Monthly Archives: November 2012

WELCOME TO THE WATER: The A to Z List of Useful Personal Watercraft Tips

29 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in Sea-Doo Lifestyle

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2012 Sea-Doo GTI Limited 155

From A to Z, we have compiled a list of 26 useful personal watercraft tips…can you think of any others????

A:  A watercraft anchor is useful when you want to stop and enjoy the marine life or throw out a line.

B: Brakes. Sea-Doo offers the only watercraft in the industry with our Intelligent Brake and Reverse (iBR). This technology allows riders to stop up to 100 feet sooner than with any other watercraft. * Our brake and reverse levers allows riders to keep both hands on the handlebars, which give you the maximum amount of control.

C: Cover. A watercraft cover provides added security and peace of mind when storing or towing your Sea-Doo. Sea-Doo offers a full line up of versatile, color-matching covers with a strapless design that provides easy installation and a patented air release vent system when trailering.

D: D.E.S.S., Sea-Doo’s Digitally Encoded Security System (D.E.S.S) prevents unauthorized use. Each watercraft is embedded with a microchip that is engaged with each lanyard. When starting your Sea-Doo 1 beep means it is ready to start, 2 beeps means readjust the key and push the button again.

E: ECO mode. One of the advanced iTC system many power delivery modes, is the award winning Sea-Doo ECO mode that provides up to 46% improved fuel consumption. When a rider activates ECO mode, the engine automatically calibrates the most economical operating speed saving money at the fuel dock and helps riders stay out on the water longer.

F: Fire Extinguisher. Sea-Doo personal watercraft are considered Class A inboard motor vessels and must adhere to the same Coast Guard regulations and standards as any other powerboats in this category. You must have a Coast Guard approved marine rated fire extinguisher on board your personal watercraft.

G: Gasoline. Sea-Doo watercraft, powered by ROTAX engines, can run on 87 octane, but we recommend 91 octane for supercharged models.

H: Hashtag #seadoo if you Tweet, when commenting on your Sea-Doo on Twitter. And follow us while you are at it!

I: iControl. BRP’s “iControl” technology is available in every watercraft category in the line making premium technologies available at a value minded price. “iControl” is the umbrella term BRP uses that includes the iBR system (Intelligent Brake and Reverse), iS (intelligent Suspension) system and the iTC (Intelligent Throttle Control) system.

J: Direct Drive Jet propulsion. Sea-Doo watercrafts are powered by Direct Drive jet propulsion and deliver more horsepower per dollar, superior handling, increased peace of mind and a better overall experience on the water!

K: Kids—make sure you are aware of your local boating ages before allowing your kids to drive the Sea-Doo.

L: Learning Key. Sea-Doo’s learning key limits engine speed, allowing first time users and inexperienced riders to develop skills and confidence in a controlled manner.

M: Maintenance. To get the most reliable performance, Sea-Doo recommends regular maintenance with your local dealership.

N: No wake zones. Always be aware of no wake zones when riding in a new area. Sea-Doo models models with cruise control include a Slow Speed Mode. To activate, when in neutral, hold down the cruise button. Slow Speed Mode is the perfect mode to navigate the No Wake zones.

O: Oil. XPS is the recommended oil for all Sea-Doo watercraft. We have a current promotion on XPS 4-Stroke oil. Purchase XPS 4-Stroke Oil and you could win a new Can Am ATV Outlander or a new Sea-Doo GTS 130 watercraft. See your local dealer for details. The contest ends Dec. 31, 2012, so act NOW!

P: PFD. A PFD (personal floatation device) must be worn at all times when operating a Sea-Doo watercraft. Sea-Doo offers a full line of PDFs for men, women and children of all ages.

Q: Quality. Sea-Doo watercraft and boats provide Quality time on the water with friends and family.

R: Retractable Boarding Step. Sea-Doo offers a retractable boarding ladder designed specifically for Sea-Doo watercraft. These boarding steps are spring loaded and designed to stay in the UP position when not in use. These make re-boarding your Sea-Doo watercraft simple and easy.

S: Sea-Doo Speed Tie. These speed ties eliminate slimy, wet, tangled dock ropes and unclutters your storage area.

T: Retractable Tow Pylon. To help simplify towing tubers, skiers or wake skaters, Sea-Doo offers a tow pylon that is retractable and provides an easy, high-rise pylon that includes built-in spotter grab rails.

U: Understand your local boating laws, licensing requirements, signs and waterways.

V: Value. Sea-Doo provides excellent value. Sea-Doo watercrafts include standard equipment such as iControl, including iBR and iTC, come standard in every watercraft category.

