Jet skis have been under a temporary ban at Worcester, Massachusetts’ Indian Lake since August of 2021 and that ban is set to expire at the end of September of 2022. Now some city council members want to make the ban permanent. The ban started because residents complained about jet ski drivers riding dangerously and scaring swimmers. Some complaints also had to do with injured wildlife.
Prior to the ban, the lake had increased law enforcement for a month, and they removed around 10 jet skis from the ramp. There aren’t enough officers certified to patrol by boat, so they banned PWC for a year. City council members Sean Rose and Candy Mero-Carlson are gunning hard for a permanent ban.
They are using safety concerns and lack of consistent police presence to push for a ban. Rose says it’s difficult to even deal with traffic and parking issues. She can’t imagine there being always being a police officer at the lake. Some members of the city council considered the possibility of banning non-resident jet skiers.
Khrystian King is for education and enforcement, though he doesn’t have a plan for how to execute his ideas. In the meantime, he thinks they should keep a ban in place until spring so they can garner more information. He is also worried about shifting the problem of PWC to Lake Quinsigamiond if the Indian Lake ban becomes permanent. The matter will now go to the city manager’s office before going back to the full council. This is a developing story, and we will update as you we garner more information.
Sea-Doo has their Pre-Order Sales Event happening now until March 31, 2023. That may seem like a lot of time but with the supply chain issues, it’s still tough to get the cars, boats, and parts we ordered earlier this year and last. These difficulties will continue for a long time, so we suggest ordering as soon as possible. When you do pre-order a new Sea-Doo you it comes with 2-year coverage. This includes a 12-month BRP Limited Warranty and a 12-month B.E.S.T. service contract.
The PWC pre-order event wouldn’t be complete without the FishPro’s on board. The FishPro Scout 130, FishPro Sport 170, and FishPro Trophy are ready for you to get your fish on! Eleven 2023 Switch models are included in the pre-order sales event. Now is the time to choose your next Sea-Doo machine. Head to the website and fill out the pre-order form, hit submit, and wait for a Sea-Dealer to contact you to complete your order. Once you pay a deposit, your new Sea-Doo will be reserved. We hope you get yours!
Sunday September 18th marks the final round of this year’s P1 AquaX Cayman Islands National Tour where around 25 riders will compete at Seven Mile Beach just north of George Town.
Launched in the UK in 2011 and in United States in 2013, P1 AquaX introduced this qualifying series to provide riders in regions not currently hosting AquaX events with the opportunity to qualify for its World Championship.
Speaking from P1 AquaX’s race center in Orlando, P1 USA Championship Manager Michelle Petro commented: “We are delighted that the Cayman Islands has become part of our international schedule and we look forward to welcoming two riders from the National Tour to our Bahamas World Championship in Nassau in early November.”
In May 2022, P1 AquaX and the Cayman Islands Watercraft Association (CIWA) partnered to host a three-round race series at two sperate venues on Grand Cayman. The National Tour features P1 AquaX Pro and Am Endurance classes with events at South Sound Beach (at the southwestern tip of the island) and Seven Mile Beach.
Image: Kelsey Rae-Smith
According to the latest press release, “CIWA provides the opportunity for personal watercraft riders to compete both locally and internationally, and the new partnership with P1 AquaX enables one Pro rider and one Am racer in this year’s National Tour to qualify for the AquaX World Championship in the Bahamas in November when the iconic Atlantis Paradise Island resort will host the three-day event. “
According to CIWA President Chris Bodden, “This new partnership is a significant achievement for motorsports in the Cayman Islands. We lined up a superb season at our two venues and we know that personal watercraft racing has a bright future in Cayman.”
CIWA made the shift from closed course to offshore endurance, and the Association anticipates that the final round of the National Tour will attract a huge crowd on the beach.
“We are looking at this as a test for potentially staging bigger AquaX events at Seven Mile Beach in the future, “according to Bodden.
Unlimited PWC now has traction mats for the 2022 Kawasaki Jet Ski SX-R. The new deck mat for the Kawasaki 1500 SX-R was recently released and is available in blue, green, orange, red, or yellow. If your color choice is sold it, the mats can be made to order.
They come in a diamond cut pattern and look sharp. The mats are put together in two layers and have superb cushioning that makes a riding a little easier on your legs.
The newest laser process is used to create the Kawasaki traction mats and it is done in such a way that you have excellent drainage on the deck. The mats will stay grippy even when wet.
