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FLITELab Shaping Up to Revolutionize the Prone Boarding Market in 2024

By
Chris Carringer
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2024 is already shaping up to be an exciting year for the world of watersports, as FLITELab entered January swinging with its brand new line of innovations to change up the prone foiling arena.

FLITELab, the new E-Foil brand launched by Fliteboard, looks to break the industry out of its previous limitations. Instead of being limited to mostly flat water like lakes and rivers, FLITELab’s AMP line moves into the wave space with its cutting-edge assisted surf-foil boards.

Prone foilers– that is, eFoilers who take on waves– will be all too familiar with the challenges associated with the sport. While the boards can work wonders on all sorts of waves, the biggest problem is managing to catch them in the first place. The small, agile boards, which can provide the most exhilarating rides, often aren’t able to handle the heavy paddling needed to catch a good wave.

That’s where Chris Reynolds, the project manager at FLITELab, comes in.

To hear Chris tell it, “The AMP system is our solution, the AMP Jet is integrated into the board and delivers the perfect amount of boost exactly when you need it, and is safely out of the way when you don’t.”

By concealing the AMP Jet within the AMP board itself, FLITELab allows prone foilers to avoid added drag while getting an optimal boost just at the critical moment, letting them catch waves on a still hyper-responsive board.

After three years of development, the AMP line seems to have achieved a major upgrade to the world of prone foiling. Even their LAUNCH Pad, a piece of technology designed to offer hands-free control of the board, includes state-of-the-art software allowing riders to control the strength and timing of the AMP Jet’s boost, while also sensing automatically when to cut off so the rider can keep his or her attention on the waves.

FLITELab refines the distinction between the prone surf foil and an Efoil, such as the Fliteboard Marc Newson wave, saying “the Marc Newson wave is an Efoil designed for permanent riding. It’s by far the best Efoil on the planet for waves, where this is a different concept, being a prone surf foil setup with a jet in the board. The jet helps you catch waves but doesn’t power you continuously like a Fliteboard eFoil does.”

So, whether you’re an experienced prone foiler or just looking to try out a new activity, it’s worth considering one of FLITELab’s AMP boards for a truly revolutionary experience. Check them out at the Fliteboard website and see the FLITELab in action in their latest YouTube clip.

 

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After Long Legal Battle over Environmental Rights, Jet Ski Ban is Reinstated in Kachemak Bay

By
Chris Carringer
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On the morning of Thursday, November 16, many jet ski enthusiasts near Homer, Alaska, woke up to disappointing news: the two-year-long lawsuit to reinstate the ban on personal watercraft (PWC) in the area had come to an end, and the ruling had not been in their favor.

The ruling follows a lawsuit filed by conservation groups in the Kachemak Bay area, challenging the 2021 ruling that permitted jet ski use in the Kachemak Bay and Fox River Flats Critical Habitat Areas.

 The region, covering nearly 230,000 acres of bay, mud flats, and marshlands, had been protected since 1972 as “especially crucial to the perpetuation of fish and wildlife,” according to the Alaska State Legislature. In 2020, however, the Fish and Game repealed the ban on jet skis in the protected area, with Commissioner Doug Vincent-Lang arguing that PWC were no longer a danger to the protected zones.

As quoted in Alaska Public Media’s article on the ruling, the Commissioner claimed, “We didn’t see any potential impact from allowing jet skis.”

Shortly after the decision in 2021, conservation groups, represented by Scott Kendall of the law firm Cashion Gilmore & Lindemuth in Anchorage, challenged the ruling. After a two-year-long hearing, Judge Adolf Zeman ultimately ruled in favor of the plaintiffs.

Zeman’s ruling was based largely on a 1999 literature review conducted by the Department of Fish and Game, suggesting that erratic movements and increased noise in shallow water areas have a negative impact on the protected ecosystems.

While seen as a victory for inlet conservationist activists, many water sports enthusiasts living in the area are unhappy with the ban’s reinstatement, and the Department plans to challenge the decision in the near future.

