A little over two weeks ago, The Watercraft Journal published a short recap of of class action lawsuit filed by Mitchell Higgins against Yamaha Motor Company, USA. The lawsuit itself addressed three significant issues that consumers have found pertaining to all Yamaha FX WaveRunners; the Connext dashboard software resetting the trip and fuel consumption data at every restart; the inconsistent metering of the low fuel alarm; and the rider’s inability to extinguish said alarm while underway.

While our article points out several key features of the lawsuit that will likely keep it from ever gaining any traction in a serious court of law (the damages listed are “annoyance” and “inability to enjoy my watercraft”, as well as Higgins personally seeking $5 million dollars), the issues with the vehicle itself remain valid. Publishing the article spurred thousands of replies and responses and encouraged many to share their experiences with these same issues.

One such reply was Mississippi Ski Riders (MSSR) who pieced together this incredibly well-made documentation of all three of the above listed complaints in this single video (featured below). Although The Watercraft Journal strongly recommends that riders never run their PWC dry (to the point of fuel starvation) for fear of overheating the in-tank fuel pump, MSSR does properly document full range in optimal conditions and the corresponding behaviors of the Yamaha. See below:

Yamaha WaveRunner Racing’s Dustin Farthing and Tory Snyder pinned down the 1-2 slots, respectively, in the AquaX Pro Enduro tour standings after last weekend’s Championships in Kissimmee, Florida.

Farthing’s claim to the top tour standing, in tandem with Yamaha FX SVHO racer Chris McCluggage’s place on the top podium spot for the fourth and final round of the tour, keeps Yamaha’s winning streak alive, as Yamaha has not lost a weekend overall or tour championship in the modern P1 AquaX Pro Enduro racing era.

To add to the Yamaha domination, Round 4 was a hat-trick for for Yamaha riders, with Deven Farthing (2) and Dustin Farthing (3) joining McCluggage (1) on the podium. 

Read the full press release below:
Yamaha WaveRunner Racing dominated the P1 AquaX Pro Enduro Championships held this weekend in Kissimmee, Florida, with Dustin Farthing and Tory Snyder finishing 1-2 in the tour standings, respectively.

Yamaha FX SVHO® rider Chris McCluggage, who began the season on a Sea-Doo RXP®-X but returned to the Yamaha FX SVHO, won the fourth and final round of the tour, with Farthing Racing’s Deven Farthing and Dustin Farthing completing the Round 4 podium sweep.

The tour title and Round 4 win keep Yamaha’s unbeaten streak in P1 AquaX Pro Enduro Racing alive. Yamaha has not lost a weekend overall or tour championship in the modern P1 AquaX Pro Enduro racing era.

“We couldn’t be more excited and proud of Dustin and Tory for their dedication this summer,” said Yamaha WaveRunner Racing team manager Bryce Parker. “Farthing Racing and Snyderbuilt Racing did a great job prepping their Yamaha racecraft week after week, and they proved again that the FX SVHO and the GP SVHO™️ are the fastest and most reliable PWC in Pro Enduro open ocean racing.” 

Yamaha Motor Corp. USA is rapidly expanding its ability to test the durability and longevity of its marine division products (boats, outboards and personal watercraft) with the recent purchase of Fort George Island Marina in Duval County, FL. Yamaha is currently renovating the 36,500sq. foot warehouse into a state-of-the-art testing center granting the manufacturer quick and easy access to corrosive salt water environments to better test and develop new product.

This also comes shortly after Yamaha completed the expansion of its freshwater facility in Bridgeport, Alabama, increasing the facility’s footprint with an additional 5,900sq. feet of office space and 8,000 feet of storage and testing center – in addition to its massive 75,280sq. foot Marine Innovation Center in Kennesaw, GA. All of this ensures that Yamaha is marching forward to produce a new generation of environmentally responsible, and globally sustainable products.

Here’s the original press release:
Yamaha Motor Corporation, USA has purchased Fort George Island Marina in Duval County, Florida, with the intention of converting the existing facility into the Yamaha Offshore Endurance Center (YOEC), which will serve as a testing center for Yamaha Marine products including outboards, sport boats, and WaveRunners®. The new YOEC includes a 36,500-square-foot warehouse and marina building as well as a 7,200-square-foot office and event space.