W: Wake! Sea-Doo WAKE models are the watercraft choice of the best wake athletes in the world (such as the Nike 6.0 Wake Skate team) and are the only watercraft specifically designed for tow sports.

X: X-Team Tuesday. Meet, learn about and follow the Sea-Doo X-team riders on our blog every Tuesday.

Y: YUASA is the Sea-Doo recommended replacement battery, they can be purchased through your local dealer.

Z: Zebra Mussels are harmful aquatic hitchhikers and these invasive crustaceans disrupt the traditional aquatic food chains of many inland lakes. These voracious mussels enter into fragile ecosystems and impact the lake’s ecological food cycles. These crustaceans can spread to inland waters by being transported as hitch hikers attached to PWC and boat hulls, engines or other services. Many lakes require watercraft to be thoroughly cleaned and dried before travelling between waterways. Be cautious when operating your Sea-Doo in inland lakes and abide by all posted rules regarding potential transportation of this invasive species.

* Based on BRP internal testing. Traveling at 50 mph (80.47km/h).

X-TEAM TUESDAY – Sea-Doo Pulls Evan Thompson To The Red Bull Night Riders Win

20 Tuesday Nov 2012

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Red Bull Night Riders Winner Evan Thompson

Red Bull produces to out of the ordinary extraordinary events, all with the theme “Gives You Wings”. This past weekend in Flagler Beach on North Florida’s east coast the Red Bull Night Riders event was powered by the Red Bull Sea-Doo watercraft. Six elite Tow-At surfers were invited to compete at the special night time tow-at event with Evan Thompson keeping it in the family with the wins after his brother Codytook the crown at the previous year’s event.

Many are familiar with ‘Tow-In’ surfing where Sea-Doo watercraft are used to tow surfers into massive waves that they could never paddle into, usually in the Pacific ocean. With the smaller waves of the Atlantic Sea-Doo watercraft are used to ‘Tow-At’ or being pulled at the waves for extreme aerial moves and with the ability to catch 20 waves int eh time it would take to catch three by paddling. To add to the dramatics Red Bull would produce the event at night, under the lights of the near by pier.

A Sea-Doo WAKE 155 was used for its nimble handling and rock solid performance in the extreme conditions.

For complete details on Evan Thompson’s steller Night Riders win click here for the Transworld Surf Article.

NOTE: This is a closed area with professional drivers at the controls, do not attempt any of these maneuvers and never ride your personal watercraft after dusk and before sunrise.

What Kind of Sea-Doo are YOU?

19 Monday Nov 2012

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WELCOME TO THE WATER: Where to Ride? Just ask fellow enthusiasts….

15 Thursday Nov 2012

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There is no better day than exploring the local channels, lakes, oceans, rivers or waterways on your Sea-Doo.  But, how do you find the best spots to explore? Especially if you are new to an area or looking for a unique vacation destination?

Many enthusiast sites exist that focus on riding a personal watercraft. Some of these sites use user generated content while others are written by experienced riders to inform and educate fellow watercraft enthusiasts.

Here are a few sites you can access if you are looking for that perfect escape on the water.

Personalwatercraft.com:  http://www.personalwatercraft.com

This site is full of information about watercraft. It features reviews, maintenance and technical advice and also has many blog posts featuring PWC riding, travel, fun destination and much more.  They offer a great one-stop, everything you need to know about riding a PWC, website.

GreenHulk PWC Performance Forums: http://www.greenhulk.net

GreenHulk is a PWC enthusiast forum that offers users the opportunity to post questions, engage with other PWC enthusiasts and is a great place to start when doing any type of PWC research.   Their Local Rides and Events forum includes multiple sub forums that includes global ride opportunities and much more.

PWC Trailfinder: http://www.pwctrailfinder.com/

A site dedicated to PWC Trailriding with owner writer and user generated content.  This website id dedicated to PWC adventures and travel.  The trails contain downloadable turn-by-turn GPS tracking and include identifiable on-water markers and more.  Users can also download directions by PDF.   This site was co-founded by Bill “83 Gator” Crew Jr., and Shawn McKee, two Louisiana enthusiasts, and is designed to share information with PWC enthusiasts.

The Intrepid Cottager: http://www.intrepidcottager.com/

One of our featured bloggers, Craig Nicholson, is a rider from Canada and is an enthusiast who chronicles his trips on the Canadian waters.  He has been riding Sea-Doo watercraft since the early 90’s and loves exploring new places and visiting different on-water destinations.

