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Apples & Oranges: Comparing Galar Boats’ Lineup to Market Leading Yamaha Jet Boats

By
Kevin Shaw
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In recent weeks, Galar Boats has gotten quite a bit of attention – both here at The Watercraft Journal as well as on social media – and for good reason. The idea of using a personal watercraft to propel a jet boat is not new (many of us recall the Shuttle Craft boats from the mid-1990s) but few have been successful in offering a premium vessel that is comparable to current jet driven boats both in build quality and price…until now.

As it stands, Yamaha Motor Corp. currently leads the market in jet driven boats by a substantial margin. Employing all of its powertrains, pumps and intake designs from its WaveRunner line, the marine division delivers consistent performance, fuel consumption and superior fit-and-finish that boat dealers, service centers and consumers have come to trust. So in taking on such a competitor, Galar has quite the hurdle before them.

Unlike Yamaha’s 29 different models (ranging from 19-feet to 27-feet in length, and $35,599 to $155,899 in price), Galar only offers three models – the Lightning, Typhoon and Kraken – each representing a specific length – 14, 17 and 21-feet – respectively. Although none of these vessels come with a watercraft to propel the boat, each model does come equipped with a bilge pump, ski tower, Bimini top, stereo, running lights and an aluminum trailer.

In wanting to provide relatable, comparable context for each model offered by Galar, we sought to find an equally-equipped Yamaha jet boat as well as a Yamaha WaveRunner to power the Galar unit. We will factor the cost of the WaveRunner into the equation and list as many details of each vessel as possible (using MSRP prices listed as of this writing) to provide the most detailed comparison possible between the two boats. Obviously, this exercise cannot be a true 1:1 as they are not identical offerings but we got darn close.

Galar Lightning
$22,999 MSRP
The Lightning’s total length is 14-feet and 5-inches and weighs a paltry 682-pounds (less than most personal watercraft). It has a beam of 7’3″ and needs a watercraft with a minimum of 150-horsepower to propel it. The Lightning seats a maximum of seven people total, with five on the boat and two aboard the PWC. The ski tower and Bimini top allow for towing a skier or wakeboarder, and offers shade for all passengers.

Suggested Yamaha WaveRunner:

Yamaha VX Cruiser HO
$13,299 MSRP
The VX Cruiser HO is one of Yamaha’s most popular, highly decorated and best selling WaveRunners – and all for several very good reasons. The 1,812cc High Output 4-cyliner four-stroke delivers 180-horsepower while sipping miserly on 87 octane fuel. The hull shares the same mold design as the sporty GP1800R series.

Comparable Yamaha boat:

Yamaha AR190
$38,499 MSRP
Although Yamaha does NOT offer a 14-foot entry, this is the lowest-priced 19-foot model in the brand’s 190-series that is equally equipped with the High Output 180-horsepower 4-cylinder engine and includes a wake tower, bilge pump and a painted trailer. It also seats 8 passengers and has a 40-gallon fuel capacity.

Comparing The Two:
We intentionally sought to find the right WaveRunner to bring the Galar Lightning/PWC combination as close in price and power to the AR190 as possible. The Yamaha boat still out prices the Lightning and VX Cruiser HO duo by $2,200; but touts greater fuel capacity and roomier seating (given its 5-extra-feet of length). The AR190 comes in at 2,441-pounds while the Galar/VX combo tips the scales at 1,416-pounds, making for far less strain on your tow vehicle.

Galar Typhoon
$32,999 MSRP
The Typhoon is Galar’s mid-sized offering coming in with a total length of 17.2-feet and it weighing in at 772-pounds. It has a beam of 7’8″ and requires a personal watercraft with a minimum 170-horsepower, similar to the Lightning. The Typhoon seats 8 people total, 6 on the boat, two on the watercraft. Equally, the Typhoon includes a with a removable bow table, ladder, tower, Bimini top, stereo, running lights and an aluminum trailer.

