Sure, jet skis shooting around the lake and cutting a few buoys is second nature for a personal watercraft, but how about a snowmobile? Yes, that’s right a snowmobile. Skimming across the water using a tank tread and a pair of skis, snowmobiles actually produce enough kinetic energy to displace the surface tension of the lake and effectively glide across without sinking. (That’s not to say that some don’t sink.)
The IWA (International Watercross Association) puts on a full calendar’s worth of racing events hosting eight different classes – including drag and oval classes – all summer long. As per the IWA’s website, “The International Watercross Association is a member owned and operated nonprofit organization founded in 1988. The mission of the IWA is to provide a safe, uniform environment for the sanctioning and promotion of the sport of Snowmobile Watercross Racing.”
Bringing all of that exciting on the water action to the masses is cable channel MAVTV, who many of you will recognize as the network that produces “Dangerous Waters,” the long distance personal watercraft show. But when the Dangerous Waters crew are out filming new episodes, MAVTV is bringing you some awesome snowmobile racing…on the water! Namely, the Lucas Oil On The Edge show.
Lucas Oil On the Edge brings its viewers motorsports coverage that you might not normally see on national television. With stuff like motorcycle flat track racing, midget racing, swamp buggy racing and even team demolition derby.
Does anybody else remember that terrible fad of online grocery shopping (PinkDot.com, anyone)? While ideal for the incredibly lazy or the chronically agoraphobic, that fad quickly came and went. But what resulted from the boom of online commerce was the rising shopping juggernaut, Amazon.com. Dwarfing retail chains like Wal-Mart and challenging digital auction site eBay.com, Amazon fulfills nearly 75 billion dollars (as of January 2014, according to Digital Book World) in online sales a year.
For companies looking for the maximum amount of access to the single-largest group of motivated buyers, Amazon.com is clearly the way to go. Now for 2015, EZ Throttle – the industry’s first ergonomic throttle extension lever – has its own piece of Amazon real estate! Now, you can extend the existing finger throttles on Yamaha, WaveRunner, Sea-Doo, or Kawasaki PWCs, making the throttles more comfortable and easier to control even easier!
Taking less than a minute to install, the two-part EZ Throttle slips over all Yamaha and Kawasaki personal watercraft, and all X-Series and iTC-equipped Sea-Doos (more specifically, Sea-Doos featuring finger throttles). Now, thanks to EZ Throttle, you can ride all day long without the typical fatigue you get using the same one or two fingers. Not only does it improve your grip, but permits for greater leverage for precise throttle control while towing tubes, skiers or skaters!
Pop quiz, hot shot: what’s the number one complaint people have about the Sea-Doo Spark? Easy. Its plastic hull. Right? Right. It’s not plastic, per se but a “low density and high-impact composite material that includes polypropylene and long glass fiber reinforcements.” But for the layman, Sea-Doo’s proprietary (and recyclable) Polytec material is “plastic.” And whether you’re tuning in to Yamaha’s viral videos, checking out pics of Spark hulls being punctured by the thrust of more powerful runabouts or failed patch jobs, it’s very likely that your faith in a Polytec hull can be a little shaky.
Consider several reasons why Sea-Doo opted to go with the unconventional hull material: 1) weight savings. The molded Polytec hull helps keep the Spark (2-up) just a smidgen over 400 pounds. That’s ridiculously light, especially for a runabout. 2) It’s environmentally friendly. Being recyclable is a very nice thing to have on a resume. And if appealing to young, environmentally-conscious buyers is the goal, being recyclable is a good feather to have in your cap. And 3) It’s cheap. OK, “cheap” is a dirty word, so maybe “cost effective” is more PR friendly. Either way, it helps keep the cost of each Spark down.
But what happens when the mere presence of the Polytec hull thwarts potential sales? Trust us, it happens and there’s no shortage of folks willing to go on and on about how “terrible” it is. The Watercraft Journal caught all sorts of grief for naming the Sea-Doo Spark as the 2014 Watercraft of The Year, with most (if not all of its detractors siting the plastic hull as being it’s number one disqualifier). If we’re fielding hate mail like this, we can’t imagine what BRP is going through. So is there a reasonable solution that satisfies the above criteria?