An upgraded two-sided tape is used to attach the mats and goes on wrinkle free, and it has excellent adhesive properties.
The one downside is that the mats will fade over time, like most everything that spends a lot of time in the sun. They will still look great on your jet ski and will last a long time. The deck mat comes in at $251.00.
If you don’t have a new SX-R, Unlimited has traction mats for several models and years of Kawasaki Ultras. Mats are also available for a few Kawasaki STX models and Sea-Doo RXT models and years.
The traction mats are going fast, so order now! If the ones you want are sold out, they can be made to order. Happy riding!
The final round of the 2022 AquaX National Championship took place on September 3rd and 4th in St. Pete, FLA. More than 50 riders showed up to compete in the SBT AquaX event. Riders were there to compete for national titles and to qualify for the Bahamas World Championship in November.
Broward Motor Sports rider, Jimmy Wilson was leading the Pro Class going into the event, with his teammate Dustin Farthing trying to catch him. The reigning champion Ermino Iantosca was also in the back of the pack. Maryland racer Joe Johnson, Jay Finlinson, and Matt Smith had only 8 points separating them with Johnson in the lead in the 300 Amateur class.
Calm waters were on tap for Saturday’s race day and Christian Daly grabbed first place in the opening race. Dustin Farthing took second, with Tory Snyder getting the third place. A thunderstorm ended Saturday’s races.
Sunday’s races started with the Pro and AM riders competing in two 20-minute back-to-back races due the weather stoppage on Saturday. Deven Farthing scored his first Pro Endurance Class win in AquaX. Jimmy Wilson and Tory Snyder finished in second and third.
Jimmy Wilson took the overall win for the weekend with Christian Daly finishing in second, and Deven Farthing filling the third spot. Tory Snyder was named 2022 Pro Enduro National Champion. Jay Finlinson won the 300 AM Class and grabbed the 2022 national title. Trey Williams, a former motocross racer took second in all three races. Dominico Barilla came in third.
Kevin Sullivan took first place in the 200 AM class, victorious in all three races. Melvin Canals and Andy Ray followed with second and third. Qualifying riders will head to the Nassau in early November to compete in the P1 AquaX Bahamas World Championships. We will bring you more information on the championships soon!
Blake Corning, a Jet Ski Hall of Fame inductee and industry leader, has been named race director for the 2022 LIQUI-MOLY Pro Watercross World Championships powered by Hydro-Turf.
The World Championship event is scheduled for October 27th through the 30th in Naples, Florida.
“I have known Jenn and AJ well over 20 years. I admire them for bringing good talent to their races, and I am excited to be part of their team and looking forward to a successful World Championship event,” Blake commented.
With over 26 years of industry experience, including as a racer from 1990 – 1996, Blake worked as a flagger/starter on the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA) National Tour, and subsequently served as the IJSBA’s Head of Operations from 2006 to 2018.
“This will be the 7th year that the World Championships will be held in Naples, Florida and bringing Blake in as race director brings renewed integrity to the event and the sport,“ said AJ Handler, Pro Watercross CEO. “Blake comes with over 26 years of industry experience and is known and respected as one of the top leaders in the industry for producing events.”
Tuning 4-stroke personal watercraft has come a long way in a very short time. In little over a decade, this industry has gone from completely excising the factory ECU (and a portion of the wiring harness) and replacing it with an aftermarket engine management computer costing several thousands of dollars, to hand-held plug-in-play tuners that are comparable to a smartphone in both size and ease of use.
RIVA Racing has of course, been at the forefront of this effort, first supplying racers and performance enthusiasts with the aforementioned off-brand ECUs, to offering a vast catalog of engine maps, software and eventually, it’s MaptunerX hand-held tuner. This single device has flipped the industry on its ear, removing the need for customers to remove and ship off their ECU to be manually reprogrammed, and shipped back.
Today, the process is done within minutes and within the comfort of your own home garage. Building upon this industry-changing hardware, RIVA is taking the MaptunerX another step forward with its newly announced Dealer Service Application. This subscription software enables the home mechanic, the small performance/maintenance shop and the high volume dealership to perform all of the functions of factory programs all in one tuner.
Whether it’s a Yamaha, Kawasaki, Polaris or Sea-Doo, the Dealer Service App-equipped MaptunerX can perform all of the services with less time, no special manufacturer licensing, or a clunky laptop. Equally, there’s no restriction on how many vehicles can be serviced; if you’ve purchased the MaptunerX and the Dealer Service Application you’re in business. Below we’ve included all of the features and functionalities.
