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Factory Yamaha Celebrates Dean’s Team/RIVA Racing Sweep of Pro Watercraft Tour Titles

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This year’s Hydro-Turf Pro Watercross tour started well before the first rubber band snapped in Pensacola, Florida this past May. The word quickly broke that a handful of some of the most seasoned and talented runabout racers were lured from the Sea-Doo X-Team to the ever-growing Yamaha camp. Paired together with master-mechanic Dean Charrier and supported by go-fast supercenter RIVA Racing, the new Factory Yamaha racers were coming in hot.

Indonesian brothers Aero and Aqsa Aswar, Brian Baldwin, Dennis Mack, Rob Greenwald and Troy Snyder all carried the Yamaha banner, their black-and-blue runabouts adorned in sponsorship decals from RIVA, Dean’s Team, Yamaha and their respective supporters. A full season’s worth of upsets, get-offs, last-minute points swaps, dramatic game changers and checkered flags resulted in both one of the most exciting seasons of racing in recent years as well as a massive sweep for Yamaha WaveRunners, RIVA Racing and Dean’s Team.

Teenage Aqsa grabbed the Pro Runabout Limited class, Greenwald absolutely waltzed away with the Pro Runabout Naturally-Aspirated class, and Aero stole the Pro Runabout Open class away from Kommander’s Jared Moore, and upset the points standing by snatching the Pro Runabout Stock class win, despite valiant efforts from teammates Snyder and Baldwin. Both Yamaha and RIVA were unified in congratulating the Dean’s Team crew at the annual Yamaha Dealer Meeting in Miami, Florida last month and are reuniting (and restructuring) for 2015 – particularly in the wake of Yamaha’s ground-shaking announcement of its new VXR, NanoXcel 2 material and RiDE systems on its 2015 lineup.

What? 320HP Ducati-Inspired Jet Ski With Twin Ducati 1098 Engines

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Long ago, Kawasaki penned the JS440 as the “dirt bike of the water.” And rightfully so. It was lightweight, agile, nimble and a whole lot of fun. But as current personal watercraft have evolved, grown and matured, so has the comparison. Today’s full-sized runabouts are supercharged, option-loaded, technological powerhouses, and so the stripped-down dirt bike analogy doesn’t quite fit.

Rather, many regard today’s watercraft to modern superbikes. And the comparison sticks. That’s why the release of a handful of computer-generated designs from Zolland Design AB are making such big waves. The design company’s renderings of Ducati-inspired personal watercraft – replete with twin Ducati 1098 engines – has gone viral, and frankly, we’re a little late on reporting on it.

Zolland’s interpretation of a possible Ducati-inspired runabout powered by dual 1098cc engines, would “quite possibly become the world’s fastest jet ski” according to GT Spirit. Of course, the 1098cc four-stroke Ducati plant cranks out a respectable 160HP and 90.4lbs. ft. of torque, so paired with a second engine would equate 320 horsepower and 180.8lbs. ft. of torque.

That of course, would eclipse Kawasaki’s 310-horsepower output, crowning the theoretical watercraft the new King of Horsepower, even without the Ducati plants benefiting from the assistance of a supercharger like the 310X.

Aesthetically, Zolland’s design draws heavily from the traditional Ducati look and would definitely blur the lines between the PWC market and the sportbike lovers.

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Gallery: 2015 Sea-Doo Lineup Officially Revealed

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If the last few weeks are any sign of how 2015 is going to be, we’re off to a pretty rocky start. While we’re not dealing with Snowden-level espionage here, the amount of leaks springing up are enough to give the little Dutch boy fits. Back in early August, only a day before the official release of the new Yamaha WaveRunner lineup, the whole 2015 catalog was uploaded online. Needless to say, the Internet in its ever-vigilance snatched it up and posted all the press pictures online. The leak was plugged up, the images removed from as many chat room threads as possible, but the cat was already out of the bag.

A couple of weeks ago, images of all-new 2015 Kawasakis sprang up on the Facebook wall of Australian powersports dealership, Brisbane Kawasaki. The Watercraft Journal caught wind of the spy shots and quickly shared the untimely reveal (but again, not before message boards managed to publish the link before us). The ensuing article stirred up some ire within the halls of Kawasaki, and some hides were promptly tanned, but one can hardly blame a dealership for wanting to promote a new crop of 2015 products before their competitors, having just received them from the distribution hub.