Well, not entirely. But close. If today’s standup aftermarket has shown us anything is that quality (and durable) carbon fiber hulls are the future of lightweight, top performance personal watercraft. Hull shapers have maximized the science of strakes, chines and pump design to eject freestylers into the air with incredible speed and accuracy, all the while withstanding astounding force and impact. Hull makers like Rick Roy Products (RRP), Trinity, Krash Industries, XScream, TigerCraft, and Hurricane Industries have each carved out a piece of the incredibly intimate standup market with marked success.
We talked with Derrick Kemnitz Jr., owner of the aforementioned Hurricane Industries, about the probability of a carbon fiber hull for a Spark. He explained, “It’s definitely doable, nothing different from what I do now, just on a slightly bigger scale – the only thing I see as a concern would be that the Spark is a super inexpensive ski, so the majority of the sales are to the guys who don’t want to shell out the big cash for the big boats. Same with the guys on the 550’s and X2s, Which generally means they won’t want to afford a $8,000 replacement carbon hull.”
And yes, the estimate for $8,000 would be a deal breaker. But what if that was dropped down to $2,000 (or less)? Kemnitz explained that most of that cost would cover research and development, testing and finally production of the hull. With a larger quantity order, and more importantly, a deposit to cover initial costs, that initial quote dramatically drops. “It’s not cheap to start production on a new item,” he continued. “Lots of guys ask me to make a fixed-steering Hurricane, but no one is willing to make a deposit on a hull, which is why we won’t have a fixed-steering hull.”
But what if there was enough demand? “If [we] have enough people who are serious about a carbon Spark hull, I can definitely do it,” Kemnitz concluded. “I would need a donor hull that can be trashed and like I said before, a [significant] deposit.” But tacking on another $2,000 on top of a $4,999 Spark is, as Kemnitz explained, counter-intuitive to the philosophy behind the Spark’s price point.
At its core, concern over the durability of the Spark’s hull boils down to limitation. Even in the Spark’s owner’s guide, aggressive and competitive riding is highly discouraged. Many detractors feel the restrictions caused by the Polytec hull keep them from fully enjoying the small, nimble craft in a manner they would prefer. Replacing the Polytec with a carbon hull would immediately resolve this, but again wouldn’t be enough to justify such a substantial price hike.
Rather, a completed package ready for “aggressive and competitive riding” offered through a licensed dealership could quantify the significant price jump. Imagine walking into your local Sea-Doo showroom and spotting a 2-up Spark sitting on a glossy carbon fiber hull, wrapped in unique vinyl decal fix complete with faux carbon accents. Throughout the ski, a complete WORX Racing Spark package: a billet steering kit, sponsons, a rideplate and intake grate kit (with pump seal kit), a billet air ribbon replacement collar, and an optional rear exhaust kit. Beneath it’s removable top deck, a V-tech Tuned 110-horsepower ECU. Sounds pretty cool, right?
(Obviously, the parts listed above are merely cherry picked from the available off-the-shelf aftermarket performance products accessible today.)
As it were, this would bring a standard $4,999 2-up Spark up and over the $9,500 mark. To the recreational rider, this would only make a 155HP GTI the better option. But to those wanting the fun, playful Spark but with a lot more oomph without any of the worry of cracking the hull after their first big jump, a dealer-installed “Carbon Edition” Spark could be just the right ticket. For the would-be racer, this would be a ready-to-run buy on Saturday, race on Sunday package. Already Spark classes have been seen in Japan, China and Thailand, with many in the States warming up to the idea as well.
Granted, the Spark was never intended to be a racer. It’s not targeted as such. But racing is in Sea-Doo’s DNA and denying the Spark the opportunity to shine – if even in a limited capacity – is contrary to BRP’s core characteristic of building recreational vehicles capable of extraordinary performance.
Hey! What better way to kick off the New Year than something from our “Now For Something Completely Different” department? We reported on quite a few different forms of personal watercraft that are either being designed and tested, or have already hit the water but we haven’t seen much on these Jetsurf boards.
Powered by a tiny 86cc (or 100cc depending on the model) two-stroke engine, specially developed for Jetsurf, it tops out at 53 km/h (type Ultra Sport); 57 km/h (type Pro Race).
We know what you’re thinking, “How is Jetsurfing not exactly surfing? Easy. There’s no need for a wave, wind or even a current.
