The Sea-Doo Fish Pro removes the worry of clogging your intake when getting after elusive bass hiding in the vegetation. This peace of mind comes from knowing your ski is equipped with Sea-Doo’s Intelligent Debris-Free Pump System (IDF). Spend more time fishing and less time dealing with debris in your intake and having to get in the water to clear trash and other debris out.
The IDF technology comes standard on the FishPro and the GTX Limited. It is available as an option on the 170 and the 230. In the video below, Tim McKercher, Sea-Doo’s Product Specialist and Sea-Doo Ambassador, Bri Andress, walks us through the system. McKercher says the pump is another innovation to make things easier and to live a more adventurous Sea-Doo life. The pump lets you explore stress free when you’re out there in unfamiliar territory or making your way into your fishing hole that’s overgrown with vegetation and other debris.
The Intelligent Debris Free Pump System is simple to use: When trash or weeds get pulled into the intake, shut down the engine and press the handy IDF button located on your handlebar. Lightly rev the engine a couple of times and the stuff gets blown out of your water jet pump. The IDF system reverses the water flow so debris is blown out within seconds. When you turn off the IDF system, the engine returns to normal and you can get back to cruising. Now you don’t have the be the victim of a malfunctioning PWC due to trash getting sucked into your machine.
Sea-Doo has their Ready, Set, Summer Promo going on until August 31,2022. You can score a $150 off when purchasing $1,500 of Sea-Doo PWC accessories or apparel at your local dealership. Sea-Doo MOVE trailers are not included in this offer. Sea-Doo Pontoon parts and accessories, PWC parts, and XPS are excluded as well. Only the latest Sea-Doo apparel is included in this offer. The offer applies to in-stock items only and while supplies last.
If you’ve been eyeing some of the near gear we’ve covered lately, now is a good time to stock up. Head to your nearest dealer and grab some goods. Maybe you’ve put off that new LinQ Cooler and BRP Audio System. You can upgrade your lifejackets and grab some fun water toys like a big tube and new tow rope. The prices add up quickly, so it won’t take long to reach the $1,500 mark. Also, we’re still dealing with supply chain issues and waiting to buy stuff is risky right now and not really a viable option.
Unfortunately, XPS products aren’t included in the deal so you can’t use the offer to stock up on maintenance products. However, with the money you save on other gear, you can put it toward some oil change kits and cleaners for your ride. You can also brighten up your summer riding apparel with a snazzy new Sea-Doo rashguard while you’re scoping out other new gear. Take a drive to your local dealer now and get in on some good savings while supplies last!
We haven’t done an insane water toy piece in a while so when we saw the Robb Report on wild water toys, we had to check it out. We were not disappointed! Let’s dig into these luxury toys! We noticed that the Seabob was updated to the Seabob F5 with Selfie Camera. You can film yourself while capturing what’s ahead under the water. An electric flying jet-ski was added to the mix. It is the Quadrofoil Q2S out of Slovenia. It has a top speed of 25 mph.
Next on the list is the Hammacher Schlemmer Transparent Kayak. It is an 11-foot-long piece of Lexan with room for two. For fun above and below the water is the Scubacraft SC3. The craft appeared in a couple of James Bond movies and looks super cool. You’re going to need your scuba gear to ride this machine. Another Hammacher watercraft made the list and this one flies. The fiberglass Hammacher Schlemmer Flying Hovercraft is powered by a 130 hp turbo two-cylinder gas engine. It can hit speeds up to 70 mph.
We were surprised to see a Yamaha 255 FSH Sport E boat on the list. What makes it cool is the fact that it doesn’t have dangerous propellers. The engines are hooked up to water jets making the boat safer for families and groups on the water. Next up is Brownie’s BLU3 Portable Tankless Scuba Kit which uses a floating air compressor with a 30-foot hose attached to the diver’s mask.
For those who like to travel and foil, the Fliteboard AIR might be for you. The board is wider than most, making it easier to learn on. A rugged camera made the list this year. The Olympus Tough TG-6 is made for adventure. It is waterproof, shockproof, dustproof, crushproof, and frostproof. Back to the wild toys. The Triton DeepView 24 Submarine can be yours from around $8 million and Triton Submarines out of Florida will gladly build one for you.
