Unlike what many would believe, a manufacturer issuing a recall is actually a good thing. Well, of course it’d be ideal if a product didn’t require a recall at all, but the presence of a public recall is actually a good indicator that said manufacturer is willing to address a problem and provide a positive solution.

With it being the first production year of the all-new Sea-Doo Spark, there are bound to be foibles in the vehicle’s design – as no ski is perfect (or something like that). That the Spark’s steering system is susceptible to breakage when an excessive amount of pressure is applied is a bitter pill to swallow, but that Sea-Doo is fast moving on the problem and is addressing the issue in such a professional manner is a great sign.

We say this because we don’t want commentators declaring this recall as being a “black eye” on the Spark’s otherwise fantastic inaugural year. Admittedly, this recall touches on the Spark’s very publicly argued use of lightweight plastics rather than traditional fiberglass, metal and plastic parts. But again, Sea-Doo’s dealer network is already taking action to replace handlebar/steering systems on unsold units as well as existing customer’s Sparks.

Here’s the original release: 

July 15th, 2014
Re: Sea-Doo® SPARK^TM Watercraft – Possible defective steering column/handlebar

Dear Sea-Doo Watercraft Owner,
This notice is being sent to you in cooperation with the U.S. Coast Guard and Transport Canada and is sent to you in accordance with the requirements of the Federal Boat Safety and other applicable laws. BRP is conducting a voluntary safety recall of some MY2014 Sea-Doo Watercraft models. Our records indicate that you are the owner of a potentially affected watercraft.

What is the potential problem?
The steering column / handlebar may have been incorrectly manufactured by our supplier and it may break under rough riding conditions. This could cause the operator to lose his balance and hit the personal watercraft resulting in serious injuries or even death.

What should you do?
Call an authorized BRP Sea-Doo Watercraft dealer and make an appointment to have your watercraft repaired. The dealer will perform this work at no charge to you.

As you are now aware of the details of this safety recall, if you continue to use your personal watercraft, in the above described condition, be aware of the risks described herein.

What to do if you feel this notice is an error?
This notice was mailed to you according to the most current information we have available. If you no longer own this watercraft or some information in this notice is incorrect, please contact BRP at your earliest convenience.

If you have questions, need assistance, or to find the nearest authorized BRP Sea-Doo dealer:

• Visit www.sea-doo.com
• Or call: 1-888-272-9222
  9:00 AM to 9:00 PM Eastern time Monday to Friday

Your continued satisfaction with your watercraft is important to us. Please understand that we have taken this action in the interest of your safety and your watercraft’s proper operation. We apologize for any inconvenience this may cause you.

Thank you for your immediate attention to this matter.

Sincerely,
After-Sales Service Department

Here’s a bit of reality: the majority of people who are buying new watercraft are older people. Yup, dealers and manufacturers alike report that the average buyer ranges between 40-to-60 years old. And most sexagenarians aren’t big into tearing up the closed course or streaking offshore at full throttle.

So for those older enthusiasts (or even those who would like to just dial back a little and just cruise), Caloundra Jetski Hire and Safaris wants to give them a chance to enjoy Caloundra (on the Sunshine Coast in South East Queensland, Australia) with a different, more laid back “jetski experience.”

Caloundra Jetski Hire and Safaris’ City Explorer Tour is “more about taking the time to enjoy the surroundings,” according to owner Ken Jeffreys. The ride will guide a group of PWC along the tip of Bribie Island and along Bulcock Beach to Golden Beach in a 40 minute trip.

“There’s nothing better than seeing people out on paddle boards or walking along the boardwalk enjoying Caloundra,” Jeffreys continued. “People love the experience of jetskis but don’t always want that full on adrenaline blast, so this is a way where they can get that but at a slower pace.

According to a report in Sunshine Coast Daily, the new tour adds to the experiences Caloundra Jetski Hire and Safaris offer. The Pumicstone Passage has become a playground for new innovative water-based businesses including Larc About Tours, the amphibious environmental tours where the vehicle goes directly from road to water.

Jefferys concluded, “It’s an extraordinary piece of waterfront here and there’s nothing better than seeing it from the water.”

We’ve all had days out on the water where things have gone well, just really bad. Unfortunately, a couple launching from New York’s Jamaica Bay in the Rockaways around 9:30 at night on Monday, June 23rd had one of those days. Clearly breaking several state and city boating ordinances, the nighttime ride went sour when their Sea-Doo’s engine died and began rapidly taking on water.

Thankfully, the two were stranded in shallow water, near Big Egg Marsh where they spent the entire night waiting for a rescue. According to David Console of the NYPD Harbor Unit, that’s when, “their friend reported them missing at around 12:30 at night and that’s what started all the searching.”

Because their watercraft had no running lights, nor did the couple carry cell phone, flares, or other signally devices, it took emergency crews six hours to find them.

