California State Parks' Division of Boating and Waterways
California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways
California’s waterways are vital recreational and environmental assets, drawing enthusiasts from all over the world and all walks of life. In order to bolster safety measures and protect against abandoned and unwanted vessels in the waterways, the California State Parks’ Division of Boating and Waterways (DBW) has announced an increase in grant program funding, with a total of $4.25 million available for this cycle.
The program works by offering funding to local public entities across California for boats, equipment, and personal watercraft, which can be used to enhance safety protocols and preserve the natural beauty of the state’s waterways.
Ramona Fernandez, Deputy Director of DBW, emphasized the importance of these initiatives, stating, “Enhancing safety on California’s waterways and protecting our shared environment can create healthy and memorable outdoor experiences for experienced and new recreational boaters.”
In 2023, DBW distributed grants totaling $1.57 million under the Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment program and $2.75 million under the Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange program. This year, DBW has increased the total grant funding to $4.25 million, reflecting the critical need for ongoing support in these areas. The application window for the two competitive grant programs closed for the current cycle on Tuesday, April 30.
Here’s a breakdown of the grant programs and the funding available:
Boating Safety and Enforcement Equipment (BSEE) Grant Program Under this program, up to $1.5 million is earmarked for local government agencies statewide. These funds will support the acquisition of patrol boats, replacement engines, personal watercraft, search and rescue equipment, and patrol gear necessary for conducting recreational boating safety and enforcement activities. It’s important to note that these grants are intended to complement existing local resources rather than fully funding boating safety and enforcement units. Funding for the BSEE program is provided by the U.S. Coast Guard’s Recreational Boating Safety Program.
Surrendered and Abandoned Vessel Exchange (SAVE) Grant Program The SAVE program allocates up to $2.75 million to local public agencies statewide. These funds will facilitate the surrender of recreational vessels and the removal and disposal of derelict recreational vessels from coastal and inland public, navigable waterways. Grant funding for the SAVE program is sourced from the Abandoned Watercraft Abatement Fund.
By offering these grants, California State Parks aims to strengthen waterway safety measures and preserve the pristine beauty of the state’s aquatic landscapes. Local entities are encouraged to seize this opportunity to enhance their capabilities and contribute to a safer, more enjoyable boating environment for all.
If you’ve been paying attention to what’s new in the world of personal watercraft, you’ve surely heard about Sea-Doo’s RXP-X 325, the newest advancement in jet ski technology with its state-of-the-art engine. We’ve certainly written our share of articles about it!
Well, the world’s most powerful stock PWC continued to draw even more attention earlier this year at the Miami International Boat Show, where it received the Innovation Award for its 325hp Rotax ACE engine.
The prize was awarded by the NMA and Boating Writers International at the Miami Boat Show, for unlocking paths to high-speed racing with a stock ski that truly pushes boundaries. In order to do this, the engineers at Sea-Doo and Rotax fully reimagined the air intake system, removing previous limitations and allowing an uninhibited air path. They also implemented an advanced supercharger reaching speeds of up to 100,000 rpm, allowing ample cool air to reach the engine to account for the extra output.
Other features that the RXP-X 325 boasts include the planetary gearbox, which has a spring-loaded cam clutch drive for low-maintenance, durable performance, and upgrades to the piston package, crankshaft, valve train, lube oil circuit, and the electronics package. Combined, these improvements allow the engine to reach up to 8250 rpm, allowing for an incredible adrenaline rush as you go from 0-60 mph in only 3.4 seconds.
With all of this, it’s not surprising that this top-of-the-line watercraft keeps raking in new awards. If you’re looking to get a taste of the action, check out the RXP-X 325 on Sea-Doo’s website, or at a Sea-Doo dealer near you!
In what seems to be becoming a Watercraft Journal trend, we interrupt your early May routine with some last-minute hype for the Huntington Beach Moto-Surf & Freeride.
Although we’re a few days ahead of our 2-day advance we blasted out for 4th Annual event last year, we’re still cutting it close, with the 5th Annual Huntington Beach Moto-Surf & Freeride taking place this weekend, May 4 – 5.
And just like last year, the spectator admission for the Huntington Beach Pier event is free.
