Home Blog Page 38

Unlimited PWC Launches New Cotton Spandex T-Shirts

0

Unlimited PWC just recently unveiled its latest additions to their apparel collection:  several versatile and stylish unisex T-shirts designed for both casual wear and outdoor activities. These new shirts, available in sleek white and bold neon green, come with two eye-catching logo options: their iconic “UNLTD” logo or the statement-making “Born to Ride.”

Crafted with Unlimited’s original hybrid fabric, the shirts are made of 100% cotton, offering a perfect blend of durability and comfort. The fabric’s firm texture ensures it will hold up well during all kinds of outdoor activities, and the smooth, soft feel makes it ideal for everyday use. Whether you’re heading out for some intense watersports, a gym session, or simply spending the day on the dock with some friends, these shirts are designed to keep up with your active lifestyle.

The versatility of these shirts extends beyond function. With their unisex design, they’re a great addition to any wardrobe and can be styled for a variety of occasions. Whether you’re a PWC enthusiast or just someone who appreciates high-quality apparel, these shirts deliver both style and comfort.

This new release from Unlimited PWC showcases their commitment to producing quality gear that performs both on and off the water. As they say on their website, “Whether you are looking for performance products for your ski, or gear for yourself, you’ll ‘look fast and go fast’ when you partner up with Unlimited PWC for a top-of-the-line shopping experience”

Grab your new Unlimited PWC t-shirt today to stay stylish and comfortable, whether you’re riding the waves or just hanging out.

Gallery: 2025 Sea-Doo Fish Pro Apex 300 (Video)

0

Sea-Doo first jumped into the fishing scene in 2019 with what was then just the Sea-Doo Fish Pro. Since expanding the Fish Pro family into three models – the GTI-based Scout, the mid-range Fish Pro Sport and the top tier Fish Pro Trophy, brand has experienced incredible growth in this global market.

Interestingly, Sea-Doo noted that since its introduction, the top-of-the-line Trophy has constituted an incredible 70 percent of all Fish Pro sales, dwarfing the entry and mid-range offerings 2-to-1. This alone gave Sea-Doo the green light to push the Fish Pro even further, by marrying two of the brand’s most over-the-top machines into one, namely the Explorer Pro and the Fish Pro Trophy – making the all-new Sea-Doo Fish Pro Apex 300.

Yes, they’re bringing the Apex moniker back but this time not on an RXP-X like before, but on the new Fish Pro 300 Apex. The new Apex of course, starts off with the now 7-year-old full-sized ST3 platform. Interestingly, when we asked Sea-Doo about the idea behind the Apex, they replied they simply were responding to all the various demands that they were getting from the lakeside and river fishermen.

The demand it seems was for a “everything but the kitchen sink” approach to a premier level fishing watercraft. From the Explorer Pro the Apex receives the element-deflecting windscreen. This rides on a unique perch that sits on a shock absorber. This allows the windscreen some “give” if the rider accidentally falls forward of the handlebars. It can also be folded forward on a hinge, snapping in and out of place with just a little force. The windscreen also includes a small flap vent to allow the slightest bit of breeze through.

Like our critique of the Explorer Pro, from which the Apex gets this item, the windscreen tends to distort one’s visibility particularly when wearing polarized sunglasses, making reading the water’s surface doubly difficult. Equally, the Apex receives the powder-coated bow rail ideal for tying up to the dock or tethering to a nearby fixture to stay in place.

Next, the Apex receives everything that made the Trophy unique: This means you’re getting the high-bolstered seat; you’re getting the angled footrests sitting at the top of the gunwales, you’re getting the extended deck – what Sea-Doo calls its Fish platform – and you’re getting the 13-and-a-half-gallon cooler. And of course, you’re getting a Garmin GPS. Yet, unlike the Trophy before it, the Apex is the only Sea-Doo to get the massive 9-inch Garmin Fish Finder with a full-color, touch screen monitor.

With the introduction of the Trophy model back in 2021, customers were entreated with a new swivel seat that mounted into the back platform. This same swivel seat is also found on the new Apex, including a dedicated backrest. There’s a little feature that a lot of people don’t know about it, and that is that you can’t go fast with this seat installed. In fact, there’s a little electronic trigger that deactivates the ECU and lets it know, “Hey listen, we got someone up on the swivel seat!” And so, you can only go in trolling mode. It’s a really smart safety feature that shows a little bit of ingenuity on behalf of Sea-Doo.

The swivel seat, of course, is unique to the Trophy and Apex models, as it does have these attachment points for the backrest that sits in the center storage bin and has a nice rigid base and of course, has the modified base that will accept the swivel. Equally, the 2021 Trophy introduced us to a live well tank pump system that also acted as a deck washer. This quick-release hose feature is also found on the Apex and has its own dedicated toggle switch found below the throttle trigger. The toggle can be set for “ON” to continuously run, “Timer” which activates the pump to circulate on a delay, and “OFF”.

