Fearsome Flagship: 2015 Yamaha FX SVHO Cruiser WaveRunner

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October 6, 2014

It’s often a very gray line that separates a full-blown performance watercraft from a top-of-the-line luxury watercraft. While some lean to hard to the prior (Kawasaki 310LX) others list too far in the other direction (Sea-Doo GTX Limited 155). Striking the right balance is not only imperative to establishing the appropriate tone with the vehicle itself, but also communicating to the desired audience.

According to a recent study by Info-Link, the average age of the new PWC buyer has increased nearly 10 years since 1997 (49 years of age); throw in that statistically, those drawn to full-tilt luxury craft rank considerably older, we’re looking at a mature audience. This is why most manufacturers maintain more reserved, adult coloring options for their luxury lineup. Even Sea-Doo’s controversial 2015 color palette retains some very conservative hues for its GTX line.

If a Yamaha WaveRunner could ever be called a “sleeper,” this would be it. With the all-new NanoXcel 2 hull and deck and SVHO powertrain package, this machine looks like a luxury cruiser but packs all the punch of a closed course competitor.

Yamaha Motor Corp‘s fresh batch of luxury watercraft are equally classic in their appearance. For 2015, the surprisingly popular Pure White jumps from the naturally-aspirated FX High Output Cruiser to the top-of-the-food chain SVHO. Equipped with a corpulent amount of bells and whistles, including Pull-Up Cleats, Cruise Assist/No Wake Mode, Command Link instrumentation controls and tiered stadium-style Cruiser seat, we immediately pegged the the the Super Vortex High Output-powered Cruiser was part of the brand’s luxury lineup.

Unfortunately, we erred in thinking so and were quickly corrected by Yamaha Product Manager Scott Watkins, “The Luxury units max out with the SHO (Super High Output) engine. Anything equipped with the SVHO is definitely part of our Performance line.” And right he was. Yamaha’s Performance lineup outweighs its Luxury and Versatility models by no less than two units, and the FX SVHO Cruiser isn’t all that removed from it’s sportier FX SVHO doppelganger.

The FX SVHO Cruiser offers dual screw-top watertight storage bins, the rearward being a removable unit and a carrying handle.

Nevertheless, by wielding the company’s most powerful powertrain as well as nearly every accessory package available, the 2015 FX SVHO Cruiser hardly suffers from a lack of luxury. Of which, the SVHO powertrain remains unvaried from last year’s model, improving the Super High Output (SHO) engine by increasing overall efficiency by 110-percent.

The SVHO engine impressed many with its new 8.5:1 compression forged pistons, larger 60-pound fuel injectors, and a larger intercooler (providing an impressive 22-percent increase in efficiency), and a large 86mm HKS supercharger with a 6-vein impeller presses out 60-percent more boost. A racy 8-vein pump housing hosts a 160mm impeller, churning gobs of thrust.

Thick charcoal gray Hydro-Turf mats cover the wide swim platform and footwells. The folding swimstep has a unique rail that ensures a flush fitment when at rest and a flat surface to step on.

Although the powertrain hasn’t changed, overall performance has increased nominally due to Yamaha’s all-new NanoXcel 2 hull and deck material. The new lightweight material shaves off nearly 50 pounds off of the FX platform, optimizing the runabout’s power-to-weight ratio for quicker acceleration and throttle response.

The weight savings is noticeable too. When unleashed, the FX SVHO Cruiser erupts from a standstill like a cannonball, launching a single rider (with only a gallon or two of fuel in its 18.5 gallon tank) from 0-to-30 in 1.5 seconds, and to 60mph just a blink over a second past that. Of course, once properly broken in (a factory-suggested minimum 10 riding hours), the SVHO-powered FX has been said to creep past 70 miles per hour.

The big news for 2015 is Yamaha’s new RiDE dual-throttle reverse and braking system. The left lever engages immediate reward thrust, which when used gingerly, can be employed in cornering as well as close quarters maneuvering.

Of course, the big news for 2015 is Yamaha’s all-new RiDE dual-throttle brake and reverse system. Rather than acting like a gear lever, left trigger immediately engages reverse thrust, dramatically improving docking, braking and loading/unloading from a trailer. Calibrated for the FX’s 140.2-inch beam and stout 260 (unconfirmed) horsepower, the RiDE system progressively decelerates without pitching forward or lurching suddenly.

