While summer rides on the lake and fun excursions with family are staples of the Sea-Doo life, our watercraft are capable of bringing you to remote destinations for truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Whether exploring areas far off the beaten path, fishing for a species never before caught on a PWC, or connecting with loved ones through a shared love of exploration on the water, Sea-Doos are the vehicle that can make these dreams a reality.
Sea-Doo’s upcoming Bucket List series will highlight exceptional experiences from of the Sea-Doo family, inspiring everyday riders to make the leap and check big things off their own bucket lists.
The first installment of the series will feature Sea-Doo ambassador Alvean Azurin, as she brings her niece on an exploration of remote Alaskan waterways alongside an Uncharted Society outfitter, where they experience the raw beauty of the Alaskan outback from a perspective few people have seen.
Stay tuned to Sea-Doo’s Facebook and Instagram for the first installment.
And when you’re out there chasing those Bucket List adventures, be sure to take along a pair of Sea-Doo Sunglasses – A Must-Have for Summer Riding.
Wherever you are riding this summer, beat the glare, protect your eyes, and see
everything around you with the help of Sea-Doo eyewear. Purpose-built to provide the ultimate clarity on the water, Sea-Doo sunglasses offer UV protection, floating frames, and modern styles to look as good as you feel when you ride.
Emmanuel, known as iBelongOutdoors on YouTube, has once again set out on an exhilarating adventure across the Atlantic. In his latest video, Emmanuel, along with his friend Lee, travels 65 miles from Palm Beach, Florida to West End, Bahamas on their trusty Sea-Doo FishPro.
The journey begins early on a “beautiful morning” with virtually no wind—perfect conditions for such an epic voyage. Their ski is loaded up with all the essential gear for a weekend trip to the Bahamas, including life jackets, fishing rods, coolers, and all the clothes and toiletries they may need. They’re also setup with a mounted satellite GPS, an imperative for any PWC travel that goes so far from land
For a trip of this magnitude, Emmanuel emphasizes the importance of traveling in Eco-Mode, which uses gradual acceleration to optimize fuel consumption and ensure they don’t blow through gas too quickly. In this setting, they are able to maintain a steady 19-20 miles per hour and traverse the 65 miles on only one tank of gas.
Around 8 miles out from the Bahamas, the sight of land on the horizon fuels their excitement as they complete Emmanuel’s third successful trip from Florida to the Bahamas.
Emmanuel’s Sea-Doo Fish Pro impressively carries all their gear, demonstrating the watercraft’s remarkable storage capacity and fuel efficiency. Upon arrival in the Bahamas, they check in with immigration officers, marking the official start of their island adventure.
For those interested in recreating Emmanuel’s journey, he offers an eBook titled “Miami to Bimini: How to Cross the Ocean on a PWC,” available for purchase. This guide provides invaluable insights and tips for making the daring trip on a personal watercraft.
Don’t miss this exciting video on Emmanuel’s channel to witness their incredible journey and get inspired for your next adventure!”
If you’ve been following along with the 2024 Paris Olympics, you may have noted that one of this year’s biggest peculiarities is the surfing competition. Unlike the rest of the Olympic contenders, surfers will be making their way some nine thousand miles across the globe to the island nation of Tahiti for their competition.
The Olympic Surf competition will take place at Teahupo’o, a small corner of the southwest Tahiti Iti peninsula, offering surfers the opportunity to compete on truly epic waves.
We covered the history and impact of Teahupo’o in an article back in March, but with the Olympics already underway, we wanted to highlight some of the impressive safety measures being put into place by the Olympic Jet Ski Water Safety Team to protect surfers at one of the world’s biggest waves.
A recent article from the Olympics newsroom covers the importance a professional water safety team makes when surfing a wave as formidable as Teahupo’o. Viewers of this year’s event will have already noticed the jet skis darting in and out occasionally to evacuate surfers from potential danger.
In preparation, the professional team begins each day with a briefing on the ocean conditions to minimize surprises. However, the biggest benefit comes from the water patrol tower, which stays in constant communication with the rescuers. “The water patrol dedicated to the competitors consists of four jet ski drivers staffed with ‘grabbers.’ Each jet ski has a sled attached, which the grabber uses to pull the athlete from the water,” the Olympic committee explains.
