RIVA Motorsports and Marine of the Keys is offering great deals on their clearance inventory. Get yourself an awesome Manager’s Special on a new or used Yamaha WaveRunner or Sea-Doo PWC. Score a 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.
If you don’t need that much ski, a new 2022 Spark Trixx 2-Up can be yours for $191 a month with a 20% down payment. If you’ve been thinking about getting into fishing from a PWC, this may be the time to pull the trigger. RIVA Motorsports and Marine has new 2022 Sea-Doo Fish Pro Sport 170’s in stock; 20% at $324 a month for 60 months will put you on one of these jet skis. For the rider who prefers a Yamaha WaveRunner, they have a few of these listed under the Manger’s Special.
A new 2022 FX SVHO with Audio is available for 20% down and $349 a month for 60 months. This one comes with the 7” Connext Infotainment System, which provides you with complete audio connectivity through your smartphone. The 2022 Yamaha Superjet is also up for grabs under the Manager’s Special deal. Get one for $242 a month with 20% down for 60 months and have a blast!
All offers are based on approved credit. Check out the site for even more offers on PWC, boats, UTV’s, and more! RIVA Motorsports and Marine has a large amount of inventory that they are ready to move!
Let me start by saying that I’m not a fiberglass guy and this is just how I did the repair. I don’t own a repair shop or claim to be a professional. We good? Cool. OK, so have you ever had an incident where your ski has had a bit of an owie? Well if you have a Kawasaki, modern Yamaha SuperJet or any other watercraft with gel coat this article will show you how to fix it.
The ski I am working on is my own 2023 Yamaha SuperJet which had some gel coat shaved off from making contact with the trailer bunk bracket. The damage was on the bottom, near one of the chine’s on the hull – not what you’d call an easy spot. So let me say, if you can fix a spot like this, you can certainly fix any flat part of your hull.
To make this repair you will need a gel coat or fairing compound. I personally use the Evercoat brand. You can get it at most marine supply stores and even some hardware stores. If you use a neutral gel coat you are also going to need a pigment for the gel coat to blend in the repair.
You will also need sandpaper, acetone, painters tape or masking tape,g loves, something to mix the gel coat (or filler), a respirator and some rags (or no-lint paper towels). If you are using non-thickened gel coat you will also need a silica powder, which will thicken the gel coat so you can use it as a filler, which you can also get at most marine supply stores.
The first step is to wipe the damaged area with acetone to remove any grease or contaminants. It has to be squeaky clean or the new gel coat will not bond properly. Next, use the painters tape to mask off the surrounding area that you don’t want to get gel coat on.
If you are using a filler like Evercoat’s Formula 27 or a pre-thickened gel coat paste, all you have to do is mix the product and hardener (and add pigment if it’s a neutral gel coat) in the ratio that it says on the back of the can, which in my case was 12 drops of hardener per ounce of gel coat. If you are using a non-thickened gel coat then you will have to put on your respirator and add some silica until the gel coat gets to a mayonnaise-like consistency.
Once you have the gel coat and hardener mixed together, use a putty knife to force the gel coat or filler into the repair area. Be thorough about pressing it in or you run the risk of having an air pocket. I used my fingers (with nitrile gloves) to shape the gel coat. If you are using regular gel coat you have to cover it with a piece of Mylar or wax paper (look what it says on the back of the can to know what to cover the repair area while curing).
Curing time depends mostly on ambient temperature. The colder it is, the longer it will take. In my case, in a 65-degree temperature controlled garage the gel coat took around 2 hours. Once cured, it is time to sand and make that gel coat smooth. If you are doing this repair on a part of the ski that is flat, use a sanding block.
Unfortunately, I put the gel coat on a little too thick. I just used 80 grit sandpaper because I also forgot to put the pigment in the gel coat so I had to put a coat of white paint over the repair. In most cases, you should just be able to start with 120 grit, then 400 grit and finish with 600 grit. If you paint over the repair area, apply two to three thin coats instead of one thick coat. If you try to do one thick coat it will run and you will end up with a big mess.