See the full write-up on this from Alaska Public Media at the following link:  Lawsuit Decision Reinstates Jet Ski Ban in Kachemak Bay 

 

Gallery: 2025 Kawasaki Ultra 160LX-S Angler JetSki

By
Kevin Shaw
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Never before have personal watercraft been better adapted to variety of tasks and a multitude of applications. From vital lifesaving equipment employed in shoreline and big surf rescues to innovative storage and cargo applications to maximize travel distance, today’s modern PWC are light years beyond the single-rider water scooters of decades past.

Although innovative fishermen have been adopting watercraft for fishing since the first runabouts, only recently have manufacturers embraced this demographic – and to tremendous acclaim. Sea-Doo’s 2019 Fish Pro and subsequent Scout, Sport and Trophy models have all been received warmly by displaced fishermen by escalating boat costs and disenfranchised kayak fishermen seeking greater accessibility.

Although declining to offer a dedicated fishing model, Yamaha delivered a pair of Jet Fish accessory packages that could be equipped on all full-sized FX WaveRunners with some considerable cost [a branded Jet Fish model was offered for Australian buyers in 2023 –Ed.]. Meanwhile, aftermarket brands had already began kitting units with cargo racks, rod holders, coolers and GPS units.

Seeing a viable audience that hadn’t otherwise been addressed directly, Kawasaki revealed its 2025 model year entry into the PWC fishing market – the Ultra 160LX-S Angler. Built from the naturally-aspirated Ultra 160LX-S JetSki, the Angler’s hull and deck is smartly coated in highly visible Crystal White with metallic Timberline Green accents. The standard LED headlamps increase the Angler’s profile.

 

Employing the Ultra platform provides the Angler a unique advantage over its competition: offshore and rough water superiority. The Ultra’s 22.5-degree deadrise and true Deep-V hull permits the JetSki to track smoothly through cresting 5-footers at speed without nose-plowing, erratic bow hunting or unhooking the pump. Above 15-20mph, the Ultra can sluice through chop unlike any ST3-based Sea-Doo.

Fitted with electric trim control, the rider can adjust the angle of the jet pump nozzle up to seven positions (STD and +/- three positions), permitting the rider to manipulate the attitude of the hull to best fit water conditions and riding style. The Ultra also includes Kawasaki Splash Deflectors (Quattro KSD) to deflect water splashing forward from underneath the hull.

Unfortunately, the steep angle of the hull gives the standard Ultra a “tippy” sensation at lower idle speeds. While this characteristic is ideal for sportier, fast-paced cornering, it’s less desirable for low speed trolling. That’s why the Angler includes a pair of axillary stabilizers on each side, increasing flotation and stability when drifting. These outriggers assist in balancing the Ultra as the rider moves around the deck.

The roto-molded stabilizers are integrated into the JetSki’s bondline and blend into the Ultra Deck that adds over 6-inches in total length and include the built-in Multi-Mount cargo rail system and an extended folding swim step. The Angler outfits the Ultra Deck with a hydro-formed and TIG welded aluminum rack that’s hard-mounted to the deck and is equipped with versatile (and easily removable) side packs.

These two packs slide-and-lock to the sides of the Angler rack and include two rod holders (totaling four) and include a trio of pockets and mounting eyelits. Inside of the Angler rack comes a massive 14.5-gallon Orca hard cooler that’s held snug in place by four rubberized isolators. The rack’s upper rail is low enough to allow the cooler to be opened freely; but thus far, we see no solution to securing the cooler during heavy seas.

As the four aft-mounted rod holders will stow your gaff, net and rods while underway, a fore-mounted rod holder is smartly angled outward (attached to the left-hand gunwale) ideal of trolling at low speeds. And low speed trolling is made easy using the Angler’s one-touch 5mph mode. This optimized “No Wake Mode” is adjustable three times, increasing rpm and speed from 5 mph to 6.2 mph.

Any speed above that, the electronic cruise control will be ideal. With responsive toggles that give an audible “click”, the up/down buttons are within reach of your thumb even as you operate the throttle. Of course, the Angler includes Kawasaki Smart Reverse with Deceleration (KSRD) braking system, which integrates the thumb-activated brake into the throttle trigger keeping all controls within the right hand’s reach.