The Taiga Orca Electric PWC made the list. We have written a couple of pieces on these jet skis and we’re happy to see that they’re still in production. The craziest item on the list is the Hot Tub Boat out of Seattle. This thing has diesel fueled boiler to keep the water at 104F. A 24-volt electric motor moves the 16-foot boat at 5 mph. There’s room for six and you can try before you buy for $400 for two hours on Seattle’s Lake Union. We got a kick out of some of these luxury toys and hope you do too.
Since the beginning of May 2022, longtime ski enthusiast and builder Jason Rivera had been keeping the vintage community in the dark about a fresh 550 build to premier at the Motosurf and Freeride event in Huntington Beach. After a long weekend of die-hard racing and absolute carnage, the Watercraft Journal team finally had a chance to sit down with Jason to find out the details on the build, and to hear about the long-time legend that assisted him.
The Watercraft Journal: What was your first thought when Gordon Oelkers came to you for help with these builds?
Jason Rivera: Gordon and I go back, and I mean waaay back in the jet ski industry. I became friends with Mr. PJS 15 years ago. He had his service shop in Brea and I would buy all my parts from him. I was a frequent face there. When he closed his shop 6 years ago, he graciously let me have a lot of his tools, including his “holy grail” of a test tank, which I still use frequently. So with all of the support he had given me in the past, I of course jumped at the opportunity and agreed to help in any way I could.
WCJ: Roughly how long does it take you on these types of builds?
JR: Traditionally it would take me a few weeks to a couple of months to fully assemble a build, and that’s from bare hull to finished product. But with the last few years of COVID craziness and other life happenings, it set us back quite a bit.
On Sunday, May 1st, Gordon and I finally got together and there we were, staring at a bare-bones 550 hull, a completely blank slate. That weekend was the Huntington Beach race. We realized we had six days to build it. Claiming complete insanity, we both quickly got to work with full intentions of seeing it raced in the surf that weekend!
WCJ: Wow, that does sound like complete insanity!
JR: Oh it was! But Gordon and I worked extremely well next to each other. We were like a well-oiled machine. One of us would be assembling the motor. The other would be running around with a tube of silicone, gluing in the pump shoe, tubbies, you name it! But we finished in record time. Four days later we lowered the ski into the test tank at 9pm that night to break in the motor (the neighbors love me -HAHA).
Not only was I cranking on the build, but I had other skis to attend to before that weekend. So, while Gordon tidied up the loose ends and finished other small assemblies on the ski, I prepped my own ski (#38) and my long-time friend and fellow racer, Tommy Bonacci’s (#12) ski.
WCJ: Any “bloody-knuckle” moments that you care to mention?
JR: Oh there were plenty. Notably was the night we dropped the ski into the tank. We started it up and a few moments later my girlfriend came out yelling that we woke the baby up! Thought she was gonna beat me into a pulp. Sorry honey! HAHA
I also dislocated my finger during practice on race day, so unfortunately I wasn’t able to race the build. Luckily my friend Mark Gomez stepped up and was willing to race it that weekend!
WCJ: Mark was extremely pleased with how the ski handled the surf too! We reached out to him to see what he had to say about your build:
JR: The PJS build came in hot to Huntington Beach! The ski ran great having only been tank-tested! Saturday’s practice was its first official water test, and after a few fuel adjustments it was race ready. The ski handled incredibly well for the choppy ocean conditions we had that weekend.
I was riding on a previously sprained ankle so I was very cautious about the lines I picked and maneuvers I made, but the faster I rode the ski and trusted it, the more it cut through the chop. And it never did anything unpredictable, it was very honest in the surf! Gordon and Jason built a great vintage mod machine. They knocked it completely out of the park!
Notable sponsors for the build; find them on Instagram: JetStar (@jetstar.inc) PJS USA (@pjs_usa) Retro Jetski (@retro_jet_ski) Bomber Eyewear (@bomereyewear) Jettrim (@jettrim) Impros (@improsimpellers) Rhaas (@rhaasproducts) G&J Aircraft (@gandjaircraft) Performance Fiberglass (@performance.fiberglass) VJS Originals (@vjsoriginals) Hydro-Turf (@hydroturf) Atlantis Powersports (@atlantispowersports)
We were looking for new goods on Unlimited PWC’s Instagram account and found some pictures of flashy new titanium Free Flow exhaust kits. They are simply stunning and are available for Sea-Doo watercraft. The Sea-Doo exhaust kits will fit all GTI-based machines from 2020 and up, including the 2021 RXP-X 300.