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Then came this Tuesday morning. Over half a dozen text messages came pouring over our phone declaring, “Sea-Doo leaked their 2015 brochure!” And sure enough, they had. The update was purely accidental and the downloadable PDF was promptly removed, but well past the time necessary for savvy Sea-Doo fans to download the file. Like a Southern California wildfire, message boards, chat rooms and social media threads were awash in pictures and screen captures of the new Sea-Doos.

Admittedly, even we at The Watercraft Journal got in on the fun. Exercising the restraint of Himalayan monks, we waited a full 24 hours before publishing the leaked materials. (Can you blame us?) Excitement was high, on both ends of the magazine. It took a few hours, but better judgement got the best of us, and we redacted much of the article. (Some will note that much of this article is carried over from the first story.) It wasn’t an ideal scenario, but thankfully, we didn’t have to wait too long.

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For 2015, Sea-Doo has included some updated technology, specifically a new RF DESS (Digitally Encoded Security System) lanyard. That “RF?” It means “radio frequency.” This key allows for faster starts and better security measures. According to Sea-Doo, the new DESS key, “featur[es] radio frequency technology and a new ball-in-socket design.” This new design allows for a “more precise connection” that instantly activates upon attachment, allowing for instant starting at all times. The digitally-encoded key replaces the previous encoded lanyard and is standard on all 2015 models and optional on Sparks, and is the brand’s theft deterrent standard.

Although much of the standard technology is carried over from previous models, it doesn’t detract from their importance. Sea-Doo’s commitment to innovation and technology, is evident in the brand’s only functioning suspension system (available in three forms: S, aS and iS, on the GTX S 155, RXT-X 260 aS, and GTX Limited 260 iS, respectively). Sea-Doo’s iTC (Intelligent Throttle Control) and of course, iBR, the first functioning brake system on a PWC (particularly relevant in the wake of Yamaha’s RiDE system). Additional features include Sea-Doo’s VTS trim, cruise control and watertight bow storage (available as an option).

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Big surprises for the new year are a lack of new coloring for the Spark lineup. All hues (black, white, orange, yellow, and pink) remain unchanged. Sea-Doo has introduced a new selection of six graphic kits to help customize your Spark with upwards of 26 color variations, which should help to jazzy up the continued colors. Of course, Sparks can be had in 48 variations, from 2 or 3-up seating, 60 or 90HP ACE outputs, or opted with manual reverse or iBR, bow storage and a slew of other goods.

What will likely be the biggest discussion topic is Sea-Doo’s color choices for the rest of its lineup segments. For those who liked the wild iridescent colors on last year’s Wake models (Wake 155 and Wake Pro 215, which remain unchanged for 2015), you’re gonna love what Sea-Doo is coming out with. Colors like Orange Crush, Maldives Blue and Manta Green are paired with Anthracite Grey, Sunburst Yellow and Hyper Silver are exciting to see, and pretty obviously a strong nod towards the vibrant colors of the late 1980s and early 1990s.

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Starting with the X Series (because that’s the kind of guys we are around here), every unit gets a cornea-melting makeover. The GTR, RXT, RXT-X, RXT-X aS and RXP-X all get drenched in Sea-Doo’s Sunburst Yellow replete with red highlights and dashes of silver. We particularly like the racy pseudo sponsor decals running down the fairings of the RXP-X and RXT-X aS. Apart from the aforementioned new RF DESS key, this polarizing colorization is the only change to the supercharged lineup.

Alas, if the yellow-and-red livery isn’t your taste, then thankfully Sea-Doo has retained a little bit of its composure when handling the luxurious GTX series. Beginning with the GTI Limited 155, the GTX Limited 215 and GTX Limited 260 iS are all available in the sultry Anthracite Grey with gloss black and Manta Green highlights. The GTX 155 S remains untouched in its burnt orange hue.

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And finally, the GTI lineup features some of the most distinct coloring of them all. Both the GTI 130 and 130 SE are slathered in visible-from-space coloring, leaving little room for the timid. Covered bow to keel in Manta Green or Maldives Blue, with highlights in either more green or bright fuchsia, the brand’s Recreation line is enjoying some seriously retro coloring.