Using an electronic controller, the Jetsurf is piloted with an automatic electronic control unit with auto start/stop function. Available in either Pro Race, Ultra Sport or Factory, Jetsurf boards have already impressed at major surf spots like Jaws in Hawaii, but now are taking to the closed course to prove that these machines can be raced like standup jet skis. Don’t believe it? Check out the video below:
This year, you’ve likely picked up on the Personal Watercraft Industry Association’s awesome Safe Rider Pledge, encouraging everyone who is planning on hitting the water to always remember a lifevest. As much as the PWIA wants to encourage you to wear your vest each time you hit the water, all of us at The Watercraft Journal want to impress upon you the importance of purchasing and maintaining current personal watercraft insurance. Not only are you protecting your valued property, but the personal safety and well-being of yourself and those riding with you.
Offering service contracts providing additional protection over the manufacturer’s warranty – lasting up to 84 months – the McGraw Powersports Group is one of the nation’s largest providers of motorcycle and personal watercraft service contracts. With over 40 years of experience under their belt, McGraw Powersports provides coverage against damage to your PWC’s engine, jet pump, electric, instrumentation, and seals and even gasket failure.
Under McGraw’s Personal Watercraft Package – includes jet boats under sixteen 16-feet, jet skis, wet bikes, etc. – you’ll have $15,000 in liability coverage against theft, fire, collision, hull damage, sinking, damage to another watercraft and injury to another person. Of course, McGraw can increase your liability coverage from $25,000 to $300,000, upping liability-only coverage, medical payments and trailer coverage.
Oh, one more thing: these service contracts are only available through your powersports dealerships. So stop by your favorite dealer’s F&I office tand ask if they partner with McGraw Powersports. Making life even all that more easier, McGraw Powersports is re-designing its website to include a Dealership Locator – so it will be easier than ever to find a dealer offering this great coverage. Look for the new website later this year.
For you seasoned riders, you’ll know that McGraw has been around the PWC industry for decades, even as far back as being a presenting sponsor of the 1994 Bud National Tour! Below is a throwback video from 2009 with some familiar faces.
Every year in October, the IJSBA World Finals takes place at Crazy Horse Campground in beautiful Lake Havasu, Arizona. This is typically referred to as the largest jet ski event in the world, and riders from all over the globe come to compete in this weeklong event.
Freestyle at the IJSBA World Finals has become a huge success in recent years, with competitors pushing the limits of themselves and their machines, to perform stunts that were not possible just a few years ago. Freestyle is broken down into two classes, consisting of Amateur and Pro. Both classes allow the rider to use hulls, engines, and other supporting equipment of their choice, but the distinguishing factor between the two is the engine displacement. Amateurs are allowed a maximum of 900ccs, and Pros are allowed up to 1200ccs. A rider must win Amateur or obtain a Pro license through the IJSBA to compete as a Pro.
The rapid advance of technology has allowed the competition engines to make incredible horsepower that seems to grow each season. Hull technology has allowed builders to create super light hulls, with high-end carbon fiber versions weighing in at around 40lbs! Pump technology is moving forward as well, with larger, more efficient pumps becoming commonplace, and economical versions of these pumps hitting the market and bringing costs down. The combination of big horsepower, instant acceleration, light hulls, and pumps that offer unmatched hookup has allowed these competitors to truly raiser the bar.
Take a look at this video to see how these riders push the limits!
We’re having a lot of fun reviewing all of the numbers trickling in from our year of publishing The Watercraft Journal. Our bottle rocket-like climb to the prized position of the single-most popular PWC enthusiast magazine in the United States is humbling, exciting and very rewarding (particularly as we’re planning for an even better 2015). In looking at what articles worked, which fell flat on their face, and what most of you really care about, it’s overt that racing takes a distant backseat to bringing you the hottest news and insightful reviews on the latest production vehicles.
No, really. Not even our next-day event coverage from this year’s Pro Watercross Tour, the IJSBA World Finals and the 2014 Jet Ski World Cup could pierce our Top 25 most-popular articles (our Finals coverage came in at #30). Rather, we saw some seriously viral videos, some amazing high-horsepower tuned machines and our awesome reviews of the newest machines on the water bringing in the most views, comments and shares, which only reiterates that it’s not racing that drives the core interest of this industry, but new products. People’s attention is not toward the race course, but the showroom floor.
Below we’ve included a countdown of The Watercraft Journal’s most popular articles for 2014. You’ll find links to the original stories, so make sure to check ’em out and see what all the hubbub is about.