Suggested Yamaha WaveRunner:

Yamaha GP1800R SVHO
$16,499 MSRP
OK, this one might surprise a few of you as our selection since the Typhoon only requires 170-horsepower, not the GP1800R SVHO’s unofficial 285-ponies. So why pick Yamaha’s sportiest, race-ready 3-seater? Because the best comparable boat we could select came equipped with Yamaha’s Super Vortex High Output engine, and we know most of you would rather have identical power numbers than prices. You know what this WaveRunner is capable of, so we’re just gonna keep moving on.

Comparable Yamaha boat:

Yamaha 195S
$47,499 MSRP
Yet again, Yamaha does NOT offer a similar-length entry. At 19.5-feet, the 195S is 2-feet, 2-inches longer than Galar’s 17.2-foot Typhoon. This is also the highest-priced 19.5-foot model in the brand’s 195-series. As stated earlier, it comes equipped with the SVHO producing 285-horsepower too. The 195S includes a hefty list of features including a Bimini top, custom CNC mats, hinged seats, and and painted steel trailer. It too also seats 8 passengers .

Comparing The Two:
This one was tough; we intentionally wanted to pair the Typhoon with the VX Cruiser HO again, but seeing that the 195S came with the SVHO, we felt it appropriate to combine it with the GP1800R SVHO. This placed our combination slightly above the Yamaha 195S –$49,499 vs. $47,499, a difference of $2,000 in Yamaha’s favor. We did note a significant weight difference though, 1,526-pounds (combined) vs. 2,509-pounds. And when you factor in the weight of Galar’s aluminum trailer against the steel trailer supplied by Yamaha, you’ve got nearly another 1,000-pounds to lug behind your truck or SUV.

Galar Kraken
$45,999 MSRP
Kraken is Galar’s last and largest entry, providing a total length of 21-feet and 6-inches with an 8-foot beam. As its premier boat, the Kraken weighs in at 1,332-pounds and thus requires a personal watercraft producing a minimum 250-horsepower. Able to seat 10 people total, the Kraken keeps seven passengers on the boat, and three on the watercraft. This vessel includes additional speakers, a collapsible head, increased storage and premier seating and CNC-cut mats.

Suggested Yamaha WaveRunner:

Yamaha FX SVHO
$18,899 MSRP
Admittedly, we could’ve opted to stay with the GP1800R SVHO – since it produces more than enough for the Kraken’s 250-horsepower minimum requirement – and saved $2,400 from our total, but what’s the fun in that? The 2023 FX SVHO returns murdered out dripping in gloss and semi-flat black hues that just scream don’t mess with me and the revised ride plate perfectly compliments the SMC fiberglass hull. Personally, we don’t care much for the Cruiser seat and its $500 price tag either.

Comparable Yamaha boat:

Yamaha 222S
$70,199 MSRP
This one was another tough one. Unlike the previous entry, we opted to let Yamaha’s boat entry get the upper hand in the performance category. Touting twin 1.8L HO engines – totaling 360-horsepower – the 222S is 22-feet long, seats 10 passengers with ease, and wields a king’s ransom of premier features and creature comforts. The 222S is not only stately but serviceable; comfortable whether stationary or at speed; and sporty when called to be.

Comparing The Two:
Two major factors which kept rearing its head were cost and weight. The 222S asks an additional $5,300 over the combination of the Galar Kraken and the FX SVHO. Moreover, the 3,792-pounds of the 222S over the combined heft of the Kraken/FX duo’s 2,205-pounds (not to mention the near 1,000-pound difference in aluminum vs. steel trailer weight) means well over 2,000-pounds of added towing capacity – or the difference between a gas powered truck versus a diesel. Our combo’s 80-horsepower deficit still hurts though.