When deployed at speed, the braking comes on as hard as you hit it. With some finesse, RiDE actually can be operated intuitively, providing precision braking through turns without overriding the forward throttle like Sea-Doo’s iBR. That being said, RiDE rewards those with a gentle touch, particularly in tight confines like a dock or rocky shore. The dual-outlet reverse bucket directs thrust horizontally, aiding in performing tighter zero-point turns.

Happy with either 87 or 91 octane, the SVHO is one of the few supercharged machines that still manages some pretty civilized fuel economy when the throttle isn’t pinned to its stop all day long (which is a lot harder than you might think it is).

Directional “gears” (Forward, Neutral and Reverse) are displayed in a new LCD screen flanking the centered, white-faced analog gauge. With the new RiDE system also comes Yamaha’s first-ever electronic trim control, which is indicated in the opposite-side in-dash LCD screen.

The FX SVHO Cruiser’s 33.2 gallons of storage is spread throughout the craft, from its large bow galley to twin strew-top watertight bins found in the dash and beneath the rear passenger seat. The “wet storage” is ideal for tow ropes, diving goggles or masks or just a pair of flip flops, which of course, opens up to the large swim platform and wide, folding boarding step.

svho3 — Supplemental storage is found in the rear of the runabout while the bow is still large enough for a pair of backpacks, some towels or other needful things.

As we’ve come accustomed to, Yamaha’s Cruiser seat is amply cushioned and positions most average-height riders within comfortable distance from the five-way tilt handlebars. The RiDE system does require some added width to the bars (less than an inch total), but carries over its pistol-grip hand grips. Ergonomically, the cabin is thoughtfully designed, requiring very little contorting to reach any in-dash buttons or handlebar controls.

As we hinted before, the RiDE can come on strong if you’re a little too ham-fisted like us. We also found the seat is a little too wide at the knees for our taste and the bolsters are a tad too forward for anyone 6’2″ and above. Additionally, we hoped for slightly more responsive toggle controls, as we found the Cruise, trim and No Wake a bit slow to inputs. But we need to emphasize that those were the only parts of the FX SVHO Cruiser that could ever be called slow.

Possibly the best iteration of the FX platform that we’ve seen to date, the FX SVHO Cruiser pleases on almost every front. For those wanting a little more oomph out of your luxury machine, this is it.

Throttle response is so quick, it’s precognitive. The FX SVHO Cruiser will pin you back into its scalloped seat with pleasure, and happily devours long, sweeping arcs across the water, hungrily accelerating out of the apex when prompted. The FX hull has never been better than under the power of the brutish Super Vortex High Output 1,812cc four-cylinder. And whether sluicing through Pacific Coast chop or serene lakeside glass, the FX tracks smooth and masterfully.

Also available in Torch Red Metallic (although we could never see anybody wanting anything but the Pure White, in our humble opinion), the FX SVHO Cruiser rings up the cash register at $15,799. Again, it’s the very most that Yamaha WaveRunners brings to the table, so be very aware of everything that comes with it. The top of Performance lineup, the FX SVHO Cruiser, with all of its accommodations and refinement, handily owns top billing for Yamaha’s Luxury lineup as well.

It definitely takes a lot for us to want to ride something more than the SVHO-powered FZR, and the FX SVHO Cruiser kept having us come back over our two-days of testing.

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Video: GoPro Captures High-Speed Canyon Run at Lake Powell

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Kevin Shaw

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October 3, 2014

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Chances are you’ve already seen this video: a fun, first person view of a daring personal watercraft rider shooting the canyons at Lake Powell aboard a turbo-powered Honda F-12X. Powell’s towering walls overshadow thin veins of crystal blue water stretching out like tendrils into the brown desert. Sadly, water levels at Powell continue to slump to record lows. In fact, most all water levels in the Southwest are slinking back because of the ongoing drought in California. Despite warnings, penalties and fines issued by local and state government, Californians seem to be defiant that they’re running out of water.

We mention this not to bring up any sort of political slant, but to prime the pump for what we witnessed in the video’s comment section. Normally, any person who values their sanity avoids the comment section of any YouTube video like a lice-ridden burlap sack full of bubonic plague. The video is fun and we’re sure any one of us would love the chance to recreate it, but a depressing amount of commentators are calling for the public execution of this rider, GoPro, the manufacturers of PWC and well, just check ’em out for yourself.

