Gallery: 2014 Dana Point to Oceanside & Back Offshore Sprint

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September 23, 2014

A calm, overcast start turned into a bright and sunny finish at the Jettribe Dana Point to Oceanside and Back offshore endurance race on Sunday, September 21, 2014. Promoted by Ross Wallach of RPM Enterprise and presented by Hydro-Turf, Sea-Doo, Hot Products, Sea-Tow, Jet Re-Nu, Oakley, Kawasaki, Watercraft Journal, ProRider Magazine, and www.pwcoffshore.com, all helped in bringing this race back after no race last year.

As the 17 racers gathered for the start of the race, the conditions were uncharacteristic for the Pacific: eerily smooth waters and a mere 1-2 feet of swell. When the green flagged waved, the calm conditions allowed a drag race start of top end performance at full throttle speeds.

Mike Klippenstein, riding his R&D turbo Yamaha FX Cruiser, quickly took the lead position with Chris Heinrich, riding a built Yamaha FZR, hot on his heels. Close behind the two leaders were John Feeney on his Pro Open Kawasaki Ultra, and Michael Perry of Factory Kawasaki on his Manufacturer Stock 310R. Hot on Perry’s wake were Manufacturer Stock riders Jeff Lane, on his new Kawasaki 310R, and Curtis Marker on his brand-new 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO. Abeam these fast paced Manufacturer Stock boats in another Yamaha and Kawasaki position battle were Santiago Kuan, riding his Yamaha FX, and Derek Newton on his Kawasaki Ultra.

Following this lead group was the rest of the field in an all-out sprint through glassy waters to the turn boat outside of Oceanside Harbor. The conditions going south were in the riders’ favor, going with the current and direction of the swell all the way down. After the turn boat, the seas gave the riders a little bit more of a challenge with oncoming swell and parting clouds giving way to bright, sunny and clear conditions.

Rider Evelyn Mangan suffered a late start due to battery issues, starting 18 minutes behind the field. But the trials were not over for Mangan, who was pulled over by Dana Point Harbor Patrol just seconds after crossing the start line for getting on the throttle just before the 5mph zone ended. This was a first for race director Ross Wallach and the RPM race series, having a racer pulled over during a competition.

At the top of the field, Mike Klippenstein rode his Yamaha through smooth conditions and across the finish line in a battle for the top spot, finishing just 3-seconds ahead of John Feeney on the Offshore Robot Kawasaki Ultra. Only one minute behind the Pro Open boats was the Manufacturer Stock class winner and impressive third overall finisher, Michael Perry on his Kawasaki Ultra.

Coming back from a knee injury sustained during the LB2CAT in July, was the #22 Yamaha of Brittany Marker, the first woman across the line at Dana Point and boasting a 10th place overall finish. Shortly after, Chris Heinrich finished in 12th place due to boost line issues on his impressive Yamaha FZR. One minute later, 15-year-old Brennan Newton, the younger brother of sixth place finisher Derek Newton, finished his first ever race on a borrowed Kawasaki from Shawn Alladio. Newton threw his hands in the air after crossing the finish line in excitement of his successful ride.

As racers continued crossing the finish line, more close battles ensued, and although a late start, Evelyn Mangan took advantage of the familiar “lake-like” conditions, setting a blistering pace and passing two riders before the finish line. A few minutes later, former world champion, Sheldon Messick, crossed finished on a borrowed Polaris, racing in order to qualify for the upcoming IJSBA World Finals.

All 17 starters finished the race under their own power within the time allowed, even with some mechanical issues and one rider being pulled over by the Harbor Patrol. Ross Wallach was happy to announce that it was the first offshore race in the series to finish without a single DNF in 8 years. This rare occasion made for a great day of racing and happy competitors all around.

We caught up with the winner, Mike Klippenstein, to get his thoughts on the race and his first place finish, “It was a great time racing with new friends and racers. It was great to see other racers helping new and old racers and the comradery by everyone is second to none. It was a fast course and my Yamaha FX Crusier (built by R&D) ran perfectly and I am very happy that I could bring home the win. I want to thank all my sponsors and the people that support the racing, because without them, it just wouldn’t happen. We will see everyone at World Finals or the Mark Hahn 300!”