RIVA MaptunerX Dealer Service Application (with 1 year subscription)
• All-in-one diagnostic tool for Powersports dealerships and performance shops
• Runs directly on the MaptunerX Tuning Device eliminating the need for a PC, internet connection or special manufacturer licensing
• User-friendly interface enables service technicians to quickly identify vehicles upon connecting, eliminating need for timely “Read In/Read out” operation
• Compatible with Yamaha, BRP, Kawasaki and Polaris
• Does not require a RIVA Tuning License
(System requirements: Windows-based PC with Windows 7 or higher to load and update MaptunerX Tuning Device)
Info
Auto-detect function identifies specific model with app is launched, eliminating need for time-consuming “read-in” and “read-out” operation for each individual vehicle.
Read & Clear Fault Codes
Displays active & past fault codes recorded in the ECU along with description of each fault. Reset fault codes with push of a button.
Program DESS Keys
Add or delete DESS (Digitally Encoded Security System) keys. Also permits user to program each key with one of three key-types: Normal, Learning or Rental. Provides option to disable DESS security function making it possible to start the vehicle with any key Note: Not compatible with 2003-11 models equipped with Siemens ECU
Reset & Calibrate Throttle
Prompts ECU to record the minimum & maximum throttle position (TPS) values in the ECU. This function must be performed when the throttle body or the ECU is replaced.
Reset Service
Allows user to reset service indicator which starts countdown to next factory programmed service interval. Also displays important detailed service information including date of last service, hours since last service, service location & total running hours.
Reset History
This function will erase the recorded running history in the ECU. Recorded diagnostic information such as RPM, sensor readings, etc. will be deleted from ECU memory.
Monitoring
Allows real time viewing of vital vehicle data, letting you see far beyond your dashboard gauge. This information is critical for performance diagnostics. Monitors and displays multiple vehicle parameters including: Temperature Sensors, RPM, Speed, Ignition Timing, TPS, MAP Sensor & Battery Voltage. Also displays LAMBDA/O2 with optional accessories listed below.
Activation
Energize Fuel Injectors, Fuel Pump and Ignition Coils with audible tone that confirms proper operation. Actuate and calibrate iBR bucket on 2016 & newer Sea-Doo models.
Pair Cluster
Enables pairing new dash display with wiring harness & ECU on 2016 & newer Sea-Doo models.
Some people ride to relieve stress. Some people ride to break records. Some ride for an adrenaline rush. Some enjoy to ride for the community. On the Fox River Chain O’ Lakes in Fox Lake, Illinois there is a Facebook group by the name of PWC Chain Gang and on August 21st, 2022 they hosted their 5th annual group ride.
As the date approached, many people were concerned it would be rained out. With 48 hours until the start of the ride, the chances of rain reached 84%. People from different states were looking forward to participating, but began to fall out stating the weather as the primary factor; 24 hours out and the “all-knowing” meteorologists were now stating at least 50% chance of rain; 12 hours out and it was down to 42%.
At 9am there was coffee, doughnuts, T-shirts, stickers and other goodies provided at no charge, as well as many raffle give-a-ways including life jackets, anchors, discounts on new machines at Nielsen Enterprises in Lake Villa, Illinois and much more. At 9:30 began the rider’s meeting and we were able to corner Mike Missak between announcements for a few questions.
The Watercraft Journal: How did this group ride event come about? Mike Missak: Steve Nielsen and I thought that having a group to ride with would be enjoyable – so we started a Facebook group called the PWC Chain Gang. This was intended to be a spot where other local PWC owners could share their rides or even use it as a tool to get together with other riders. Once the page was created we thought let’s get a group together and make a loop around the chain. Needless to say the 1st time we did this we had a much larger showing than ever expected.
WCJ: Who is the official host? Missak: Myself and Steve Nielsen are the official hosts of the event and the page. Having said that we lean to our sponsors to make the event better and better every year.
WCJ: What is the purpose of this ride? Missak: The original intent was to get a handful of local PWC owners out on the Chain O’ Lakes together. We thought this would be a great way to have a fun day, and maybe meet some new faces.
WCJ: That first year, did you intend for this to become an annual event? Missak: When this 1st ride occurred we were not looking long term, or intentions of making this an annual event – it started more as a loose gathering to get some PWC owners together. After the 1st event was complete, there was a huge buzz.