“The YOEC compliments our test centers in Alabama and Kennesaw while adding greater capacity and capability. It also supports Yamaha Marine’s global testing plans by expanding opportunities to develop products,” said Ben Speciale, President, Yamaha U.S. Marine Business Unit.

“The environment provided by this location will allow us to focus on durability and reliability testing for larger engines, systems, and boat hull designs in an offshore environment. It will also include an immersive team center designed to inspire future engineering talent.”

Earlier this year, Yamaha completed the expansion of its freshwater test facility in Bridgeport, Alabama, adding 5,900 square feet of office space and 8,000 square feet of labs and storage. In addition, Yamaha recently finalized the construction of a new Marine Innovation Center in Kennesaw, Georgia, a 75,280 square foot facility that now houses the Yamaha Marine Connected Division as well as Yamaha U.S. Marine Development, Yamaha Marine Product Management, and Yamaha Marine Technical Marketing.

Yamaha plans to begin renovations on the saltwater test facility in Duval County in the third quarter of 2023.

In a September 15^th press release, Liqui Moly returns as the title sponsor to the LIQUI MOLY International Cup in Lake Havasu City, Arizona. This is an official Pro Watercross event that will take place from September 28^th through October 1^st.

“We’re exceptionally pleased to continue partnering with Pro Watercross by sponsoring the 2023 International Cup,” said Gary Driver, LIQUI MOLY business manager – marine for USA and Canada. “It’s an organization that emphasizes performance without sacrificing fun and safety.”

Read the full press release below.
LIQUI MOLY USA, global leader in engine lubricants and fuel additives, returns as the title sponsor to the 2023 LIQUI MOLY International Cup. An official Pro Watercross event, the Lake Havasu City, Arizona personal watercraft (PWC) competition runs from September 28 through October 1.

The prestigious event draws spectators from around the world. Racers will compete in 35 different classes with purses ranging up to $12,000. On Saturday, September 30, CBS Sports will be on hand to capture the action and provide LIQUI MOLY with extensive brand coverage. The event’s website iswww.prowatercross.org/lh.

The nation’s leading sanctioning body and race organizer for PWC, SUP (Stand Up Paddleboard) and HydroFlight competition, Pro Watercross is a nonprofit organization that’s dedicated to environmental and safety education and family-friendly competition. At the 2023 LIQUI MOLY International Cup, Junior Class racers aged 8-9 can participate in a time trial-based event.

“We’re exceptionally pleased to continue partnering with Pro Watercross by sponsoring the 2023 International Cup,” said Gary Driver, LIQUI MOLY business manager – marine for USA and Canada. “It’s an organization that emphasizes performance without sacrificing fun and safety.”

Recognized worldwide for its support of everything from auto, motorcycle and PWC racing to professional bass fishing and World Cup skiing, the LIQUI MOLY brand is synonymous with performance at the highest level. The company formulates and manufactures a complete range of lubricants and additives to work with virtually every boat or vehicle engine built in the last 50 years. A searchable database is at www.bit.ly/LiquiMolyOilGuide.

Quick! What year is it? If you weren’t paying attention you might think you had suddenly been warped a decade or two back in time as two of the sport’s most successful professional racers for the last 30-plus years battled for top billing at this past weekend’s the final round of the P1 AquaX National Championships in St. Cloud, Florida.

MacClugage self-sponsored this season’s racing efforts as a show of force against others better equipped and funded. Beginning the season aboard a Sea-Doo RXP-X 300, Macc procured a Dean’s Team-tuned FX SVHO to finish out the series.

Macc fought back father-and-son duo Dustin and Deven Farthing, trading podium positions the whole weekend – both of whom also rode Yamaha SVHO-powered WaveRunners, giving the brand an impressive clean sweep of the championship for yet another consecutive weekend.

While the veteran Monster Energy racer enjoyed this weekend’s win, fellow Monster rider, Dustin Farthing earned the series’ points total to earn him the season’s championship – besting rising youth talents Camden Powell, Tory Snyder and even his own son, Deven.