2014 Dana Point to Oceanside & Back Offshore Sprint
September 21, 2014

Overall Results: 1. Mike Klippenstein, 2. John Feeney, 3. Michael Perry, 4. Jeff Lane, 5. Santiago Kuan, 6. Derek Newton, 7. Akira Tanaka, 8. Bill Scott, 9. Curtis Marker, 10. Brittany Marker, 11. Shawn Mulkey, 12. Chris Heinrich, 13. Brennan Newton, 14. Renee Hill, 15. Evelyn Mangan, 16. Sheldon Messick, 17. Dan Schroepfer

PRO/AM OPEN: 1. Mike Klippenstein, 2. John Feeney, 3. Chris Heinrich, 4. Renee Hill; 4-STROKE STOCK: 1. Santiago Kuan, 2. Derek Newton, 3. Akira Tanaka, 4. Shawn Mulkey, 5. Brennan Newton, 6. Evelyn Mangan, MANF. STOCK: 1. Michael Perry, 2. Jeff Lane, 3. Bill Scott, 4. Curtis Marker, 5. Brittany Marker, 6. Sheldon Messick, 7. Dan Schroepfer

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Jetski Junkies’ North Bahamas Jet Ski Loop

By

Kev Hemingway

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September 23, 2014

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This PWC trail was researched and accomplished by the Jetski Junkies Bahamas Ride Crew with the intention to share with the world, not only our story, but the details and navigational information needed for anyone wishing to also make this journey.

This PWC Trail starts at the Harvey E. Oyer Jr. Park in Boynton Beach, Florida. Crossing the Intra-Coastal Waterway out through the Boynton Beach Inlet into the Atlantic Ocean heading east to West End, Grand Bahama Island, home to Old Bahama Bay. The West End has your Customs & Immigration Dock, fuel dock, bathrooms and a small store to get a drink and snack if needed. From the West End, you head North to the Goodwill Channel. The Goodwill Channel is not too far up from the West End, just a mile or two.

Once reaching the Goodwill Channel, you take a bearing more northeast for a good ways until you reach the Dover Channel Cut. The Dover Channel Cut takes you Southeast at an approx 45 degree angle back towards the Island on your way to the Dover Channel, which is your entrance into the Grand Lucayan Waterway. The entrance is very well marked by tall red and green navigation pilings. Do yourself a favor and stay inside those markers as it is extremely shallow and rocky outside of it. The channel is dredged so at low mean tide you have at least 4-feet until you are inside the actual Grand Lucayan Waterway which is narrow but has minimum of 10-foot water depth.

The waterway is fun and beautifully colored, mostly sea-walled and only one bridge closer to the southern end of the waterway which has heights of 25-feet at low tide so very passable by many. The waterway itself is not well maintained and lined with scrub brush grown from what should have been a housing development. You will find a few homes along the waterway, some finished and some unfinished. Once through the waterway you will be in the Tongue of the Ocean on the south side of Grand Bahama Island just east of Port Lucaya.

From here you go right heading back West along the shoreline but not too close due to the many rocks and coral you can’t see. You will go down two canals to the Bell Channel, the Bell Channel takes you into Port Lucaya. As you come in the channel it will split going right or left; right is the way to the Flamingo Bay Resort and Marina, left will take you to Port Lucaya and the fuel dock.

Heading right to the hotel, you will take your next right into the Flamingo Bay Resort Channel. The docks are permanent wood docks, some have ladders so those are the best to use as the docks are tall. The resort does have floating docks but only for their PWC rentals. The great part about Flamingo Bay is they are attached to the Taino Beach Resort so all the amenities are open to guests at no extra charge.

Flamingo Bay is already a very reasonably priced hotel and your rooms are right at the marina overlooking your PWC. Twenty-four hour security is on site also, beautiful lagoon style pool and grotto with swim up bar along with pool volleyball, a waterslide and a lazy river. The beach is on the south side combined with a tiki hut and Taino Beach restaurant all within walking distance of the hotel. Of course, if you wish to go to Port Lucaya, the ferry dock is right in Flamingo’s Marina or you can rent scooters from the resort to go and explore the island on your own.