We also have a few blog posts about riding in the US:

•Where to ride in Texas

•Where to ride in Florida

•Where to ride in Minnesota

•Where to ride in Chicago

•Where to ride in California

•Where to ride in New York

What about you? Are there any sites you visit for riding or boating advice?  Do you have any amazingly sweet spots that you are willing to share with your fellow Sea-Doo enthusiasts?  Let us know!

 

THE INTREPID COTTAGER: Riding in the Rain

13 Tuesday Nov 2012

Posted by in The Intrepid Cottager

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Riding in the rain isn’t something I choose to do. But sometimes on long day-rides or tours it’s unavoidable.

Before setting out on my Sea-Doo watercraft, I carefully and frequently check the marine forecast and weather radar for the specific riding area. If the probability of precipitation is 40% or more, we either change the time (ride earlier, later, shorter) or location of the ride. If there’s much chance of thunderstorms or we can’t change the ride, we cancel. Still, we get caught occasionally.

If you’re thinking, “What’s the problem with a nice, warm rain?,” you’ve probably never experience rain riding. It’s not the getting wet; it’s what I call the pain of a million pinpricks. Yes, those drops that are so gentle when you’re sitting still, feel like pinpricks on any bare flesh while you’re moving. And the faster you go, the greater the pain. Besides avoiding sunburn, this is another reason I always ride covered (see my blog posting: Riding Protected). Rain can hit unexpectedly at any time. With little bare skin exposed, it doesn’t hurt, except on your bare face…

The face is very vulnerable and rain also makes it harder to see. Wearing a ball cap and glasses or Sea-Doo goggles certainly helps, but the best bet is a facemask. Often worn by anglers in high-speed bass boats, these lightweight, plastic shields slip easily over your face to provide full coverage and have a polycarbonate lens to see through. For 2012, BRP Envinrude sells a good one. Alternatively, a neoprene facemask made for snowmobiling will also work.

With no pain to distract you, riding in the rain can actually be fun, provided you can see well enough and there’s no thunder and lightning. But you’re likely going to get wet. So the big deal is to stay warm. Warm and wet is fine. Cold and wet is miserable. Once again, my long sleeves and pants help to keep me warm by breaking wind contact with my skin. The Sea-Doo Men’s Neoprene Riding Jacket will help hold in body heat. The good news is that most unexpected summer rains dissipate quickly and the sun soon returns to dry you out. Talk to you next time!

For more information about the Intrepid Cottager, visit: http://www.intrepidcottager.com/

 

WELCOME TO THE WATER: Basic Tips for New Sea-Doo Owners

08 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in Sea-Doo Lifestyle

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2012 Sea-Doo GTI Limited 155

The open water beckons to new Sea-Doo owners….rushing over the water, exploring local lakes, rivers and oceans and spending quality time with family and friends.

Whether this is your first Sea-Doo or your fifth, these tips are designed to help you get out on the water to help you enjoy your watercraft….

•  Attach your key lanyard to your PFD before you start the watercraft. This may seem like a simple step, but it is a very important step to ensure your safety. If you fall off of the watercraft this will ensure that it will immediately stop the engine.

•  Know where to locate the START/STOP button. Depending on the brand of your watercraft, this START/STOP button could be located in different places.  Before you head out on the water, you will need to know where this button is, or how to pull off the lanyard to stop the watercraft.  The time to locate this and become familiar with how to turn off the engine is before you venture out on the water.  Novice watercraft riders tend to become nervous when docking or beaching the watercraft for the first time so you will need to be familiar with the location and functionality.

•  Familiarize yourself with the controls at the dock.  Sea-Doo watercraft have multiple modes and features such as intelligent Brake and Reverse (iBR) that includes on-water brakes, reverse, neutral, etc., Sport mode, Eco mode.  All Sea-Doo watercraft start in neutral and touring mode for consistent power delivery but can be changed to Sport mode at the touch of a button.  The best time to familiarize yourself with all of the modes and functions is before you head out on the water. Or before you open it up and head full speed down the straight aways.

•  Check your gas gauge and ensure you have a full tank.  Sea-Doo watercraft’s Rotax engines are developed to run on 87 octane, with 91 octane recommended for supercharged watercraft.  Filling up the watercraft at a gas station prior to putting them in the water is more economical as on-water gas stations are taxed at a higher rate and charge premium prices for the convenience of filling up on the water.

•  Sea-Doo watercraft have a recommended break in period of 10 hours. When engines are new it needs a wear-in timeframe to ensure optimum peformance. During this period you should operate the boat at different RPM levels from low to high. During the initial break-in, don’t run the boat wide open. Refrain from jamming the throttle forward and caving into your passengers wishes of “Let’s open this baby up and see what she can do!” You will find plenty of time for that later.

