We’re slipping this one in as close to the wire as we can. Normally, The Watercraft Journal publishes its annual Watercraft of The Year award much earlier in December, but always before Christmas. As you can see by the publishing date, it’s just a couple of days before the holiday. [Yikes!] This year’s podium was a bit tougher than before as many units that we felt could’ve been contenders were out of reach and consequently, excluded from ranking. This is due to a policy we have wherein we do not include vehicles that we at WCJ have not personally tested.
We’ve made our process for ranking any one model as straightforward as possible: each unit is weighed against a specific scale indicating excellence in four categories: Innovation, Design, Execution and Affect or what we call the IDEA score. These categories evaluate a personal watercraft’s achievements in Innovation; overall Design; the final Execution of the production vehicle; and finally, the model’s lasting Affect on the marketplace and/or industry.
Increasing the total possible points to 80 (up from our previous 40-point scale) helped widen the gap between each contender. In previous years, judging required extensive back-and-forth. Not so with this larger points scale. For 2023, no such deliberation was needed as the gaps between our podium are rather significant – particularly as each entry is so considerably unique one from another. Each of these showed excellence in their particular market segment, appealing to very different audiences, but showcasing superior achievements in each of our four categories.
Lastly, regular fans of The Watercraft Journal IRL podcast will note that these final three units are clearly not this author’s preferred personal choices – yet again exemplifying that The Watercraft Journal’s Watercraft of The Year award is not a matter of individual preference but that of recognizing excellence where it is demonstrated. This award is outside of one person’s solitary opinion, but a review of the machines developed and produced for the entirety of the personal watercraft market/audience.
2023 Watercraft of The Year 2nd Runner-Up: 2023 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 Apex
Innovation: 16; Design: 16; Execution: 17; Affect: 14; Total: 63 points
It’s not often that a personal watercraft manufacturer offers a limited edition, mid-production machine. The mere novelty of the 2023 Sea-Doo RXP-X 300 Apex‘s mid-year release is likely a key contributor to the unit’s explosive reception. Well that, and its being teased by Sea-Doo ambassador Anthony Radetic and Formula 1 racer Daniel Ricciardo in Spring of 2022 also helped quite a bit.
Endowed with a European supercar paint scheme, premier graphics and carbon fiber highlights, the Apex also came with a heavy price bump over the standard RXP-X – an additional $4,500, putting it at $20,999 – which also added to the ski’s exclusivity. But that price tag wasn’t just for bragging rights.
The Apex brandished the industry’s first fully-formed carbon fiber hood (a first for a mass production unit); an all-new hydraulically-tensioned, 3-way adjustable steering damper; BRP’s premium Tech Package; and both the single rider bolstered saddle and the optional second rider seat – both wrapped in custom green vinyl.
Weirdly enough, the Apex offered no increase in performance or even a measurable weight savings due to the carbon fiber hood. Heck, Sea-Doo didn’t bother to provide serial numbers for the limited run – but it didn’t matter. Folks came running. In fact, demand was such that dealers were trading units among themselves just to keep customers happy. It was a phenomenon – particularly for during a declining economy.
Again, the Apex was almost identical to the standard RXP-X 300 in every performative way, which is why we at The Watercraft Journal cautioned eager buyers from running off to buy one. Our prediction rightly proved correct as only a few months later did these impulse buyers realize that everything that made their 2023 Apex unique was now standard equipment on the 2024 RXP-X 325 – a model far, far superior to the Apex.
2023 Watercraft of The Year 1st Runner-Up: 2023 Kawasaki Ultra 160LX JetSki
Innovation: 18; Design: 17; Execution: 17; Affect: 13; Total: 65 points
At first blush, many may bristle at the idea that the naturally-aspirated 2023 Kawasaki Ultra 160LX JetSki would rank higher than its 310-horsepower supercharged sibling but they would be missing two key factors: the Ultra 160LX introduces several key industry firsts to the non-supercharged luxury runabout market segment; and this model (and its mid-tier Ultra 160LX-S sibling) demonstrate a commitment to a key segment that Kawasaki had all but ignored for well over a dozen years.
Effectively a carbon copy of the 2022 Ultra 310LX – save for the boosted powerplant – the 160LX retains all of the niceties first debuted the year prior on the aforementioned JetSki, namely LED running bow lights; a full-color TFT digital dashboard operated via a scrolling jog dial; Jetsound 4S four-speaker sound system operated via Bluetooth connectivity; dual USB ports; a wind-deflecting meter visor; an extended Ultra deck; a reverse facing camera; and a smattering of other features.
The Ultra 160LX elevated what a non-supercharged luxury runabout could be; and the efforts were more than just skin deep. Kawasaki poured huge efforts into improving the Ultra’s weight distribution, center of gravity and rider ergonomics (3-way adjustable seating, deeper footwells, pinched knee coves and 5-way adjustable steering). But it’s not all roses: Kawasaki’s sluggish KSRD braking system responds like an afterthought and the Ultra deck’s multi-mount system is utterly inconvenient when compared to Sea-Doo’s LinQ.
Nevertheless, what Kawasaki brought to this hungry market segment is commendable – particularly when one considers the 2023 marks 16 years of the same hull design and 19 years for the powertrain. Priced with a MSRP of $17,299, the Ultra 160LX is nowhere near what you’d call a point-of-entry machine; but for those looking for crème de la crème luxury without the gas guzzling supercharger, this is gonna be your best choice – particularly if you’re looking for optimal rough water traversing in your travels.
2023 Watercraft of The Year: 2023 Sea-Doo Explorer Pro 170
Innovation: 18; Design: 16; Execution: 17; Affect: 18; Total: 69 points
Throughout The Watercraft Journal’s decade of publishing as no single personal watercraft received more scathing criticism than the 2023 Sea-Doo Explorer Pro 170. Simultaneously, has no other PWC received more vocal push-back from its audience in its defense than the Explorer Pro. Despite our detailed disapproval for this unit, the customers absolutely love this thing. And the sales prove it. While some units are still found filling showroom floors, many of the contrivances introduced on the Explorer Pro have been purchased and added to existing units.
Awash in additional LinQ mounts for a cup and extra rod holders, a secondary cargo deck fixed behind the rear passenger, and a revised deck extension, the Explorer Pro was an accessory catalog’s wet dream. A multiplicity of LinQ gas caddies, storage bins and coolers could be arranged and rearranged to meet every individual’s cargo capacity needs. A 7-inch Garmin full-color touchscreen maps the nearby terrain, giving a full view of the area around them and pages chocked full of route mapping and waterways. Neon rub rails adorn the bow and gunwales.
Of course, the windshield lured in many hoping to escape brisk wind or bow spray. The heavily padded saddle and adjustable-height steering neck meant riders can sit further back on the bench or upright as they cruise. In our testing, we found the weight relocation towards the rear (when fully laden) catastrophic to ride enjoyment – something already in question for all ST3-based Sea-Doos. In this form, the characteristic bow hunting of the ST3 hull is exasperated and prone to chine walking (a loose-feeling, walking side-to-side behavior).
In light of this, we admit that the static/low speed balance and stability is second to none. Its dry ride allows the rider to don jeans and a flannel shirt if so inclined. Gone is any semblance of sporty riding but that doesn’t seem to matter; people flocked to the 2023 Explorer Pro 170. Social media groups were organized and excursions scheduled. This machine was a hit. And as noted above, many began to retrofit their current ST3-based Sea-Doos with windshields and extra cargo racks. And for that the 2023 Sea-Doo Explorer Pro 170 earned the points necessary to win the 2023 Watercraft of The Year.