First, Registration closed on Sunday, April 28th. However, you can still register on-site on Friday, May 3rd, from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. or Saturday from 6:30 to 7:45 a.m. Email Dawn Carey at [email protected] with any questions.
Second: This event will feature 2 days of IJSBA-sanctioned watercraft racing and the Rickter Freeride Exhibition. And is a double points race for the Best of the West Series Championship.
Location: Huntington Beach Pier (southside)
Lodging: There are no host hotels for this event. Please check local listings or VRBO or Airbnb. Dry camping in the pits are 1st come, 1st serve. All teams camping with Motorhomes/RV’s/Toy Haulers must register upon arrival at the main gate. You will be charged for each parking spot used. Camping fee is $40/space/night. You will be charged for each space used per the City of Huntington Beach. This lot will accommodate all race teams, enclosed trailers & motorhomes (dry camping only, no hook ups). All parking is 1st come, 1st serve.
Pits: The pits will be open on Friday morning at 8:00 am. This does not mean Wednesday or Thursday per the City of Huntington Beach. All vehicles: ie: Motorhomes/RV’s/long haulers, vehicles with and without trailers will park in the designated Huntington Street & PCH lot parking dry camping only, 1st come, 1st serve. No reservation needed. Again, parking is $40/space/night for dry camping. Everyone will need a parking pass and credentials to come & go through the gate once you have gone through registration (Friday) and on race days (Sat. & Sun). All race pits take priority over non essential vehicles/motorhomes/RV’s. Please do NOT spread out. Take only enough for your pit as you will be charged for each space taken and please be good neighbors to your fellow racers. Do not set up until cleared by the pit manager!!
Beach Area: Absolutely NO motorized vehicle traffic on the beach. Motorized vehicles, ie: Side by Sides, UTVS, RZR’s, etc. NO cars or trucks on the beach. Motorized vehicles can be used only at specific times to move into and out of the beach pit area. Absolutely NO one without a valid driver’s license will be allowed to drive any motorized vehicle from the pit parking lot to the beach pit area. Hand carting in and out and motorized launch must use the designated launch/pick up area on the beach. No extra pit vehicles will be permitted on the beach per Huntington Beach Fire/Lifeguards. Each entry and or boat will pay for and receive ONE (1) pit pass for their vehicle. All vehicles must display the proper parking pass (to be received at check-in/late registration). Parking of additional vehicles is in the asphalt pit parking lot for $40/day/space.
Fuel: All fuel must be stowed properly. You will be allowed to bring only enough fuel each day to the beach pit area. 5 gallons for stand ups & 10 gallons for runabouts. All fuel barrel’s and or fuel containers (ie: VP 5 gallon cans) must be removed by the owner at the end of the race weekend. All race teams must a tarp or drip tray for the beach pit area. All race teams must have a current fire extinguisher. Min. 10 BC to present at inspection and must be taken to the beach pit area.
Rider Check In: ALL racers/families/crew members must check-in on Friday starting at 10:00 am until 6:00 p.m. and or on Saturday morning at 6:30 a.m. to 7:45 a.m. If you’ve pre-registered you still must check-in, sign the waivers and receive your credentials & pay for parking. If you haven’t you do so during the days/times stated. Please do not wait until registration is closing to either get registered or clear registration and get your credentials.
Prize Money: Pro Classes with 6 or more riders at a minimum there will be 50% payback.
Smoking & Alcohol: There is NO smoking or alcohol in the pits. Violation will result in immediate dq and exit of race site.
SCHEDULE OF EVENTS:
Friday, May 3
8:00 am – Pits open to all teams.
Note: Pits are 1st come, 1st serve. All Motorhomes, & RV’s & Toy Haulers, vehicles with trailers & vehicles without trailers must park in lot at Huntington Street & Pacific Coast Highway (PCH). Parking spots are $40/night per the City of Huntington Beach.
10:00 am – 6:00 pm Racer Check-in, Registration at Hot Products Best ofthe West Tent in pit parking lot.
Safety inspection in pit area.
2:30 – 2:45 pm – Rider’s meeting for beach pits move in.
