hearing grievances about personal watercraft riders for twenty years.

The proposed changes may occur within the next 12-18 months. Three petitions with 1,000’s of signatures have been presented to the Parliament during the decades of complaints.

Edwards expects McArdle to make his plans clear for the proposed ban and before the election. He expects him to do something to intervene after another long weekend of noisy jet skis and drivers using Pumicestone Passage as a drag strip.

Edwards went on to say that the Ramser Convention, which was put into place to protect migrating birds and other animals, safeguarded the Passage. Edwards quote goes on to explain the reasoning behind the Ramser Convention.

Edwards also stated that the residents of the area were being discriminated against since jet skiing was banned in Noosa. The ban has increased the number of personal watercraft riders on the Passage, which has impeded recreational use of the Passage for passive recreational activities.

McArdle understands the worries of citizens and also believes that jet skiers have made a valuable contribution to the economy and that most of them followed the rules. The majority of them are not the problem and he would like to see a designated area for the personal watercraft enthusiasts.

Videos: Get The Most Out of Your Spark With Official Sea-Doo Accessories

By

Kevin Shaw

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March 18, 2015

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Late last year, Sea-Doo took possibly the boldest step in the company’s history and introduced a personal watercraft that not only hearkened back nearly twenty years to its smaller, more nimble days of the HX; but also radically rewrote how a runabout can be designed, built and priced. The Spark rocked the PWC industry with its unique architecture, light weight and sub-$5,000 price tag.

With it’s estimated run of 10,000 units almost sold out prior to June, BRP was forced to scramble to fire up production mid-year to satisfy the swelling demand. For 2015, with much of the colors remaining the same (we’re personally still anticipating the arrival of a rumored “Blueberry” color for 2016), Sea-Doo poured on the steam and will be increasing production by 50-percent.

Sure, rocking the boat is bound to upset a few, but Sea-Doo has never been one to shy away from that. Boldness is a mandatory trait for a company looking to be on the cutting edge. Besides the Spark’s fun factor, another attractive attribute is its modularity, allowing owners to customize and equip their unit specific to their needs. We picked up on a few really cool items that we think you’ll like too:

2015 Sea Doo Front Storage Bin Kit
This easily-installed front bin is the only item on our list that is also part of the Sea-Doo Spark’s optional equipment list. Although not watertight like the slide-in bins on the GTX models, it is nevertheless equally handy and useful. Drain holes ensure zero pooling, and 7 gallons of added storage is always welcomed.

2015 Sea Doo Snap in Fenders
One of Sea-Doo’s more creative new items are their snap-in fenders. Some might’ve noticed the vertical pin holes in the Spark’s bond rail. These are for the holding rod for the fenders. Sliding in and snapping snuggly around the bondrail, gone are concerns of marring your brand-new Spark against a dock or other ski.

https://youtu.be/480Evgg3HAQ

2015 Sea Doo Tow Pro
Finally, and one of the most interesting accessories is the Tow Pro collapsible tower. Unlike the retractable ski tower available on larger Recreation and Sport watercraft (and standard on all Wake models), the Tow Pro holds a wakeboard and rope, and works as a spotter-handgrip as well.