As we’ve said before, Sea-Doo is nothing if not daring, and these colors are a bold statement. Whether the world is ready for dayglow watercraft again remains to be unseen, but we’re sure they’ll never be mistaken for any other brand. Undoubtedly, there’s some serious throwback styling happening here, so as these new models roll out make sure to stop by your local dealer to see how they look in person, but until then, put on some sunglasses and enjoy these pictures!

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Deal of The Day: Two ’12 Kawasaki Ultra 300X Jet Skis & Trailer

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Everybody is looking for a good deal. That’s just human nature. So when we spot a smokin’ deal (like the sweet discount deals that we help make exclusively for our readers, like from Kool PWC Stuff and Hydro-Turf), we waste no time in getting you all you need to swoop in and make a score!

Recently, we spotted these two cherry 2012 Kawasaki Ultra 300X Jet Skis listed on the Inland Empire section of Craigslist. Surprisingly, both of these skis have only been ridden once, and as the ad explains, both skis are “completely clean, no scratches with extended warranty and includes a custom built, all powder coated dual axle trailer with air ride, a spare tire and LED lighting.”

In case you were wondering, yes, the trailer comes with the pair of Ultras! As well as an amazing eight life jackets (adult and children sizes) and 10 spare fuel cells. It sounds crazy, right? With over $44,900 invested, the owner states that an injury is forcing the sale. So what’s the catch? You’ll have to reach out and see for yourself, because all of this can be yours for $26,500 or best offer.

As per the request of the ad, serious buyers are welcome to call at (951) 961-2800.

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Video: Aquacart 4-Play Beach Cart Lets You Load A Full-Sized Runabout Solo

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For some of us lucky few who enjoy beach access with our personal watercraft, getting up and down the sand can be a real chore, especially if you’re dealing with a full-sized runabout. Unless you’re properly equipped, chances are launching is regulated to a boat ramp a ways away. That is why a beach tote is so handy…but, who makes a beach tote for a three-seater sitdown, you ask? Well, Aquacart Professional Handling Equipment does, of course!

Their awesome 4-Play Beach Cart is specifically designed to accommodate full-sized runabouts by centering the weight of the ski directly above the axles. With dual sealed axles housing Aquacart’s heavy duty beach “balloon” tires, an adjustable neck and heavy duty aluminum construction, the 4-Play is equally lightweight as it is durable. It’s hand-cranked winch and bumpstop also makes loading and unloading your runabout a cinch!

Below we’ve included Aquacart’s “how-to” video showing how surprisingly easy it is to load a 700, 800 0r 900-pound three-seater runabout onto the 4-Play. And because of its centered front-to-rear weight distribution, it’s also incredibly easy for one person to maneuver around. And of course, Aquacart makes beach carts and totes for all sizes and makes of PWC.

Gallery: QPWC Winter Titles Round 2, Queensland, Australia

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Father’s Day in Australia; what better day to take dad to the lake for a BBQ and maybe ride a jet ski? Well, throw in some racing and you’ve got a perfect day. That’s how last weekend’s second round of Queensland Personal Watercraft Club Winter Titles went down. With about 27 competitors racing on Sunday, it wasn’t a bad turn out considering the holiday.

All of the usual classes where on the water: Pro ski, Sport, Beginners Stock, Pro Stock and Open. With a great mix of Yamaha’s, Sea-Doo’s, and Kawasaki’s, there was plenty of rivalry on the water.

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Michael Stevens made another massive effort to make it to Queensland for this event. Driving 1,125 miles just to race. Unfortunately, only two other Open Ski riders came to the Dam. Tony Grey and Zac Humphries gave Mick plenty of close racing until they both had to drop out with mechanical issues. Mick took it pretty well and told The Watercraft Journal it was good to get some training in before the New South Wales series started next week.

It was good to see some ‘Blaster action out there to with Clyde Grant #25, Bailey Cunningham #81 and Zac Humphries putting on a great show of close racing. Clyde’s beautiful triple-cylinder WaveBlaster was flying; he managed to take the event with Bailey getting second on his first event (he’s one to watch out for). Zac did well backing it up on his X2 after his open ski rounds.