After the paint is dry, wet sand with 1000 grit and then buff with some rubbing compound. If you use a gel coat thickened with Silica powder or if it’s on the underside you can skip the painting step entirely. Just apply a coat of your favorite wax and you are done. Save yourself $500-plus dollars by doing this yourself once you understand the process of it it is super easy.
The Watercraft Journal provides novice and veteran riders alike with a multitude of resources to help them navigate the difficult and often confusing process of selecting and purchasing a new personal watercraft. In this article we cover the fundamental steps each buyer should take when researching, selecting, and ultimately purchasing a new PWC from a dealership.
Self-Evaluation
Riders must ask themselves four core questions: Where am I going to ride, how am I going to ride, what is my experience level, and what is my budget? This should be the first step prospective buyers take when finally making the decision to purchase a new PWC.
1. Where am I going to Ride?
Are you planning to ride on a small private freshwater lake or in the Atlantic Ocean? Where you plan to ride will heavily influence both the type and brand of PWC you consider.
The Kawasaki Ultra 310, for example provides a proven platform for offshore conditions, the Yamaha GP1800 SVHO offers exceptional closed-course handling, and the Sea-Doo ST3 platform delivers a stable platform for fishing and cruising inland waters.
2. How am I going to Ride
Are you planning to ride one-up or will you be bringing your wife and child with you on your new ski? Do you want a sit-down runabout or a sporty stand-up? Do you want to go fast, or are you OK with cruising around at 35mph?
Will you be zipping around a fresh-water buoy course or cruising from Miami to Bimini? These considerations are all critical in ensuring you chose a ski that perfectly suits your needs.
3. What is my experience level
Have you owned a PWC or boat before, or is this your foray into the world of life on the water? Do you know the key differences between supercharged and naturally aspirated skis? Often time, first-time buyers will bite off more than they can chew with a PWC purchase.
The Kawasaki Ultra 310, for example, requires a variety of special maintenance- will you be doing this work yourself, or will you be relying on your dealer or mechanic to do it for you? Can you handle a 300-horsepower supercharged RXPX or would you be more comfortable on a naturally aspirated Sea-Doo GTI 130 SE?
4. What can I afford?
Conduct a realistic evaluation of your finances that include both your willingness and ability to obtain financing, either at a dealership or local bank/credit union.
Decide whether or not you can afford a base-model Sea-Doo spark on a galvanized trailer or a Yamaha FX SVHO Limited on a torsion-axle aluminum trailer, for example. Be prepared to look at models within your budget.
Information Gathering
1. What brand do I want to buy?
After conducting a self-evaluation, it’s time narrow down your search for a new PWC. You’ve watched The Watercraft Journal YouTube channel, and read through the hundreds of articles covering major offerings from all three major brands. Understand the pros and cons of each brand and the key differences between them.
All three brands offer different and often contrasting design features and characteristics that might perfectly suit one buyer while deterring another. Start with each brand’s website to explore key features and benefits on the latest models.
2. Social Media
Social media is often rife with falsified, biased, or incorrect information, so tread lightly when weeding through this type of material. Are you looking at a real-life owner review, or content from a paid brand ambassador?
Are you reading about complaints on a public forum where anyone can post, or are you reading about critical safety issues reported to the US Coast Guard?
Social media will give you a glimpse into both the good and bad of each brand and model, while also giving you an idea of what major issues or concerns others have brought up in the past.
3. Put your hands on different PWCs at a dealership or boat show
Check with local dealers to see if they have the models you are interested in on the showroom floor. Sit on each ski, knock on the hulls, take a look at the engine, open every compartment and make a detailed in-person assessment of the fit-and-finish of the models that interest you. Is it comfortable? Do you like the layout of the controls? Does the front storage fit your helmet with a top-mounted GoPro that you insist on wearing?