The Free Flow exhaust replaces the restrictive sound suppression system located between the muffler and waterbox. This improves exhaust efficiency. It allows you to bypass the resonator between the muffler and waterbox and improve exhaust efficiency.
The Free Flow exhaust reduces back pressure and harmful detonation, which will greatly improve engine performance. Unlimited gives you a choice between the lightweight full titanium tubes or power-coated mandrel bend aluminum tubes to prevent corrosion. The kits come with a replacement coupler comprised of high temperature silicone.
Free Flow Exhaust kits for the Yamaha WaveRunner FX will fit 2012 models. The other Yamaha kits can be applied to the Yamaha GP1800/VXR/VXS model years of 2011 and newer. All three kits cost $221 and worldwide shipping is available. The free flow exhaust kits are easy to install, and they are in stock! Head over to the Unlimited PWC website and order a kit and spice up your ride!
Admittedly, we went into testing the new 2022 Kawasaki Ultra 310LX JetSki with quite a bit of trepidation. Although long awaited, the redesign and technological upgrading of one of our personal favorite full-sized personal watercraft was akin to hearing Hollywood had plans to update and revise your favorite movie. This could go either really, really good or well, yeah…OK. Let’s not talk about recent Hollywood remakes. Nevertheless, Kawasaki USA knew that there was a lot riding on this latest crop of top rung performance watercraft and they didn’t want to leave anything to chance.
Unfortunately, getting to this point was a bit of a rocky road. Inside knowledge reveals that the newest Ultra models were intended to be released for 2021’s lineup; but supply chain shortages, rising material costs and some under-staffing at the Lincoln, Nebraska manufacturing facility made pushing the three supercharged models back a year to 2022 a wiser choice. Equally, amid the hubbub of the newly redesigned musclecraft, namely Yamaha’s GP1800R SVHO and Sea-Doo’s RXP-X 300 respectively, Kawasaki was best letting the dust settle a year before unveiling the new Ultras.
In heralding the new lineup, Kawasaki effectively swung for the fences when it came to its crème de la crème JetSki, the 310LX. Priced with an MSRP of $19,499, the Ultra 310LX offers not only an array of firsts for the manufacturer but also for the industry: the first being Jetsound 4S, a standard-equipment 4-speaker integrated audio system featuring a jog-dial control and Bluetooth connectivity; onboard running lights; a rearward-facing camera for observing towables; a 3-way adjustable Ergo-Fit LXury seat; dual glove boxes; and a thumb-controlled brake lever.
Specifically, the Jetsound 4S system raises the bar for onboard audio systems by providing 200 watts via two channel amps, and a quartet of speakers – the lower two rated at 60W x 2 and the upper two flanking the dashboard ranked at 35W x 2. Jetsound 4S is fully compatible with most all smartphone devices, as well as other Bluetooth compatible-players. And all audio data is viewable on the display. The new 7-inch wide TFT display offering three different display modes, black or white backgrounds, self-adjusting screen brightness, and various entertainment features.
The screen’s additional functions include a GPS-based speedometer, tachometer, fuel gauge, drive mode, boost pressure, clock, power mode, compass, trim, Bluetooth indicator, phone call & mail indicator, cruise control; and a display bar that can be set to show a trip meter, total & trip time, oil & engine temperature, battery voltage, intake air temperature, diagnostic code, and external air and water temperatures. Equally, indicators for a GPS signal, low fuel, engine, oil, battery, engine coolant temperature, immobilizer, master warning, trim, and reverse flank the dash’s sides.
All of this is easily navigated and managed using Kawasaki’s new waterproof jog-dial knob and confirmation buttons. Fixed between the twin release tabs for the fairing storage doors (y’know, where you’d expect the glove box to normally be), the jog-dial scrolls through the various screens and features on the TFT digital dashboard. Well within reach and easy to navigate (even while underway) the control knob locks out certain dashboard functions above No Wake speeds to dissuade distracted riders.
Above this are the 5-way adjustable tilt handlebars. Capped with pistol grip-style handgrips, both control modules feature new buttons sealed membranes with the best response and feel of any controls before. Kawasaki also lightened the pull on the throttle trigger for reduced fatigue. Connected to the throttle is the long-anticipated Kawasaki Smart Reverse with Deceleration (KSRD). Yes, the throttle trigger and brake button are one piece, operating on a single sprung shaft. The new reverse overrides the throttle, deploying the reverse gate and slows the Ultra 310 to a standstill.