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In Beginners Stock, Cameron Martins’ new 2015 Kawasaki Ultra 310R #333 was flying and looked like it was handling the chop well. They’re such a beast of a ski, pure beauty and brawn. It was also good to see one of the girls out there with Mandy Brown on her black and pink Yamaha. It’s been a while since she raced and impressed all the fellas with her performance.

Amateur Stock was closely contested with Anthony Lo and Brett Douglas jostling for points. That was wright up until Jamie’s Sea-Doo (#88) and Anthony exchanged a bit of fiberglass, giving Anthony’s #131 that sinking feeling. When this happens you realise what a great sport this is. The amount of racers and spectators that dive in a help out was awesome. Between racers pulling up to check on everyone and spectators carrying the ski up the beach, it shows how much a family PWC people are.

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We had a chance to have a chat with Jordan Ross from the WaveRunner Performance Centre about how well his Yamaha is going this year.

The Watercraft Journal: Jordan how long have you been involved with skis?
Jordan Ross: I have been in the industry since 1999, where I worked with my cousin, Todd Ross at GCWR. In 2009, WaveRunner Performance Centre was born. We do everything from mild to wild; from in-house reflashed ECUs and slight modifications to wild turbo and supercharged Yamahas. I only work on Yamahas and have ‘blue blood’ from my extensive history with the Yamaha product. We have our own performance packages and get the maximum performance for the budget.

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WCJ: Can you tell us about what skis you are running and how your performing this year, and whats your hopes in the future?
JR: The new FZ SVHO has given us a great platform to develop our stock class race skis, and we are continually pushing the envelope with development. In such a short time, we have been very successful with the new FZ, we placed first and third in the Australian championships, finished first and second in the Bridge-to-Bridge as well as taking out the Queensland titles and the National titles at Redcliffe. So we have had great success to date, and the scary thing is that there is plenty more potential in the FZ SVHO platform.

We work hard on really finessing the basics of the FZ, as the handling characteristics are great to start with. We have gone in a different development direction than most of the race teams in the USA, so the aim is to get over there next year and find out where we are against those teams. The challenge of Stock class racing is that there are limited changes that can be made to the Stock watercraft, so every aspect of what you can do must be maximized. One area where the most gains are made in Stock class racing is the ECU. We run Motec ECUs and we spend a lot of time fine tuning the mapping and fine tuning all the little areas of the ski, which is very rewarding when you make a gain.

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WCJ: And with regards to our Open boat?
JR: The turbo FZR was only built earlier this year. It is still a work in progress as it was the very first WR1 hull finished and raced. It is extremely fast, and we are just ironing out some development issues we have had, and then the plan is to also take it over to Havasu and put it up against the best. There has been no expense spared, it has everything there is to have on it, and it has the new M130 Motec which is a great bit of a kit. Our engine development has been relentless over the past few years and we now have very strong engines which we want to put up against the worlds best operators.

WCJ: And how did this weekend’s racing go?
JR: It was great to see our hard work pay off at the Queensland titles, taking out all three classes we had skis in. It was also great to see Brett Douglas, who had just purchased his new Yamaha FZ SVHO from us recently and had it built by us win his class. It showed that we will build customer boats to the exact same spec as we race. We had some slight issues with the Open boat in Race 1, but it wasn’t enough for us to sit the day out, and it was good that our hasty repairs lasted the day and Matt was able to get the win. Mitch on the FZR SVHO in Stock class is just going from strength to strength, as we push the development even more on the SVHO.

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QPWC Winter Titles Round 1– Atkinsons Dam Qld
September 6-7

Open Ski: 1. Michael Stevens; Sport: 1. Clyde Grant, 2. Bailey Cunningham, 3. Zac Humphries; Beginner Stock: 1. Cameron Martin, 2. Keith Miller, 3. Daryl Bone; Womens Stock: 1. Mandy Brown; Pro Stock: 1. Mitch Wyat, 2. Christian Dagostin, 3. Shane Stuart; Amateur Stock: 1. Brett Douglas, 2. Dane Alberti, 3. Jamie Eade; Open Runabout: 1. Matt Brunt, 2. Christian Dagostin, 3. Greg Hack

All images courtesy of Photo by Skip. For prints or downloadable versions, please click the hyperlink.