Additionally, they stepped it up with the new angle mounted rod holders for the front and also included on the trophy a new gunwale-mounted anchor. The anchor of course, is tethered off of its own dedicated cleat and has a mesh bag so that the rope can air-dry while stowed. And it is a nice high quality, fully collapsible anchor too.

And since you can’t have enough rod holders, the Apex gives you seven of these. Obviously, we’ve got a whole bunch mounted all the way around the tank, but you can also attach these pretty easily right up here in front. Additionally, the Apex includes this cup holder. I will caution that the cup holder does not float. We learned this the hard way this morning. This is our second one today.

And just when we think we’re done listing all of the features, we remember a few more: The Apex does include Sea-Doo’s first drop-in cleats here in the back. You can see how easy they are to reach and use. They’re spring-loaded so that they’ll retract on their own.

Sea-Doo threw everything they got at the new steering system. Not only do you get the fully- adjustable steering neck that allows for three-and-a-half inches of adjustment – it’s really nice especially if you’re sitting back on the seat; you can actually reach the handlebars without leaning forward – but Sea-Doo also included the new aluminum neck and hydraulically-damped steering knuckle.

The hydraulic damped steering soaks up a lot of the wanderings that the ST3 hull likes to do, particularly in rough water. This gives a very insulated, very padded feeling to your steering and steering input. It does get a bit more responsive the tighter you adjust it. Again, there’s three levels or settings to the damper, allowing you to set it loose or very, very tight.

Now, even at its lowest setting it’s not necessarily stock or what you’d call “undamped”, but the looser setting does have a little bit more of a playfulness to it, and you can adjust it all the way to really tight, almost like you’re fighting it. Some people do like it that tight; I’m somewhere in the middle personally, but again, you’re going to find what adjustment you like best for you.

But of course, I’m leaving out the best part, and this is that the Apex is Sea-Doo’s first supercharged Fish Pro. Now, while 300 horsepower and 68 miles per hour is a lot of fun, it does tend to be a little thirsty. We found that our average speed was drinking about 4 to 4-and-a-quarter gallons per hour. That may obviously vary depending upon your altitude, how heavy you are and of course, how fast you choose to go at your cruising speed that will affect how long your 18-and-a-half-gallon fuel tank will last throughout the day. So again, your trigger finger is going to be the most important factor when it comes to your fuel usage.

But let’s be honest; if you’re gonna fork over the dough for a 300-horsepower, supercharged powerplant, fuel consumption is not exactly your highest priority – right? (And if it is, you bought the wrong machine, bucko.) Now the Fish Pro Apex does mark a lot of “firsts” for Sea-Doo, and that’s a good thing…well, except for one:

And that is the price tag. The Sea-Doo Fish Pro Apex 300 comes in at $24,500, making it the most expensive Sea-Doo to date. Of course, you’re getting a lot for your money, especially if you were to try to equip a Fish Pro Trophy, a Fish pro Sport or even a GTX 300 with all of the gear that Sea-Doo gives you standard on the Apex.

Another “first” comes in the way of total weight. Sea-Doo lists all of its vehicles’ weight as “dry weight” – meaning without a battery, oil, coolant and especially gasoline. Officially, the Apex comes in at 978 pounds, but when factoring for the aforementioned battery and chemicals, the Apex is pushing well over 1,100 pounds – certainly a first for Sea-Doo. The Apex is rated up to 600-pounds of cargo capacity. That could be you and a passenger and all of the equipment that you brought with you… or it could just be YOU and all the equipment you choose to bring.

Again, LinQ allows you to bring a whole lot of equipment. And as far as LinQ attachments go, it has the extended Fish Pro deck and we also have a second set of LinQ attachments here in back so you can bring extra gas or a smaller cooler if you want to bring your food or if you want to bring a big cargo bag for a change of clothes, some warmer clothes, a towel… whatever you might need.

And because it is an Apex that means that it’s a one year only model. It’s very likely that we’ll see equipment shown here available on the Trophy in 2026. Maybe not a 300-horsepower model though. Again, they were hinting that this unit will be very unique for this model year only. So, if it does hit all the marks for you, this might be the year to jump on. Because if you snooze you very well may lose in 2026.

Gratefully, Sea-Doo allowed us to have the Apex for the day up here in Minnesota and we’ve been playing around in a lot of the shallows and even in deeper water with what all the things that the Apex offers. That being said, the Garmin Fish Finder and that big 9-inch screen has got to be the takeaway winner for this model.

The big 9-inch screen allows you to see the sea floor, see some of the fish activity below you, and is giving you live data and GPS tracking so that you can set your waymarks. Get out to your favorite spot, and then make your way home. It’s a little bit of a labyrinth out here in the land of 10,000 lakes, and we’re very grateful that we have the navigation to find our way home.

Another thing that we really appreciate personally is the addition of the new steering neck. We’re able to stand up and ride very comfortably. You do have five points of articulation, and with the added height that comes from the adjustable steering, we’re able to stand up very comfortably and ride home and stretch our legs and straight out our back.