The ride in from the States will be a total of 127 miles give or take. From Boynton Beach to West End, Bahamas is approximately 69 miles and then from the West End to Flamingo Bay is another 58 miles give or take. When you are ready to head home, you will understand the title. You will leave out either from Flamingo Bay or the fuel dock in Port Lucaya heading out the Bell Channel and into Atlantic Ocean. From here, you will go right heading west following the shoreline of Grand Bahama Island.

Now I want to reiterate, do not try to run the shoreline; we had more than a few close calls the closer to shore we were, so it’s best to stay in that darker blue water. You will make your way to the West End of the island again but from the south side this time, this will be approximately 30 or so miles versus the 58 you did coming in from the North Sound. Refuel at West End and then head out due west for Boynton Beach. This totals approximately 227 miles.

You will find all the navigational waypoints, points of interest and links to informational websites that make up this PWC trail HERE.

Everything Counts: 2014 Sea-Doo GTR 215

By

Kevin Shaw

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September 22, 2014

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When every nickle and dime matters, getting the utmost out of your investment is often a nerve-racking enterprise. Each aspect needs to be evaluated, weighed and decided. Needs usually veto wants, and compromises are made to satisfy both parties. While not everything from Column A can be had, the entirety of Column B is equally piecemealed. Of course, for those with the means of making a purchase solely upon passion, not so much. With a wave of a checkbook or plastic credit card, seemingly whatever your heart’s desire can be yours.

Sea-Doo’s 2014 GTR 215 is exactly targeted for those in the first group (although, all are welcome to it). The lowest entry in BRP’s Performance musclecraft lineup, the GTR is a skillfully balanced option for those looking for seat-of-your-pants thrills while not exhausting the family budget. The GTR is also a primed candidate for aftermarket modification if the temptation to tinker becomes too much to resist (but more on that later). In its showroom stock form, the 215-horsepower GTR is possibly our personal favorite machine from Sea-Doo, and not for the reasons you might think.

The rear rider has multiple options for hand placement thanks to the GTR’s long handrails in back. Either sitting forwards or rearward, the grips are wisely placed and don’t rub.

Seemingly unchanged since it’s introduction in 2011, the current 2014 model remains in its original black, orange and white livery. As you might’ve seen, the 2015 GTR 215 received a whole new retina-melting yellow, red and black repaint. If the new look is a little too garish for your tastes, you’re in luck as dealers reported surprisingly disappointing sales of the centrifugal-supercharged, Rotax-powered model given the craft’s versatility. To us, this only means that too many have passed up one of Sea-Doo’s best “in between” segment runabouts.

Based upon the Swiss Army-knife GTI platform, the GTR is still plenty of watercraft, weighing in at 799 pounds (dry weight) and running 132.6-inches long and 48.5-inches wide. Even with such a tight layout, the GTR ekes out 30.8 gallons of storage thanks to an ample glovebox and large bow stowage. The Performance Group LCD digital dash is highly visible and legible at nearly any speed, flanked by black-faced analog dials only adding to the GTR’s sporty appearance. One big highlight: the handlebar toggles are some of the most responsive in the industry – and we mean it.

Standard with all GTR’s are Sea-Doo’s stellar iBR brake and reverse system, VTS electronic trim control, iTC digital throttle control system, offering three engine tunes (Touring, ECO and Sport).

The steering is fixed (no tilt option) and single bench seat removes completely and features attractive orange piping. The saddle is thankfully pinched at the knees and lightly bolstered. The footwells are deep and wide and feature foam matting with molded “Sea-Doo” tread. A large padded swimstep is wide and sloped, making boarding easy, although a folding swimstep would have been appreciated in deep water boarding.

At speed, the GTR tracks impressively true in smooth to moderate chop. In larger surf, the GTR can put up a struggle if you’re not paying attention. At cruising speeds, captaining the GTR is effortless and immensely enjoyable while smoothly carving along the shoreline. Although nowhere the turn-and-burn handling of the RXP-X, the GTR greedily snaps in hairpins and sharp S-turns. The steering is intuitive and clearly communicates through the handlebars where it wants to go.