People were asking “when is the next one.” It was at this point we decided to make this an annual event within the group. We also do other smaller rides throughout the year, as well as encourage other members to create their own rides and gatherings too. As he answered the last question, it was almost 10am the group was off! The route was simple, but beautiful.
The two lead boats, a 2022 Yamaha 255X E-Series and a 2004 Formula 353 Fastech took off with everyone following. This group started off at the Lakehouse going through Pistakee Lake, into Nippersink Lake, into Grass Lake, through Lake Marie and then Buff Lake, the long channel through Spring Lake, into Fox lake, back through Nippersink Lake and Pistakee Lake ending back at the Lakehouse.
Not only did the average Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Honda, Polaris and Kawasaki make it out, but if you were a bystander, you would have seen a number of stand-ups, Kawasaki X2’s, custom made machines and even what many call a go-kart jet ski!
There were about a half a dozen skis that went down for one reason or another during the ride and a few people fell off of their machines when getting caught in the giant wake of the lead boats. Probably the greatest sight of the entire ride was to watch other enthusiasts surround each person in distress to make sure they were safe by alerting oncoming riders. This is what it means to be in a community – make sure everyone remains safe and no one gets left behind.
Group rides can have a bad rap as many inexperienced riders tend to show up, but the 5th Annual PWC Chain Gang Loop The Lakes ride should be the epitome of a great community group ride.
Most boats sit well over a foot higher in the water than a PWC, meaning that many PWC’s can drift under a dock, damaging their paint. Of course, if you happen to have a Yamaha, know that their automotive-grade paint is particularly sensitive to impact, so this article is definitely for you.
Most skis have gunwales that stick up about 2-5 inches above the bond line. These areas are often the first to see damage from rubbing up against docks. While some people carry bumpers, these are often big and cumbersome to stow in your ski.
Rather, some old towels can work just as well to protect the hull and don’t take up much room inside your PWC (plus, you can always use a towel). The towels are laid in place before backing down the ramp; and having a damp towel keeps them in place better, especially if it’s windy out.
We’ve found that simple synthetic dock line – about ½” in diameter – works best. We have used cheaper 3/8” lines but you get what you pay for in thickness. The orange line shown in the images used at the stern of the boat doubles as a tow-rope with a bowline knot tied into each end.
We also use a swivel hook to clamp back on itself. These can be purchased in a variety of metals, however we found that brass and good stainless steel are the best in saltwater applications. We have also painted some of them orange. It is not fun trying to find one of these if you accidentally drop one on the seafloor.
The second line is wrapped around the handlebars unless you have dedicated cleats integrated into your PWC. Having a loop on each end of the rope allows it to pass the working end of the line through the loop and around the bars. Having a swivel hook on each end makes it much faster and easier.
Once we have all our lines and lanyard in place (and of course triple checked the drain plugs), we back down the ramp. You don’t need to fully submerge your trailer. Usually, all that’s needed is just enough to float the stern of the ski off of the trailer.
For those looking how to launch without getting your feet wet, a simple tug on the bow line will free your ski from the bunks. Then just throw one of the lines onto the dock. After walking up the dock, use one of the lines to maneuver the ski to a safe mooring location (and by “safe” we mean as far away from any other boater that may come in right after you.
Now your ski is safely moored to the dock, protected from unwanted scratches or impact, and ready for a day out on the water. It’s really that simple.
The covers are comprised of ballistic nylon, ultra-grade marine vinyl, and non-slip traction materials. The non-slip traction will help you stay put whether you’re racing or throwing down some fast tight turns on your local lake. They can be customized to match the graphics and colors of your jet ski.
The seat covers are available for 2018 and newer Sea-Doo RXT-X 300 and the 2018 and newer Wake Pro. They are available in all black or with red, silver, or yellow stitching and the Unlimited Logo imprint. These covers cost $513. Jettrim seat covers are also in stock for the Sea-Doo GTX Series 2018 and later model years.
These two-piece covers come in black with gold or silver eye-popping threads featuring the Unlimited and Jettrim logos. These are priced at $542. Jettrim has been in the business of manufacturing custom seat covers and mats for over 30 years. We are thrilled about this collaboration.
Unlimited PWC and Jettrim did a stellar job in playing off each other’s strengths in designing these. This partnership lets them shine and you will too when you outfit your seat with one of these distinctive covers from Unlimited PWC.
They come in a diamond cut pattern and look sharp. The mats are put together in two layers and have superb cushioning that makes a riding a little easier on your legs.