•  Keep all of your important paperwork on board in a waterproof pouch.  It is always wise to be prepared in the case of an emergency or in case you are stopped by the Marine Patrol.  Carry your Boater Safety Card, registration, picture ID, insurance information and any other paperwork you deem necessary easily and quickly accessible.

These are just a few tips to make your first Sea-Doo experiences fun and safe! Do you have any other tips that you found useful when you were first learning to ride a Sea-Doo?  Please share!

 

MUST HAVE OF THE MONTH: Sea-Doo Intelligent Brake and Reverse

07 Wednesday Nov 2012

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MUST HAVE OF THE MONTH: Sea-Doo Intelligent Brake and Reverse. Have you experienced our iBR? ONLY Sea-Doo watercraft come standard with a brake. Here is a short video that explains just how it works!

BRP REDEFINES HIGH-PERFORMANCE WATERCRAFT WITH WORLD CHAMPIONSHIP INNOVATION

05 Monday Nov 2012

Posted by in Sea-Doo Lifestyle, X-TEAM Profile

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BRP’s award winning Sea-Doo RXP-X 260 leads the strongest high-performance line-up in watercraft history. BRP invented the performance watercraft in 1991 and has led the industry in this segment ever since. The 2013 Sea-Doo high-performance family includes five models led by the RXP-X 260, the decorated, world championship-winning model that changed the definition of watercraft in this segment. The RXP-X 260 offers a T3 hull and Ergolock system, empowering riders to ride like pros with less effort. This high-performance family includes the Sea-Doo RXP-X 260, RXT-X aS 260, RXT-X 260, RXT 260 and the popular GTR 215. 

2013 Sea-Doo RXP-X 260 

BRP’s Sea-Doo RXP-X 260 became the new standard in the high-performance arena by winning the IJSBA Pro Open & GP racing World Championships, and the European tour Pro Stock and GP Championships. The RXP-X is also the recipient of the prestigious National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) Innovation Award, the Red Dot Design Award, and was named 2012 “PWC of the Year” by PWCToday.com.

The 2013 RXP-X 260 enters its second year of setting new performance standards with an ominous visual appeal, ingenious hull design and reinvented ergonomics that allows riders to realize 100% of their riding potential. The T3 hull design allows the RXP-X 260 to aggressively lean into corners and penetrate chop better than any of its two-seater counterparts. T3 stands for “tight-turning t-hull” and uses an advanced, dual surface hull design with a unique combination of soft and hard chines, dual axis adjustable rear sponsons and performance trim tabs. This allows the rider to turn tighter and faster, leaving the competition green with envy.

The revolutionary Ergolock system integrates a narrowing, body-molded racing seat, Adjustable Ergonomic Steering (A.E.S.) system and angled footwell wedges, all complementing the aggressive, lean-in characteristics. With the A.E.S. system, the rider can adjust the handlebar width and grip angle for a perfect upper body connection. The unique RXP-X 260 seat form-fits the rider’s lower body, alleviating upper body strain in hard turns, connecting the rider to the machine, and ultimately the water, better than any other two-seater. Following the dominating World Championship-winning performance of Sea-Doo X-TEAM rider, James Bushell, aboard the T3 hull, the racing community has turned to the RXP-X 260 as the new standard on race-circuits worldwide. With over a year of aftermarket performance parts development, the RXP-X 260 can be customized to fit any enthusiasts’ desires. BRP’s Intelligent Brake and Reverse (iBR) and Intelligent Throttle Control (iTC) systems make the 2013 RXP-X 260 the most feature and technology rich two-seater in high-performance watercraft history.

2013 Sea-Doo RXT-X aS 260 

The Sea-Doo RXT-X aS 260 features a high output, supercharged Rotax 4-TEC engine with intercooler and race-inspired features, making this open water runner the ultimate offshore watercraft. The exclusive Sea-Doo iControl technologies provide rough water riders more comfort to push performance with full rider suspension calibrated for heavy offshore conditions. The adjustable suspension system (aS) features a compression-adjustable FOX damper and mechanical spring preload adjustment mechanism. The RXT-X aS 260 model boasts heavy sea condition enhancements including: adjustable rear sponsons, adjustable trim tabs and bow stabilizers integrated with the wave penetrating S3 hull design to give the rider greater stability and control at speed. Sea-Doo X-series watercraft are the only models equipped with standard race-inspired features including: custom steering system with A.E.S., grip, groove seat, X-series traction mats and digital infocenter with boost indicator and lap timer. The RXT-X aS 260 model also comes equipped with BRP’s exclusive iBR and iTC systems with ECO mode.