After a rescue, the patrol returns surfers to the water within only two minutes to avoid missed opportunities and ensure all surfers have the chance to catch the most opportune waves. The event becomes an incredible show of skill, not just among the many talented surfers, but also for the extremely well-practiced team of rescuers who make it all possible.
You can keep up with all the Olympic Surfing news here, as well as learn how to view the Surfing competitions live.
We at The Watercraft Journal would like to extend our sympathy to the family and friends of 27-year-old racer (Phillip) Ryan Samuels, who passed away this past weekend after a tragic collision between his PWC and another ski operated by his younger brother, Jonathan Samuels.
Friday night, Ryan and Jonathan had been working on skis for the Pro Watercross Race at Tugaloo State Park the following day, and had launched their skis after dark from the Poplar Springs Boat Ramp in Franklin County, just miles from Tugaloo State Park. Shortly after launch, the brothers reportedly collided, and Ryan was pulled from the water by an incoming boat and given CPR by someone on that boat, after which he was transported to the local hospital, but reportedly never regained consciousness.
Valentina Lezcano, fellow racer and friend to the Samuel family, had been with the brothers earlier in the evening, with Ryan donating parts from the engine of his own ski to make Valentina’s ski race-ready for in the morning. She talked of Ryan’s generous spirit and friendly smile and how he was always willing to lend a hand, and that sentiment was widely shared here in Stephens and Franklin County and the Gumlog neighborhood where Tugaloo State Park has long played host to Pro Watercross, and where the Samuels family is well known and well respected.
“Heavy hearts in Gumlog today. These brothers were the sweetest. Always smiling.,” wrote local resident April White, while the owner at Gumlog Trading Post wrote, “ We have known these young men for years. They were always respectful and polite and always gave me a loving hug.”
Saturday morning, prior to the start of the race day, Pro Watercross arranged and held a honorarium lap in honor of Ryan.
A Go-Fund-Me account has been set up to assist the Samuel family with his funeral expenses during this difficult time. Donations can be made here or by using the attached QR Code.
The last thing any of us want to hear is someone spewing a bunch of hot air.
Turns out, your PWC feels the same way about hot air.
Cold air is more dense, and contains more pounds of oxygen per cubic foot than warm air.
The upshot of that fact is, increasing the cold air pumped into your ski’s system will enhance the engine’s combustion efficiency, allow the engine to “breathe easier” and run more efficiently, and boost both your acceleration and horsepower.
So it should come as no surprise that RIVA has now introduced a new Power Filter Kit for the Sea-Doo 325 (both the RXT 325 and RXP 325) that will feed your supercharged Sea-Doo engine a steady diet of cool air – roughly 40% more than the OEM system – delivering greatly improved acceleration and rpm.
This kit replaces the more restrictive stock intake system with a high-volume, precision-formed intake duct that attaches to the supercharger via a tapered adapter. Cool air enters the system via a proprietary oversized, stainless-steel mesh filter element that is certified to meet U.S. Coast Guard ‘SAE J1928’ requirements.
And, as a bonus, RIVA kept the installation simple, designed the system with quick removal to allow easy access for engine maintenance, and is IJSBA legal for all classes.
The kit Includes a water-repellent pre-filter for rough water riding, and detailed installation instructions.
In this video, Dave walks viewers through the features and installation of this newly released kit, which is available from RIVA at $399.95
The small print: Fits 2024+ RXT & RXP 325 models only. Installation of this Power Filter Kit requires installation of Catch Can/Engine Breather Kit, and the kit is NOT compatible with the Sea-Doo Secondary Battery Harness Kit.
For those looking to push their personal watercraft’s speed to new heights this August, Active Jetsport has just released exciting news that will max out the adrenaline in your summer fun. They’re officially rolling out the Sea-Doo 325 Plug-in SCOM-X, which promises to deliver unprecedented velocity for 2024+ Sea-Doo 325 watercraft.
The Sea-Doo 325 GPS Speed Control Override Module (SCOM) is a device that hooks into your jet ski’s interface to remove the GPS speed limiter, enabling it to reach maximum speed potential. What’s more, the device will still keep your Sea-Doo within the original RPM limiter, so you don’t have to worry about losing your warranty as you make these major upgrades.
The good people over at Active Jetsport are serious about the quality of their products, so when they promise that the upgraded PWC will be “capable of reaching 80+ mph, or 129 kph+, on cluster and even 81 – 82 mph on low fuel and good water conditions”… we believe them! Just check out the five-star rating on their previous model SCOM for 2019-2023 Sea-Doo 300s to feel assured of the quality of their work. There’s even a handy demonstration video on their YouTube channel showing this device at work.