3:00 pm – 5:30 pm – Beach pit move in.
Note: Only licensed individuals may drive on sand. Only UTV’s, SidebySides, RZR’s, etc. are allowed on the beach. No excess beach traffic will be allowed per City Of Huntington Beach.
Saturday May 4th
6:30 am – 7:45 am Registration/check in – Pit Parking Lot
7:50 am – 8:30 am – All teams move from Pit Parking Lot to beach pits. (Southside of the Pier)
8:30 amMandatory Riders Meeting (all riders must attend!!) – Beach Pit Area at Lifeguard Tower.
9:00 am – 10:00 am Closed Course Practice
10:00 am – 5:00 pm Closed Course Racing & Rickter Freeride
Sunday May 5th
7:00 am – 7:45 am Registration/Technical Inspection Pit Parking Lot
7:50 am – 8:30 am – All teams move from Pit Parking Lot to beach pits (Southside of the Pier)
8:30 am – Mandatory Riders Meeting (all riders must attend!!) – Beach Pit Area at Lifeguard Tower.
9:00 am – 9:30 am Closed Course Last Chance Practice
Building a career in the world of watercross racing – or any extreme sport, for that matter – is not an easy task. Talent is the bare minimum: skill, dedication, commitment, effort, enthusiasm, a bit of recklessness combined with wisdom… all of these play a part, and that’s not even mentioning time and money.
Building a legacy is even more of an undertaking, not only committing to and mastering all of the above, but nurturing a passion for the sport, passing on the skill and wisdom of the sport, balancing mentorship and a competitive nature – its no easy task, one can be sure.
It’s been many years since there was any doubt that multi-time world champion Dustin Farthing nailed the “building a career” part of that equation. As pointed out in The Watercraft Journal IRL Podcast last October, Farthing expanded his roster of national and world titles in 2023 with the P1 AquaX national series Champion title.
It is also now becoming fairly evident that Dustin Farthing is also well on his way to building a legacy. Last weekend, with the opening of the 2024 P1 AquaX race season at Daytona, not only was the Farthing name in triplicate on the Pro Enduro race lineup, with Dustin and sons Deven and Talan all racing in the Pro class this year.
But it was a one-two weekend, with Dustin taking the top podium spot, and Deven claiming second; with Talan finishing a respectable 20th in a roster that included names such as Tory Snyder, Brian Baldwin, Chris MacClugage and Camden Powell.
Dustin took a few moments this week to chat with The Watercraft Journal, not only touching on the experience of racing alongside both of his sons, but talking about the Farthing Race Team’s 2024 plans, the excitement over the AquaX Celebrity Challenge that premiered at Daytona, and comments on PWC racing as a sport overall.
WCJ: Tell us how Daytona went for Farthing Racing this year.
WCJ: Talk about what it’s like to be out there racing with your sons.
WCJ: How often do you end up behind them, now?
WCJ: When you are racing against them, are you more competitive than you are with other racers?
WCJ: You told me years ago that you didn’t pressure them into the PWC world; is it a good feeling that they both made the choice to follow in your footsteps?
WCJ: You said something earlier about them racing after you’re done; you’re not planning your retirement are you?
WCJ: Talk about your part in getting the Celebrity Challenge initiated this year at Daytona.
WCJ: It sounds like the competitors had fun; how about the spectators? Did the audience and other racers enjoy the Challenge?
WCJ: What about your plans for this season? Is it just P1 for you, or are you looking at other races?
WCJ: So quite a few international races. Talk about the difference between International races and US races.
WCJ: Do you see PWC racing getting back to that level in the US?
WCJ: I noticed you posting a while back on social media that Farthing Racing would have skis available for other racers this year. Talk a little about that effort.
Closing out the interview, Farthing confirmed that Farthing Racing would be at Havasu and at Kings Cup in Thailand in in 2024, and thanked his sponsors and team crew.
Be sure to check out the P1 AquaX website for the full results from Daytona, and to keep track of the US standings as well as all the information on the next AquaX race, which will be in Michigan City on July 12-14.