If your dealer doesn’t have any stock, try visiting a local boat show. Boat shows are a great way to experience many skis at the same time, with little pressure from salespeople. PWC clubs, rental outfits, test-drive events, and visits to the local sandbar are other ways you can get your hands on a PWC in-person before placing an order.
Ordering with Exactness
1. Be an informed buyer; “Be a Karen”
An informed and educated buyer will know exactly what they are planning to buy when they walk into that dealership. Buyers should know the product better than the salesman, and should be well informed about which accessories are included with each ski, and which must be purchased as add-ons.
2. Do NOT order online
You are not placing an order for a pair of socks from Amazon so don’t treat your PWC purchase this way! You always want to deal directly with a person- ideally someone who is positioned to negotiate with you and answer any questions you might have about the dealership, product, or additional add-ons like extended warranties or service plans.
3. Compromise is key
You have decided on a Yamaha FX SVHO Cruiser, but the dealer has told you it will be 6-12 months before your ski will arrive. They have a FX SVHO Limited on the lot right now, ready to go but it’s the wrong color and exceeds your budget. Often times, buyers are forced to compromise- settling for something other than what they initially wanted. This is the hard reality that you must accept sometimes if you want to walk out of that dealership with a shiny new ski.
Full Inspection
1. Don’t take delivery just yet
You’ve wheeled-and-dealed and now are ready to sign on the dotted line but wait! Before entering that dreaded finance office, make sure you have ample time to give your new ski an entire one-over from stem to stern.
Open every compartment, check each latch, get underneath the ski and check for scratches, cracks, or other damage. Check the engine compartment for signs of leaking fluids or broken parts. If anything looks awry, voice your concern immediately.
2. Right of Refusal
If the ski has a major defect or issue do not take it home! If your inspection reveals a major issue with the ski, get your dealer to correct the issue BEFORE you complete your purchase.
Failure to act on a major issue at time of purchase may mean you are stuck paying for a ski that now requires warranty work- meaning you could be waiting weeks or even months for parts. Cosmetic issues may never look right, even after dealers attempt to repair them under warranty.
If you have any reservations about the condition of your new ski, make these concerns known before completing the purchase. If you fail to thoroughly inspect your new ski and discover an issue only once you get it home, it will be much more difficult and frustrating to address than if you would have made this discovery before taking delivery.
Congratulations! You have competed your self-evaluation, done your research, selected the make and model you want, negotiated a deal within your budget, completed a full inspection, and are now ready to take your new PWC home! Just as if you purchased a new car or truck, make a call to your insurance agent of choice, and secure a PWC policy on that new watercraft.
Remember that factory warranties do not cover damage as the result of theft, collision, or negligence. And don’t forget to stay up-to-date with the latest PWC news and trends with The Watercraft Journal!
Yamaha WaveRunners and Discover Boating have some great tips on offer about how to be a cleaner boater and PWC rider. We all want to protect our waterways so they’re not only clean the next time we want to take a ride but also available to us. Waterways are often taken away from jet skiers due the actions of a few who don’t respect the rules and laws. Below are some ways we can all be better stewards of those nice places we like to ride and enjoy.
Always refuel on land to ensure you don’t spill fuel or oil in the water. Try to avoid the shallows so as not to suck up plants, sand, or trash into your pump. If you are riding in shallow water, maintain an idle speed so as not to disturb wildlife. Moreover, if there are swimmers nearshore, avoid riding near them and whatever you do, don’t harass the wildlife in or out of the water. Keep a careful eye out for manatees when in Florida. They are slow and often fall prey to injuries by careless boaters.
Always follow No Wake Zone signage. When you pull your watercraft out of the water, make sure to give it a good wash so you don’t carry any non-native species of plants or animals to your next destination. When you are docking, try to avoid areas where birds or other animals are hanging out on shore. Do your best to find an open area when beaching your ski for lunch or taking a break. Be mindful of the fragile ecosystems along the shore.
Following these simple rules will keep the waterways open to all of us while doing our part to keep it clean.