#5 Sheer Brilliance: 2014 Yamaha FX HO Cruiser WaveRunner
Equipped with the naturally-huffing 1.8-liter High Output 4-stroke four-cylinder, Yamaha’s 2014 FX HO Cruiser was an impressively popular model for 2014. Bathed in Pure White with Espresso highlights, the Cruiser-equipped three-seater was the vehicle’s most option-laden version prior to upping the engine packages. Big draws for the 2014 Yamaha WaveRunners included two-toned Hydro-Turf mats, redesigned handle grips and gobs of storage spread over the whole ski.
Enjoying the benefits of miserly gas mileage, tilt steering and manual trim control, the FX HO Cruiser forewent the lake boiling horsepower of the SVHO-equipped supercharged machines and went the route of comfort and economy, which was clearly a winning combination. You might think white to be boring, but it has proven so popular that Yamaha has carried the color over into the 2015 lineup on several other units. You can read the whole report HERE.
#4 Video: The 550-Horsepower Turbo-Powered FXR500 Is a Beautiful Thing
We’re particularly proud of this article, primarily because we were the originator of this story. A few weeks after publishing, we found the article shared, linked and even pirated (literally cut-and-pasted) so many times that people accused us of stealing our own work (thankfully, Google Analytic records don’t lie and we were able to back up our claims). The subject in question was this wildly impressive footage of CMJ4Tec (Custom Made Jetski) lake testing their 500-plus-horsepower Yamaha FXR500.
Piloted by Phil Pope, the ski is seen erupting from one buoy to the next, absolutely devouring the long straightaway in the background. The ski is a completely unique build, from an overbored and stroked block, re-machined reciprocating assembly, redesigned cams and valvetrain, and a proprietary CMJ-designed CCCS turbo header (or Co-Centric-Collector-System). The Garrett GTX 3076RS Turbo and custom aluminum intercooler presses out an impressive 550-horsepower and is truly one unruly beast. See it in action HERE.
Out with the previous Super High Output 1,812cc 4-stroke plant, and in with the Super Vortex High Output, the performance package equips the Yamaha with larger fuel injectors, redesigned lightweight pistons, increased oil and coolant volume, and a 22-percent-more efficient intercooler. A redesigned, larger (86mm) supercharger housing and 6-vein compressor wheel spools up 60-percent more boost to which produces a real 260 (plus) horsepower. A performance-bred 8-vein pump and 160mm impeller pumps out impressive amounts of thrust through a new 3-degree nozzle (with cast-in diffuser veins) with a large 85mm exit diameter. Read the original report in its entirety HERE.
#2 Gallery: Introducing The 2015 Yamaha WaveRunner Lineup
Alright, that tears it. Yamaha simply had a great year in 2014. If we could, we’d show you how time and time again, Yamaha came up as one of the most popular subjects for searches and articles. Whether it was the new crop of SVHO-powered machines chewing up the lakes to long-distance cruisers, everybody was looking to Yamaha WaveRunners to see what they would do against the seemingly unstoppable juggernaut of Sea-Doo. And Yamaha did not disappoint, introducing a whole new lineup of high-tech equipped machines for 2015.
Starting with an entirely redesigned VX lineup, the brand’s entry-level segment was made new from the keel to the handlebars. Employing the lightweight NanoXcel hull and heavy-breathing 1,812cc naturally-aspirated High Output engine, the all-new VXR and VXS wowed all of us here at The Watercraft Journal and pretty much everyone else in the media. Taking the place left behind by the newly minted VX Deluxe is the stripped down V1 and V1 Sport for the rental market.
But what impressed most was Yamaha’s new RiDE dual throttle reverse and braking system. Found on nearly every vehicle offered by Yamaha WaveRunners (save for the aforementioned two V1 units and both FZR and FZS), RiDE allows for immediate braking, easy loading/unloading from trailers, and pitch-perfect docking. Of course, there’s a metric ton of information we’re leaving out, so read it all HERE.
#1 Exclusive: 2015 Sea-Doo Spark to Feature First Hybrid Electric PWC
Yup, the single-most popular article ever published (and we’re talking by a HUGE majority) was literally joke. Our expertly-executed April Fool’s joke continues to trend each month, as it was linked and passed around by more PWC enthusiasts worldwide than anything else we’ve published. Don’t feel bad if you fell for our little gag. Not only did our would-be competitors (we really don’t have any) freak out when this went live, but even many withing BRP’s Quebec headquarters panicked over what we did and didn’t know.