If you’ve ever built an engine, taken apart an old jet ski for parts, or had to troubleshoot an engine for any reason, there’s a good chance you know the importance of pressure testing. However, if it’s your first time around, you’re in luck! The good people over at Erickson Machine and Performance have produced a detailed guide to this essential aspect of engine maintenance. Their video details the ins and outs of pressure testing a 2-stroke engine, using the custom-built ET 967 as an example.
In the video, Mark stresses the importance of pressure testing in a variety of scenarios. First and foremost, he emphasizes that it is imperative whenever one is assembling a new engine, so as to avoid significant issues in the PWC’s performance. Furthermore, it is an important step in diagnosing an older engine, especially if it is being used in a new build or if it seems to be running lean.
Before beginning the test, Mark highlights a few crucial preparatory steps. For Yamaha skis, it’s important to pull the starter or pop the front cover. For Kawasaki, you need to open up the inspection port. Both of these steps prevent pressure from being trapped due to leaking front seals, which could result in a buildup of oil over time, along with other potential issues.
In the video, Mark also goes through the necessary tools, including homemade options and available-to-purchase kits, to perform the pressure test. These include block off plates, rubber valves, and the air-regulating tool (the video goes into detail about how to build these from pieces you may already have).
The testing procedure itself involves gradually increasing the pressure to 8psi, then leaving it for 2-3 minutes to see if there is any leakage measured by the air regulator. If there is none, you should be good to go!
Always at the leading edge of performance parts and tuning, RIVA Racing set the world on its ear with the introduction of its Maptuner Nano wireless Bluetooth tuning programming.
With the attachment of a wireless dongle plugged into your Sea-Doo’s diagnostic port, or a dedicated mini-harness into your Yamaha or Kawasaki, any performance enthusiast can quickly and effortlessly read and clear engine error codes, gather live monitoring and data gathering, and most importantly, reflash your watercraft’s ECU with any Android or iOS smartphone.
You literally hold the power to reflash your ECU in the palm of your hand! RIVA’s Maptuner Nano also has immediate access to the entirety of RIVA’s tuning catalog, as long as you’ve got the license purchased through RIVA Racing.
Per RIVA Racing, “the Maptuner NANO delivers instant plug-in horsepower! Override factory speed control system, flash your vehicle’s ECU for more power, monitor and log critical engine data, read & clear error codes all from your smartphone!
“This revolutionary app based device is controlled with your phone via wireless Bluetooth connection. Intuitive & easy to use with a few simple steps!”
Wanna know the difference between a UV-blocking, long-sleeve riding jersey from The Watercraft Journal? Well, besides not looking like a Jackson Pollack painting, we also have ours in stock, ready to ship and for HALF of the cost of everybody else’s jerseys!
The Watercraft Journal partnered with Windrider – the boating industry’s leader in boating and sailing apparel – to create a very special riding jersey made using Helios material proven to provide UPF 50+ protection, stellar stain resistance, superior water wicking and breathability.
Each shirt features durable mesh lining the inside length of the torso all the way down the sleeve to the elbow. Available in a Bimini Blue pattern, WCJ Long Sleeve Riding Jersey is cut slightly larger than typical shirts including a longer cut torso.
So yeah, they’re pretty great but what else is new? Well, if you haven’t noticed already, we slashed the price all the way down to $35 a pop for all small-through-extra large sizes. If you’re a XXL or XXXL, you’ll only pay another $5 ($40 total).
But there’s one more thing: supplies are super low. At the time of this writing, we’ve got only ONE Medium-sized blue jersey left. We’ve also got just a half dozen or so of each of the red jerseys left in each size too. So if you’ve got a bright red PWC that you gotta color-coordinate with, this is the jersey for you.
Just skip on over to The Watercraft Journal Shop HERE and grab your discounted UV-blocking riding jersey now before they vanish forever.
As we enter the jet ski racing season, one recent race definitely shouldn’t go unnoticed by extreme sports enthusiasts. Earlier this year, Dubai hosted the inaugural Jet Suit Grand Prix, marking a groundbreaking moment for both technology development and PWC racers worldwide.
Each racer at the February 28 event was equipped with a jet suit boosted by seven 130-horsepower jet turbines, totaling 1,050 hp per racer. The suits feature two jets on each arm for steering, along with three in the backpack to achieve groundbreaking levitation. The result was a genuinely breathtaking spectacle, with racers competing on a striking course at top speeds.