Smartly placed above and forward of the throttle is the new 7-inch Garmin Echomap UHD2 7cv chartplotter. Offering a highly visible, glare-free interface designed for seamless navigation and fish finding, the chartplotter offers all of the options that have made Garmin a “must have” for jet ski fishing including high definition GPS mapping, cross view fish finding pages, depth sounder and much more.

Carried over from the standard LX-S is the full-color TFT digital dashboard. Rife with multiple display modes, a jog-dial controller, Bluetooth connectivity, and a bunch of features like a GPS waypoint indicator, vehicle information, rear-view camera monitor and audio track display (although the Angler does not appear to include the rear-facing camera or Jetsounds speaker system as standard equipment).

Rider’s ergonomics are a high priority thanks to Kawasaki’s new Angler fishing bench seat, a firmer, flatter seat that allows for unrestricted movement and better resistance to staining and discoloring (fishing can be a messy job, after all). The Angler also enjoys 5-way adjustable tilt steering and optional adjustable seat tracks available through Kawasaki’s Parts & Accessories department.

Beneath the seat is Kawasaki’s tried-and-true 1498cc DOHC, 16-valve, 4-cylinder engine. Being naturally-aspirated, Kawasaki upped the compression ratio to 10.6:1, producing an 87 octane-friendly 160-horsepower. Fed by a large diameter 60mm throttle body, electronic fuel injection system and an engine speed limiter and K-TRIC (TPS) sensor, the 1.5L engine features a liquid-cooled double-walled exhaust manifold, dual water boxes and dedicated cooling circuit for the cylinder block.

Storage on the Angler dwarfs that of the Sea-Doo Fish Pro with 44.5 total gallons of storage split between the full-sealed 32.8-gallons of bow stowage – ideal for items you don’t plan on accessing while underway – and the innovative 10.6-gallons of wraparound storage tucked behind dual gull wing-hinged fairings. Accessible from either the left or right hand side, the mid-storage compartment includes a 0.5-gallon watertight phone cubby with an optional USB port. A 0.7-gallon pocket in back is ideal for dock lines.

Of course, the same 21.1-gallon fuel cell found on all Ultra JetSkis carries over for the Angler as well, giving this JetSki the leading fuel capacity of all fishing-class watercraft. While several “firsts” place the Angler ahead of its competition, Kawasaki needs to prove the Angler as a viable fishing platform. Announced as a 2025 model, the Ultra 160LX-S Angler is due to his showrooms by Fall of 2024, therefore pricing has yet to be formally announced.

Corporate marketing images we’ve included below illustrate the Angler moored off of mangroves, fishing the channels; we at The Watercraft Journal contend that the Angler – more than any other – would be better suited to the Pacific kelp fields and the open sounds of North Carolina. While we’re certain it can handle each of these environs aptly, we can attest that the Ultra is a proven ocean-going vessel above others; now its time to demonstrate its mettle as a superior angling platform. 

A Quick Guide to Checking Your PWC Jet Ski Start-Stop Switches

By
Chris Carringer
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If you’ve been riding jet skis long enough, you’re certain to know this feeling: a beautiful summer day, you’ve got everything ready to go out on the water, and just in the moment when you’re ready to start it up… nothing. 

What do you do now? If you’re like most people, you may decide to load it up and take it to the nearest mechanic, but what if you didn’t have to?

Well, with this guide,  based on the how-to posted to WatCon’s Watercraft Talk Youtube Channel, we’re going to show you how to test and clean your start/stop switch on your own. So, with just a little bit of work, you may be able to get right back to the water in minutes!

This guide addresses the process for checking and cleaning both Yamaha and Kawasaki start/stop switch models. The design is relatively standard on all models of their jet skis, so just scroll to the section for your particular manufacturer and follow the steps listed below!

Note: If your jet ski won’t start, the first step should always be to check your battery voltage under load. Even if a battery is new or freshly charged, never take it for granted that this isn’t your problem. Start with the basics, and if this doesn’t work, move on to checking your start/stop switch.