The icing on the cake for us has to be the ease of installation, which can be seen in their 1-minute and 25-second installation guide on their website. It’s truly just a simple plug-in to fully unlock the potential of an already incredible watercraft.
If you’re interested in getting your hands on one of the limited supplies of these little marvels, head over to the Active Jetsport website as soon as possible!
All good things must come to an end. At least that’s the story with the Yamaha Summer Sales Event.
Kicking off back in early June, Yamaha’s 2024 sale focused less on which Yamaha PWC to buy, than it does on simple ways to pay for whichever model you choose. The summertime financing options come to an end today, July 31 – but that’s still plenty of time to take the plunge and treat yourself to summer savings and summer fun, all in one go.
The Yamaha Summer Sales Event offers several different savings options, allowing customers to choose what deal works best for their situation … and their pocketbook.
The Summer Sales financing offers include: An introductory 5.99% APR financing for 24 months, with a rate of 15.99% APR for the remainder of the term. Available on approved purchases of new 2018-2024 Yamaha WaveRunner at a participating dealer made on the Yamaha Credit Card issued by WebBank; 6.99% APR for 60 months.
Available on approved purchases of new 2018-2024 Yamaha WaveRunner at a participating dealer made on the Yamaha Credit Card issued by WebBank; or 5.99% APR for 36 months. Available for well qualified tier 1 credit customers who finance a new 2018-2024 Yamaha WaveRunner through Yamaha Motor Finance Corporation, USA at a participating dealer.
The range of special summer offers is not the only hassle-free aspect of Yamaha’s direct website interface; they offer a number of tools and forms to make your purchase more streamlined and efficient.
Start with the Build and Price tool that lets you narrow down your series – whether that is the Rec Lite line, the VX Recreation series, the FX Luxury Series, the GP Performance Series or even the Freestyle Series – pick your model, your colors, and your accessories, and displays the purchase price with each choice.
And we couldn’t help but jumping on the bandwagon and featuring this beautiful clip of a Lake Powell ride featuring @ramontorres16 and his FX SVHO … a perfect example of the fun in store for those who take advantage of the last few hours of the Yamaha Summer Sales Event.
While we usually tend to stick to more “serious” pieces regarding personal watercraft, a recent video on our timeline caught our interest enough to interrupt the steady flow of race coverage, reviews, and jet ski news to bring you a feel-good story from Instagram this week.
A recent Yahoo! Life article highlights the story of Walter’s first experience ever riding on a jet ski. While he seems a bit nervous at first, he quickly gains confidence and sits up straight to enjoy the feel of the wind on his face. The only catch? Walter is a two-year-old golden retriever!
In the video, Janelle (@thedailynelly), Walter’s mom, explains that her father’s dog of 18 years used to love catching the waves with him before passing away, so he wanted to continue the tradition with his doggy grandson, Walter. The July 15th post shows their first foray into jet skiing together, and it seems that they’ve already gotten the hang of it.
It is important to note that jet skiing certainly isn’t for all dogs, and Yahoo! Life recommends always following the dog’s lead and taking any apprehension as a sign to stop and maybe try again at a later date. Regardless, it seems to have been a great experience for Walter, and we’ll be following along to see any new updates on his jet ski adventures!
You can check out Walter’s Instagram (@living_with_walter) here to see the full video of him and grandpa jet skiing together!
We may still be in the midst of the dog days of summer (which is, by the way, July 3 to August 11 each year, corresponding to the 20 days before and 20 days after July 23, the date, historically, that the Dog Star, Sirius, rose and set in conjunction with the sun) with numerous race tours, series and championships smack dab in the middle of their competitive seasons – but it’s never too early to start thinking about Havasu and World Finals.
With that objective in mind, IJSBA Executive Director Scott Frazier took to the IJSBA website last week to post a few updates, scheduling notes and class list.
“All of these entities will have a voice at World Finals to remind you that they are all great partners in getting you across the finish line,” Frazier stated, “Stay tuned for specific announcements.”
Next up, Frazier covered some important date and scheduling details, including a mention of Mondays. “You may see October 14 as an end date posted here and there. This is part of our permitting process to let the public know we reserve Monday, October 14, as an emergency overflow day in the event of poor weather or other interruptions,” he stated, going on to also talk about Monday, Oct. 7. “Please take note that in most years we do not race on Monday, we only practice. However, this year, we will race on Monday October 7.”
