Sea-Doo is still taking pre-orders on brand new 2023 PWC and Switch Pontoon Boats. You have until March 31,2023 to take advantage of the Pre-Order Sales Event. You will receive up to 2-year coverage to cover your ride. This includes a 12-month BRP Limited Warranty plus up a to 12-month B.E.S.T. Coverage.
Florida residents receive a 24 months BRP Limited Warranty. Get that new 2023 model Sea-Doo watercraft you’ve been eyeing. Sea-Doo recommends pre-ordering due the continued high demand on PWC. This way you have the best chance of getting the watercraft of your choice. The deposit must be paid and confirmed by your dealer to make it official.
If you’re looking to take the family out or a group of friends, a Switch is the way to go. Choose from 11 models of Switch Pontoon Boats. If you want to go big, they have the new Cruise 21, which holds up to 9 people. It comes with a trailer and is outfitted with BRP Audio System, swim platform with LinQ attachment points, and a Garmin 7-inch touchscreen GPS. You can even add an accessory bundle to make your experience even better.
If you’re looking to ride solo and go on expeditions, the 2023 Explorer Pro 170 is for you. This machine has the Rotax 1630 ACE-170 hp engine, which has the power to get you where you want to go while maintaining high fuel efficiency. It has the cargo space to hold all your gear for an extended weekend or longer. Check out these models and all the other Sea-Doo models you’ve come to know. Build and customize yours today!
Kawasaki never really “led the charge” when it came to accessories for its JetSki lineup, especially when compared to Sea-Doo or Yamaha. For 2022, however, Kawasaki stepped up their game and launched a full line of new accessories designed accompany the latest generation of Kawasaki Ultra 310 Jet Skis
The 7-gallon Stern Bag accessory ($309.95) is compatible with all three Ultra 310 trims, and can be installed whether or not your ski features an Ultra Deck. The bag is made of soft yet rigid material, has a “flow-through” design with a mesh-like bottom that allows the bag to “breathe,” and seamlessly accommodates Kawasaki’s optional 1.3-gallon Soft Cooler ($110.95).
Upon unboxing the Stern Bag, the quality of the accessory was immediately apparent. The bag has a satin sheen, with a soft yet rigid texture. Dual zippers- protected from the elements by a canvas sheathe- provide easy access to the bag’s main pocket. Inside, the bag features a mesh-lined bottom, reinforced with a rigid plastic stiffener.
Since the Ultra 310s feature a small storage pocket on the stern, just below the passenger seat, the Stern Bag features a zippered pass-through pocket inside so that this compartment and the ski/tow hook can still be accessed with the bag mounted to the ski.
The Ultra 310 has more than enough storage, but adding this bag to the rear allows you to easily access anchors, fishing gear, or drinks that might be too deep in your front compartment to conveniently reach while on the water. With the Ultra Deck, there is still room behind the Stern Bag to board the ski from the water or jump off the back.
The bag is flanked by a dual fishing rod holders- molded right into the sides. The holders are complete with adjustable nylon straps to securely lash your rods in place. The rods are held at about a 45 degree angle, and not straight up and down.
The optional 1.3 gallon Soft Cooler fits like a puzzle piece inside the Stern Bag- with room to spare for lines, anchors, supplies, or gear. Keep in mind that the Stern Bag is not waterproof nor does it claim to be. The bag’s design does allow its contents to dry out fairly quickly when stored, so that items in the bag don’t get moldy or musty.
The Soft Cooler has a durable canvas texture and features Kawasaki branding. It does provide decent insulation and does accommodate a 64 oz stainless water bottle and an ice pack pretty well. It would have been great if the Soft Cooler was included with the Stern Bag, as the $110.95 price tag seems pretty steep for something this small.
The plastic base of the Stern Bag serves as the primary mounting point, and is held securely to the rear of the ski via two plastic knobs and stainless-steel t-nuts. These t-nuts are installed in the Multi-Mount Rails embedded in the Ultra Deck. 310X models without the Ultra Deck feature pre-threaded pilot-holes for the purpose of installing this bag.