Propelling the GTR to its 68.2 maximum speed is a supercharged and intercooled 215-horsepower 1,503cc Rotax 3-cylinder four-stroke. Cooled through Sea-Doo’s closed-loop system, the tried-and-true 215HP package has been around for nearly a decade and has definitely earned its stripes. The iTC system manages to squeeze out a bit more fun with Sport mode engaged, leaping from a standstill to full plane in a couple of seconds. Throttle response is sharp and trigger resistance is enough to fool your hand there there’s no cable connecting your finger from the throttle body.

We spent a couple of days with the GTR 215 and found ourselves playing more than actually working (it’s sometimes a very blurry line n this line of work). Day Two was spent with the GTR almost entirely in ECO mode, and despite a tank full (nearly 17 gallons despite the stated 15.9 max), we ticked nearly 70 miles of riding with still a pair of bars on the gauge remaining. While 87 octane is the listed minimum, the boosted Rotax much prefers 91, and we can’t help but give it the good stuff.

While the GTR 215 can play nice in the optional iTC tuned Touring and ECO modes, it’s truly Sport mode where this budget racer shines.

In our view, the GTR builds upon the GTI lineup more than the musclecraft. Even as Spark sales grow (purportedly 9,000 units sold domestically in 2014 alone), the GTI remains the brand’s most popular segment handily outpacing sales of the Luxury and Performance groups. As the GTI Limited 155 provides the Recreation line a fully-loaded and well-optioned optioned segment, the GTR unearths the capabilities of the GTI hull. In tight turns, the GTR can still push the tail out if coaxed, and full throttle donuts and Figure 8’s are as stupidly fun as ever.

And for those who can’t leave well enough alone, the GTR’s supercharged platform is receptive to no shortage of performance enhancing parts. A simple ECU tune can radically alter the craft’s powerband, while a pair of sponsons, an intake grate and a prop can convert this cool cruiser into a closed course killer. Unlike wrenching on other full-blown musclecraft, the casual performance enthusiast will really see major gains with minor modifications on their GTR without losing its “fun factor.”

The GTR 215 is a fantastic everything-for-everybody family craft without having to make major compromises to things like sporty fun or fuel economy. Affordable (retail priced at $11,899), lightweight, stable, fuel-friendly, and a performance craft-on-demand, this Sea-Doo truly does everything, and it does it pretty dang well.

Special thanks to America’s Motorsports for use of the 2014 Sea-Doo GTR 215.

Low and mean, the 2014 GTR 215 doesn’t lack in the looks department either. Whether standing still or at speed, the GTR caught passersby attention wherever we were.

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Do You Have Proper PWC Coverage? Know Your McGraw Insurance Essentials!

By

Kevin Shaw

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September 22, 2014

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Listen, we’re not going to duck the facts here: most PWC owners don’t carry enough insurance (if any at all). Like your car, carrying insurance coverage on your personal watercraft is imperative to protecting your investment. And despite what the local Fish & Game warden might have you feeling, boating isn’t as policed as the roads you travel each day, so taking the proper measures to cover you and your runabout is a wise move; because you wouldn’t how many times policy holders have been saved by carrying even the basic of insurance coverage.

Ensuring that you’ve got the best watercraft insurance coverage is surprisingly simple. But first, you’ve gotta ask, why should I even have insurance? Recently, The Watercraft Journal talked with McGraw Powersports Group who explained that policies can include a combined single limit liability, protection against uninsured watercraft, watersports liability, trailer coverage and protection against physical damage.

Specifically, McGraw’s Personal Watercraft Package (which includes jet boats under sixteen 16-feet, jet skis, wet bikes, etc.) provides coverage against $15,000 in liability coverage, theft, fire, collision, hull damage, sinking, damage to another watercraft and injury to another person. This all sounds great, but McGraw can go further, providing increased liability (from $25,000 to $300,000), liability-only coverage, medical payments and trailer coverage.

While you might not need all of that, all of us could benefit from most of it. And given the kinds of loonies we’ve all seen on the water, it’s really to protect us from them.