It does feel rather nice, so we do like the addition of the new steering neck. The damper, of course, is really appreciated on the ST3 platform, more so than even on the RXPX because again, the behavior of the big watercraft in a variety of rougher water when the wind kicks up, we really do like the dampen steering.

Navigating the tech package screen is done very easily, using the diamond-shaped toggle pads on the handlebar pods. They do have a nice tactile response. You do get a nice audible click when you do engage them. And even though you’re on the water, you do get to feel that response every time you do touch the pad. In our assessment there just really isn’t anything more than we would add to this watercraft.

Looking at the Apex with a 30,000-foot view, it’s pretty clear to see Sea-Doo’s strategy here: they’re less interested in luring existing enthusiasts into the sport of jet ski fishing, but rather, get fishermen to start going jet skiing. Most people coming to The Watercraft Journal are already diehard enthusiasts looking for the latest greatest new model. It’s only by happenstance that total newcomers are finding this publication as a means of research.

That being said, what’s our take on the new Fish Pro Apex 300? Frankly put, we cannot think of another necessary thing that is lacking besides maybe a trolling motor and a wild metal flake paint job. (But maybe Sea-Doo is holding back for the ultimate bass-fishing edition of the Fish Pro? That would be pretty cool!) Instead, the Apex comes in some pretty muted greens. The deep forest green and that really nice purple silver does really pop in the sun. As you can see.

All in all, we’re very happy with the final result of Apex. I think it’s a really good package. It just appeals to a group of people who might not be the core jet ski audience. Don’t let the $24,500 asking price shock you all that much – trying to replicate such an equipped personal watercraft will set you back closer to $30,000 dollars. Instead, Sea-Doo has done all of the hard work for you. All that’s left now is picking the perfect spot to cast a line and choosing which bait to use.

Racers From Six Countries Battled For Championship Points on Lake Toho; MACC Racing Provides Race Recap

0
Photo Credit: RonnyMac.com

More than fifty riders traveled to Central Florida for the SBT P1 AquaX Kissimmee/St. Cloud Grand Prix last weekend (September 21-22), where riders from six countries lined up to battle in both the Pro and Am Enduro classes, all seeking to add points in the race for the AquaX National Championship.

Short Block Technologies (SBT), the largest personal watercraft aftermarket parts company in the world, is the title sponsor of the series, which kicked off in Daytona Beach in April. The championship receives television coverage on the Bally Sports Regional Networks.

Last weekend’s race was the 11th time East Lake Tohopekaliga has served as a AquaX host, and P1 USA Director of Operations Michelle Petro said, “We always look forward to returning because we receive such a warm welcome from both presenting sponsor Experience Kissimmee and the City of St. Cloud. We regard this event as our hometown race with it being so close to our Orlando race headquarters and the very first venue we visited in Florida in 2013.”

Photo Credit: RonnyMac.com

While full official results have not yet been released, The Watercraft Journal got a race recap and update from Monster Energy MACC Racing, with Chris MacClugage securing his first race win of the season and taking 2nd overall on Lake Toho. You can read the full recap below. 

The final two race events of the SBT P1 AquaX season, scheduled for October and November, will take the riders to Florida’s Gulf Coast, with St. Petersburg and Clearwater being the host venues.

MacClugage Secures First Race Win of the Season and P2 Overall at P1 AquaX – Kissimmee/St Cloud

East Lake Toho, St Cloud, FL – September 22, 2024 – Monster Energy MACC Racing delivered an exhilarating performance at the P1 AquaX event in Kissimmee St Cloud, as Chris MacClugage clinched his first race win of the season and achieved second place overall. The action-packed weekend unfolded at East Lake Tohopekaliga, where riders from six countries competed fiercely in Round 3 of the Pro and Round 4 of the Am AquaX US National Championship. 

Race 1 Pro Enduro Highlights 

The weekend began with favorable conditions on Saturday, as the flatter waters of Lake Toho provided a stark contrast to the challenging surf races on the ocean and Lake Michigan. Monster Energy MACC Racing team riders Chris MacClugage and Tim Miller opted for the faster Yamaha GP Jet Ski rather than the larger more stable Yamaha FX to maximize their performance in the flatter conditions. 

Photo Credit: RonnyMac.com

MacClugage got off to a strong start, trailing closely behind Dustin Farthing as they approached the first turn. MacClugage caught the wrong side of a wave coming out of the holeshot allowing Anthony Radetic to overtake him on the inside. MacClugage settled in behind Radetic on the Seadoo for most of the race. In a dramatic turn of events, Radetic’s late-race mistake enabled MacClugage to seize the opportunity and finish in second place. 

Tim Miller also had a promising start, emerging from the holeshot in fourth place. He maintained this position for the majority of the race until he had to navigate around a crash in front of him during the final laps. Unfortunately this allowed Tory Snyder and Chris Landis to pass, resulting in a sixth-place finish for Miller in Race 1.