In a report by CBS News, the shallow marsh provided little help. “It’s a small, small island-type marsh with large grass, but it’s sharp over there so they couldn’t walk on it,” explained Andrew Novellano, with the NYPD Harbor Unit. “They’re almost like razor blades so they couldn’t even stand on them.”

Upon rescue, the couple were hypothermic. They were taken immediately to Saint John’s Hospital, where they were treated for hypothermia and released.

It’s a great thing to rally behind those who would step up to preserve freedom, especially as they risk considerable harm to themselves in doing so. Many a fine organization has risen up to advocate our nation’s wounded soldiers and we applaud each of them.

Recently, we were introduced to Take Point Now. Not solely a charity, but as the official website describes, “an imperative, a call to action. It’s a command. It is our effort to inspire our fellow veterans to take back their awesome, extraordinary lives.” A crew of six are looking at doing exactly that…by setting a new world record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a jet ski.”

Informing us of this exciting effort was our friends at Kool PWC Stuff. Owner Chris Chamberlain stated, “we have recently donated a couple of custom racks to these guys! You should look into them.” Indeed we did, and were impressed with what we found.

Using two runabouts, a Kawasaki STX-15F and a Yamaha FZS SHO, John Pignone, Greg Raney, John Kilby, Erika Christie and Jim Kieffer are looking at traveling the Atlantic Coast – and making a stop at the Pro Watercross Tour event in Colonial Beach, Virginia – before crossing “the pond.”

The team has a great deal of history together, as they served together from 2004 to 2005, in the Al Anbar province in Iraq. Then known as Major Ewing, Staff Sergeant Kilby, Sergeant Raney, Sergeant Pignone, and Lance Corporal Dixon, the team experienced “both physical combat and mental stressors and challenges. Ten years later, the team is still together and focused on a new objective – breaking the Guinness World Record for crossing the Atlantic Ocean on a personal watercraft (PWC).”

Currently, Take Point Now is in the midst of training, equipping and navigating their route before executing it later this summer. Take Point Now maintains a very active YouTube channel updating regularly with new videos and webisodes. We strongly suggest checking them out and following their journey.

For most dealers nationwide, July 4th marks the beginning of the end of the season. Not that the skies cloud over and snow begins to fall, but because most would-be buyers of new or used watercraft have already made their purchases and are busily enjoying their PWC every chance they get. Sure, many will see slight surges before the Labor Day weekend as well as some peaks in sales as the new models arrive and last year’s models suddenly go on sale, but for many, you’re looking at the end.

That’s why we were surprised to see what our friends at WMF Watercraft are sitting on. Not only do they still have the amazingly sick WMF-Edition 320-horsepower, zero-hour, brand-new, fully-modded-out RXP-X equipped with a slew of RIVA Racing goods, a new seat from Jettrim, and a complete wrap job from Exotic Signs (not to mention a one-off custom paint job) sitting in their showroom, but a bunch of other killer deals.

Being a conscientious shopper, we’re always looking for the BOGO (Buy One, Get One) deals, and we can’t believe we found one on a pair of BRP-yellow 2009 Sea-Doo RXT iS 255s! That’s right, the first year for a bunch of awesome innovations by Sea-Doo, these two 2009 RXTs are equipped with iBR brakes & reverse, the automatically-adjusting Intelligent Suspension (now discontinued on RXT craft equipped with suspension) and the trick iTC fly-by-wire throttle control.

Of course, we’re personal fans of these machines as they carried us to a class championship and tenth place overall in the 2009 Long Beach t0 Catalina race nearly exactly five years ago. Today, the suspension-equipped RXTs are commonplace, but at the time, these were the most unique, far-out machines you could get your hands on.

The two sitting on WMF’s Millsboro, Delaware lot come with the double trailer seen in the images and can be yours for $16,999. Of course, as with all watercraft leaving WMF, these have been fully serviced and checked out by WMF’s stellar staff of technicians to boot.

Last month The Watercraft Journal published a fun tease of the annual WetBike Rally in Lake Murray, Oklahoma. This got our wheels moving as to the design of the WetBike and why it never really caught on. Then, we were reminded of the JetBike (of no affiliation to the WetBike), produced by Aquajet. The unusual-looking craft borrowed a lot from the aforementioned watercraft but tried to bring it into the 21st century.

Powered by a mid-mounted three-cylinder engine, displacing 1250cc, the watercooled/open loop two-stroke plant used a trio of Keilin 42mm CDK carbs producing a reasonable 150-horsepower. Manufactured by the Aquajet Corporation located in the Port of Los Angeles, California, the JetBike WX1 was surprisingly lightweight at 387 pounds despite its tall sportbike-like profile.

Reviews of the JetBike reported it responsive and agile thanks to its dual steering achieved by both the pivoting front ski and rear jet nozzle. In light of its advertised 70-plus-mph top speed, the JetBike never really caught one like so many other unconventional personal watercraft that have both preceded and followed it.

Below is a copy of the JetBike’s original promotional video that shows it careening through chop, open ocean surf and through wakes. It might be no more, but it’s always fun to take a look back on this “Throwback Thursday.”