Particular highlights include, “Good job killing the environment. Go play in traffic, stupid Republican,” “This video is fake. This is a game and no human can drive a Jet Ski this well. You may fool other people uploader but not me. Just take down this video,” and our personal favorite “white people look for new and interesting ways to kill themselves.” We’d pull the racism card but he does kinda have a point. The number of African American males between the ages of 18-to-25 who have died by jumping a snowmobile off the roof of a barn in 2013 is exactly zero. White males? Three.

Anyways, enjoy the video and get a good laugh out of the comments. We did.

Vicious Rumors And Vile Gossip: What The Ninja H2R Means For Kawasaki’s JetSki

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Kevin Shaw

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October 2, 2014

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The 2015 Kawasaki H2R is a big deal, and not just for the world of motorcycles. (But more on that later.) Introduced at INTERMOT 2014, the motorcycle show in Cologne, Germany, the 2015 Ninja H2R is not only closely tied to Kawasaki’s long praised legacy of H2 (and race-bred R-series H2’s), but works to establish the brand’s strong identity within the world of evermore exotic and technologically advanced motorcycles.

Hellbent on producing the next stage in evolution in supersport motorcycles, Kawasaki devoted untold months and years in development of the race track-only H2R. Drawing heavily from the best trellis construction designs, wind tunnel-honed aerodynamic cues and on-board technologies, the H2R provides “the kind of acceleration no rider has experienced before,” with a chassis and aerodynamics that deliver “unflappable stability,” “cornering performance,” and what Kawasaki calls “an accommodating character.”

So what does that mean? As one could imagine, Kawasaki has included the most, as Cycle World’s Kevin Cameron stated, “civilizing electronics, including KTRC traction control, KEBC engine braking control, and KLCM launch control.” Yet, what will draw your attention more than anything else is the H2R’s 998cc centrifugally-supercharged 1-liter four-stroke plant producing an almost maniacally-laughable 300 horsepower.

We at The Watercraft Journal first jumped on the announcement of this wicked new powerhouse back in November of 2013. Introduced at the Tokyo Motor Show, the compact-yet-familiar design of the ZX-10R engine forgoes the traditional roots-style supercharger for a shaft-driven, scroll-type centrifugal unit.

According to Cameron’s assessment, “They show the supercharger drive packaged into the space behind the cylinder block of a transverse in-line engine. Gear teeth cut into one of the engine’s flywheels turn a jackshaft behind the cylinder block. That shaft in turn drives a shaft above it, ending in a compact planetary step-up drive just before the centrifugal impeller itself. Compressed air output from the blower’s scroll housing flows upward, pressurizing the intake airbox above it. We can expect normal-looking throttle bodies and bellmouth intakes, projecting up into the box from the engine’s cylinder head.”

Although the impeller wheel appears to be compact, the two-speed drive to the supercharger shaft reveals the plant’s potential. Where the blower to deliver a modest 5 psi of boost (that’s 5 psi above atmospheric) at 6,000 rpm, Cameron extrapolates, it would be trying to deliver 20 psi boost at 12,000. And that would make the H2R almost completely unrideable. Hence, the need for all the “torque-flattening” technology.

So again, what does this vünderbike have to do with the future of Kawasaki’s JetSki division? Nothing, yet. Yet, as savvy enthusiasts know, technology has a funny way of trickling down. Sea-Doo’s iBR system, which was first introduced in 2009 on the top-of-the-line RXT 255 iS and GTX Limited 255 iS, is now standard equipment on all Sea-Doo vehicles (besides the GTS and optional equipment for the Spark).

Yamaha too, has upped the technology ante with their user-friendly RiDE dual-throttle braking and reverse system, also making its way through almost every runabout in the company’s lineup (apart from the FZ series and entry-level V1 units). This of course, has done nothing but increase Yamaha’s customer appeal and made the battle for market share dominance all the more heated.

Currently, only the Eaton-supercharged Ultra models benefit from the revised ZX-15R engine architecture introduced for the 2014 models. The increase in engine cooling through larger water jacketing, multi-port under-piston oiling, larger oil galleys and a larger oil cooler (not to mention revised cast pistons, lightweight composite intake manifold and an improved ECU mapping) has not only increased engine efficiency but longevity over the previous 300X model.

Unfortunately, the 310X powerplant remains a hefty piece of equipment. With the compact-yet-equally-potent ZX-10R engine in the H2R weighing a scant 100-pounds (unconfirmed), future Ultras could handily benefit from an immediate weight savings with only losing 10 horsepower. And as the scroll-type centrifugal supercharger produces far less heat than the traditional roots blower, internal engine temperatures would only improve.