Challenging Conditions on Sunday 

Sunday morning brought a shift in weather, with increased wind creating choppy white caps on East Lake Toho. After securing a third-place finish in Race 2, MacClugage and the Monster Energy MACC Racing team made crucial adjustments to his jet ski setup to better handle the rougher conditions. The team’s hard work and MacClugage’s improved level of fitness paid off, as he led from the start in Race 3, ultimately claiming his first race win of the season and securing second place overall for the weekend. Photo Credit: RonnyMac.com Tim Miller contributed valuable points to the team with another consistent performance, finishing the weekend in seventh place overall. 

Photo Credit: RonnyMac.com

Cooper Caldwell Dominates AM 200 Class

In the AM 200 Class, Cooper Caldwell delivered an outstanding performance, achieving a clean sweep. Caldwell won Race 1 and engaged in some tough battles in Race 2 before emerging victorious in Race 3, securing an overall first-place finish for the weekend. His impressive performance has already secured him the 2024 AM 200 Class championship title, with one race remaining in the season. 

Monster Energy MACC Racing extends a massive shoutout to all our incredible sponsors and dedicated pit crew. Your unwavering support is what makes weekends like these possible! Join us next time as the team competes in Round 4 of the P1 AquaX National Championships in St. Petersburg, FL, from October 18-20. For more information and updates, visit Maccracing.com and follow us on social media.

Combat Rust and Corrosion, Safeguarding your Engine with Yamalube

0

The concept is bottom-level basic – maintenance is mandatory, not recommended.

This especially holds true for changing the oil on your PWC.

Yamaha recommends changing oil every 50 hours, saying that changing your engine oil regularly helps preserve engine health. Old oil contains contaminants that can harm your engine, while fresh oil ensures smooth operation. And Yamaha takes smooth operation seriously.

“At Yamaha, there is no single department in charge of oil,” said Mike Ricciardi, Yamaha WaterCraft Product Development Manager. “Rather, oil development is carried out by engineers in charge of developing and building our engines. We have taken extraordinary steps in the development of Yamalube lubricants. We have our own oil certification committee. This group brings together both our own chemical engineers and the very same team who designs our engines having access to proprietary specifications about our engines. This group has an unmatched pool of knowledge from which to draw in creating oil formulas that far exceed all other competitive brands.”

Visually, oil for personal watercraft and boats and oil for cars doesn’t look very different, but there are significant differences in how they are used, Ricciardi stresses.

As marine engines are for use on the water, rust prevention is one obvious concern, but the biggest is the load these engines are subjected to being that its common practice to run marine engines at full throttle for hours on end.

“Our Yamalube oil for Yamaha WaveRunner and Boat engines is blended specifically to deliver enhanced protection and durability as well as peace of mind on the water,” said Ricciardi. “As our boats and PWC evolve, Yamalube is the only line of care products that can keep up.”

Specifically crafted for Yamaha boats and personal watercraft, Yamalube undergoes rigorous testing to guarantee a smoother, more confident ride every time you hit the water. Specially formulated to combat rust and corrosion, safeguarding your engine from marine elements, Yamalube offers top-tier protection, engineered to excel under extreme conditions and extends engine life by minimizing wear.

Yamalube and oil change kits are available directly from Yamaha, and are available at many of WCJ’s partnering retailers.

Following are some oil change tips and tutorials straight from Yamaha:

Checking your oil level.
The oil level check procedure for your Yamaha four-stroke WaveRunner is a bit different than the procedure for your car. It’s easy to get an accurate reading if you follow the procedure outlined in your owner’s manual. A few things to keep in mind:
Always check your engine oil level with the engine up to full operating temperature.
It is OK if the oil level is anywhere within the hash marks of the oil level dipstick.
If you do need to top off your engine oil, be sure to use Yamalube® 4W 10W-40 Oil

What oil should I use?
The engine in your Yamaha WaveRunner is vastly different from your automotive engine; so avoid regular automotive engine oils. Use a motor oil specifically formulated for the rigors of the marine environment, like Yamalube 4W for four-stroke WaveRunners, and Yamalube 2W for two-stroke WaveRunners.

Let’s look at a few reasons why:
Engine load. The typical loads placed on your WaveRunner are much heavier than on your automobile, having to overcome a much greater amount of drag to create performance. This means your WaveRunner is working much harder than your automobile’s engine. Yamalube 4W and 2W marine engine oils contain specific anti-wear additives to account for this.

Engine speed. Your WaveRunner operates at a much higher RPM than your automobile’s engine. It must rev higher to create higher speeds, rather than just changing gears like your car. That means your WaveRunner may run all day long at 4500-6000 RPM, rather than the 2500 RPM your car reaches at highway speeds. That’s tough on your oil and can literally shear (or split) the molecules in ordinary automotive oil, reducing lubricity. Yamalube 4W and 2W have special shear-stable polymers to combat this and provide superior lubrication at all times.