Upon releasing the trigger, the drive mode returns to neutral. And if continued to be depressed, the drive mode will engage Reverse, and the JetSki will begin reversing until the trigger is released. The fluid motion between the thumb and trigger finger is different (particularly for those accustomed to competitors’ brake & reverse systems) but not unnatural. To that point, 2022 marks the first time Kawasaki has featured drive modes; not only does the JetSki start in Neutral, allowing it to idle in place, but also allows the driver to toggle through three speed settings.
Selected by the Mode button found on the left-hand side, drivers choose from 3 power modes including Full, Middle, and Low (akin to using the SLO – Smart Learning Operation – key). Full mode accesses all of the potency of the Ultra’s industry’s leading 310 horsepower. Middle reduces the engine output to 80% of the Ultra– and is also the default setting when first ignited; and Low mode is 60% of full power. The One-Touch 5mph Mode is activated by a single button on the right-hand side of the bars when idling and is deactivated when the throttle is applied.
The cruise control can adjust up or down three levels for a little more speed (or to slow down) – as does the No Wake mode while operating in a specified zones. Through the TFT dash, the all-new Kawasaki Launch Control Mode (KLCM) allows for Single and Repeat launches. The KLCM automatically adjusts the trim for optimal acceleration. When set in Single mode, the Launch Control will only activate for the first acceleration shot, whereas in Repeat mode, the KLCM remains active until manually deactivated.
The 2022 Ultra 310LX JetSki retains the same 1,498cc inline four-cylinder DOHC squeezing out a true 310-horsepower from its roots-type Eaton Twin Vortices Series (TVS) supercharger generating a staggering 16.7psi at peak RPM. Back in 2017, Kawasaki revised the Ultra’s pistons to include a V-groove at the second ring for greater oil retention. Dual under-piston oiling jets are fed by a dry sump oil tank built directly into the baffled and partitioned crankcase that also includes a closed circuit catch can, and high pressure blow-off valve – the same stuff hot rodders and racers use.
Dual cooling circuits feed fresh ambient water through the enlarged coolant passages in the engine as well as through the intercooler, condensing the compressed intake charge prior to passing through the throttle body. The Ultra’s oil cooler circulates oil between two cooling jackets, mitigating heat soak and excessive internal engine operating temperatures. This allows the 160mm axial-flow, single stage jet pump to spin its 3-blade, stainless steel impeller enough to produce 1,890lbs. of thrust.
Although carryovers from previous models, 2022 marks the use of Kawasaki full fly-by-wire throttle control and engine management system. This allows for the multiple acceleration maps, smart engine monitoring and throttle response. While the sponsons and intake grate come unchanged from before, the aluminum ride plate has been recast with thicker bosses for the deployable reverse bucket.
Gratefully, the Ultra 310LX leaves Kawasaki’s industry-leading, rough water and open ocean champion hull almost entirely unchanged. Featuring a 22.5-degree deadrise, the true Deep-V hull is molded in durable gel-coated FMC fiberglass with a newly reinforced bow. It’s without a doubt the best design for sluicing through chop that we’ve ever tested and gratefully remains as such. Yet, above the bondline, the Ultra 310LX features an entirely redesigned deck that includes a few more firsts for both Kawasaki and the industry:
First, Kawasaki radically adjusted the Ultra’s center of gravity by lowering the the overall deck height by 1.38-inches and widened and deepened the footwells, setting the riders lower and gifting them more leg room and greater foot placement. The overall ergonomics of the Ultra are lightyears ahead too, as Kawasaki narrowed the new bi-folding two-piece, three-person seat by an impressive 3.15-inches at the knee, allowing riders a more natural seating position as well as more clearance for riding stand-up.
In addition to the redesigned shape, the Ergo-Fit LXury seat is sculpted from a newly revised formula of urethane foam providing deeper hip support and improved jolt and vibration absorption from the advanced padding. Wrapped in black and brown heat- and UV-resistant materials with high-contrast white stitchwork, the three-tiered LXury seat offers three positions of adjustment spanning 2.75 and 1.4-inches apart.