Next up was an overview of the World Finals Week schedule, with Frazier stating, “The event officially opens on Saturday, October 5, for general check in and placement in the pits. Opportunities for early registration and pit placement may exist for some VIP and event sponsored riders. Sunday, October 6, will host the annual IJSBA Juniors Program while registration continues. Practice begins Monday morning, with racing to follow immediately after practice. Novice and Amateur classes begin the week, with Pro Classes wrapping up the weekend. A tentative schedule will be posted around the first week of August.”
An update on registration details was next, with the announcement that the registration process this year would be different than in previous years. “Online registration will begin in the middle of August with the lowest registration prices being for early registration until September,” Frazier stated, adding that standard registration prices will hold during the month of September and online registration will end September 30, after which only onsite registration will be available, with on-site fees added. It is the process for onsite registration that will be undergoing the most significant change. As stated by Frazier, “IJSBA will open registration, formally, at a location to be announced, on October 5 and 6. Beginning October 7, registration/check in will be on site at Crazy Horse. We are doing something different for on site registration this year. We are working on a plan to do on site registration down in the vendor area. This will require competitors to be preregistered if they want to check in after Tuesday, October 8, without having to potentially pay a parking fee prior to check.” He added that a number of different scenarios and plans are being considered, and further plans will be posted as soon as they are available.
Prices and awards were up next on the list of updates, with Frazier saying no increases in competition fees and no charge for most spectators. Awards will be held on site on Friday, October 11, and Sunday October 13, at the stage.
Frazier also briefly mentioned the inaugural Owners Convention, as first announced in October 2023, with a promise of more details to come.
Closing out the update, Frazier listed the current roster of expected race classes, including:
PRINCIPAL PRO CATEGORIES: PRO RUNABOUT GP PRO SKI GP PRO SPORT GP PRO FREESTYLE
PRO AM CATEGORIES: PRO AM RUNABOUT 1100 OPEN PRO AM RUNABOUT ENDURANCE PRO AM SKI STOCK PRO AM SKI LITES PRO AM 4 STROKE SKI LITES PRO AM WOMENS’ SKI Modified PRO AM WOMENS’ SKI STOCK PRO AM RUNABOUT STOCK PRO AM RUNABOUT SUPER STOCK PRO AM VETERANS RUNABOUT LIMITED PRO AM RUNABOUT LIMITED PRO AM SKI MODIFIED 1500 PRO AM RUNABOUT 1100 STOCK PRO AM SKI LITES PRO AM SKI FOUR STROKE LITES PRO AM SKI SUPERSTOCK PRO AM RUNABOUT 1100 STOCK PRO AM WOMEN’S RUNABOUT 1100
UNDEFINED SKILL CATEGORY MASTER SKI GP MASTERS SKI STOCK GRAND MASTERS SKI STOCK MASTERS SKI MODIFIED 1500 RUNABOUT N/A SPORT SPEC X2 VINTAGE SKI VINTAGE
You can read the full IJSBA Press Release below, or visit the IJSBA website
This first update about the 2024 Short Block Technologies WGP-1 World Finals is brought to you by Blowsion, the first and only name in the most attractive and desirable Personal Watercraft performance accessories anywhere. Your social media profile will be the most popular on the internet when you show off pictures of you and your watercraft adorned with everything Blowsion has to offer. Now that we have mentioned Blowsion and social media, lets talk about World Finals, Lake Havasu City, our title sponsor, and all of the fun we are going to have this October 5-13 at Crazy Horse Campgrounds and Resort.
Short Block Technologies. SBT approached IJSBA last year and indicated it was their time to highlight the commitment they, and all of their brands, have to organized Personal Watercraft events with racing as the focus of the events they want to further. The SBT family includes Hydro-Turf, Adonis Impellers, Blacktip Motorsports, and the Watercraft Superstore. All of these entities will have a voice at World Finals to remind you that they are all great partners in getting you across the finish line. Stay tuned for specific announcements.