Operating temperature. WaveRunners are cooled using raw water, which is often cool to very cold. On the other hand, saltwater will begin to crystalize if its temperature is raised above 170°, potentially causing blockage in the cooling passages and leading to engine overheat and possible damage. Because of these two factors, your WaveRunner operates full-time at a temperature much lower than your automobile and requires very different qualities in its lubricating oil. Yamalube marine oils have detergents, dispersants and viscosity index improvers to meet these marine-specific challenges head-on.

Operating Environment. Your WaveRunner is constantly near water, sucking in very humid air directly off the water’s surface in order to operate. This humid air also gets inside combustion chambers through open valves when the engine is not running. And in a saltwater environment, that air is even more corrosive. It’s one of the harshest environments imaginable for an engine. Yamalube 4W and 2W are purposely formulated with special anti-corrosion agents to help combat and prevent the corrosive effects of this environment.

Yamalube® WaveRunner engine oils provide specific protection other oils don’t, using a proprietary blend of marine-specific anti-wear additives, shear-stable polymers, corrosion inhibitors, detergents, dispersants and viscosity index improvers. In short, they’re far superior to automotive engine oils in their strength of protection, durability and corrosion resistance.

Aren’t all oil filters pretty much the same?
Outwardly, perhaps. But it’s what’s on the inside that counts most. Yamaha oil filters are manufactured specifically to protect Yamaha engines, using only the finest components and construction methods available. This includes a special filter media and metal filter media bases (instead of cardboard), to help them achieve a level of durability and filtration far superior than most “off-the-shelf” oil filters. From the quality of the materials used to their high-quality construction, they simply outperform and out-protect most aftermarket alternatives.
What Yamalube oils are right for my WaveRunner?

Yamalube 4W: Reformulated to better protect your investment from the harsh effects of cold starts, hours of trolling and high-load, high-speed operation, its special anti-corrosive additives are particularly suited for the harsh marine environment.

Yamalube 2W: This Yamaha-formulated oil provides outstanding protection for two-stroke, water-cooled engines, with its special blend of additives that help combat ring stick, corrosion, varnish and wear. It’s a standard by which other two-stroke oils are judged.

Can I change my own oil?
Absolutely, but you don’t have to. If you’d rather leave it to your Yamaha WaveRunner dealer, they will be happy to take care of it for you in their specially trained and properly equipped service department. That also means you won’t have to dispose of the used oil yourself. But if you prefer to do it yourself, your Yamaha dealer can set you up with a Genuine Yamalube Oil Change Kit, specific to your Yamaha WaveRunner. It includes the right type and amount of Yamalube oil, and a Genuine Yamaha oil filter. 

Plan Ahead for the Off Season With JetX Service

0

Few of us like to think about it, at least Not Yet! – but the 2024 riding season will be coming to a close quicker than you’d like, especially for those in the Great-White-North-And-Adjacent regions.

And while it’s tempting to just tuck the ski and trailer in a corner, hoping the less attention we pay to the fact that we’re not riding, the quicker Spring will spin back around – that is a good way to make sure you spend the first month of next year’s riding season making up for your lack of proper season-end care.

The Watercraft Journal, in the paragraphs below, will outline a checklist to go through when winterizing your ski – along with some tips, tricks and advice for each step.

However, if you’re fortunate enough to live within reasonable (or unreasonable, if you’re up for a road trip) distance of Woodbridge, Ontario, Canada, we’ll let the spoiler slip now – you can skip a good deal of the following checklist and just bring your ski in to JetX and let the pros take care of the winterization process for you.

The crew at JetX boasts more than 25 years of experience, combined with the knowledge and skills gained from hands-on work and extensive training, to take care of your machine, regardless of which brand logo is stamped on the side – Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Kawasaki or Polaris – JetX can get the job done.

While many in the PWC industry equate Jet X with speed and performance – thanks in great part to the name company head man Ryan Dalli carries in the race family, along with the power of the current JetX race team of Jay Edworthy, Dave Davidson, Nathan Dalli and Noah Dalli – more “mundane” tasks such as maintenance and seasonal tasks form the solid base that all powersports equipment require, and JetX has you covered.

So keep an eye on the JetX website and social media pages to be the first to take advantage of the deals when they bring out their end-of-season specials to take care of the down-time necessities, and next season, you can swing back by JetX, located off the 427 just west of Martin Grove Rd in Woodbridge, and have them tune you up with their “go-fast” tune packages.

Checklist:

Jet Pump: Spray Jet pump intake and outlet with water to remove any lingering debris. Perform a visual inspection of the intake and outlet to make sure there are no cracks or other visible signs of excess wear. Remove the impeller cover to verify no water has collected. Reassemble. Using a lubricant specifically designed for marine applications and labeled as “anti-corrosive,” apply a coat to visible areas of intake and outtake to prevent rust and corrosion during storage.

Fuel: Add manufacturer-approved fuel stabilizer to prevent fuel breakdown that will result in the build-up of deposits. Follow directions for specific stabilizers. Use this time to check for fuel system leaks, being alert for visual signs of leaks or the smell of fuel.