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Spied! 2015 Sea-Doo Eye-Scorching Lineup Leaked Online (Updated)

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[Editor’s Note: As not to unleash the unimaginable torment that BRP has in mind for us, we’ve had to amend this story. Unfortunately, you’ll notice that all of the super cool spy shots we had up this morning are now gone. So instead, please enjoy the article now edited to remove any spoilers.]

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If the last few weeks are any sign of how 2015 is going to be, we’re off to a pretty rocky start. While we’re not dealing with Snowden-level espionage here, the amount of leaks springing up are enough to give the little Dutch boy fits. Back in early August, only a day before the official release of the 2015 Yamaha WaveRunner lineup, the whole catalog was uploaded online. Needless to say, the Internet in its ever-vigilance snatched it up and posted all the leaked press pictures online. The leak was plugged up, the images removed from as many chat room threads as possible, but the cat was already out of the bag.

A couple of weeks ago, images of all-new 2015 Kawasakis sprang up on the Facebook wall of Australian powersports dealership, Brisbane Kawasaki. The Watercraft Journal caught wind of the spy shots and quickly shared the untimely reveal (but again, not before message boards managed to publish the link before us). The ensuing article stirred up some dust within the halls of Kawasaki, and some hides were tanned.

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Then came yesterday morning. A bevy of emails and text messages came in declaring, “Sea-Doo leaked their 2015 brochure!” And sure enough, they did. The leak was purely accidental and the downloadable PDF was removed, but well past the time necessary for savvy Sea-Doo fans to download the file. Needless to say, message boards, chat rooms and social media threads are awash in pictures and screen captures of the new Sea-Doos. There’s a lot of noise out there, and frankly, we won’t have all of the information for nearly a month, so we’ll try not to speculate.

Thankfully, Sea-Doo has included some updated technology to their 2015 models, specifically a new REDACTED.

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Much of brochure is dedicated to outlining Sea-Doo’s commitment to innovation and technology, pushing their claim to the only functioning suspension system, iTC and of course, being the first PWC with a functioning brake, particularly in the wake of Yamaha’s RiDE system. Big surprises for the new year are a REDACTED.

What will likely be the biggest discussion topic is Sea-Doo’s color choices for the rest of its lineups. For those who liked the wild iridescent colors on last year’s REDACTED models (REDACTED and REDACTED), you’re gonna love what Sea-Doo is coming out with. If your tastes are little more subtle, maybe consider picking up a current 2014 unit, because these REDACTED. Colors like REDACTED are REDACTED.

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Starting with the REDACTED, every unit gets a family makeover. The REDACTED, REDACTED, REDACTED, REDACTED and REDACTED all get drenched in Sea-Doo’s REDACTED. We particularly like the REDACTED. This polarizing colorization is the only change to the 215 and 260-horsepower lineup.

If the REDACTED isn’t your taste, then thankfully, Sea-Doo has retained a little bit of its sanity when handling the luxurious REDACTED series. Beginning with the REDACTED, the REDACTED and REDACTED are all available in REDACTED. The REDACTED.

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And finally, the REDACTED lineup features some of the most distinct coloring of them all. Both the REDACTED and REDACTED are REDACTED. Covered bow to keel in REDACTED, with highlights in either REDACTED, the brand’s REDACTED line is enjoying some seriously REDACTED.

As we’ve said before, Sea-Doo is nothing if not daring, and these colors are a bold statement. Whether the world is ready for REDACTED, but we’re sure they’ll never be mistaken for any other brand. Expect more information as it rolls out, but until then, REDACTED and REDACTED REDACTED REDACTED!

Gallery: 2015 Kawasaki JetSki Lineup Released

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“Hope springs eternal.” At least so says essayist Alexander Pope. But it would seem never more so than for those loyal to Kawasaki. The brand has possibly one of the most devout followings in the realm of personal watercraft. Many wear their “Team Green” colors with pride, happily going to the defense against haters and naysayers. Even as Kawasaki’s presence in the sport has dwindled, those who bleed green continue to do so with aplomb.