How to Check a Start-Stop Switch:

Testing Kawasaki Models:

  1. On Kawasaki models, orange and white wires should indicate start, while blue and black indicate stop.
  2. Switch your volt meter to Ohms.
  3. Connect both leads from the volt meter to the terminals on the start switch, press the button, and if it zeroes out, your switch is functioning. Do this for the stop switch to be sure. If either end doesn’t zero out, you can move on to the cleaning section of this guide.

Cleaning Kawasaki Models:

Note: You’ll want to have a tray/clean workspace while cleaning, as there are many small pieces that could be lost in the process.

  1. Begin by pulling one switch out of the casing, then twist the end off to open it up (you may need a wrench for this).
  2. Drop out the two posts and the spring, then, using a small fiberglass brush, remove any crust and polish off both posts to ensure a clean connection.
  3. Repeat this process for the other switch, reassemble, and replace both in the casing.

Checking Yamaha Models:

  1. Use a screwdriver to disassemble the switch. Yamaha models have a start switch, a kill switch (red button), and the tether kill switch. Black and white wires indicate stop. Brown and red wires indicate start.
  2. At the end of the cords, depin the connectors and connect each terminal to the volt meter. You will need a special tool for this.
  3. Connect both leads from the volt meter to the terminals on the start switch, press the button, and if it zeroes out, your switch is functioning. Do this for the stop switch to be sure. If either end doesn’t zero out, you can move on to the cleaning section of this guide.

Note: If there is corrosion on the terminals, it can be useful to clean by letting the terminals soak in CLR for a few minutes (no more than 5), then rinse, dry, and spray with an electrical contact cleaner.

Cleaning Yamaha Models:

Note: You’ll want to have a tray/clean workspace while cleaning, as there are many small pieces that could be lost in the process.

  1. Remove the screw on the housing and pull the wire into the casing to release the switches from their slots.
  2. Twist off the end of each switch to open it up (you may need a wrench for this).
  3. Drop out the two posts and the spring, then, using a small fiberglass brush, remove any crust or corrosion, polish both posts to ensure a clean connection.
  4. Repeat this process for the other switch and reassemble.
  5. As for the tether kill switch (the small black button), remove the screws holding it in place, hold it level, and peel the cap off. Inside there will be H-shaped contact pieces as well as some attached connectors, all of which should be polished with the fiberglass brush.
  6. To reassemble, return the small springs to the holes they fell out of, insert the copper H-shaped pieces on top, then reconnect the casing.

Check out the full video from John at Watcom.com and be sure to check out their channel for more great PWC information.

 

Stay Warm, Stylin’ and Protected With Slippery’s 2024 Collection

By
Jessica Waters
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With clean graphics to match your style, the Slippery Wetsuit 2024 collection has what it takes to keep you on the go, like the Breaker John and Jacket combo, which was made for active riders, with durability, performance and mobility all designed into the set. Providing lightweight protection with 2mm Neoprene, the seat features flat-stitched seams for comfort, a front-zip jacket, and a john with 1.55mm airprene calf panels to allow water to drain, a keep-key pocket, convenient hook and loop shoulder closures and 1.55 mm Tatex at the knee for abrasion resistance. Add in the versatility of a set that you can use together or individually for maximum warmth and protection, and you can’t go wrong – especially with three style choices: black and charcoal, charcoal and red, or black and aqua. The set comes in a full range of sizes, also, from small to 3x, all for $159.95. 

Also on Slippery’s featured list right now is the Array Side Entry Neo Vest in Red/Charcoal, Black/Charcoal or Aqua/Charcoal and available in sizes ranging from small to 2xl. At $99.95, the easy-on, easy-off vest with a full zip side is an unbeatable deal. Features include multiple hinged points for flexibility,  hidden 1 ½” belts with buckle closures for a secure fit, wide armholes for a full range of motion and a low-profile design for comfort. 