Oil: Change engine oil and filter per manufacturer instructions.

Exhaust System: Flush contaminants from exhaust system – again, be sure to follow manufacturer directions to flush a ski out of water – being very sure not to run the engine without flowing water for longer than recommended.

Following a flush, especially in colder climates, it is important to dry out the system using compressed air pushed into the flushing connector hose.

Internal engine lubrication (fogging): Specific steps vary significantly among brands and models, so be sure to follow the recommended process for your specific brand and model PWC.

Battery: Remove battery from PWC to guarantee that no draw is being made on the battery during non-use. Use of a battery charger/maintainer is recommended but not mandatory.

Hull: Don’t forget the exterior of your PWC – wash the hull to remove grime and stains, inspecting hull for any damages as you work.

Store for the winter. Use an opaque, breathable cover or tarp if stored outdoors. Do not wrap in plastic or other non-breathable material.

You can also check out this winterization tutorial WCJ featured in Sept. 2021.

 

Relax in Style with Inflatable Water Mats

0

While there’s always plenty of excitement to be had chasing adrenaline across the water on a PWC, sometimes the best part of a day out on the lake is the time spent relaxing with friends and family. Traditional docks and lakeside beaches can be great, but for those without easy access to them, carving out your own space at a public area can be a challenge. That’s where inflatable water mats come in, offering the perfect place to entertain and relax without ever being more than a few inches from the water.

Boating Magazine recently highlighted some of the top models on the market, showing just how versatile these devices have become. Some, like Bote’s 100-square-foot inflatable dock, are designed to offer traction and stability, mimicking traditional deck conditions. Others, like the Mission Outdoor Reef 85 Inflatable Water Mat, are more playful and ideal for kids. There are even inflatable pools and “water hammocks” that provide an enclosed, laid-back experience, allowing you to enjoy the water without needing to swim the whole time.

One key consideration, especially for those anchoring these mats off a PWC, is their weight. Models vary widely in this regard. Some are as light as 23 pounds, making them easy to haul even on smaller watercraft, while larger options like the 72-pound Bote dock might be too much for a smaller engine to handle. One route to consider is purchasing an inflatable dock made specifically for PWC use, such as the Paradise Pad Jet Ski Dock or T Pad Dock, both from LightAsAir Boats.

For anyone looking to add a fun new accessory to their water adventures, check out Boating Magazine’s guide for a breakdown of which models are worth the investment!

Capture Every Moment with Active JetSport’s Ultimate Sea-Doo GoPro Mount

0

Have you ever wanted to be able to capture a thrilling moment on your personal watercraft without stopping and missing a beat? Whether you’re tearing across the water on your Sea-Doo or cruising with friends, Active JetSport’s innovative GoPro mount for the 2021+ Sea-Doo RXP-X and GTR-X 300 lets you document your adventures with ease. This versatile mount not only keeps your camera secure but also offers multiple attachment options to ensure you’ll be able to not only capture your best moments, but attach a wide variety of tech to your JetSki with no hassle at all.

Constructed from high-quality aluminum and finished with a hard black anodized coating, this mount is built for durability, designed to withstand the toughest conditions on the water. Installation is simple, taking just one minute with the included wrench, so you can spend more time riding and less time fussing over gear. With three accessory slots, the Active JetSport mount supports a wide range of gadgets that use the standard ¼-20 UNC threads—whether it’s your GoPro, GPS, or gauges, it’s all easily within reach.

Another thing that really sets this mount apart are the two 360-degree rotating mounts, meaning you’re no longer stuck with a single camera angle. Want to capture your friend shredding on your left, then pivot to a scenic shot on your right? No problem—just rotate the camera without having to stop your ride.

This mount is compatible with several Sea-Doo models, including the latest 2024 RXP-X 325 and GTR-X 300, as well as models from 2021-2023. It’s a versatile upgrade that ensures you won’t miss a single second of your watercraft adventures. Whether you’re filming for fun or tracking performance, this mount is the ultimate companion for your Sea-Doo.

Be sure to check the Sea-Doo RXP-X GTR-X 300/325 GoPro Mount out now on ActiveJetSport’s website!

Cycle Spring Motorsports Offers Benefits Beyond Great Prices and Selection

0

Cycle Springs Powersports’ huge selection of PWCs from all of the top lines, amazing sale prices,and generous trade-in deals are the up-front benefits that draw the majority of customers through the door, or to their website.

But for many customers, it’s the benefits on the back end of the deal that make them repeat customers, with the upgrades and protections that Cycle Springs offers for each purchase ensuring that customers not only leave the store happy, but stay happy.

Cycle Springs offers a family of add-ons, dubbed their “salt series” that offer protections from the harshness of the elements, improve comfort, and increase the overall riding experience on your new purchase.

Protection upgrades
External Engine Protection – Protect the outside of your watercraft engine with our industry exclusive engine protection system! Mid-pressure rail system with customized spray heads is used to coat, rinse lubricate and protect all engine bay components from condensation, humidity and saltwater exposure. Easy access port and refillable cartridge to save money, time and to increase the longevity of your vessel.