Last year, their loyalty was rewarded with two new Ultra models (the 310X Special Edition and the offshore-specific 310R), as well as a completely reworked powertrain, which radically reduced internal engine temperatures by improving semi-dry sump oiling, cooling and fuel consumption, all of which freed up an additional 10 horsepower over the previous model’s 300 ponies. Comically, the 310-horsepower number is almost superfluous, as no other manufacturer nears such a colossal power output.

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For those equipped with the Twin Vorticies Roots-style Eaton supercharger, optimized fuel economy is still a long ways away. Pressing 16.8-pounds of boost through the dual-cam 1,498cc plant to the redesigned 8.2:1 compression pistons, the Ultra produces an impressive 1,890-pounds of thrust through the 160mm pump. By no means will the Ultra 310X be confused for a dainty fuel-sipper.

Of course, the Kawasaki’s Ultra lineup is much more than the powerplant beneath its seat. Of which, two new seats were introduced last year that continue for 2014; a narrowed, high traction race seat on the 310R and 310X SE, and a heavily bolstered, scalloped LXury bench with the industry’s first heat-resistant covering.

These attributes helped Kawasaki pick up a bit of market share in 2014, as the brand witnessed a much-needed uptick in sales alongside rivals Yamaha and Sea-Doo who saw percentages climb into the double digits.

The brand has been nothing but enthusiastic about the offshore racing community’s adoption of the Ultra. This past July’s Long Beach-to-Catalina Offshore Championship witnessed a 9-out-of-10 sweep of the Top 10, with Kawasaki Ultra 310Xs comprising the top podium spots there as well as in Guadalupe Island’s KaruJet Championship and Russia’s Russki JetRacer Offshore event.

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Brandishing an extraordinary (and class leading) 56 gallons of storage, Hydro-Turf traction mats and its signature Deep-V hull helps the Ultra to remain as the weapon of choice of rough water and open ocean riders worldwide, as well as cruisers and recreational riders alike.

For the Ultra, Kawasaki’s flagship, it’s been a slow evolution: 2007 introduced the Ultra 250X hull and supercharged 1.5L powerhouse; 2011 ushered Kawasaki into the modern age of digital throttle control, electronic trim, fuel economy software and cruise control, as well as some improvements to hull design; and 2014 gave us a stronger, more efficient powerplant. Unfortunately, 2015 won’t be bringing us anything too new apart from a few new colors and some new decals.

Thankfully retail prices also remain untouched for the new year, after 2014’s across-the-board increase. Last year, unofficial production numbers had Kawasaki producing limited runs of the 310R, SE and LX models at just over 500 units. No word has yet to be said in regards to increasing these numbers for the new year, but knowing that dealers are thankfully free of flooring, more this year than in years past, we extrapolate that the Lincoln, Nebraska plant will maintain the status quo.

Carryovers from the previous year include the same paint for the 310R, with only new “bold new graphics” (or BNG) and an odd addition of iridescent green sponsons for the 310R model only. The sponsons are otherwise identical to all other 310 models apart from their eye-scorching hue. The 310R also keeps its two-tone hood and cowling paint scheme with a silver belt-line replacing last year’s blue. The KX motocross-style electro-polished stainless steel handlebars mated to an adjustable solid handlebar mount remain unchanged as well.

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Much of Kawasaki’s 310LX success can be attributed to the innovative Jetsounds on-board stereo system exclusive to the 310LX, which, although left many of media pundits questioning, was a homerun for those wanting more luxury from their luxury PWC.

As for the opulent $17,999 310LX, it too retains its Ebony and Candy Lime Green livery and popular Jetsounds system as well. We hoped for a more luxurious (read: sedate) hue for the new year, but given last year’s limited run, its understandable that many of the plastics and seat covers would carry over. The aforementioned LXury seat is both thickly bolstered and a wide and supple saddle that staves off heat thanks to its proprietary heat resistant material.

The remaining four units received entirely new color arrangements for 2015, namely the 310X, 310X Special Edition, LX and STX-15F. Revealed early last week in some spy photos, the all-new Ebony and Metallic Phantom Silver scheme for the 310X is very attractive, but it’s the Ebony and Candy Burnt Orange paint on the 310X Special Edition that drew our attention most.

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Similar to the hue found on Kawasaki’s Teryx4 LE, the Candy Burnt Orange is a nice departure from the black-and-green choices thus far. Of course, the SE is mechanically identical to the rest of the 310 lineup, but steals the sporty seat from the 310R.