Of course, if the H2R and subsequently following street-legal H2 are to become Kawasaki’s “halo” vehicles for the brand, we can only aspire for the H2R’s fighter jet razor-sharp design cues and materials to make their way to the brand’s watercraft division. An all black-and-carbon with Kawasaki Green pin stripping Ultra 300X-R JetSki would be a phenomenal creature to behold. And hope ever springs eternal for a rebirth of the STX-R as a carbon-decked murdered-out 1,000cc centrifugally-supercharged closed course buoy burner.

Alas, we will have to patiently wait and see how well the H2R is received by the motorcycle industry. Yet, if sales of the H2R and eventual H2 are as strong as the attention the bike is receiving from the media, we don’t think we’ll have much to worry about. If and when a ZX-10R powered JetSki is actually realized is another issue altogether. But understanding the brand’s slant towards integrating family DNA in all of its products, we remain positive that good things are coming from the “good times” company.

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Video: Snowmobile vs. SuperJet vs. RXP-X

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Kevin Shaw

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October 2, 2014

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Because your workweek is almost over, we thought we’d give you something to smile about. Posted last week by Internet comedy video channel Biisoni Mafia, we present to you a wickedly-built snowmobile handily outrunning a supercharged Sea-Doo RXP-X 255 and a 701cc SuperJet because…well, it’s pretty dang cool.

Of course, unless you’ve been living under a rock in a cave inside of a volcano, then you’ve probably already seen how properly equipped snowmobiles can skim across the surface of a lake or river with ease. There’s even video of snowmobiles retaining the necessary surface tension even after landing a jump! It’s all very impressive and encourage you to check it out.

But this time around, we watch this short skit play out with the fugitive snowmobile outrunning a pair of Police watercraft, the aforementioned SuperJet and RXP-X. Most of the footage focuses on the snowmobile which impressively navigates much of the lake almost completely vertical, ripping up the water.

That is before taking a fantastic leap up and over a berm, wherein the snowmobile lands and keeps on speeding away, leaving the two waterborne skis stuck on the other side. It’s a great bit of stuntwork, a lot of fun to watch.

The Watercraft Journal By The Numbers: September 2014

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Kevin Shaw

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October 1, 2014

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It’s baffling that today is the first of October, particularly as we launched The Watercraft Journal a year ago next month. In our short 11 month run, we have welcomed 100,000 unique individuals to our magazine who have checked out over 315,000 articles, pictures and videos! That’s an incredible amount of people, particularly for a magazine. And with the industry’s biggest forum raked in that kind of traffic each month this summer, we’re very excited for the future of our sport.

From starting from zero, we have welcomed the single-largest readership of a personal watercraft publication since Splash Magazine. For those bemoaning that the “sport ain’t what it used to be” should slap that frown from their face, because we’re seeing some serious upswings in readership, engagement and enthusiast. From May 2013 to May 2014, the sales of new watercraft have increased over 30-percent. That’s a huge jump in market activity, guys. And with nearly 9,000 of that increased unit sales being the all-new Sea-Doo Spark, we’re seeing a lot more entry level and new riders hitting the water, we have plenty of new friends to share the stoke.

Of course, not everything has been smooth sailing these past 11 months here at the ‘Journal, and we had to make some pretty tough decisions. Because of the constant draw of readership to The Watercraft Journal, our old poor little website couldn’t keep up with demand. And for those of you (about 60-percent of you!) who used your phones and tablets to read our stories, our site just plain ol’ sucked. That’s why you’ll notice that The Watercraft Journal is completely redesigned and 150-percent more mobile friendly.

Of course, there’s a lot more going on with the new site too. No more zooming in or holding your phone sideways. Load times are significantly faster, links to other articles are at the ready. Oh, and the single most demanded feature is our all-new photo gallery slideshow at the bottom of every major article. No more opening up new pages or bogging down with load times. Our simple slideshow lets you peruse the hundreds of pictures from event coverage, group rides and personal watercraft reviews with a simple swipe. It wasn’t cheap, so we hope you like it! And of course, make sure to let us know what you like about the new site by leaving a comment on your favorite article!