Whether you ride for fun or a professional racer, Unlimited PWC has life jackets for all your needs. The top of the line is the Rush Eclat Neo Vest part of the Unlimited Rush series of products designed by professional watercraft riders. The jacket is USCG certified and made of water repellent neoprene to help keep you comfortable. It also has a lumbar pad to support your lower back. The jacket comes with a whistle and has a D-ring for attaching a kill switch. The vest comes in black, white, and yellow and has a price of $152.
The Neo Life Jacket and Rush Neo Life Jacket’s rate up there with the Rush Eclat Vest when it comes to high-end products. The Rush Neo Life Jacket is another design in collaboration with professional riders.
Nylon S/E Life Jacket, which is a side entry vest, making it easier to put on and take off. It also certified by the USCG and comes with an inside pocket for stowing your license or other small item.
Unlimited PWC has a nice line of nylon life jackets for those who like to spend a long time on the water doing other marine activities like boating, fishing, and wakeboarding.
The vests are USCG certified and come with a whistle. They are made for movement, so you don’t feel confined and can move freely. The Comfort Nylon Vest comes in yellow, black, pink, or white. It is priced at $100.
The Comfort Nylon Jacket is similar in style and a little cheaper at $89. Bringing up the rear is the Nylon Life Jacket, which has a loose fit so you can really move around. It is priced to move at $80. Check out the life jackets at the Unlimited PWC website. He always has cool stuff in stock!
It’s that time of year again when Yamaha holds its Perfect Choice Sales Event on new WaveRunners for model years 2018-2023. Grab a new WaveRunner with 5.99% financing for 36 months with your good credit. EX Series Models are not eligible for this offer. If you want to push your payments further out, take the 60months offer at 6.99%.
EX Series Models are excluded from this offer as well. For smaller payments and more time to pay off your new WaveRunner, the 8.99% APR may be right for you. If you have your eyes on an EX Series Model, you can purchase one with this deal. If two of you are looking to buy a couple of new Yamaha WaveRunners, the 7.49% APR for 96 months is the way to go.
You can even estimate your payment with the easy-to-use form on the website. Select the WaveRunner of your choice using the dropdown menu, fill in the numbers you want, and hit the calculate button. When you’ve reached the calculations you like, head over to the Yamaha Card Pre-Qualification Form, add your information, and hit sign and submit. Yamaha has made it easy for to take care of things before even walking into the dealership.
Check out the new lineup on the website and build your new WaveRunner the way you want with the Build and Price Tool.nPower your passion with the number one brand on the water and purchase a new Yamaha WaveRunner! Get in on the Perfect Choice Sales Event before it ends on May 31st.
It’s been what? At least a year since the folks at Strapinno reached out to The Watercraft Journal to have us test out a pair of their trailer-mounted ratchet straps. With a little bit of elbow grease we got those installed and frankly, have used them without fail for the year. Obviously, salt water can play hell even on stainless steel, so we’re pretty good on keeping them well-oiled. Anyways…
Around the same time that we were drilling into our Magic Tilt aluminum trailer, Strapinno introduced its Jetski Trailer Retractable Ratchet Straps to the market ($52.80 each). Almost immediately, Strapinno asked that I give them a “go” but frankly, we really had no idea what to do with them. The ratchets we installed were working flawlessly and the last thing we thought we needed was another set of loose ratchet straps!
So as we hem and hawed over them, Strapinno had a few outlets crank out some pretty basic “live unboxing” videos. After the fifth or sixth of these, we said “That’s it!” and decided to put Strapinno’s claim of “the world’s strongest ratchet straps” with an ultimate durability test! It’s not the sort of thing we’d expect anyone in their right mind to do, but we thought it’d make for a fun visual.
But before we get to the video below, it’s important to understand how Strapinno can make such a claim. First, the Jetski Trailer Retractable Ratchet Straps are made using a laser-cut, powder coated alloy steel housing with a 15-foot by 1-inch Polyester strap; three rubberized hooks with strung keepers, and a pliable grip for easy ratcheting. The star gear, keepers and hardware are all polished stainless.