Large inverted coves at the driver’s knees bloom into colored fairings that open up to reveal twin glove boxes. Swinging upwards on gullwing-style hinges, the new fairing compartments hold a combined 10.6-gallons of storage with the right-side including a half-gallon sized watertight box for your phone or wallet, and a pair of USB ports. (Oh don’t worry, the cup holders aren’t gone. They’ve been moved up towards the TFT dash.) Ahead of these compartments is the 32.8-gallon bow storage. A molded-in open access pouch at the rear adds another 2.8-liters (0.7 gallons) of “wet” storage – ideal for a dock line.
All of this adds up to 44.5-gallons of storage, which is admittedly quite a bit less than the previous model’s 60-gallons. Gone is the removable storage tub in front too. In relocating the filler neck, Kawasaki increased the 2022 model’s fuel capacity by half a gallon – up to 21.1 gallons – which is nice. The redesign also includes built-in cleats for easy docking; KSD (Kawasaki Splash Deflectors) water disbursement channels, a raised rear bumper for less splashing; and enlarged rearview mirrors. And speaking of rear views…
The Ultra LX comes equipped with a rearview camera, which can be monitored on the TFT screen when docking or towing. Per Kawasaki, it provides “an impressive view range at 155° horizontally and 115° vertically (± 5°), allowing the operator to feel comfortable about what’s behind them.” And if increased visibility is something you’re looking for, look no further, because the Ultra 310LX includes LED accent running lights built into the front bumper. No, these aren’t headlights as they don’t cast a beam, but are meant for increased visibility like daytime running lights on a motorcycle.
Kawasaki integrated a new Multi-Mount System featuring mounting bars for accessories like a GPS, phone, or action cameras, built into the handlebars and rear of the seat. On the 310LX this sits above a smoothly integrated Ultra Deck, an extended rear platform that increases the swim deck an additional 7.9-inches. An angled folding swim step tucks neatly up under the Ultra Deck, which also includes two Multi-Mount slide mounts providing accessible tie-down points to mount any number of Kawasaki’s new accessories, like a stern bag, soft-sided cooler, dry duffel bag, rear storage rack and universal tie downs.
Sure, the new Ultra 310LX looks dapper in Ebony and Gold, but how does it run? Fully loaded with fuel and storage, we clicked off a respectable 66.9mph on the GPS at 1,044 feet and temperatures in the low 90’s. But top speed was never the Ultra’s bread-and-butter; rough water is. For those with lots of time on previous Ultras, this characteristic alone is the most significant. When it comes to how the new 2022 Ultra handles compared to before, it’s nearly night-and-day.
The lower center of gravity permits the Ultra to progressively roll into an inside lean like never before. It does so naturally, fluidly and with a newfound talent. Dropping a knee and pinning the bars to its stops in an S-turn with the throttle vised is exhilarating. Yes, with a curb weight of 1,089.3 pounds (equaling a calculated dry weight of 958 pounds), she’s a stout vessel – but again, that’s what you want in a hull that soaks up vibrations, chop and chatter, and won’t crack under pressure.
With the throttle clamped to its hilt, the 1.5-liter howls, it’s twin-screw supercharger wailing through its blow-off valve. Nothing, and we repeat, nothing on the market sounds like this. The Ultra’s deep draft and high-volume jet pump bites hard at the launch and pushes to its peak speed just under 5-seconds (4.81 seconds per our Vbox accelerometer). Again, conditions were pretty lousy for this kind of speed testing, but we definitely didn’t want to leave anyone guessing.
What complaints we had were few: first, reducing the size of the bow storage access hole means larger bags or a helmet are now impossible to bring. Equally bad was covering the entirety of the engine compartment with an access plate with a tiny plastic window. Whoever thought of these ideas should be demoted to “truck stop bathroom attendant” for a year. We also fought to get the TFT to sync with our phone, and aren’t terribly happy with the audio control knob being so far out of reach.
Otherwise, this machine is bordering on flawless. No really, it’s that good. The industry’s most capable rough water personal watercraft is now more stable, tracks more naturally and corners more intuitively regardless of the conditions. And for those who seek the finer things in life, it’s now drier, more comfortable and far, far, far more technologically advanced. The end result is this: the 2022 Kawasaki Ultra 310LX JetSki is the most fully-equipped, high performance personal watercraft we’ve had the pleasure of testing in a long time. It does everything everyone else’s skis do and more. If you’re in the market and can wing the near $20,000 price tag, get one. End of story.