OK, this might’ve sounded a little pitchy, but there’s good reason for it: we want you all to enjoy many, many more seasons of riding, and getting you and your ski covered is the best way to do it. Sure, you could get PWC insurance from most anybody willing to sell it to you, but with McGraw’s near 40-years of experience, stellar reputation and dedicated powersports expertise, there are few who can compare. Don’t settle for car insurance dressed in a life jacket; get genuine powersports protection from passionate enthusiasts.

Video: PWC Rider Rescues Downed Pilot

By

Justin Stannard

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September 19, 2014

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Although personal watercraft are widely established as indispensable tools for emergency response agencies worldwide, every once in a while a private citizen finds themselves in the right place at the right time to make a difference.

At approximately 2:30 on the afternoon of Saturday, September 6^th, George Daly seized that opportunity after spotting a small banner plane lose power and nose over into the sea, just off the coast of Florida’s Miami Beach. According to WSVN.com, Daly immediately mounted his rented personal watercraft and sped directly toward the crash site. “As soon as I [got] out there, he was in the water. He had a minor cut over here,” recalled Daly, pointing above his right eyebrow.

“I asked him if there was anyone else on the plane with him. He said ‘no,’ so I got him on board and brought him to the shore and Ocean Rescue took over right away.”

Witness Mashelyn Carrera captured the duo returning safely to shore on her cell phone’s video camera, recording the round of applause received as the dazed pilot dismounted the PWC and walked ashore, hugging his savior in gratitude.

Commenting on the rescue, Daly told reporters that the pilot thanked him profusely, and that he was relieved for not injuring anyone when the plane went down. “I felt like a hero,” recounted Daly, “so I was happy he was OK, and he was conscious, and everybody’s happy.”

The pilot was indeed OK, after receiving care for minor injuries at Mount Sinai Medical Center. The downed Cessna L19-305 banner tow craft, loaded with fuel at the time of the crash, was later recovered from the bottom of the Atlantic in three large pieces and hauled away for examination by the FAA.

http://youtu.be/OBCOungIVvc

WCJ Sponsors 2014 Sea-Doo Ultimate Owner’s Ride; Invades IJSBA World Finals

By

Kevin Shaw

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September 19, 2014

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To the jet ski lover, there’s only one thing on their calendar the second week of October: it’s the single-largest gathering of personal watercraft enthusiasts and racers in the United States of America and worldwide – the annual IJSBA World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. And the Internet’s ONLY daily personal watercraft magazine The Watercraft Journal will be on-hand in a big way!

Besides documenting the world’s best racers competing on the closed course with nail-biting anticipation, to which we will publish all of the action – as always – in our next-day coverage on October 13th, we will provide all of you a glimpse at the newest and most exciting products debuting exclusively at the World Finals – because there’s still plenty of cool stuff coming out for 2015 that you haven’t seen yet!

Next, although we won’t be camping out beneath the shade of a EZ-Up in the paddock, we will be hosting a “courtesy lounge” up in the Crazy Horse Campgrounds where we will welcome scheduled meetings with current and potential advertisers, racers and promoters all looking to participate with the world’s most popular online PWC magazine. If you’d like to schedule a time to meet, please email [email protected] today!

Lastly, all of us here at WCJ are very excited to announce that The Watercraft Journal has been announced as the presenting sponsor for the fourth annual Sea-Doo Ultimate Owner’s Ride. “The Sea-Doo Ultimate Owners Ride is a fun-filled, 45-mile guided group ride on Lake Havasu and the Colorado River,” Sea-Doo’s press release states. “This is the opportunity to experience one of the best one-day rides in all of North America and do it with enthusiasts who share the same passion as you. Join the Sea-Doo Event Team for a fun day of riding, opportunity to ride next to select 2015 Sea-Doo watercraft and enjoy a special edition Sea-Doo World Finals event cap, lunch at Pirate Cove Resort in Topock, California, and chance to win Sea-Doo gear and prizes.”

Scheduled to take place on Saturday, October 11, 2014, registration to ride is $10 per Sea-Doo watercraft (all proceeds will go to the Junior Stars PWC racing program for future Sea-Doo Spark racers). If you’re interested, register by e-mailing [email protected], ask for entry form and send it back filled out by by October 8th, or sign up onsite on Friday, October 10th at Mudsharks Brewery.

