PWCs make a splash
This year, Yamaha is making waves in the personal water craft industry. Its nanotechnology, using a high compression moulding process rather than layered fibreglass, may soon be the standard in hull production.
“NanoXcel hulls, decks and liners are 25 percent lighter than comparable components,” says Jean Francois Rioux, Yamaha spokesperson. “They are significantly increasing performance and handling.”
The new hull design is coupled with a Super High Output engine: a 1.8 litre, 1812cc, supercharged, intercooled, four-stroke high performance engine -- the largest displacement motor ever in a personal watercraft.
Some other features that prompted Popular Science magazine to award the 2008 Yamaha FX SHO the “Best of What’s New” in the recreation category include the industry's first Cruise Assist(TM) feature that allows the operator to set and maintain a desired speed for effortless cruising and towing, and No Wake Mode(TM) that sets the engine at an optimal speed for no wake speed zones. In addition the FX Cruiser SHO features reverse with traction control technology for unmatched manoeuvrability while in reverse.
“Our safety features make it optimal for recreational use,” says Rioux. “A 12-foot jet increases visibility to other boaters, our Learning Mode reduces top speed by 30 percent and our OTS (Off Throttle Steering) will hold the RPMs for a few seconds so that steering is still possible even if the throttle is released.”
Honda Canada is putting big power on the water with the all-new AquaTrax® F-15X. It's a bigger presence everywhere, with a bigger hull, more power and more of the features that set Honda apart. The all-new sculpted hull gives this three-person watercraft incredible handling with amazing turning ability. Propelled by a new, powerful 16-valve 1470cc turbocharged four-cylinder engine, when you open the throttle, it responds with pure performance.
Safety takes on a whole new meaning with three-person watercrafts as they get bigger and faster. Honda engineers focused on predictable and smooth power delivery, thus the AquaTrax features a Limit Mode which provides a lower to-speed setting that is ideal for beginners, borrowers and rental users. Its Ignition Control System (ICS) senses low oil pressure and/or abnormally high coolant temperatures and limits or shuts off engine operation if necessary. If oil pressure drops below the optimum level, the ICS limits engine speed to 3,000 rpm to help prevent the operator from being stranded out in the water. Learn more about the Honda AquaTrax at .
Bombardier Recreational Products (BRP) is poised to capture the entire market demographic with a full range of Sea-Doo products, from luxury to muscle craft. With the introduction of three new models for 2008, the company is covering all the bases including keeping emissions low and earning the highest available 3-star rating from the California Air Resources Board.
“The new RXP X and the RXT X are the most powerful watercrafts in the industry with 255 horse power and going 0 to 85 km/hr in 2.9 seconds, this is faster than the ultimate car, the Ferrari F430,” says Sea-Doo marketing director Louis Levesque.
This two-seater’s pinpoint handling lets you dig into every turn and pull off manoeuvres that riders of a lesser craft couldn’t even fathom. With a 255 hp Rotax engine and acceleration that demands you hold on tight, a leisurely cruise can quickly turn into a butterfly-inducing sprint. One look at its sleek, performance styling and burning up the water will be the only thing on your mind.
For anyone looking to buy a PWC specifically designed for water sports like wake boarding, the Wake might be perfect. The first and only watercraft designed specifically for water sports, it features an innovative new ballast system that sculpts the perfect wake, along with enough power to spring you out of the water before you’re done yelling “Hit it!” It combines power with features like a retractable ski pylon, a removable board rack and a reboarding step. With tons of storage space, convex mirrors that allow you to see well behind, and its T-bar tow system, it’s a natural for the enthusiast who likes convenience and safety.
“We created a learning key that gives a less experienced rider the option of limiting speed to two choices: 55 km/hr or 80 kn/hr,” says Levesque. “So for beginners or young drivers, you can reduce the risks associated with speed.” For sudden throttle release, the company has created sides vanes that will automatically deploy to provide directional assistance.
Kawasaki Jet Skis offer extreme PWC excitement. Their model line-up focuses on family fun and aggressive sports. The three-seater Jet Ski has adventure enthusiasts and family in mind, while the SXR, the only stand-up PWC on the market, sports a high-performance 781cc twin-cylinder Marine engine that delivers serious thrust for serious acceleration and fun.
Despite its agreeable price, the STX-15F also boasts plenty of premium features including digital fuel injection, generous onboard storage, crisp LCD instrumentation, a retractable boarding step, rearview mirrors and even a Smart Learning Operation (SLO) button that limits engine power while you’re learning to ride.
And finally, the Jet Ski Ultra® 250X pulls holeshots like a dragster and rips across open water like what it is—the most powerful personal watercraft in Kawasaki history.
After a decrease in PWC sales a couple of years ago due to bad press about safety and emissions, purchases are now picking up in Canada and the US. Watercraft enthusiasts are finding safer ways to enjoy the water, especially with the regulations that have given them more knowledge. But, they still find ways to get that adrenaline rush, whether it’s on a sport craft or a luxury family model.
Perhaps that’s why California’s Aquajet, inventor of the Jetbike, is looking for Canadian investors, and to move the company north.
“We developed the first motorcycle for water,” explains Gerald Wiegert, company founder and developer. “We are probably ahead of our time, but the Canadian market seems more open to that.”
The Jetbike is a Grand Prix motorcycle styled aquatic superbike, which represents the "invention of a new sport: motorcycling on water. It’s a cross between a motorcycle and a Jet Ski. The principal difference between this and other PWCs is that the Jetbike has dual, simultaneously controlled, front and rear steering and is very narrow, like a motorcycle. Patented vented ballast chambers fill with water as the bike slows down and evacuates the water when the bike speeds up. This design provides superior handling and safety features that no other watercraft offers. It is highly manoeuvrable, like a motorcycle, even in a "power off" condition, and is the world's first and only motorcycle for the water.
The Canadian market, like most around the world, is comprised of a huge group of baby boomers that are moving into the retirement world. Their more affluent status allows them to have the cottage at the lake, which can be a big draw for the kids to come home to, if they have the right accessories.
“Having a PWC at the dock is a great draw for family weekends,” says Levesque. “We are finding a lot more first time buyers are looking for the three-seater leisure models that give family versatility without giving up the thrills.”
Of course, if three seats aren’t enough, buyers can add the after-market Jetscape Sport -- a boat hull that a PWC slides into, providing the power. With seating for eight to nine people, it makes a family vacation a little cozier.
After-market additions and accessories can truly add to the retail sale. BRP is one of the few companies that have developed a full line of accessories including clothing and a breathable PFD that provides more comfort than most of the standards.
“Women probably control 75 percent of the disposable income,” says Patenaude from Honda. “So the next generation of PWCs needs to include women with additions like power steering and easy manoeuvrability for those with less upper body strength.”
It’s a big market, and right now it’s wide open. CPT