Sweden’s Candela P-8 Voyager made its debut at the Salone Nautico in Venice last week. The Voyager is a boat designed to have zero impact on the environment. It is powered by electricity and glides above the water using computer-guided hydrofoils. The hydrofoils are retractable, making for easy storage and mooring of the vessel. The craft is powered by twin submerged ultra-compact Candela C-POD motors, which drive counter-rotating propellers.
The C-POD can operate for 3,000 hours before any service needed. This makes it a great boat for operators in remote locations where technicians are difficult to find, if at all. The P-8 Voyager is updated OTA and connected to Candela’s 24/7 Service department, which can perform remote troubleshooting. It sounds ideal for a remote research vessel, though its intended use is to carry passengers for commercial operations.
It glides silently over the water, leaving only a 5cm wake, which doesn’t disturb sea dwelling creatures or damage beaches and coral reefs. Four-foot swells won’t slow this boat and passengers can kick back in luxury while enjoying a panoramic view of the scenery. The twenty-eight-foot P-8 Voyager carries six passengers and crew in air-conditioned comfort.
The P-8 Voyager goes faster and further than any other electric boat. It tops out at 30knots and has a range of 50 nautical miles at cruise speed. The P-8 Voyager has been developed to replace smaller combustion driven craft like tenders, taxis, and rigid inflatables. Production of the Candela P-8 Voyager is slated for the fall of 2022. Read more about it on the Candela website.
From WaveRunners to motorcycles, and everything in between, Yamaha is known for inspiring generation after generation of powersports enthusiasts through its innovative vehicles and products. That’s why Yamaha Australia decided to launch the Motor Life Passion blog; featuring “stories of people, places, and lifestyles touched by Yamaha.”
According to Yamaha, “The name Motor Life Passion is a combination of three elements that provide the means for what we do. Yamaha Motor encompasses the wide range of products we manufacture for work, for play, and to make everyday tasks easier and more enjoyable. Lifestyle is what we all choose when purchasing and enjoying Yamaha products, and Passion for the Yamaha brand is something we share with our customers and dealers.”
With this new blog, Yamaha fans in Australia and New Zealand – as well as those across the globe – will have the opportunity to share the ways that Yamaha products have made an impact on their lives. The blog is already populated with some great editorial and video content, featuring stories from Yamaha enthusiasts and articles about some of Yamahas most innovative offerings.
“From motorcycles to marine products, urban mobility, next-gen technology, environment issues, and so much more; every day millions of lives around the world are connected to Yamaha in some way. The driving force behind Motor Life Passion is to share some of these amazing stories.” According to Yamaha’s Corporate Branding Department Communications Manager, Chris Dobie.
Radinn has a killer promo running through summer. Buy a complete jetboard kit and score a Power Bundle. The bundle includes a free Jetpack G3 Pro upgrade, a six-month membership to Unleashed, and a Golden Ticket to sweepstakes entries. A complete jetboard kit consists of one of Radinn’s high quality electric jetboards, jetpack, and a battery.
The modular Jetpack provides the propulsion and speed required to get your board moving. The upgrade to the G3 Pro will give you a top speed of about 35 mph and a high performance ride, which is 10 mph more than the standard jetpack. A subscription to Unleashed gives you access to the best surf spots all over the world with a jetboarding guide put together by Radinn riders.
Check out the interactive map to see where members are riding and how often, then go make your own waves! You will also be among the first to know about new products and have access to member’s only content. You will have Unleashed specific tutorials at your fingertips. With the Unleashed membership, you’ll have automatic eligibility into Radinn’s Golden Ticket Sweepstakes.
Contests are reoccurring and you will in the know as to when they happen in your part of the world. Best of all, an Unleashed membership comes with the Unleashed ride mode, which is a turbocharged setting. It is the fastest ride mode yet and delivers 20 percent more hp than the Pro Mode. Grab the rest of the details from the Radinn website and configure your new board kit and save almost $2,000 with the summer promo!
On April 12th, 2022 Christmas came early. My Kawasaki dealer notified me that a 2022 Kawasaki Ultra 310LX-S was just uncrated and was sitting on the showroom floor. Almost in shock, I rushed to the dealer as fast as legally possible. I chose the LX-S model primarily due to the Kawasaki Green color with sharp black and grey accents. I wanted the new Ultra Deck, but cared little about the stereo and speakers making the mid-range LX-S trim a solid choice for me.