As part of the Yamaha Blue Life Series, Yamaha puts the spotlight on Hurtgruten Expeditions. This is a hardcore expedition group who needs equipment that can handle the extreme conditions of a destination like Antarctica. Equipment must be reliable and earth friendly, Yamaha Outboards meet those demands.

They use the Yamaha 60-horsepower, four stroke outboard motors to power their fleet of Rigid Inflatable Boats. With Antarctica being a remote and rugged destination, additional gear and extra planning are required so they carry a lot of motors. Hence the 55 Yamaha F60s on its three larger ships, with two ships carrying 20 Yamaha F60 outboards aboard and one ship holding 15 motors.

“When we are in Antarctica, we must be self-sufficient and self-reliant. Reliability is absolutely key. We have to trust our equipment to take care of us just as our passengers trust us to take care of them,” said Karin Strand, Vice President of Development. “Planning is critical, but you cannot plan for every situation. There are no ‘repair shops’ around so we have to be prepared and we need to have confidence in our equipment.”

Hurtgruten Expeditions has been using Yamaha power since 2002 for their journeys and are super happy with the motor’s reliability. The guys know they will always make it back to their ships when taking groups out a on the RIBs to explore. Hurtgruten Expeditions offers trips for adventurers and those who want to try new things.

The Hurtgruten company integrates sustainability and education to make for a more fulfilling experience and to give people a deeper understanding of nature. For more information and a complete list of Hurtigruten Expeditions destinations, visit www.hurtigruten.com.

With the prices of everyday things like milk, eggs and gasoline literally three-to-four times the cost just a couple of years ago, expecting to find a smokin’ deal on anything fun is few and far between. That’s why we had to jump on this offer from Galar Boats who is looking to move this pair of a rigid inflatable-sided boat and a WaveRunner.

The combination is a 2023 Galar Boats Ribbed Jet Ski Boat (rigid inflatable) equipped with Bimini Top, stereo, navigational lights, table, and a Continental aluminum trailer that holds both boat and personal watercraft. The PWC in question is a 2020 Yamaha GP1800R SVHO with only 29 hours on it.

Both were used as a “demo” unit (used for test rides or “demonstrations”) and have been well maintained and regularly serviced. Normally, a package like this would set you back $49,999. Instead, Galar will sell you the package for only $29,999 (and if you’re concerned about drumming up the cash, there is financing available).

For those uninitiated, Galar Boats is the Florida-based boat builder offering sturdy, lightweight combination vessels that couple with a personal watercraft, providing boating enthusiasts the very best of both experiences. This is a pretty sweet deal so it’s gonna vanish fast. For more information, please contact Galar at [email protected]

Impros has everything you need to rebuild your pump, replace worn components, and the tools to do the job. They offer rubber seals for impellers for Yamaha WaveRunners, Sea-Doo Watercraft, Kawasaki Jet Skis, and Honda AquaTrax. Impros even has seals for the old Arctic Cat Tigersharks.

If you need a tool to remove your impeller, the 440 Driveshaft Tool is available for proper removal of 300/400 Skat-Trak Impellers. If you have a Kawasaki 300 or 440 jet ski, Impros carries the Impeller Spanner Wrench that is necessary for tightening or loosening the impeller from the driveshaft.

The Kawasaki JS 550 Shaft Wrench fits into the small pump shaft on a JS 550 and can be used for multiple applications when working on your impeller. Impros carries a line of Solas Impeller Tools to remove and install select models of Solas Impellers. They also have a Yamaha Driveshaft Wrench that fits the WaveJammer/WaveRunner 500/LX650.

There are tons of other impeller tools and parts like impeller boots, spacers, nose cones, and spline tools. Impros offers 3M Marine 5200 Sealant that is strong enough to use on plug kits and intake duct. Use it to seal almost anything you don’t need to remove.

Get out the caulking gun and get busy! They even carry Sea-Doo XPS Jet Pump Bearing Grease and Jet Pump Oil. Check out the Impros website for all the details and all things impeller. They don’t call themselves The Impeller Professionals for nothing!