The primary mounting point on the plastic base of the Stern Bag does not require that any modifications be made to the ski. When it comes to the secondary mounting straps, however, Kawasaki’s factory installation instructions instruct installers to drill two 3/16ths holes on either side of their ski in order to mount the “Stayput knobs” that hold the bag’s upper straps in place.
While the video below does cover basics of the factory installation methods, this author had ZERO interest in drilling holes in his ski, so an alternative method utilizing industrial and water-resistant Velcro was devised. Speaking with other 310 owners, it seems that everyone is in agreement about the aversion to drilling holes in a brand new $20,000 JetSki.
Before advising others that this “Velcro Method” was a viable alternative, JD’s Waterworld took to the seas, and spent a few hours out on the water (in fairly rough conditions) testing the limits of the drill-less installation method.
The Stern Bag was loaded up with dock lines, 2 foam fenders, an extra pair of riding boots, a small Danforth anchor with line and chain, and the Kawasaki Soft Cooler filled with a few bottles of water and an ice pack.
Throughout the ride, the Stern Bag maintained its structural integrity, remaining attached to the ski at both the stern and upper Velco attachment points. While Velcro’s tensile strength is much less than a physical mounting-point secured by a 2” 3/6 stainless nut and bolt, the Velcro does provide the necessary tension to keep the upper straps secured to the ski when riding in moderate chop.
The 2023 boat show season in the US is only days away, with many shows launching during the first week in January. COVID-19 restrictions over the past few years were responsible for the cancellation or postponement of many boat shows across the country – leaving consumers unable to actually see the newest WaveRunner models in-person. Visit officialboatshows.com to find a boat show near you.
This year, COVID-19 restrictions are a thing of the past, and Yamaha will be back on deck in Nashville, followed by shows in Chicago, Atlanta, Detroit, Minneapolis, New York, and Louisville. There will be plenty of opportunities for enthusiasts to get out and see their favorite WaveRunner models in person before placing pre-orders or putting down deposits.
If your New Year’s Resolution involves purchasing a new 2023 Yamaha WaveRunner, then look no further than the 72-page high-resolution, full-color brochure now available directly from Yamaha HERE. This publication features detailed specifications on every model in the 2023 lineup, as well as product photos and comparison matrices that help consumers stay informed about the capacity, sizing, and capability of each model.
In looking back over 2022, the world of jet ski racing was pummeled by two deaths and several injuries that could’ve have been if not wholly avoidable, possibly assuaged. The PWC community mourned the loss of Eric Francis and Sung Won Kim this year, and left many contemplating how, if possible, such tragedies could be prevented.
This led many to begin voicing suggestions and recommendations that could be made to increase racer safety. This author even dedicated over a hour of The Watercraft Journal’s weekly live podcast to this topic providing a short list of basic safety equipment requirements as “low hanging fruit” offerings. While the entire podcast is linked below, here’s an abbreviated list:
While our podcast was circulated through some inner circles of the personal watercraft industry and among some racers, it does not serve as the end-all of this conversation (nor should it). Thankfully, the IJSBA board members, which are primarily OEM manufacturers, are equally concerned for rider safety and have asked that participants submit safety recommendations to [email protected].
Equally, the IJSBA is interested in racers submit any suggested rule changes separate from these safety recommendations as they are, in most aspects, separate topics to be addressed. The IJSBA provides a detailed step-by-step guide for submitting such changes to the 2023 rule book that should be followed. Any positive change must begin somewhere and this is a good step in the right direction.
After a couple of difficult years as far as keeping shelves stocked and supplies at the ready, RIVA Racing pulled ahead of the curve and now is enjoying quite a bit of surplus in a bunch of categories. Right now, RIVA is hosting a massive End of The Year Sale (or New Year Sale, as they show it) offering double-digit discounts on all major categories.