2013 Sea-Doo RXT-X 260 

BRP’s 2013 Sea-Doo RXT-X 260 is equipped with advanced X-TEAM racing components that put this model in a class of its own. The non-suspended RXT-X 260 model integrates the precise turning S3 hull with adjustable rear sponsons. The RXT-X 260 watercraft is equipped with standard race specific features including: steering system with A.E.S grip, groove seat, digital infocenter with integrated lap timer and boost indicator, X-Series traction mats, and high-performance variable trim system (VTS). It also features iBR and iTC systems with ECO mode and quick-set Sport/Touring modes.

2013 Sea-Doo RXT 260 

BRP’s 2013 Sea-Doo RXT 260 is fully equipped with a high output, supercharged Rotax 4-TEC engine with intercooler and all of the benefits of the Sea-Doo exclusive iControl technologies. The RXT 260 model comes equipped with iBR and iTC with customizable power delivery modes including ECO mode. The RXT 260 features a S3 hull for improved handling and stability, touring and sport mode calibrations for linear power delivery or more aggressive acceleration, tilt steering with integrated digital infocenter, high-performance VTS, hinged seat for easy engine access, watertight removable storage bin and fuel consumption displays among many more.

2013 Sea-Doo GTR 215 

BRP’s 2013 Sea-Doo GTR 215 is based on the playful yet predictable handling of the GTI platform while offering more power from its supercharged Rotax 4-TEC marine engine. The GTR 215 carries the Sea-Doo performance heritage with strong acceleration and handling prowess. It’s easily tunable with aftermarket accessories. The GTR 215 is also fully equipped with the Sea-Doo iControl technologies including iTC and award-winning iBR system, allowing the rider to stop up to 100 feet sooner than any other watercraft*. The Sea-Doo GTR 215 features: integrated infocenter, high-performance VTS, 116 liters (30.5 US gallons) of storage and grip and groove seat.

The 2013 Sea-Doo performance family includes the right model for every high-performance enthusiast. IJSBA racers worldwide have made the Sea-Doo RXP-X 260 the new standard in closed course racing, led by World Champions James Bushell (UK) and Chris MacClugage (USA). The Sea-Doo RXT 260 platform is the offshore World Championship watercraft of France’s Cyrille Lemoine, and the Sea-Doo GTR 215 is the ideal combination of playfulness and performance for racers worldwide. High-performance enthusiasts turn to Sea-Doo for a pro-caliber, world championship worthy watercraft to dominate their local waters.

2012 Riva Hyrdodrag Fall Nationals–this weekend in Central Florida

01 Thursday Nov 2012

Posted by in Events, X-TEAM Profile

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The 2012 RIVA Racing HydroDrag Fall Nationals, sponsored by BRP Sea-Doo, will be held at the USA Water Ski Complex in Polk County, Fla., November 2-4.  The event attracts racers from across the USA vying for a share of the cash and prize purse, USA National Titles the prestigious International Title, the Drag Racing World Cup, as recognized by the International Jet Sports Boating Association (IJSBA).

The event kicks off on Friday and activities and races are scheduled through Friday evening. The event schedule is listed below, but we also recommend visiting the event website in case of any late schedule changes.

Friday, Nov 2nd
9am ~ 12pm Late Registration / Check-in
12pm Safety Meeting and Orientation
1pm ~ 3pm X-Scream Launch Pad Practice – All Classes
3pm ~ 5pm Slalom Competition
7pm ~ 8pm Racers Welcome Party – Hooters/Lakeland
Saturday, Nov 3rd
9am Hydro Stock Qualifying and Semi Finals
11am Hydro Limited Qualifying and Semi Finals
1pm ~ 2pm Freestyle Demo
Lunch Break
2pm Miss HydroDrag Bikini Contest
2:30pm ~ 4:30pm Hydro Superstock Qualifying and Semi Finals
4:30pm ~ 5:30pm Speed Alley – All Classes
Sunday, Nov 4th
9am ~ 11am Hydro Unlimited Qualifying and Semi Finals
11am ~ 12pm Lunch
12pm ~ 1pm Flat Water Freestyle Championships
1pm Hydro Stock Finals
1:30pm Hydro Limited Finals
2pm Hydro Superstock Finals
3pm Hydro Unliminted Finals
4pm Pro Hydro-X Tour Ramp Jump Demo
5pm Awards

For more event information click HERE to be redirected to the Riva Hyrdodrag website.