Dates. There are some things to make sure everyone knows up front, so we will mention them often over the next couple of months. First, you may see October 14 as an end date posted here and there. This is part of our permitting process to let the public know we reserve Monday, October 14 as an emergency overflow day in the event of poor weather or other interruptions. Please take note that in most years we do not race on Monday, we only practice. However, this year, we will race on Monday October 7. The reason for this is that World Finals is always the week leading up to Columbus Day. Columbus Day, celebrated in the United States, is the second Monday in October and is a federal holiday. We use this week to give people a holiday to travel home after the event is over. Since it is not the same day each year, it can happen as early as the 8th and as late as the 14th. This year is the latest day it can happen in the year and, with this season, there is less daylight in a day as we go further in to October.
Scheduling. The event officially opens on Saturday October 5 for general check in and placement in the pits. Opportunities for early registration and pit placement may exist for some VIP and event sponsored riders. Sunday October 6 will host the annual IJSBA Juniors Program while registration continues. Practice begins Monday morning with racing to follow immediately after practice. Novice and Amateur classes begin the week with Pro Classes wrapping up the weekend. A tentative schedule will be posted around the first week of August.
Registration. IJSBA will open registration, formally, at a location to be announced, on October 5 and 6. Beginning October 7, registration/check in will be on site at Crazy Horse. We are doing something different for on site registration this year. We are working on a plan to do on site registration down in the vendor area. This will require competitors to be preregistered if they want to check in after Tuesday, October 8 without having to potentially pay a parking fee prior to check. We are running different scenarios with the grounds management team and will post tentative plans as soon as we develop them. However, early registration and check in will be the best results on site. Online registration will begin in the middle of August with the lowest registration prices being for early registration until September. The month of September will hold standard registration prices. Online registration will end September 30 and, then, only on site registration will be available with on site fees added.
Prices. IJSBA is committed to no increases in competition fees for 2024. We think we can deliver this. The only deviation may be a couple dollar per class software licensing fee. However, race fees, including grounds fees and additional pit passes are planned to have no increases this year. The event will remain admission free for spectators who do not need pit passes with only parking fees applying.
Awards. We will have awards, on site, on Friday, October 11 and Sunday October 13 at the stage.
Owners Convention. 2024 will see IJSBA host the very first PWC Owners Convention. Please stay tuned for special programs celebrating the culture of Personal Watercraft.
Classes. The following are the expected classes at the 2024 SBT WGP-1 World Finals. (see list above)
Normally priced at $137, this all-condition, reversible PFD features the Kawasaki lime green on one side, for smooth waters level 50S, and red level-50 for partially smooth/open waters.
Custom made for Brisbane Kawasaki by JetPilot using the reversible Addict Vest, featuring FlexLite Ultra neoprene with panels for comfort and stretch, and fully-segmented panels that conform to you body for the ultimate fit, along hidden webbing and PVC Foam Core for buoyancy.
Note that, due to the extra foam used in construction, it is recommended to go up 1-2 sizes when ordering to avoid a too-tight fit. For example, if you normally wear an XL in the Jetpilot Cause, it is recommended that you order a 2XL for this item.
There are limited sizes available, so be sure to act now to snag your size!
While summer rides on the lake and fun excursions with family are staples of the Sea-Doo life, our watercraft are capable of bringing you to remote destinations for truly once-in-a-lifetime experiences.
Stay tuned to Sea-Doo’s Facebook and Instagram for the first installment.
Click here to find your perfect pair!
Emmanuel’s Sea-Doo Fish Pro impressively carries all their gear, demonstrating the watercraft’s remarkable storage capacity and fuel efficiency. Upon arrival in the Bahamas, they check in with immigration officers, marking the official start of their island adventure.
In preparation, the professional team begins each day with a briefing on the ocean conditions to minimize surprises. However, the biggest benefit comes from the water patrol tower, which stays in constant communication with the rescuers. “The water patrol dedicated to the competitors consists of four jet ski drivers staffed with ‘grabbers.’ Each jet ski has a sled attached, which the grabber uses to pull the athlete from the water,” the Olympic committee explains.
Saturday morning, prior to the start of the race day, Pro Watercross arranged and held a honorarium lap in honor of Ryan.
The good people over at Active Jetsport are serious about the quality of their products, so when they promise that the upgraded PWC will be “capable of reaching 80+ mph, or 129 kph+, on cluster and even 81 – 82 mph on low fuel and good water conditions”… we believe them! Just check out the five-star rating on their previous model SCOM for 2019-2023 Sea-Doo 300s to feel assured of the quality of their work. There’s even a handy demonstration video on 