From the moment the ski was loaded onto my trailer I meticulously documented my experiences on my YouTube Channel – JD’s WaterWorld. I quickly learned that words and videos alone do no justice for the 2022 Kawasaki Ultra 310. One must ride this venerable beast to truly understand its command of the water.
Fast forward 10 hours, and just over a month, and even when the ski is sitting in my driveway, the adrenaline rush never seems to fade. Some say it is not the ski itself that draws us to a personal watercraft but rather the experience of riding. For me, the experience of riding has been elevated to heights I never knew possible by the 2022 Ultra 310 JetSki.
It all starts with the hull. They say a house is only as strong as its foundation, and Kawasaki continues to provide the ultimate foundation in the form of their fiberglass and gelcoat deep-V hull. This hull handles a stock 310 horsepower and nearly 2,000 lbs. of thrust with ease, and inspires the confidence to tackle even the most challenging ocean conditions safely.
The hull tracks very straight through rough chop, and corners surprisingly tightly for such a large ski. The Kawasaki is incredibly stable at all speeds, and offers a much drier ride than the previous generation Ultra 310s. Fly-by-wire throttle response is instantaneous, and the throttle trigger is weighted just right, reducing trigger-finger fatigue. The KSRD reversing system is easy to use, allowing single handed operation for docking or pulling up alongside another ski or boat.
I really like that the Kawasaki does not need to be heavily modded with aftermarket parts. You don’t need to improve the supercharger or the intercooler. You don’t need to improve the impeller or the jet pump. You don’t need to add a rear-exit exhaust, catch can, or a blow-off valve; these all are included stock. The current generation powertrain has a very low rate of failure, with a proven 5-plus year track record of real-world reliability. The stock performance is very impressive.
Kawasaki finally adopted much of the technology and ergonomics found standard on other brands’ base-model skis- namely a handlebar operated reverse and braking system and a modern display. I appreciate that Kawasaki publishes all of the engine’s specifications, and that the company is straightforward with their curb weight of the vessel.
Riding is a pleasure due to the vastly improved handlebar controls, large well-placed mirrors, and new dash functions. Wider and deeper footwells comfortably accommodate tall riders like me (6’2”), and the new tapered seat facilitates a more comfortable stand-up riding position.
The water deflection and channeling system on the top of the ski works incredibly well, while the splash deflectors molded into the bow minimize spray when plowing through chop. I am really impressed with the size and width of the new Ultra Deck and the versatility of the multi-mount rails. The size and stability of the new rear deck and drop-down step makes boarding from the water very easy.
I have purchased a few different Kawasaki accessories for this ski including the dry bag and the tie-down kit for the Ultra Deck. The tie-down kit is high quality, with anodized aluminum mounting points and stainless-steel hardware. The dry-bag fits perfectly in the gull-wing storage compartment, and keeps wallets, car keys, and paperwork dry.
When it comes to quirks, the gullwing compartments are not waterproof, and it’s very difficult to reach down into the front compartment while on the JetSki. The Ultra 310 also has a full engine cover with only a small access door to check the oil. The cover is easy to remove while on the shore, but could be troublesome if it has to be removed while out on the water.
If the Ultra 310 is filled with stale, old, or lower octane fuel it will throw a “Code 7B” – indicating that the Knock Sensor has detected detonation and triggered the ECU to retard timing- thereby putting the ski into “Limp Mode.” Add octane booster and fresh fuel as soon as possible if you get a “Code 7B – Knock warning.”
Some riders have reported abnormal or persistent “Code 69 – Knock sensor malfunction” warnings. According to the Kawasaki Service Manual, this code is related exclusively to the functioning of the knock sensor itself, and is not an actual issue with fuel or engine knock. Have your dealer conduct a diagnosis on your ski if you come across this issue.
Otherwise, the power delivery is crisp and instantaneous, and the ride is stable and comfortable. The ski gives me the confidence to tackle rough ocean chop common off the shores of South Florida. Running at an average of about 55 mph, my average fuel burn is about 4.8 gallons an hour. With 10 hours under my belt, I can confidently say that the 2022 Ultra 310LX-S is one of the most commanding and fun skis I have ever ridden.