Internal Engine Protection – Professionally installed fogging port for protection of the engine’s cylinder wall, valves, and pistons against internal corrosion. Fogging for storage and saltwater usage is recommended by all manufacturer bulletins. The installed port provides easy access to ensure continued warranty engine coverage.

Hull Protection – Custom designed and manufactured pop up stainless steel cleats are installed allowing secure docking to protect your watercraft. Specially designed installation process to ensure proper fit and strength for long-lasting usage.

Comfort upgrades
Personal Misting System – Remote controlled personal misting system refreshes with a touch of a button. Flush mounted mid pressure spray nozzles are strategically positioned to create a cool and relaxing fine mist.

PWC Underseat Storage – Hand laid fiberglass under seat compartment for additional storage and other heavy items for increased storage capacity for your PWC. (Currently only available on VX models).

Maintenance Upgrade
Fuel Injection Treatment – With the replacement of carburetors with electronic injection systems, it is vital to service, clean, and maintain your fuel injection system. To optimize performance, fuel economy and reliability, Cycle Springs Powersports offers a state of the art computerized fuel injection flow and cleaning process. For just a small charge you can make sure your vehicle/vessel is running optimally when you need it and eliminate hard starting, surging, poor fuel economy and excessive wear on internal components.

In addition, with Cycle Springs Powersports Advantage membership, benefits include
Reimbursement – If your vehicle is stolen and not recovered, or deemed a total loss from theft within the first 12 months from purchase, you could qualify for up to $1,000 reimbursement. This can be applied to your next vehicle purchase, equal or greater in value than the stolen unit. Required documentation includes a police report of the theft, primary insurance receipts, and an insurance settlement letter within 60 days of the event.

Key Repair/Replacement – If you lose, damage, or destroy your key or key fob, we’ll reimburse up to $200 for its repair or replacement at Cycle Springs locations. This covers the key insert, metal key, key/remote housing, Bluetooth unit, and any programming costs. This benefit is available once every 12 months.

Parts Discount – Enjoy a 15% discount on any part or accessory at Cycle Springs, with unlimited use for the first 12 months. Maximum total discount is $5,000.

Inspection – Eligible for a free 27-point multi-point inspection, ideal for those considering an extended manufacturer warranty. Available 10-12 months from the sale date.

VIP Events – As a VIP customer of Cycle Springs you will receive complimentary invitations to special events before the public. These advanced communications will be used for, but not limited to, manufacturer-hosted parties, new model showings, golf, and other charity luncheons and events.

Be sure to check out all these added reasons to do all your powersports shopping at Cycle Springs by visiting their website, or dropping by the showroom at 29703 US Hwy 19 N. in Clearwater, Florida.

East Coast Watercross Season Closes in Battle With Mother Nature

0
Photo Courtesy East Coast Watercross and Photographer Tyler Reardon @treardon41
Photo Courtesy East Coast Watercross and Photographer Tyler Reardon @treardon41

While few could argue that there has been some shakeups in the PWC Race world as of late, one would also have trouble arguing that, when it comes down to the bottom line, this sport offers one of the best race experiences available – powerful machines, skilled riders, beautiful locations, passionate fans, and dedicated race promoters and officials. Even fewer would argue that East Coast Watercross isn’t proof of concept in each and every one of those categories.

And the 2024 season was no exception. From the opening round in Webster, Massachusetts back in early June to last week’s season closer in Sylvan Beach, New York, ECW proved yet again why, year after year, the tour continues to draw both a loyal core of racers, and those new to the sport.

The Sylvan Beach race, held on Sept. 7-8, not only closed out the ECW 10-round season, held over five weekends, but served as the IJSBA Two Stroke National Championship and drew racers from more than 14 states and Canada, with 144 entries on Saturday and 129 on Sunday.

Photo Courtesy East Coast Watercross and Photographer Tyler Reardon @treardon41

Despite poor cooperation from Mother Nature, racers put in the motos that could be completed safely between the heavy winds and 10’ waves. Be sure to check out the full recap from race officials below, and head to IJSBA’s website for the Round 9 & 10 results as well as season standings.

IJSBA is pleased to announce the results of the IJSBA Two Stroke National Championships held as the final rounds, 9 and 10, of the 2024 East Coast Watercross series. Please see the following recap and results as well as the end of the season results. Congratulations to all competitors.

This past weekend on Sept 7/8 we had our 9th and 10th round of the season on the shores of Oneida Lake in Sylvan Beach New York. It was our season finale as well as our IJSBA Two Stroke Nationals weekend so we drew in large crowds and racers in from over 14 states and Canada. We had 144 entries on Saturday and 129 on Sunday!

The weather on Friday was perfect and the lake was glass flat which made for the opportunity to build a large and intricate course. We unfortunately woke up Saturday morning to 20mph winds that built all day long, we battled large waves and heavy winds and rains all day long and eventually cut our race day short in the name of safety around 4-5 pm. We had a great awards ceremony into the evening with a huge crowd.