September 2014

Like Clockwork
Want to know when most people read The Watercraft Journal? Between 7:30am-10am. Sure we see bumps during lunch and after dinner, but day in/day out, we see the majority of our readers in the morning. So what does that mean? It means that like your morning cup of coffee, we’re the first thing people check when they sit down to begin their day. Marketers climb over each other to gain that level of habitual exposure and we’ve got it coming out of our ears because we’re the ONLY magazine in the PWC industry who publishes everyday, Monday through Friday.

News articles published in August: 23
Feature articles published in August: 13
Total feature word count: 14,217 words

News articles published in September: 17
Feature articles published in September: 19
Total feature word count: 16, 757 words*

*When this number is translated to print publication standards equals a 122-page magazine. Please note that this number does not include an average of two uniquely-written news articles published daily.

Not Who You Think They Are
Jerry Gaddis, owner of GreenHulk.net once said that “Over 90-percent of the people on my forum have never worn a helmet while riding a PWC.” This is a significant statement because it speaks to the masses of PWC enthusiasts. Too often magazines want to focus on the tiny sliver of riders and racers who comprise a very vocal minority while ignoring the whole of the industry. Unlike these failed patterns, The Watercraft Journal is the ONLY magazine to provide weekly product and personal watercraft reviews, interviews and entertaining and informative news. Want to know our most popular articles each and every month? Watercraft reviews, beautiful riding spots and fishing stories.

August
Total number unique readers: 17,028*
Total number of articles read: 42,824
Percentage of new readers: 62.4%

September
Total number unique readers: 16,576*
Total number of articles read: 40,028
Percentage of new readers: 60.24%

*This number is considered equal to an individual sale of a single copy of a magazine.

Getting The Word Out
We love our social media friends who follow us, share and like our posts and leave comments on our Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, YouTube, and weekly newsletters. Not only do you help us be a better magazine, but you’re also helping spread the word about our magazine to all your friends and family! For that we owe you the very best personal watercraft magazine possible. With all of the compliments you send our way, we can’t help but feel appreciated so we strive to continue to earn your patronage.

August Facebook readers: 10,026
August Facebook weekly reach: 21,325
Top Five countries: United States, Brazil, Philippines, Argentina, South Africa

September Facebook readers: 10,586
September Facebook weekly reach: 17,588
Top Five countries: United States, South Africa, Brazil, Philippines, Argentina

Ready To Pop
October is going to be a big one for us here at The Watercraft Journal. Sure, we’ll have a massive recap and photo gallery from this upcoming IJSBA World Finals in Lake Havasu City, Arizona, but we’ll also be bringing you the first reviews from the all-new RiDE-equipped Yamaha WaveRunners as well as exclusive coverage from the 2014 Sea-Doo Ultimate Owners Ride happening during World Finals weekend as well! How? Because The Watercraft Journal is the Presenting Sponsor! Oh, and expect a lot more in the way of product reviews that you can actually use and some seriously cool coverage from across the globe.

Video: JetSkiShop.com Is Full of Tiger’s Blood. Winning!

By

Kevin Shaw

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October 1, 2014

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Yeah OK, the joke’s a little dated but the video here still resonates. JetSkiShop’s James Tod is nothing if not enthusiastic, and this video from a couple of years back was known for its being one of the Melbourne, Australia’s leading Honda Aquatrax dealers (and tuners!) and the Gold Coast’s preferred performance shop for new and used PWC.

For those unaware, James and fellow Aquatrax enthusiasts actively campaigned their turbo-powered Hondas in local and National events. Their Hondas intricately wrapped, painted and tweaked to look as mean as they ran on the water. This video was laced together from some hot action footage gleaned from a few “lazy hours” on a Saturday afternoon at Lake Moogerah – about three hours drive inland, from the Queensland coast.

Obviously, the soundtrack is the hilariously disjointed audio from the infamous Charlie Sheen interview that ultimately cemented everybody’s suspicion that the once Oscar-runner and “Two And a Half Men” co-star was severely off of his nut. We enjoy the footage of just watching one of the best-built but poorly marketing watercraft ever boil up some water in no time flat. And call us nostalgic, but it makes us wish to see the Red Wing brand return to PWC. Hopefully you’ll feel the same.

Video: Watch as Jet Skier Collides With a Humpback Whale

By

Kevin Shaw

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September 30, 2014

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Most of us have had a run-in with Mother Nature at least once or twice while riding our personal watercraft. Pods of dolphin, seals and sea lions, manatee, birds, snakes, and a whole lot of bugs. It’s pretty common place when motoring through the great outdoors. But, it is a rare occasion when nature’s largest mammals decide to share the same water with you.