Next on the current set of featured products is the Flex Lite Gloves that combine a stylish design in a choice of five color combinations, with the ideal fit and functionality. With a single layer perforated palm and anti-slip silicone gel print on the fingertips for increased grip, the Flex Lite gives you 4-way stretch on the backhand for increased mobility and control, and a lightweight neoprene cuff with hook and loop wrist closure for convenience, and the graphics are sublimated and fade-free – all for $24.95.

And just to make sure you’ve got all the extremities covered, last on the featured list is the Liquid Race Boot. Finish off your look with this redesigned race boot in black to coordinate with any of the Slippery pieces. Completely redesigned to exceed the performance demands of racers and riders alike, the Liquid Race Boot has a molded outsole that provides superior traction, support, and stability that can’t be found in lightweight soles. Features include a removable 1.5mm neoprene booty, pull-tabs & lacing system for fast and easy on/off, airmesh and perforated chassis for ventilation and drainage, an anti-abrasion heel and toe and an internal heel and athletic sole structure to provide stability. Currently priced at $99.95.

Be sure to check out Slippery Wetsuit’s website for more information, and to place your order.

Video: Stand-Up vs. Sit-Down – The Rivalry Now Continues on the Snow

By
Jessica Waters
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Of all the bantering and heckling that takes place between PWC factions, the long-standing one-upmanship between stand-up and sit-down riders is probably one of the most lively in the watercross family. 

Now, that sibling rivalry can transfer from the water to the snow during the off season, as the designers at WideScape continue to advance the Widescape WS250 – a cross between a snowmobile and a snow bike that takes its design cue from the stand up jet ski to provide what at least some winter powersport aficionados call the most active, immersive and challenging fun you can have in the snow. 

While the Widescape WS250 stand up snowmobile is not technically new – it was released in February of 2022 – widespread delivery did not begin until December 2023, and it remains a bit of an oddity – regarded by some (many) traditional snowmobilers as nothing more than a toy. But despite what serious snowmobilers call weaknesses of the WS250 – lack of range, horsepower and storage, to name a few – even the most surface-level exploration through the world of Google reviews show that this snow-bound version of a stand-up PWC has a growing fan base – many of them summertime PWC riders in search of off-season fun. 

As Mountain Sledder magazine explained in their review of the machine, “The Widescape WS250 is a new concept that, from a visual standpoint at least, is surprisingly perhaps more closely related to the shape of a stand up personal watercraft (aka jet ski) than any other recreational vehicle type. To be clear: we’re not talking about the sit down things you see tourists riding the world over. We’re talking about the radical stand up type of ‘jet ski’ we associate with professional racing, freestyle riding and people who take their PWC seriously.” (see, I told you that rivalry made the transition from water to snow!)

A turning point, it appears, in the acceptance and growing popularity of the WS250 happened about the same time as a review and walkthrough video of the machine by SnowTrax TV’s Luke Lester posted last year. 

Besides a mechanical overview of the WS250 (200 pounds, 242cc 4-stroke EFI engine with liquid cooling, continuously variable transmission, Soucy scaled track), Lester covers the similarities, and differences, between a traditional snowmobile and the WS250, and talks about how the stand-up version outperformed his expectations in just about every category.

Check out the SnowTrack TV 1st-ride video and see where you stand in the winter version of the perennial PWC Debate – stand-up or sit-down?

 

Catching Up With Lindsay Warner’s Round Trips

By
Jessica Waters
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One week ago today, our WCJ Time Machine post of the day took us back to Feb 17, 2020, when we took a look at Australia’s Lindsay Warner as he made his plans to become the first person to circumnavigate around the entire Australian continent on a solo journey aboard a Kawasaki JetSki. The 20,000 kilometer proposed trip, if he completed it, would have put him in the record books in the longest open water travel category. 

Warner, then 63, was after more than records, though – he was after attention – the purpose behind his journey was to raise awareness for Men’s health issues and raise $100,000 for the cause. 

In September, 2021, The Watercraft Journal reported the Warner had completed his journey, successfully circumnavigated Australia – an adventure of more than 9,000 miles – and a few crocodiles. 

Of course, after posting our Time Machine look back at the start of his Australian around-the-island solo trip, I couldn’t help but head to Google to find out what Warner has been up to lately.