Literally unchanged since 2011’s revision, the Ultra LX shares the same Phantom Silver paint as the 310X, and even features the same shape of the LXury seat (without the heat resistant material), but carries none of the powertrain upgrades introduced last year. Even electronic throttle control, trim, ECO mode, and cruise control are absent.

And of course, the once flagship STX-15F is now slogging through its twelfth year completely unchanged apart from new colors and decals, this year returning to Lime Green. The STX surprised many with a spike in sales in 2014, but many attributed this to heavy discounts and rebates being offered on the one-time World Finals contender.

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Almost completely unchanged over a decade, the STX-15F remains as Kawasaki’s constant in its lineup, receiving only minor tweaks to coloring and decals year after year.

This year is a testament to Kawasaki’s policy of producing a solid product and playing it safe, letting the word of mouth do most of the talking. There are few who will contend the Ultra’s prowess in the rough, and none will protest Kawasaki’s claim to the throne as King of Horsepower. But, what lacks in this year’s lineup is palpable: optimism. While Kawasaki keeps its head low, Yamaha and Sea-Doo are the ones charging the bunkers on the hill, introducing a wide swathe of new products, innovations and technology.

We look forward to another year of increased sales and growth for 2015, and can’t help but hope for what new innovations and models 2016 will bring. Because that’s what us Kawi fans do.

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Pumping a little more flair into the base-model 310X, Kawasaki gave the “X” a whole new paint scheme of Ebony & Metallic Phantom Silver with some very attention-grabbing Kawasaki Green highlights found in the bond rail insert and graphics.

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Video: DTV Shredder; A Stand Up Jet Ski For Terrafirma

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OK, so the bad news is that the standup market is pretty small. This is, if you’re looking to the OEMs. S’more bad news comes when you look towards the current aftermarket, as offerings range from $6,000 to $30,000 depending on how complete the hull is and what it’s made out of (ie. carbon fiber impregnated with kelvar, etc.). That too includes a whole lot of billet goods and likely a trick paint job.

What makes this sting the most is that many of us remember when a pair of standups cost a few grand and could fit in the bed of our pickup truck. While it’s becoming a dark reality that those days are far behind us, there are ways to relive those early heydays for nearly the same cost but in the dirt. Imagine riding your first standup almost exactly how you remembered but blur that memory with riding a quad, a skateboard and a dirtbike.

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Enter the DTV Shredder. Contrary to its battle tank appearance, the all-terrain vehicle is surprisingly spry thanks to its lightweight construction (weighing an impressive 200-pounds) and 4-stroke 196cc engine producing 13hp (responsible for its 30mph top speed), the Shredder employs a pair of continuously variable transmission (CVT) drives that account for its seamless shifting.

The DTV Shredder (Dual Tracked Vehicle) features a vertical handlepole very similar to a traditional standup with fixed handlebars. Steering is imputed through a mechanically-articulated board that allows the rider to lean in and out of turns like a skateboard or surfboard as acceleration is imputed through a traditional throttle and brake. The Shredder can take on most all terrain, wet or dry and all year round.

And amazingly enough, this sick machine can be yours for $4,000. That’s an amazing value considering the astronomical amount of technology imbued in this big boy toy. Check out the Shredder in action below:

Kool PWC Stuff Rewards WCJ Readers With Special Offer

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Being a regular reader of The Watercraft Journal has its benefits. Nowhere else can you get your daily dose of top quality professionally-written news and articles all about the personal watercraft industry, next-day event coverage, vehicle and product reviews and much, much more; but now you get smokin’ deals of some of the best products in the sport!

Kool PWC Stuff, the original manufacturer of universal-fit PWC fishing racks, is offering their high-quality, American-made products to you, the loyal WCJ reader, for $25 off the retail price! No matter the rack (yes, you read that right), Kool PWC Stuff is gonna hack $25 bucks off of the final cost.

All you need to do is enter the code WJ 25 and there you go. But don’t dillydally. This deal starts TODAY and runs all the way until the end of October. So if you’re looking for an awesome solution for extra storage, a cooler rack than can carry extra fuel, or a dedicated fishing rack to hold all your reels, then you gotta visit Kool PWC Stuff right now and score on this deal!