This final comparison is emblematic of the original premise of this article: your choice is going to hinge upon your intended use. If you already own a personal watercraft, depending on which model and power output, the decision is all the more clear. If you’re starting with a clean slate, you’ll need to consider how often you plan to ride your PWC versus take out the whole clan; the type of vehicle you have to tow with; and what type of boating you regularly or typically enjoy. And that’s up to you to decide.

Kspeed Upgrades Its Intake Grates With Improved Manufacturing Process

By
The Watercraft Journal
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Many Kawasaki Ultra die hard enthusiasts will swear that Kspeed makes the best intake grate for this platform. We have tested this grate ourselves here at The Watercraft Journal many times and we are not sure that they are wrong.  So when we got word that our friends down under were creating a new grate, we immediately reached out.

In 2018, Kspeed perfected their custom made intake grate and then sorted out to a local Brisbane manufacturer. The process took 12 months longer than it should have and the holes were not right, so they sent them back.

By December of 2019 they had them right and ready for sale.  Thus, the Kspeed Stage 1 kit was born, and it boasted the only intake grate on the market for the 300/310 platform that actually increased speed instead of slowing the rider down.

Just before the 2023 North American summer order surge they ran out of sellable intake grates.  At that point, via email only Kspeed would take cosmetically imperfect grates, hand finish them, test them in their own Ultra 310 and then sell at a reduced price.  This process took nearly an hour for each order.

When we asked the guys at Kspeed what this new process consisted of, they gave us the complete break down. “We sorted out the manufacturer of our Kspeed STX intake grates to give these new ones a go, the prototype was 3D scanned, perfected in CAD and 1 CNC cast was made.  Three months later we have this new perfectly formed intake grate,” said Marty of Kspeed.

He continued, “No more casting dramas, perfect quality control straight out of the box and we still double check each one with a test fit before packaging.” Interestingly, the old ones were sand cast. The new ones come out of a CNC mold.

On the previous batch, they ended up with over 130 grates that were cast and didn’t meet QC and required significant labor to make sellable. They pride themselves on quality and customer service and thankfully they do, or most of you would have ended up with subpar products.

So yes, there is a brand new intake grate for the 300/310 platform from Kspeed. And in their own words, “The new intake grates are slightly higher on price due to the additional manufacturing cost, but look sensational. They do the exact same job producing identical speed and hookup.  So, if you have an old one there is no need to upgrade, unless of course you want to.”

Video: Sea-Doo Partners with 4ocean to Aid in Shoreline Cleanup

By
Ocean Priselac
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0

Sea-Doo and 4ocean are on a mission to clean up and end the world’s plastic ocean crisis, making for an excellent partnership. Alex Schulze is the co-founder of 4ocean, an ocean clean-up company. 4ocean began as a small company making and selling products made from recycled materials. For every bracelet sold, they removed a pound of trash from the ocean.

The company blew up, and before they knew it, they were hiring more captains and crews to take on the huge task of removing trash from the ocean. The company is based in Florida but has now expanded worldwide with their ocean clean-ups. 4ocean’s partnership with Sea-Doo has been a dream. They share a common mission, which is to clean up our oceans. Both organizations encourage people to use their Sea-Doo watercraft to get into hard-to-reach areas and pick up debris.

4ocean utilizes the Sea-Doo Switch and Fish Pro to get into shallow waters to recover plastic and other trash. The watercraft allow them to be more mobile, agile, and more versatile. This is especially beneficial in the Florida Keys, where ghost nets and ropes litter the waterways and get pushed into the mangroves.

Onshore winds and tides cause all the debris to get tangled in the root systems of the mangroves. Sea-Doo watercraft can be maneuvered into those areas, which enables the crews to get in there and attack the debris and haul it out. The Fish Pro and the Switch have large decks, which are great for hauling large loads of trash out of the areas.

4ocean has removed over 30 million pounds of trash from our oceans. That’s a crazy number and there is still more to do, and that’s what keeps Schulze coming back again and again. He sees the importance of cleaning up our waters for us and future generations. Check out their website for more information on how you can help.