First published on AOL.com’s news feed, we spotted this untimely video of a Sea-Doo enthusiast getting a little too up close and personal with a humpback whale. From the look of the video, the collision is only a slight run-in and no injury was sustained by the whale (or to the rider and ski).

Although we’d like to give the rider in this video the full benefit of the doubt, we have to wonder (because the video clip is conspicuously short) if he was chasing this pod of humpback whales too closely to begin with, or if the whale merely surfaced too quickly for the rider to respond.

Nevertheless, being fully aware of one’s surroundings is paramount particularly when riding at speed. Obstacles – be them dormant or sentient – will spring up leaving you with very little time to respond. That is why sharp reflexes and undivided attention are necessities. Far too often impaired or distracted riding leads to accidents. That is why we’re glad this rider was sharp enough to swerve at the last minute like he did.

Kiwis Prepare For Annual Ski-nZ 2015

By

Jeremy Burfoot

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September 30, 2014

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Greetings Ski-nZers! It’s time to start thinking about Ski-nZ 2015.

2015’s event is leaving from Napier on Sunday 15th March and finishing in Tauranga on Saturday the 21st March.
Registration will be on Saturday 14th at Black Barn winery near Hastings. This will be followed by lunch at the winery and then we are still hoping to have a fundraising gig at the winery that afternoon or evening. (More to be announced.)

Then on Sunday we ride to Mahia beach, Monday to Gisborne for ‘Auction Night’, Tuesday to Tokomaru Bay, Wednesday is a day off in Tokomaru, Thursday we ride around East Cape to Waihua Bay, Friday we ride to Ohope Beach(possibly via White Island weather dependent) and then on Saturday we finish in Tauranga. There will be a Mexican party Saturday evening for the prize giving. We did a recon trip of the route a few months back and it promises to be wild and beautiful.

Last year we had 25 riders and raised $93,000 for the cause . This year lets go for 35 riders and at least $100,000.“Let the fundraising games begin.”

So round up your riding friends and get them excited about the event and we would also be grateful for any help with auction items.

In 2015 we are hoping to have enough riders to run 3 groups. Each group will cater for a different style of rider. This should keep like-minded people together and avoid some of the frustration that can occur in groups with regards to speed and sightseeing, etc.

Applications are now done by clicking on a link from the website and then after you have filled in the form, clicking on ‘Submit’. There is one form for riders and one form for crew. For registration or to be part of the crew click these links.

We also now have a forum for additional information and for coordinating with each other on things like accommodation.

We could still benefit from a couple of additional sponsors for the event so if anyone has any hot contacts, please let me know.

As always, we need to be driven by the desire to have a great adventure and do some good at the same time. 300 plus dead from Melanoma very year in New Zealand is unacceptable. What we are doing with Ski-nZ is saving lives and you guys are the heroes in this story.

Gallery: 2014 Aqua Moto Global Grand Prix Championships

By

Danyelle Glendenning

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September 29, 2014

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What do you get when you combine a lake, some buoys and a fish?

Well, you’ve got the first-ever Aqua Moto Global Grand Prix Championships put on by none other than the world-renowned Chris “the Flying Fish” Fischetti, that’s what! Who would be crowned champion and become “King of Body Beach” was the question on everybody’s mind as they stepped onto the sandy, pebbled beaches of Lake Havasu.

Held only two weeks before the annual IJSBA World Finals at famous Lake Havasu party spot, “Body Beach,” Fischetti’s event drew in some serious names – both new and old – to the starting lines, including Rob Flores, Mike Yellich, Nicolas Rius, Chris MacClugage, Josh Block, Tommy Bonnacci, and Brian O’Rourke just to name a few.

An exciting day awaited as classes – Standup 800 and Standup GP, Sport and 2-Stroke Runabout, 550/650 Vintage and Junior Standup, 4-Stroke Runabout, X2 and Beginner 800 Standup – were set before an Arizona backdrop, not to mention the DCB Boat Regatta taking place for an added extra bit of scenery. The field was broken up in to multiple divisions with each race being either a 15 or 20 minute countdown with either an extra 1 or 2 laps. Following the closed course races was a timed Slalom course where each rider entered getting the best of their two passes recorded.

The closed course was tight and the water a bit choppy, leading to several riders exiting their skis premature of the finish line. Standford riding his #52 found this out when his X2 rounded a corner without him, consequently landing him a free ride to the EMTs to be checked out. Riders dug in and held tight lap after lap, taking whatever punishment was thrown at them. Even when fatigue started to set in, it was a push on every turn.