Unique to these is the auto retracting “rewind mechanism” that coils the excess length before tightening down your load. No more excess length of line flapping in the wind or dragging on the ground! Per Strapinno’s website, these straps carry a breaking strength of 3,000 lbs. and a working load limit of 1,000 lbs. For today’s test, we went well beyond that.
Perched on an 8º grade while on wet grass, we dangled our 2006 Jeep Wrangler Rubicon 4×4 (3,438 lbs.) from the back of our 2005 Dodge Ram 1500’s trailer hitch by one single Strapinno strap. We then cinched up a second strap until we could pull the Jeep up the hill half an inch at a time, alternating tension between the two straps. We also fully released one strap, shocking the single strap with the Jeep’s full weight. And all without failure.
While not used as advertised, we proved that the Strapinno Jetski Trailer Retractable Ratchet Straps truly are the toughest ratchet straps available today. We’ve snapped lesser straps’ mechanisms with far, far less effort and yet, these managed to pull a 4×4 up a wet, muddy grade inches at a time. If they can do this, they can certainly keep your jet ski tethered to a trailer without a concern in the world.
Awake is back on the scene with pro-rider Flo Garbaccio landing a backflip on the Awake VINGA S eFoil. Garbaccio pulled off the first ever backflip on an eFoil. The Awake crew were in Miami filming a movie featuring extreme athletes pushing the limits on the Awake S series eFoil’s. Garbaccio was warming up on the VINGA S eFoil, equipped with FLUID 1000 wings when he spotted a boat wake that he liked. He cranked the throttle, hit the wake, launched, and fully committed to landing a back flip. Garbaccio pulled it off and rode out of it cleanly.
Garbaccio describes the flip- “I took slightly too much speed before the jump, so I was late sending the rotation, so I tried to spin fast. When I felt the board passing over my head with lots of motion, I kept my body fully compressed until I could see the landing point.”
The VINGA S is a compact eFoil, which provides the rider with a lot of freedom to go big. Even though Garbaccio had too much speed on take-off, the addition of the high-aspect wings made for a smooth and controlled landing. Pulling off a backflip and landing it is a big deal when it comes to extreme sports.
Here’s what you need to get it done on an Awake VINGA S. The board is a stout thin 4’6” carbon composite hull with an aluminum mast and Awake’s powerful linear jet propulsion system.
The unit is outfitted with Awake FLUID 1000 Wings, which were designed for big tricks with their low drag. The craft has step in bindings and a lightweight Standard Range Flex Battery to help you land those big airs!
Check out the Awake website for their complete lineup of eFoils and high-performance electric surfboards.
Chris Mangum owns Wrightsville Beach Jet Ski Rentals and has been in business almost 25 years. He operates his jet ski rental company at the public boat ramp under the bridge that leads to Wrightsville Beach. In true island fashion, The Town of Wrightsville Beach has threatened him with jail time, citations, and lawsuits. Mangum has had enough and is taking the town of Wrightsville Beach to task.
The harassment began in 2015 when the town came after him for using the public boat ramp to launch his jet skis. They told him he was in violation of the Unified Development Ordinance, and that he was not operating within their zoning regulations. The public boat ramps are owned by the Wildlife Commission and Wrightsville Beach has no jurisdiction. The town continued to hassle Mangum and took him to court over violating the ordinance. They convinced a judge to sign off on a consent order stating that he could not use the ramps to launch his jet skis.
Magnum still uses the ramps and worries about being in contempt of court. He says he must make a living and will do so regardless of how Wrightsville Beach feels about jet skis. He believes he has a right to use the public boat ramps and will not back down. Mangum is confident that he will come out on top in the end and the court will rule in his favor. We hope he wins as well.
The town has come after us surfers for decades, so we weren’t surprised when they targeted Mangum. They want our money but only on their terms and as long we aren’t having fun in their backyard. “It’s absolutely no fun to go to work every single day, during the summer, knowing that you go to jail the following day. That is very stressful, is time consuming,” Mangum said.