With such a large group of riders, the group will be split up into “flights” or groups of 20-25 riders with a “flight leader.” The ride will include multiple stops including the Site Six launch ramp, the Famous Havasu Channel and London Bridge, Mouth of the River, Havasu Sandbar, Topock Gorge, and Pirate Cove Resort.

For a complete schedule and list of activities, make sure to go to Sea-Doo’s OnBoard Blog HERE.

Seven Deadly Questions With Rob Greenwald

By

Kevin Shaw

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September 18, 2014

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The Watercraft Journal: Rob, prior to becoming the Pro-AM Naturally-Aspirated Runabout National Champion (what does this year make? Three years in a row?), and four prior Pro-Stock National Championships, what sports did you participate in before you picked up PWC racing?
Rob Greenwald: Sports have always been an integral part of my life; 21 years now of racing PWCs, I also road raced for years, both AMA and WERA racing 600 Superbike, 750s, and 250GP. As a teen I raced motocross. Played football in college for Tulane and then played semipro until I was 38 years old. I still play in a Rough Touch Flag League (all contact but no tackling). I played rec hockey for most of my life, and I also still compete in USATF Masters Track in the 200m, 400m, shot, and javelin. And as hokey as it sounds, I also throw darts competitively in leagues and tournaments.

WCJ: You’ve famously powered through some serious injuries and surgeries. Care to list all your war wounds? (To make all those younger guys look like pansies!)
RB: All of them? We don’t have the time! But to start, I have had 17 orthopedic surgeries, the biggest being five knee surgeries (four from football and one from moto), cracked two vertebrae and ruptured discs from football, broken wrist, leg, and ankle, have raced PWCs with broken hand and fingers, and even raced last years Worlds with full blown pneumonia. The part that really sucks is I currently have spinal arthritis and seven compressed discs (that won’t go away) and my cervical vertebrae have become vertically stacked which limits neck mobility. My throttle hand has nerve damage which has also triggered arthritis; I wake up every day with a stiff tingly right hand. That said, I wouldn’t trade my sports or racing for anything, we have to make sacrifices for the greatest enjoyment of our lives… If I could do it again, I would have pushed even harder.

WCJ: You recently got married. (Congrats!) How does your better half feel about your PWC racing life? What role does she play in getting you ready/keeping you motivated all weekend long?
RG: I will start by saying that my wife loves to see me happy and enjoys watching me race…but she does not enjoy coming to too many races with me. She says it’s great to watch me race, but hates sitting around most of the day. She further says,”you then get together with the same guys, tell all the same stories, tell all the same jokes, it’s a big repeat… It’s like Groundhog Day”. So most of the time she says “Go out, have fun, and win!” We agreed that once we have a baby en route, I officially retire from doing tours and chasing titles. My work keeps me gone enough! Don’t get me wrong, she loves seeing me happy and she is quite the rider herself on a PWC!

WCJ: Given your skill and experience, the Pro Naturally-Aspirated class seemed to be a surprising choice. What drew you to this class?
RG: Pro-Am N\A bought the fun back to racing for me. Smaller, better handling PWCs that are reliable, tight turning, passing…it’s very reminiscent of my Pro 800 Runabout days. I enjoy it much more, it’s a lot less expensive. When I won my first four Pro Stock Runabout titles, Pro Stock was a very affordable competitive class to race before our sanctioning body turned it into Pro Stock Limited because they wouldn’t spend the money to actually tech and police the class. They just made everything legal! I love N/A because I fuel my ski, race it, wipe it down and put it away. Then I get to enjoy my time with my friends at the races. Racers all screamed for affordable competitive racing, and this is it! Heck, my VXR is a bit faster than my old 800 Super Stock was. Would I love to race Open? Hell yeah, you find someone to foot the whole bill and I am there! You bring it, I will ride it!