Little Wylan Reden on his newly purchased 550 (picked up just that morning) showed even the pros that you didn’t need years of practice to drag that ski around the course! Jonathan Mangan thought the course was spacious for the runabouts and the “back stretch was awesome.”

And what a finish in the Junior Stand up class with Braden Wickland breezing passed most of the field until he went down on the last lap, letting the #202 ski – ridden by Kole Cramer – fly by and take the checkered flag. Braden’s older brother, Blake, rode flawlessly in his Standup 800 class and even kept up with the top Pro GPs!

When asked how he felt about his race, Blake responded, “I felt like I rode pretty good. My ski was running amazing, the handling was on-point and the power was wicked!” Blake also gave a shout out to Fischetti, by saying he “thought the race was a blast” and “really enjoyed the laid back feeling of the racing format.”

“Flyin’ Brian” Smith may of taken a third place in the 800 class but it was the experience he’ll most remember. “Today was one of the best races I’ve been to in a long while! I have had fun at a few but nothing like today! To be able to line up with some of the best in the world is like nothing you could describe,” beamed Brian. Brian stated that his “DC Lites Racing/Macc Racing ski was running flawlessly today and hung with the best of them,” even while dropping a few spots but regaining them in the end. Brian also came in second to Josh Block in the timed slalom course! He felt the added event was “very exciting” and really liked the tight slalom style runs.

Right out of the chute was a battle royale between Mike Klippenstein and Chris MacClugage in the Standup GP class. Klipper took a weekend away from his wicked turbo-powered Yamaha FX SVHO as Macc prepared to fly out to China for another round of the Aquabike series. But it was Klippenstein who pulled ahead, taking full advantage of Chris’ mistakes, earning him a win in the end. Mike in return, was crowned “King of Body Beach” and enjoyed a little competition leading up to the World Finals.

Patrick Goldsworthy said, “The Aqua Moto definitely had a strong turnout on Saturday. It’s awesome to see the sport building back up one race at a time and to see some of the racing legends coming together to make it all happen. Fish had an awesome vision of making these races different from the norm and more of what the racing community wanted. And now here we are with the successful second Aqua Moto race in the books. Working closely with the Vintage Ski community, I plan to continue helping Fish load up the line with the future events to come.”

All in all, the race was a success and was a fresh event for Havasu. With such an amazing venue, we aren’t sure why more of these do not take place. Mr. Fischetti, we think you get thumbs up for your Aqua Moto, and to the riders; we’ll see you at The World Finals!

All images courtesy of Danyelle Photography. For full resolution, unaltered versions of these and other images, please click HERE.

King of Body Beach Aqua Moto Grand Prix
9/27/2014 – Overall Race Results

Stand Up 800: 1. Blake Wicklund, 2. Guy Vinatieri, 3. Cory Rarick, 4. Kyle Araiza, 5. Todd Valentino, 6. Bob Hyde, 7. Brian Smith; Stand Up GP: 1. Mike Klippstein, 2. Chris MacClugage, 3. Tera Laho, 4. Bill Pointer, 5. Rob Flores, 6. Ryan Decker, 7. Josh Block, 8. Jeff Troegner, 9. Tony Beck; Vintage: 1. Chris Hagest, 2. Michael Demauro, 3. Russel Rusch, 4. David Dawes, 5. Cory Vancleave; Junior Stand Up: 1. Kole Cramer, 2. Braden Wickland, 3. Joshua Schul, 4. Theo Beaumer, 5. Brandon Edwards, 6. Preston Matzdorff, 7. Spencer Hill, 8. Wyland Reden; Sport: 1. Tommy Bunacci, 2. Tim Shanklin, 3. Brian O’Rourke, 4. Brandi Rademaker, 5. Kelly Stone, 6. Andy Runkel; 2 Stroke Runabout: 1. Nicholas Ruis, 2. Kelly Church, 3. Dan Schroepfer; 4 Stroke Runabout N/A: 1. Evelyn Morgan, 2. Tony Beck; 4 Stroke Runabout Open: 1. Tim Neff, 2. Jonathan Morgan; Beginner Standup: 1. Theo Beaumer, 2. Julien Beaumer, 3. Austin Sweet, 4. James Hendry; X2 Open: 1. Danny Oretega, 2. Peter Neumann, 3. Joshua Schul, 4. Dan Standiford, 5. Lauri Ortega