Photo Courtesy East Coast Watercross and Photographer Tyler Reardon @treardon41

Sunday we had even heavier winds blowing in all day long with a peak gust of 45 mph and steady 25 mph winds which whipped Lake Onieda into a frenzy, we had over 10’ tall waves to battle through and ultimately we only got to complete 6 motos before we had to make the hard decision to pull everyone off the water, it was getting to dark and to wavy to warrant the risk level, as soon as I made the call I saw the local Fire Dept posted on facebook to get off the lake so we knew we made the right call. We moved out awards ceremony into Harpoon Eddies restaurant and bar and everyone enjoyed a dry afternoon of season finale awards so it ended well.

At our awards ceremony we drew a raffle ticket for the winner of our giveaway X2 ski and a young kid of a family of X2 racers won it so they were ecstatic and he will be on the line with it next year racing for his first year in the junior x2 class!

BRP’s Uncharted Society Up To 300+ Adventure Packages Just Waiting For You – Vehicle Included

0

Long long ago, in a land far far away … well, OK, July 21, 2020 wasn’t THAT Long ago, but the places The Watercraft Journal featured on that day were – at least for many of us – far far away. 

Because July 2020 was when BRP launched their brand new Uncharted Society

Created specifically for the adventurous at heart – those who dream of exploring exotic destinations (aboard a Sea-Doo, of course), those who daydream of carving through Rocky Mountain snowy terrain (on a brand new Ski-Doo snowmobile) and those who yearned for a meandering trip through a a desolate western landscape (you guessed it – on a Can-Am) – Uncharted Society was the solution for the adventurer with, perhaps, dreams bigger than their pocketbook. 

Kicked off as a test project, the idea behind Uncharted Society was to eliminate a hefty portion of the cost barrier to embarking on those dreamed-of adventures. 

At the July 2020 launch, the program offered more than 40 expertly curated experiences using powersports vehicles in the United States. From the Grand Canyon, Zion National Park, the Gulf of Mexico, the Rockies, Joshua Tree, and more, BRP said the adventures were created to “encourage more outdoor enthusiasts to experience the thrill of powersports and for new audiences to live awesome adventures.  This will in turn increase awareness of and access to BRP vehicles, and introduce them to a new generation that might not have had traditionally been exposed to the thrill of powersports. For each of our adventures, we are collaborating with the best certified local outfitters to ensure we provide the best, most memorable experience possible. Wilderness Collective offers a wide variety of adventures on various terrain types using different BRP product lines. “Our collaboration with Uncharted Society and BRP goes so much further than offering the best machines to our customers; we align on a passion for adventure, a deep understanding of our customers and a bold vision for the future of powersports adventures.” Steve Dubbeldam, CEO of the Wilderness Collective.”

“Over the past few months, we have been working with some of the best outfitters out there to reimagine powersports adventures and what they can offer to guests. Uncharted Society is our first step in making experiencing our products more accessible by bringing to the market a curated premium collection of adventures for all,” Simon Cazelais, Director, Content Strategy & BRP-X Innovation Lab, said at the launch. 

So that was a little more than 4 years ago, and WCJ was curious to see if the program made it past its fledgling stage…

After visiting the Uncharted Society website, all we can say is, our Editor is currently packing her bags! (OK, (I WISH I was packing my bags!) 

Unlike many creative and innovative ideas that flounder and die after the first blush wears off, Uncharted Society seems to be cruising right along at top speed – and their website is well designed to grab the attention of the adventurer-at-heart. 

Although we have followed along on a few adventures with individuals, friends, couples and families that were arranged through the Uncharted Society in the past four years, WCJ has not yet given a tour around this well-laid out website, nor detailed exactly what BRP crafted to cater to its adventure-seeking audience. 

From the original 30 adventure packages, Uncharted Society has now created more than 300 unique opportunities to fit just about any outdoor adventure aspiration – and while there are a plethora of stateside aventures just waiting for your next 3-day weekend or quick jaunt – for those with eyes set beyond America’s borders, there are international opportunities galore, including chilly Sea-Doo cruises in Alaska and warmer ones in Spain, ATVs in Iceland, a 5 day, 6 night guided Ski-Doo adventure in New Brunswick, Canada, Can-Am Maverick trips in the sand dunes of Dubai, and Ski-Doos in Chile. 

With the arrangement of the website, you can find your perfect adventure a number of ways; by destination, by vehicle, by ride type (rental or guided), and by duration (Half day or less, Full-day, Multi-day, Multi-hour) – and there does seem to be a little something for everyone. 

And if you’re not sure about jumping into the adventure – take a browse through the Uncharted Society Blog, and you may find just the right fit.

So, whether you have a specific adventure or expedition you’ve been dreaming about, or are just looking for inspiration, Uncharted Society is definitely a place to start planning when you’re ready to turn dreams into reality.