WCJ: Because of your partnership with Factory Yamaha, RIVA Racing and Dean’s Team, we’re guessing you get to see a lot of stuff before it goes public. What’s it like to be a guinea pig for some of the brightest minds in the sport?
RG: Working with Yamaha has been nothing short of amazing! They made me feel like a Pro again. Scott Watkins is a godsend to our sport and really cares about the sport itself and especially his racers. I can’t thank Factory Yamaha enough for what they have done for me. Plus living near R&D and getting to ride and test product is amazing. The engineers really care more than you can imagine about the product and what your input is. Also, I have the utmost respect and so value my friendship with Dean Charrier. He is truly the master of the 1.8L motor and these new Yamahas. His dedication and hard work, backed by his love of this sport shows in every front running Dean’s Team runabout! And for Dave Bamdas and RIVA? Where would our sport be without them? They are awesome to ride for!

WCJ: We gotta ask, you’ve been on the new 2015 Yamaha VXR. What did you think of it? How did it ride versus the previous model – and will we be seeing you on a 2015 model next year?
RG: As always Yamaha works to make better product and the new VXR is one of the most amazing handling PWCs I have ever thrown a leg over. The engineers really did their homework. It hooks up incredibly in the chop and rough, and turns and cuts razor sharp. It will definitely be an animal in closed course. I Love it! Of course the old VXR was excellent (four championships to show for it), to do an actual pro-and-con comparison would take a while. How competitive will it be? Just wait ’till you see it in closed course next year! (wink, wink, nudge, nudge).

WCJ: Shameless plug time! Go ahead and give some shout outs to all the people you’d like to thank for getting you where you are today!
RG: Big thanks to my gorgeous wife Amanda for being there for me while I live my dream. And of course to the companies and people who have made it happen for me: Factory Yamaha especially Scott Watkins, Andrew Cullen, and all my boys at logistics/R&D (Todd, Mike, Russ, and Nick), Hydro-Turf (Mikey and Arno), Dean’s Team and Dean Charrier, RIVA Racing (Dave Bamdas and Pat Weekly), Klotz Lubricants, Kali Protectives (the best, lightest moto helmets you will ever protect yourself with), VP Race Fuels, VonZipper goggles and eyewear (Dan-O and Peeeeelo are Über Bros!), ODI grips, and Skat-Trak!

Also the biggest thanks to Jeffrey Decoite and Ady “Tiny” Tworek who have been the world’s ultimate holders and crew and best friends ever; Tiny has been with me since Day 1 and I owe the world to these guys! And the ultimate behind the scenes make it happen guy, great friend and of course teammate Dennis Mack. Phil Farthing for being a great help through my career too! There are many other wonderful people who helped build my career over 21 wonderful years of PWC racing and I thank you all for the help and happiness you have brought me, know I appreciate all that everyone has done. Happiness has no price and is truly irreplaceable. A bad day of racing is still better than a good day at an office. I cannot forget thanking the wonderful sport of PWC racing for all the amazing people and friendships it has brought into my life, I can’t imagine how different my life would be without it!

CanDooPro’s Plug-and-Play GPS Speedometer Upgrade

By

Justin Stannard

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September 18, 2014

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candoo2 — CanDooPro’s GPS Speedometer Module features easy, plug-and-play installation for most 1999-and-newer Sea-Doos, Kawasakis and Yamahas.

CanDooPro.com, innovators of aftermarket diagnostic software and electronic gadgets for BRP, Yamaha, and Kawasaki personal watercraft, have developed a speedometer upgrade for most 1999-and-newer models of the aforementioned brands that converts the craft’s inaccurate probe speed sensor into a precise GPS speedometer.

The GPS Speedometer Modules, also available for purchase at PWCPerformance.com, feature “plug-and-play” installation — meaning no wire cutting, splicing, or soldering is required for the standard units. Utilizing the latest SiRFstarIV™ GPS chipset, location is calculated via a cutting-edge Doppler speed algorithm, and calibration to the individual craft is achieved via a proprietary method using magnetic sensors — no need for external switches or wires.

candoo1 — Sea-Doo-specific models include integration with the watercraft’s water temperature sensor.