Yes, there is no hybrid Spark. And despite what foreign media outlets (who clearly 1. don’t understand what a practical joke is, and 2. have never been “Rick Rolled” before) might say, it’s not happening. So don’t believe them. We made it up. It’s a joke. We hope you laughed as much as we did. Unfortunately, what the success of this year’s April Fool’s joke means is that the stakes for next year’s joke are all that more raised. It’ll be hard to replicate such a reaction, so don’t expect too much. Anyways, here’s the original article. Enjoy.
You’d think that January would be reasonably quiet when it comes to jet skiing, right? Nope. If you’re not already prepping for the Mark Hahn Memorial 300 enduro, then you’re likely readying for any number of boat shows happening near you. Or, if you’re anything like us, you’re getting ready for the annual Daytona Freeride presented by Thrust Innovations. Considered by many as the event to eclipse the IJSBA World Finals in attendance, the Daytona Freeride has one more trick up its sleeve for 2015:
New for 2015 is Aquamoto Global Racing League race divisions. The format is simple: one day of three division racing consisting of five classes. Each division will differ in laps and scored separately. Division 1 will consist of a single moto of 10-12 laps and two classes: 800cc and GP standups. Division 2 will have 8-to-10 laps and include 550/650cc vintage standups and Open-class X2s. The final Division 3 will have 12-14 laps and welcome Open Sport class riders.
Of course, most of you will be waiting to see some of the world’s best freeriders take to the surf, and there’s nothing to worry about. You can rest assured that this year’s Daytona Freeride will be one of the best, but in between all of the aerial action, you can sink your teeth into some awesome Aquamoto closed course racing in the surf between heats – just like racing was meant to be!
It’s been a big year for Sea-Doo’s Spark. Not taking into account that the newcomer to the BRP lineup recently earned the first-annual 2014 Watercraft of The Year byThe Watercraft Journal, the Spark also recently several other accolades throughout the boating and powersports industries. Oh, and it was, y’know, the highest selling PWC in 2014. Like, by a lot.
While many dealerships have plain just ran out of the lightweight Rec Lite runabouts, others – specifically middle Tennessee’s America’s Motor Sports – who not only regularly stock brand new Sparks – in a variety of colors and trim levels – but even some pre-owned units! And just this week, AMS has recently picked up this sweet pair of 2-up iBR-equipped Sparks.
Both also come with the optional 90-horsepower HO engine tune. With one in Licorice and the other in Orange Creme, both Sparks have about 10 hours each on the clock, and come fully serviced and a spotless double trailer (shown). Considering that just one new Spark equally-equipped could set you back about $7K, America’s Motor Sports’ asking price of $12,999 for the package is a friggin’ steal.
Like we’ve prompted you before, simply call Alex at (615) 767-6835, and tell him, “I saw your Spark on The Watercraft Journal,” and it can be yours.
Something new and exciting came to us in the form of tow-in wake boarding with the use of a jet ski, a pilot at the helm, and a rider holding a tow rope at the stern. Professional wakeboarders Shane Bonifay, Danny Harf, Daniel Watkins, and Shawn Watson set out for an epic adventure in Balina Beach, Australia during the early part of 2013, which we found over on The Inertia.
Throughout the video there were snippets of interviews with the participating riders which was both educational and filled with enthusiasm. Watkins discussed the main focus as a rider, which was having a good driver and being able to communicate well with him. They have to gel in order to get it right. Once a team gets the aspect of compatibility nailed down, they are on their way to getting awesome rides.
The jet ski driver must know where to put the rider in the wave and partners must be willing to make adjustments according to their skill sets, training, and knowledge of waves. After all, this is happening in an unpredictable ocean and it is relatively new. Another reason the jet ski pilot should be aware of where to drop the wakeboard rider in on a wave is to give him an opportunity to get the best ride possible. When the teams were able to get that aspect dialed in, they absolutely shredded! The pros were getting massive airs, spins, and Bonifay even tucked into a few barrels.
Watkins was not the only one who made references to “must click together” when speaking of their tow partners; the rest of the guys seemed very much in agreement when it came down to getting towed in. The sport still has a long way to go because it is so new. There is plenty of room for improvement as it evolves into something bigger, most likely a competitive scene. It will be exciting to see what happens next.