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Real Review: Kool PWC Stuff Jet Ski Fishing Rack

By

Marc Samulewicz

-

September 29, 2014

5

When it comes to jet ski fishing (what we like to call “jet angling”) and attaching cooler racks, it really boils down to “to drill or not to drill.” Typically, cooler racks that are mechanically secured by drilling mounting hardware to the watercraft are more stable and durable; that is until recently. In our experience, racks secured by straps almost always tend to fail even a simple fishing trip off the coast of Southern California. That is until now. We finally have found a strap-on rack that passed the rigors of fishing off the Southern California coast in the Pacific Ocean.

When we received the Kool PWC Stuff Jet Ski Fishing Rack (with 6 rod holders) from watercraftstuff.com by UPS, the rack was not wrapped in any packaging. Sent from Ft. Myers, Florida to Orange County, California without any newspaper, bubble wrap, nothing. We thought that was a bold statement, in and of itself. Amazingly, there was not even a scratch in the black powder coating covering the rack. Shipped without packaging and made it in perfect shape. Test one, pass.

Upon inspection, everything needed to strap it to our watercraft was there: high quality Velcro straps, nylon straps, and adjustable rubber straps/cords. Six total rod holders are welded vertically to the stainless steel rack, the coating covering all of the welds. The instructions were a single piece of paper that we tossed aside (because we knew so many would do that too). Instead, we went straight to their website and found the instructional video showing the installation, step by step. Test two, pass.

Not all watercraft are designed the same, and the ubiquitous “one size fits all,” never really works, right? Many watercraft have sloping rear decks that make a level installation of a rack system difficult, if not impossible. Kool PWC Stuff has engineered a simple adjustable leg system that allows you to level the rack on your ski’s rear deck.

Once installed to the deck of our Honda F-15, we grabbed the rack and proceeded to lift the entire rear of the watercraft off of the trailer by the Kool PWC Stuff rack. Test three, pass.

The rack we tested had 1 3/4-inch diameter rod holders that were restricted by a rubber insert. The rubber insert protects the shaft of the rod from damage in the violent extremes in rough conditions or simply going fast. We were able to fit a variety of fresh and saltwater rods with all butt types, including trolling rods with gimbals-style butts, so you can actually set the position of the rod in the holder. With the rubber insert removed, we could even fit our largest outfit perfectly. Test four, pass.

The only thing left to do was go out and fish offshore. The day we tested the rack we had typical Southern California summer conditions: light variable winds up to 8 knots in the morning and 15 knot wind in the afternoon with wind gust past 20 knots. The sea conditions were a combined 2-feet long duration [ground swell] swell from the south and 3-feet wind swell that picked up to 4-feet from the northwest in the afternoon. We set off at sunrise from Dana Point Harbor. We ran 18 mile southwest at 40 mph into the 2-feet ground swell.

Once we arrived in the area, we were fishing. The rack sat firmly in place and all of the gear was secure. As we started Phase Two of the day, we headed northwest straight into a 3-to-4 foot wind swell. We were cruising barely on plane between 10-15 mph hour. This leg of the trip was a lot rougher. For safe measure, all lures and any weights were secured so they would not come lose. After 15 miles of punishment, we noticed a slight shift as the rack had moved a couple of inches but everything remains tight and secure.

During the brutal 20 mile ride back to Dana Point, with us reaching speeds up to 50 mph, we even managed to catch some of air along the way. The Velcro and adjustable rubber straps held tight, with all the gear still where it should be. After long day riding on the Pacific Ocean we had every piece of gear we started with. The rack did shift on the deck a little, but still kept everything secure. This phase of the test has caused other rack designs to explode [PVC tube rack], warp and bend [racks made of lower grade material], and tear-off the watercraft and scatter all our of equipment on the bottom of the ocean. The Kool PWC Stuff Jet Ski Fishing Rack passed Test Five.

The biggest issue we encountered was finding a cooler that fits it. Unfortunately, cooler manufacturers constantly change sizes, so one year everything fits, the next year nada. If they’re not going to offer one, we’d like to see a list of suggested or recommended coolers from Kool PWC Stuff.

Nevertheless, when considering the value of the equipment one expects the rack to keep secure while jetting around your local waters, spending the $390 for the Jet Ski Fishing Rack (6 rod holders), a quality rack that does not damage your watercraft and keeps your investment safe, is well worth it.