Video: Salty Dog Performance’s Tutorial on Installing a RIVA Racing Camshaft

By
Kevin Shaw
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Admittedly, we don’t watch a lot of watercraft-themed content online primarily due to so few creators providing useful, informative technical content. There’s no shortage of entertaining YouTube channels but very few who take the time to outline the detailed steps necessary for an average performance enthusiasts to either replicate the results presented onscreen or at the very least, understand the benefits therein.

That is why we found Barrett Buckalew‘s Salty Dog Performance channel so compelling. This Sea-Doo enthusiast patiently takes the time to thoroughly explain the do’s and don’t’s of modifying your supercharged Sea-Doo; the preferred processes (usually citing the BRP factory manual); and the benefits of adding each performance part. Buckalew’s channel has only recently focused on Sea-Doo content, but the couple dozen videos are worth the watch.

To this point, we wanted to focus on Buckalew’s most recent video properly removing the factory camshaft and installing a RIVA Racing performance bumpstick. While Buckalew weighs the factory cam against the RIVA offering (resulting in a loss of 56 grams), this video itself is a tutorial not a before/after results video. He provides torque specs and sequences, part numbers and smart suggestions to ensure that although modified, your Sea-Doo will last as long as possible.

Again, this level of content is rare among so many outlets – for which The Watercraft Journal commends him. Hopefully the video attached below answers many of the questions that some of you may have – and will encourage you to subscribe to the Salty Dog Performance channel as we did.

Galär Boats Welcomes Hulla Fun Boats As Sarasota & Tampa Dealer

By
Kevin Shaw
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Big news for those looking to radically rethink how they use their personal watercraft! Hulla Fun Boats has partnered with local dealerships in Tampa and Sarasota to provide the PWC community access to the full lineup of Galär Boats!

Recently, Hulla Fun Boats’ CEO Nancy Lucas sponsored a water-side stop at the Nauti Girl Crew Poker run, offering refreshments, card draws, and a chance to win a $50 cash prize – all from aboard a Galär Lightning in DeLand, FL, last month.

If you’re looking to learn more about Galär Boats, call (813) 461-5350 or visit www.HullaFunBoats.com to find out more.

Here’s the full press release:
Tampa Bay is about to witness a new kind of Lightning that will set the water alight with excitement! Hulla Fun Boats has proudly unveiled the first-ever distributorship for Galär Marine, offering its innovative wrap-around hull for all personal watercraft brands, truly embracing the “Best of Boat Worlds” philosophy.

Say hello to the Lightning, Galär Marine’s remarkable entry at 14.5′, which can accommodate an impressive 5 additional passengers on top of the 2 or 3 already on a SeaDoo or Yamaha. But that’s just the beginning! The Typhoon, measuring a thrilling 17′, and the colossal 21′ Kraken can host up to 7 eager adventurers, taking the fun to a whole new level!

The excitement surrounding these game-changing boats was evident during the Nauti Girl Crew Poker Run, sponsored by Hulla Fun Boats on July 3 in DeLand. Winners grabbed their cards, with a chance to pocket $50 in cash, but it wasn’t just about the prize. Enthusiastic voices resonated, expressing how the Galär Lightning would revolutionize their water experiences.

“I need this to take my dogs out with us!” remarked one enthusiast, while another exclaimed, “This changes everything – we can stay out after sunset instead of hustling in before dark.” Couples were enticed, playfully urging Hulla Fun Boats CEO, Nancy Lucas, to convince their partners about the wonders of the Galär. Others marveled at how the Galär would elevate camping trips, allowing them to carry their valuable camera equipment and drones effortlessly.

Before the rain and lightning made its grand entrance at the Poker Run, Nancy Lucas took a group of adventurous women on a memorable expedition from the final stop to the refreshing Blue Springs. “It was a perfect example of why I fell in love with the Galär at first sight – we got to go on the adventure together!” she gleefully shared.