He didn’t disappoint. 

As reported by Watercraft Zone, on Jan. 14 of last year, Warner set out to solo-circle New Zealand to set another record and earn more attention, awareness and funds for Men’s health issues – using the same 2017 Kawasaki Ultra LX that made the lap round Australia.  And at the end of February last year, Kawasaki announced that Warner had again achieved his goal, taking 9 days on the water to lap the South Island and another 12 days on the water to lap the North Island – facing not only storms, but cyclones along the way. 

Counting Warner’s earlier circumnavigation of Tasmania in 2019, Warner has now completed a true trifecta – the hattrick of solo adventuring.

And we can’t wait to see what he’s up to next.

 

Speed Into the New Year With the Fizzle V1 SHO Supercharger Impeller

By
Chris Carringer
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“New year, new speeds!”

If that’s your goal, you need to check out the brand new Fizzle V1 SHO Supercharger Impeller to take your personal watercraft to the next level. Experience a seamless integration of power and precision with this innovative addition to your current watercraft.

Crafted with meticulous attention to detail, the Fizzle V1 SHO Supercharger Impeller not only amplifies your watercraft’s speed, but also showcases a level of craftsmanship that guarantees durability and operational efficiency.

The supercharger is designed to elevate your watercraft experience with enhanced speed, quicker acceleration, and even better throttle control, taking you to euphoric speeds as you race across the water.

What kind of speeds? The Fizzle V1 SHO Supercharger Impeller gives an average of a 6+ PSI boost when compared to the stock SHO impeller, and boosts 13-15 PSI at 8500 RPM. Those are speeds you’ll really feel!!

But it’s not ONLY speed from this model. The Fizzle V1 SHO Supercharger Impeller also boasts a high-level craftmanship, which makes it both durable and efficient. Its precision-machined billet aluminum allows for hyper-efficiency out of this little rocket, which only weighs 100 grams. Beyond that, its drop-in wheel allows for easy installation in the factory Yamaha SHO supercharger housing. No modifications needed!

We do recommend protecting your watercraft by upgrading to a heavy-duty supercharger shaft kit to ensure long-term durability and power out of your craft.

So, if you’re interested in really upgrading your equipment this year, not just with speed but with control, durability, and power, head on over to greenhulk.net where they’re running a fantastic deal on this piece of equipment: only $464!

Seize the opportunity to enhance your watercraft’s capabilities before this offer disappears!

JETX Race Team: Excellence From the Top, Down

By
Jessica Waters
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With the 2024 race season gearing up in the (chilly, if not frozen) wings, those who don’t actively hit the start line and nose up to the band still have time to prep our “cheering from the sidelines” gear, throw all-in on that racer you just KNOW is going to have a rockin’ season, and practice our “go for the holeshot,” “hold your line” and “rubbin is (or isn’t) racing” chants.

And we still have time to peruse the stats, social media presence and attitude of those that will be headed into the fray this year, and pick our go-to guy or gal to walk away with the 2024 bragging rights and hardware in their class. (And when is someone going to make Fantasy PWC racing a “thing”?)

First up in our look at team lineups is the crew at JetX.

Team JETX participates in both P1 AquaX and Endurance races., and they have the full support of JETX tech expertise, with race skis tuned for peak performance in-house at JETX. And how can you go wrong when the team is under the leadership of one of the top names in the PWC world – Ryan Dalli.

Affectionately called the “Doctor” by some of his closest friends, racers and customers alike, Dalli has put together one of the best-known teams, with members participating regularly in not only AquaX, but The East Coast Watercross Tour, CanAm Watercross Tour, IJSBA events and the Lake Havasu World Finals – bringing home their fair share of championships and World Titles.  

Topping the JETX Team roster are four names to watch for on race courses this season, including Jay Edworthy, Dave Davidson, Nathan Dalli and Noah Dalli. 