Here’s what Mike Hodges told The Watercraft Journal, “This is our biggest holiday sale yet! We’ve discounted practically all RIVA Racing parts and accessories, including 15% off all RIVA Performance Kits. Availability of raw materials and sub-components continues to improve and we’ve filled all open positions. The RIVA Crew is working full throttle building up inventory and most orders ship out within 1~2 business days.”
Right now, you can cut 20-percent off of select JetPilot riding gear and Yamaha FX Sound Systems; 15-percent off of select official Solas impellers; 15-percent off of Cold Air Intakes, Exhaust Kits and select fuel injection systems; same for ignition kits, towables and more. Honestly, if you passed on getting yourself anything for Christmas, you’re gonna want to reconsider because this is a huge deal.
The Radinn crew had a huge year in 2022 and their partnership with Red Bull topped things off. As a winner in Red Bull’s second Project Swell surf forecasting contest in 2004, I experienced how Red Bull puts on events. Everything is huge and everyone is treated like royalty. They spare no expense. The same can be said for the events Radinn took part in this year. The events were epic as expected when it comes to doing things with Red Bull.
It all began with the at the Red Bull Headquarters with some of the Red Bull athletes on hand to try out the boards. Alex Zika, Global Head of Event Marketing for Red Bull was there making sure the athletes were taken care of. He gave them Radinn Jetboards and said it was all about sharing the stoke and fun the boards provided. Zika wanted to see the Radinn crew at other events to see what possibilities they could bring to everyone in the extreme sports industry. Cliff diver Rhiannan Iffland was in the water on a and having a blast on a jetboard.
Next stop was Red Bull Wake the City where they met with Massaimillano Piffaretti, a Red Bull Wakeboarder. He and the other athletes on hand raved about shredding on the Radinn electric jetboards. The Radinn crew even took a trip to Nazare and hung out in the Red Bull Athlete Zone with some of the top big wave surfers. Some of those guys made waves with Radinn Jetboards. Check out their YouTube for more about the Radinn X Red Bull Experience 2022. We think it will be a thing for years to come with bringing electric innovation to all the events.
The wait is over and Unlimited PWC has traction mats available for the late model (’22 and newer) Kawasaki Ultra 310LX and the LX-S watercraft. These mats look great in the different styles of cuts. Get them in bricks, checker, rectangles, or diamond cuts.
They come in 12-piece sets with the newest super durable and sticky 3M tape. The tape is double sided and has excellent wrinkle resistance. We know what a pain it can be to apply these products, so we welcome this type of tape.
The Ultra mats are the same high quality as the other mats in stock. They have outstanding cushioning properties, and the same precision laser processing is used in designing them. The mats are grippy when wet so you’ll slide less when making those high-speed turns.
The mats are available in 10 different color combinations and can be made to order if your colors aren’t available. A set of traction mats for the Ultra 310LX and Ultra LX-S will cost you $285.
The traction mats for the Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 models from 2021 are also ready. They are also available in 10 different colorways and have the same features as the traction mats for the Kawasaki Ultras. The Sea-Doo RXP mats also feature a cool checker, brick, diamond, or rectangle pattern and cost $285.
If the colors you desire aren’t in stock, Unlimited will make your mats to order. They also remind us that the traction mat colors may fade over time and prolonged use. Check out the traction mats now and all the other goods Unlimited has on offer!
There is still time to grab some delayed Christmas gifts from Sea-Doo. You will cut it close if you order online though. They don’t offer expedited shipping, so your choices are 3–7-day shipping to your home or in store pick up. However, you can go to your local Sea-Doo dealership and get in on the ongoing 30% off select apparel and life jackets. You can always shop for other holidays as well, or even for next Christmas. That’s what my mom does.
Anyway, Sea-Doo has a section dedicated to gifts under $100, which includes a wide array of products ranging from hats to LinQ accessories. They have some nice beanies for under $25, which would make perfect stocking stuffers. We like for them for those cool morning surf checks and when paired with the new Sea-Doo Signature Hoodie, you can’t go wrong.