Adding even more depth to this thrilling tale, the Galär Lightning distributorship is not only woman-owned but also veteran-owned. Nancy Lucas, with her rich experience from 8 years of service in the U.S. Coast Guard reserve in the Florida Keys, knows all too well the enchantment of being on the water, having even started her family there with four children.

Hulla Fun Boats has partnered with local dealerships in Tampa and Sarasota to bring these awe-inspiring watercraft to the eager boating community. For those who yearn to embrace the Galär experience, dial 813-461-5350 or visit www.HullaFunBoats.com to find out more.

Video: Yamaha Unveils Its Fishing “JetFish” WaveRunner …But For Australia Only

By
The Watercraft Journal
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Yamaha Motor Company has just rolled out what they have branded as the JetFish WaveRunner at the Sydney Boat Show. The unique WaveRunner begins as a naturally-aspired 1.8L FX HO equipped with a Garmin sonar/GPS (with a hull-mounted transducer), RecDeck, multi-use rack, an Engle 45 quart JetFish-branded cooler with a CNC-cut JetFish cutting mat, two Ram Mount cup holders, two fishing rod holders and unique decals and badging.

With PWC fishing becoming quite popular around the world, it was only a matter of time before Yamaha made a splash in this niche. The Watercraft Journal had predicted that Yamaha would enter this arena with a full array of fishing accessories – and did so two years ago as they released the RecDeck accessory bundles – but were surprised to see a fully dedicated model …that is, until we learned that the JetFish wouldn’t be sold in the US.

As of this writing, the full Yamaha WaveRunner JetFish branded FX series is only available in Australia. Priced at $27,899 AUS (or $18,349 in US dollars), the JetFish as you see it here will not be sold outside of the Land Down Under. But don’t fret! Yamaha still has the JetFish accessory packages that you can purchase and install on your current FX platform, or any Yamaha WaveRunner with the RecDeck.

Yamaha currently offers three JetFish packages for the US market;  JetFish Package, FX Premium JetFish Package and the FX JetFish Package. The JetFish Package is for any WaveRunner that is not an FX, but has the RecDeck.  The other two options are for the FX platform, as stated in the title. You can view them HERE. See Yamaha Australia’s official reveal video below:

Humorously, Yamaha Australia brilliantly let the proverbial “cat out of the bag” well over a month earlier when contestants of the Women’s Fishing Classic were seen riding aboard the freshly-minted JetFish WaveRunner. The FX HO serves as a fantastic platform for this sport as it is both smartly balanced while static as well as a significantly superior ride while at speed in any sea state. Here’s the clip from the Women’s Fishing Classic:

Sea-Doo Partners with Coastal Conservation Association of Florida

By
Ocean Priselac
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0

The Coastal Conservation Association of Florida shares Sea-Doo’s mission to protect and conserve the waters we like to ride. Sea-Doo is pleased to be onboard to help support the CCA and their efforts to protect and restore Florida’s coastal waterways.

The CCA has been in the business of promoting, conserving, and enhancing coastal resources for more than forty years. It is important to protect coastal resources for the benefit and enjoyment of the public and for the future. CCA’s advocacy efforts have led to a number of wins for Florida’s ecosystems.

CCA has five core pillars that include advocacy, habitat restoration, restocking, fundraising, and the STAR Tournament. These five items are essential to CCA’s goal of protecting the health, habitat, and sustainability of marine resources. The CCA also plays a role in making sure that fishermen have access to the waterways.

With fundraising being crucial for the organization’s success, Sea-Doo is donating a Fish Pro Trophy and Can-Am Defender as prizes in this year’s STAR Tournament. Sea-Doo is also donating a Fish Pro Scout and Can-Am Defender for an upcoming raffle. The money raised from the raffle will go toward funding upcoming restoration and restocking initiatives.

Sea-Doo is also giving the CCA a Fish Pro Trophy, Sea-Doo Switch, and Can-Am Defender to use for upcoming projects and daily operations at their hatchery in Crystal River, FL. This sounds like an excellent partnership, and we look forward to seeing what happens next.