With nothing but praise and confidence from team leader Ryan Dalli gracing his racer profile, you can bet Edworthy’s catalog of accomplishments, championships and podium finishes are impressive, and Dalli not only praises Edworthy’s skill on the racecourse, but his character and persistence, saying “No one can deny he [Edworthy] is one of the most determined people that any of us have ever met. Last year he was coined the ‘Iron Man of AquaX’ and he stays true to his name. If nothing else, you know that if you’re working with Jay towards a common goal he will give you 1000%, and that’s all anyone can ask for.”

On Davidson’s race profile, he is credited with six Overall Canadian National Titles in respective classes at the Expert and Pro-Am level as well as three US Regional Championships at the Expert Level. He began his PWC race career in 1989 on a Kawasaki X2. 

Nathan’s race profile pegs him at 4 National Titles and 4 Regional Titles in the three years he has been involved in PWC racing. Nathan also has been racing snowmobiles for seven years in addition to his PWC Race experience. Nathan is currently racing a Seadoo Spark and HX.

According to his race profile, Noah Dalli has been racing Snowmobiles for 6 years, and Watercraft for the last 2 years, during which time he has podiumed each season. He is currently racing a Seadoo Spark and HX.

Be sure to keep up with the JETX race team on their Facebook page, the JETX Racing page, 

And keep up with the services and parts offered at JETX Powersports as well as the Instagram Powersports and Race Team pages.

 

A look at The Watercraft Journal’s Top Stories of 2023

By
Jessica Waters
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Being the curious sort (and perhaps a slightly competitive sort), as I settle into my first full calendar year as Editor of The Watercraft Journal, I took a peek back at our website and social media statistics from 2023, to make sure I set ambitious goals to keep WCJ moving forward and in an upward trajectory. 

While numbers and stats are a great thing, I also wanted to take note of what’s important to y’all – our readers. Editor-In-Chief Kevin Shaw had mentioned to me a few times when I took this position that PWC racing articles are not the top draw for our readership – a fact that shocked me, but a fact that once again this year, held true.

 In the list of most-read WCJ stories of 2023, articles about the competitive racing side of the PWC world did not break the top 25 – despite some amazing photo galleries, some high-interest rule changes and some dramatic tour shakeups. 

Annual brand name lineups again held the lion’s share of our readers’ interest, with an inventory clearout from always-popular RIVA Motorsports grabbing a spot in the top five, along with an article that has what is possibly the longest headline in the history of headlines.

While the “top five”  (actually six – but I’m counting #2 and #3 as one entry!) list does not show it, recreational PWC rides and adventures continued to be a popular article topic in 2023, with high hits on articles about PWC group and solo trips and discussions of “best places to ride,” especially those with videos and photos. Another PWC sector that seems to be gaining ground in WCJ reader popularity is PWC Fishing – a topic we will continue to pursue in 2024!

Now, without further ado – the top WCJ stories of 2023!

Sliding into the last spot on our list, the Aug. 15 video Introducing The 2024 Yamaha WaveRunner Lineup highlighted the company’s many upgrades and innovations. Some of the upgrades brought Yamaha closer to fulfilling its public commitment to becoming 100% carbon neutral by 2035.

The new 4-stroke re-established Yamaha as the leader of engine displacement: a 1,898cc (1.9L) four-cylinder, 16-valve High Output marine engine – producing 200-horsepower – replaced the previous 180-horsepower Yamaha 1.8L High Output motor in all VX, GP and FX previously equipped with such. Also, all WaveRunners equipped with the new 1.9L receive a new overlapping impeller and redesigned intake grate for better hookup and acceleration – be it VX, GP or FX. This “top loader” design features a deeper chip for increased bite and a more aggressive scoop grate to force more water faster into the 155mm axial jet pump. 

Of note, Yamaha rebranded the entire GP series for the 2023 lineup, rechristening the GP1800R SVHO the GP SVHO, and GP1800R HO the GP HO. 

The article also noted that Yamaha upped its coloration in a big way for 2023. Besides the lowly SuperJet, which remains in its “blank slate” white livery; all other models are splashed in vibrant hues and busy graphics meant to catch the eye and draw attention. Even the Parts & Accessories group gets in the action by offering three CNC-mat colorations for the RecDeck (and attachments) as a choice of black or white housing for the floating detachable EX speakers.