The CanDooPro GPS Speedometer Module itself is extremely power efficient, using zero battery power when not in use. And thanks to an integrated supercapacitor, the watercraft’s last-known GPS coordinates are automatically stored for several hours after the lanyard has been removed, allowing for almost instantaneous satellite acquisition upon restart.

All modules are potted, sealed, and marine-ready from the factory, and are built to withstand most any punishment dealt by watercraft, weather or otherwise, including protection from over-voltage and reverse voltage (the unit won’t be compromised by accidentally connecting the power backwards).

In addition to the basic module upgrades available for most Sea-Doos, Kawasakis and Yamahas (starting at $119), CanDooPro offers similar GPS Speedometer Modules featuring full integration with Dynojet’s Combustion Management Device (CMD), with an MSRP of $139.

Full details and ordering information may be found at PWCPerformance.com and CanDooPro.com.

Video: JetSkiShop’s Exclusive FX SVHO & Swimsuit Photoshoot

By

Kevin Shaw

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September 17, 2014

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OK, OK. So admittedly, this really isn’t our style, but there’s nothing too racy or inappropriate going on here so send off any censorship alarms so we’re gonna roll with it. Earlier this year, our pals at the JetSkiShop in Queensland, Australia made a huge move to expand their reach as a PWC dealer. Opening up the once only-Honda PWC dealer to dramatically increase the store’s access to performance watercraft enthusiasts, and James Tod and crew at the JetSkiShop knew just the right way to celebrate.

Featuring a gorgeous blue-on-black 2014 Yamaha FX SVHO WaveRunner, the JetSkiShop invited professional model Shannon GK to the Gold Coast for a special day on the beach. Filmed and edited by Jimmy The Jet Productions on the Gold Coast, the swimsuit photoshoot helped ring in a new chapter in the JetSkiShop’s 11-year history. Providing top notch services in sales, parts, service, and accessories, the JetSkiShop is truly your best access to “Your New Lifestyle!”

Besides some swanky music that sounds to be lifted from an episode of “Red Shoe Diaries,” the video below highlights the contoured two-tone seat, long, low design of the FX and…oh who are we kidding? It’s a pretty girl flipping her hair from side to side atop of a brand new supercharged WaveRunner. That’s enough, right? Enjoy.

Big Things Coming From RIVA Racing for 2014/2015

By

Kevin Shaw

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September 17, 2014

0

It’s hard to write this news post because frankly, we’re not allowed to say too much. That being said, as the IJSBA World Finals draw near (the second week of this upcoming October in Lake Havasu City, Arizona), so too comes the reveal of lots of new products for the personal watercraft industry. These past two months have witnessed the reveals of the new crop of watercraft from Yamaha, Kawasaki and Sea-Doo, so logically would follow the aftermarket, and we promise you won’t be disappointed.

For one of the industry’s biggest names, RIVA Racing, these changes mean two things: top of the line performance and unmatched customer service. This past season witnessed RIVA-supported Factory Yamaha and Sea-Doo racers snatching up checkered flags one after another, and understandably so. The Factory Yamaha Dean’s Team crew absolutely dominated the Pro Runabout Open, Limited, Stock and Naturally Aspirated classes. Equally, RIVA-equipped Sea-Doos put up a good fight too.

RIVA will have a tiered selection of performance packages for all SVHO-optioned runabouts to both work with Yamaha’s all-new RiDE dual-throttle brake and reverse system (found only the FX SVHO units, the FZ runabouts come without it), and to get the most out of Yamaha’s uber-lightweight NanoXcel 2 material. And of course, expect to see plenty of go-fast goods for your favorite Rotax-powered Sea-Doos too.

Other news includes the fruition of two-year’s worth of labor; a complete relaunch of RIVA Racing’s website and store. This will dramatically improve customer’s access to the company’s full range of products, video tutorials, installation instructions, an application guide and much, much more (which we can’t unveil just yet). RIVA has been thrashing to perfect their site for both traditional laptop and PC viewing, as well as mobile optimization, so you can browse for parts on your phone or tablet.

This only adds to RIVA’s dedication to getting you the best products in the industry. So to make sure you don’t miss a thing, go follow RIVA Racing’s Facebook page today for the latest updates and product reveals!