Of course, at an event like this, safety measures are paramount, which is why the race was conducted in controlled waterspace with no significant obstacles or hard objects to pose a risk to competitors. Even so, the first race of the day resulted in the sport’s first jet suit crash, but fortunately, no injuries were sustained.
Due to limitations in gas tank size (currently only five gallons in the suit), each two-man race has a duration of only around nine minutes. However, this doesn’t hinder the spectator opportunities as the competitors display a level of skill and agility never seen before with this type of watercraft.
While the price tag may be prohibitive for most, coming in at around $400,000 per suit, the sport’s novelty status makes it ripe for new competitors, presenting an exciting opportunity for many, with the assurance that it will continue to grow in the coming years.
The event took place as part of the Dubai Boat Show and was funded by Gravity Industries, the company behind the jet suits themselves. They view the event as a major success, opening doors to more public shows and competitions, as jet suits seem to be establishing themselves in the world of extreme sports.
The 2024 race season is underway, and for industry companies that sponsor racers or run race teams, a good deal of time and attention is focused on the racers, the tours, the race prep and the podiums. But that doesn’t mean that everything else slides. Take, for example, RIVA …
While their race efforts are shifting into high gear, and team racers like Eric Lagopoulos are pulling attention and eyes to race sites like the iconic Daytona this past weekend for the opening race of the P1 AquaX season, RIVA keeps right on plugging away behind the scenes, and last week, they introduced their new Sea-Doo 325 Intake Manifold Upgrade Kit for 2024 & newer RXT-X 325 & RXP-X 325 models.
This kit, available for $229.95, enables your engine to deliver more horsepower through a +1 lb increase in boost pressure.
Not only does the kit include the necessary parts, but it comes with a hole saw & aluminum cutting fixture to allow easy removal of the restrictive screen element from inside of the intake manifold.
After removing the screen element, the resulting opening is filled with a specifically designed, o-ringed, billet block-off plug that is included in the kit, and an integrated fitting allows for easy installation of blow-off valves, fuel pressure regulators & boost gauges.
RIVA also performed pre-release testing to ensure that the Sea-Doo 235 stock ECU will compensate for the increased boost provided by this new Intake Manifold Upgrade Kit, meaning that it will not be necessary for you to change ECU tuning after installing this upgrade kit. The kit includes a ⅛” NPT accessory port.
Installation is estimated to take approximately 3 hours, and will require a Fuel Disconnect Tool, which is available from RIVA, as well as some blue Loctite.
That’s not all, though! Last week, RIVA also announced that a new app and firmware update for Maptuner Nano that includes major improvements in sync speed, improved user interface for tablets, bugfixes and tweaks is now available.
In a final release of the week last week, a RIVA video talked about the advantages of the Intercooler Tubing Upgrade Kit for 325hp RXT & RXP models that includes a new integrated TiAL ‘QRJ’ Blow-Off Valve that replaces the smaller plastic factory ‘purge valve’, eliminating extra hoses and extending service life of supercharger clutch system, along with the upgraded high-strength silicone hoses that will not swell under pressure like the original soft rubber hoses, resulting in improved throttle response and reliability.
Unlimited PWC is not one for meek, mild and small – when they do things, it’s typically with flair and flamboyancy. From their neo-neon kits and gear, to their technical workarounds and solutions, to their support of the PWC racers and community … Unlimited is all in.
So it should come as little surprise that, when Unlimited decided to celebrate the changing of the seasons, they pulled out all the stops.
In celebration of spring, Unlimited is not just tossing out a few discounts and calling it good; nope, they’re giving stuff away.
Not just one, but two winners of The Unlimited PWC Spring Giveaway will be shipped a New Neo life jacket AND a pair of gloves in the color and size of their choice
And entering couldn’t be easier – it’s as simple as Like, Follow, Tag.
And while you’re waiting for the winners to be announced in May, don’t forget to check out Unlimited’s Retro Boxers – because when you Look Fast and Go Fast, you want your skivies to be stylin’!