Ranking just above the Yamaha 2023 Lineup in our article rankings, was our May 31 article on Long Distance PWC Trips: Why Our Kit Won’t Work on Sea-Doos & How to Pack Extra Fuel for Long Trips. 

Despite the lengthy headline, the article offered streamlined information on the installation of the The Watercraft Journal “Long Hauler” Auxiliary Fuel System Kit, designed to work with all modern 4-stroke runabouts – except for any post-2011 Sea-Doos. As the article states, Sea-Doo accounts for over 50-percent of all new units sold year-to-year, which means you’d think The Watercraft Journal would make every effort to accommodate these owners…but doing so is far more complicated than many would think. 

The article explained how our system works without any cutting or drilling, and how easily it can be installed and removed; as well as why updates to Sea-Doo’s fuel system from the factory in 2012 made using our kit nigh impossible without major modifications or unsafe fuel plumbing – especially for the layman enthusiast to perform.  

Showing that everyone loves a good deal, coming in just ahead of the Fuel System treatise was our May 29 blast about the Riva Motorsports and Marine’s Clearing Out the Inventory Sale, with new 2022 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 with iBR and Bluetooth Audio-Premium System for as little as 20% down with a payment of $358 a month, or a 2022 Spark Trixx 2-Up  for $191 a month with a 20% down payment. The 2022 Sea-Doo Fish Pro Sport 170’s were in stock and available at $324 a month for 60 months. 

Coming in at #3 and #2, respectively, in our statistics for 2023, WCJ’s August 1 announcement that Sea-Doo would be announcing their 2024 Lineup on Aug. 2, and our August 21 Gallery: Introducing The 2024 Sea-Doo Lineup are combined to take the #2 spot in this Top Five list. On Aug. 2, Sea-Doo announced that they would reveal the 2024 lineup on August 20 from Atlanta, Georgia, including brand new Sea-Doo watercraft, pontoon boats, apparel and accessories.

The company expected more than 2,500 dealers from around the world to show up for the event, and within a few weeks, WCJ detailed the lineup and features, including the fact that Sea-Doo expanded its performance segment offerings with one returning and one new entry: the long-awaited GTR-X 300 and the GTR 230. These two machines ride on the lightweight PolyTec 2.0 hulls that have proven to hold up to brutal offshore conditions as well as daring aftermarket tuners who’ve put plenty of supercharged power through their GTRs. 

Additionally, Sea-Doo also pulled back the curtain on the totally redesigned Spark and Spark Trixx entry models.  Marking the Rec Lite segment’s 10th anniversary, the newly minted 2024 Spark is sleeker, more refined, more ergonomic and accessory-friendly than previous versions and promises to welcome in a new crop of PWC owners – and more importantly, PWC enthusiasts – to the hobby. Sea-Doo also introduced its top-of-the-line Switch Cruise Limited. 

Claiming honors as the top-read WCJ story of 2023, WCJ’s April 28 article discussed whether PWC-Powered Boating is Back as Galar Boats Looks to Build Dealer Network. 

Prior to the global shutdown in 2020, Canadian jetboat manufacturer Sealver Waveboat made a big splash in the US market by introducing its line of personal watercraft-powered boats. Unfortunately, severe quality control issues, surmounting manufacturing costs and in large part, the pandemic all crippled the company’s ability to satisfy demand.

But public demand didn’t go away, so the team who brought these boats to the American market doubled down in a big way: they brought the whole operation to the US and rebranded and reorganized as Galar Marine, By being manufactured in the States, the team is able to control every aspect; from molds to interiors to paint and decal applications, and company representatives stated that there were already some major innovation in the works that would open up their lineup to a broader audience of jet skier

So there you have our top 2023 stories. Let us know what interests you in 2024! I am always happy to hear article suggestions, topic ideas, coverage requests, and I am always looking for press releases from companies, race organizations, recreational groups and others regarding topics of interest to our readers. You can always reach me at [email protected]

Here’s to a 2024 filled with even more exciting PWC news and information!

 

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