To find out more about how the Coastal Conservation Association of Florida makes the Sea-Doo life possible, click here.

A Closer Look at Kawi Performance’s OEM-Size Supercharger Pulley for Ultra 310 JetSki

By
JD Brussels
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Kawi Performance out of Long Island, NY boasts an extensive catalog of innovative aftermarket products for Kawasaki JetSkis, and we had a chance to check out their OEM-size billet aluminum supercharger pulley for the Kawasaki Ultra 300 and 310!

This CNC pulley was designed and tested right here in the United States by Kawi Performance, and is made of high strength billet aluminum with a marine-grade black anodizing that’s resistant to corrosion and rust. These pulleys have almost zero runout, so they spin wobble-free.

Less wobble and a corrosion-free drive surface translate to increased belt life and less wear to supercharger components. The stock pulleys on the Ultra 300 and 310 Jet Skis are made of carbon steel, which has a tendency to rust pretty aggressively when repeatedly exposed to saltwater. See a video of the KP pulley compared to the stock steel pulley HERE on JD’s WaterWorld.

Before they leave the shop, each KP supercharger pulley undergoes a rigorous certification and quality control process. These pulleys work great with the stock Kawasaki OEM steel idler pulley, or can be used with the Kawi Performance stainless steel idler pulley, which is designed to be corrosion and rust resistant for salt-water riders. Kawi Performance also offers a great selection of powder-coated steel and color-matched anodized aluminum pulleys to assist riders in meeting their performance goals.

Since this is an OEM-size supercharger pulley, no special ECU tune or oversized idler pulley is required to run it. If you are looking to increase your boost, this pulley is not for you- rather, this pulley was designed to give recreational and endurance riders a rust-free and light-weight pulley that reduces spool time while delivering stock levels of boost, reducing vibration, and increasing belt life.

Kawi Performance designs all of their parts with both freshwater and saltwater riders in mind, with many of their parts featuring marine-grade stainless steel hardware that won’t rust or fail. KP’s extensive catalog features both OEM and aftermarket components, with options to fit any budget or riding style.

Save HUGE on Broward Motorsports’ Products By Joining Text Club

By
The Watercraft Journal
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0

Are you about to order some parts for your PWC? In this post-Covid world, we still can’t seem to get discounts or sale prices on parts. Until now. Broward Motorsports is offering a generous $25 off of any order of $125 or more. All you have to do is text “Broward” to 844-913-3612 or scan the code below.

Not only is this $25 discount good for parts, but also accessories like that new Kawasaki Rack you have been looking at, Sea-Doo Linq Cooler or a new Slippery Life Vest.

These are limited to one discount per customer and we feel safe to assume that this deal won’t last long.

There is also one additional hidden feature that most consumers do not know about Broward.

If you go to the bottom of any of their websites, there is a clickable button that says “REGISTER FOR DISCOUNTS”.

Click on this button and sign up for the Broward Motorsports Newsletter. They tend to send out discounts to their customers often.

Sea-Doo Plans to Reveal Full 2024 Lineup on Sunday, August 20th

By
The Watercraft Journal
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0

 

You read the title right! Sea-Doo has set a date for the 2024 model year launch; for dealers.

On Sunday, August 20th from Atlanta, Georgia, Sea-Doo is planning on giving it’s biggest announcement of the year, the 2024 line up. The company is expecting more than 2,500 dealers from around the world to show up for this event. This will include brand new Sea-Doo watercraft, pontoon boats, apparel and accessories.

Per the usual, Sea-Doo will also have a roundtable and other activities at this event to help build the anticipation for the new line up. We are expecting Sea-Doo, dealers and the media to begin rolling out the details to the general consumer shortly after this event. Make sure to subscribe to The Watercraft Journal newsletter to be one of the first to get all of the details.

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