For more on this story, check out this piece on WECT.
BRP recently announced that world renowned sports commentator, actor, and philanthropist Selema Masekela has taken part in a four-part series with BRP’s Uncharted Society. Masekela will take on the snow, water, road, and land during his adventures with the Uncharted Society.
“We aim to capture these epic experiences Selema will embark on to demonstrate not only the thrill of adventure, but the broader pleasure of getting outdoors and experiencing nature enabled by our products,” said Simon Cazelais, Vice-President, Global Brand Strategy and Innovation, Powersports Group Lead.
“Selema Masekela was a natural fit for us because of his personality and experience in the sports industry, but also because we know he can inspire and unlock the adventurer mindset of many people to experience powersports.”
Check out the complete press release below: Uncharted Society, BRP’s global network of certified outfitters that offer curated powersports experiences, is excited to announce that Selema Masekela, world renown sports commentator, actor, and philanthropist, will experience an ultimate series of adventures on BRP’s playgrounds (snow, water, road, and land) across four locations. Selema’s journey, which is intended to showcase the variety of experiences Uncharted Society has to offer along with BRP’s incredible lineup of powersports products, will be filmed and available to the public through a miniseries of four episodes on Outside starting mid-March 2023 (see all release dates below).
“We aim to capture these epic experiences Selema will embark on to demonstrate not only the thrill of adventure, but the broader pleasure of getting outdoors and experiencing nature enabled by our products,” said Simon Cazelais, Vice-President, Global Brand Strategy and Innovation, Powersports Group Lead. “Selema Masekela was a natural fit for us because of his personality and experience in the sports industry, but also because we know he can inspire and unlock the adventurer mindset of many people to experience powersports.”
Selema will meet up with long-time friends along the way, and together they will experience Uncharted Society’s adventures and the thrill of riding BRP products in the great outdoors. The miniseries will then immerse the audience in the inspirational world of outdoor adventure with the hope to inspire and get them outdoors as well. The four locations are:
SNOW: the ultimate all-inclusive winter adventure in the Monashee Mountains, Sicamous, British Columbia with Carl Kuster Mountain Park
WATER: a premium tour of the Florida coastline, riding alongside local wildlife in Fort Pierce, Florida with Salty’s Water Sports
ROAD: the best of Las Vegas, Nevada, on a three-wheeled vehicle guided tour through the desert with Limitless Motoring
LAND: an adventure through Utah’s world-class backcountry to Zion National Park with ATV Jeep Tours
“I love what BRP has created with Uncharted Society,” declared Selema. “Having spent most of my career ingrained in all things action sports, I can’t wait to discover BRP’s playgrounds with new and old friends, connect with them through a unique adventure, and share my experience to welcome more people to powersports.”
Everyone can follow Selema’s adventures through Uncharted Society’s social media channels on Instagram and Facebook. To discover more Uncharted Society’s adventures, visit their website.
Release dates on Outside are:
March 13, 2023: Ski-Doo episode
March 20, 2023: Can-Am three-wheel episode
March 27, 2023: Can-Am Off-Road episode
April 3rd, 2023: Sea-Doo episode
About Uncharted Society Uncharted Society offers anyone with a mindset for adventure a curated choice of transformative powersports experiences. Adventurers will be set up with the most expert adventure outfitters around, pushing them outside their comfort zone so they discover more about the great outdoors, and themselves. Uncharted Society only works with operators who have specialist knowledge of BRP’s powersports vehicles and their terrains – land, road, sea and snow. From curated week-long trips to multi-hour adrenaline-fueled experiences, adventure seekers can follow long desert highways, journey deep into remote backwoods, explore legendary waterways, and venture over pristine powder snow. Whether they are a beginner or an avid rider, Uncharted Society helps find transformative adventure.
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Garbaccio describes the flip- “I took slightly too much speed before the jump, so I was late sending the rotation, so I tried to spin fast. When I felt the board passing over my head with lots of motion, I kept my body fully compressed until I could see the landing point.”