The Women’s Windproof Jacket is another great buy and is designed for fishing, touring, and performance. The jacket is 100% nylon and water resistant. It is marked down to $69.99. In keeping with the winter theme, long sleeve rashguards are must haves for an extra layer on those cold winter rides.
Sea-Doo has several different styles on offer for everyone. A new shipment of the Men’s Neoprene Riding Jacket has come in as well. The 2mm jacket is designed to be worn over your life jacket and it will make those winter rides a little more bearable. You might have to gift this to yourself!
This industry can create rivals or friends. In most sports, rivalries can be created quickly and many times they can be fierce. But in the PWC industry, we see many people build great friendships. The Watercraft Journal has a number of contributors and generally speaking, most of them never meet. Two of our contributors are JD from JD’s Waterworld and Chris from The Adventure State.
The Adventure State team were in Florida and their 2022 Kawasaki Ultra 310LX was having an electrical issue. Luckily Chris and Rish still had the 2020 Kawasaki Ultra 310X so were able to continue to enjoy their time on the water while in Florida.
During a random conversation, JD was told that the guys from The Adventure State were having an electrical issue that resembled the same issue JD had just a few weeks prior. JD immediately called Chris and invited the team to come to JD’s house to troubleshoot the issue.
When Chris and Rish arrived, JD was full of smiles, introduced the guys to his family, showed them around and then dove heard first (literally) into the bow of the ski testing every wire. JD took the time to teach the guys stuff they did not know and was patient with them. They were finally able to locate the issue and decided to let the shop do the repairs.
Immediately afterward, JD told the guys to follow him to a boat ramp and even offered for the guys to use his second Kawasaki Ultra since the 2022 was down. Rish declined as he wanted to drone and enjoy some photography of the local area, but JD and Chris were off! They went through the river and out into the ocean.
JD showed Chris all around Jupiter, Florida and the other local areas from the water and they even were able to enjoy some pretty intense wave jumping. On the ride back they rode at no-wake speeds and just enjoyed 45 minutes of conversation. They are now lifelong friends.
We hear story after story of someone needing assistance, having questions or looking for new friends and someone else in our industry steps up with an outstretched hand. Remember if you need help, just ask. If you see someone that you could help benefit their circumstance, reach out. You may have just gained a life long friend.
Powerboat P1, the premier international powerboat and personal watercraft sports promotor, has announced they will be joining forces with Hanoi-based WLS Corporation to host a world-class personal watercraft racing event by 2024, and ultimately, establish a “marine motorsports hub” in Vietnam.
The new partnership between the two organizations was forged following the Vietnam Sports Forum in Hanoi – an international conference with the theme ‘professionalism in sports business and marketing’ organized by WLS and sponsored by the Vietnamese Government and Ministry of Sport.
“Focused on sports marketing and management, Hanoi-based WLS organizes sports events in Vietnam aiming to make the country a world-class sports destination” according to a recent press release. Through the new partnership, P1 also aims to establish a personal watercraft academy for Vietnam’s emerging youth racers.
Head of International Business Development at Powerboat P1, Julien Bastien, explained, “Pursuing exciting opportunities and taking on new challenges is at the heart of our P1 business, and the shared goal in our partnership with WLS is for the sport of personal watercraft racing to help drive the business growth of Vietnam’s sports industry.”
The Executive Chairman of WLS Corporation, Le Quoc Vinh, said: “We organize the Vietnam Sports Forum with the aim of turning sports into a real economic industry that brings high value benefits to businesses, professional athletes and the Vietnamese sports industry in general, and we were delighted to have P1 participate in the event.”
The partnership between Powerboat P1 and WLS will streamline the process of identifying and selecting potential venues where future personal watercraft racing events like P1 AquaX and Jetcross racing could take place- as well as establishing the necessary facilities and infrastructure needed to host such events.
