Tag Archives: xp

SEA-DOO BOUNTY #GOXTEAMGO SPARK CHALLENGE

23 Tuesday Sep 2014

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2015 SEA-DOO SPARK -ACTION A8BRP has long been the leading supporter of watercraft racing and is coming into the 2014 IJSBA World Finals with a special exhibition Sea-Doo #GOXTEAMGO Spark Challenge. As the manufacturer who gave birth to the performance watercraft with the introduction of the 1991 Sea-Doo XP, BRP has continuously set the benchmark in what a performance watercraft is. Today that is defined by the Sea-Doo RXP-X 260, the winningest runabout model of the past two World Championships. Where there are performance machines, there are racers and the Sea-Doo X-TEAM Bounty program rewards the racers who successfully compete on Sea-Doo watercraft.

The Sea-Doo X-TEAM Bounty racer contingency program is the industry’s premier and highest paying contingency program and acts as an, “open-sponsorship” that all riders competing in the designated classes are eligible for extra cash contingencies. The Sea-Doo X-TEAM Bounty is a program BRP offers to help Sea-Doo racers offset some of the financial elements of racing, a program no other OEM offers. The World Finals Bounty payout is strong for 2014 and can make winning a World Championship all the more rewarding.

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In addition to the Sea-Doo X-TEAM Bounty program, BRP supports the majority of the north american race promoters/producers. Sponsorship funds are provided to help elevate the quality and quantity of watercraft racing events and to provide Sea-Doo owners events to feed their competitive spirit.

It has become a tradition for BRP to produce a special Sea-Doo X-TEAM Bounty exhibition competition by inviting the world’s elite Sea-Doo watercraft racers to compete in a special event at the World Finals. For 2014 BRP will be inviting those who have landed on podiums in premier classes during the 2014 season to compete in a special International Race Of Champions (IROC) aboard identically prepared Sea-Doo SPARK watercraft.

The field of ten will qualify Friday evening, October 10th, with the fastest five riders on the slalom course moving on to the final. On Saturday night, those final five X-TEAM riders will compete head-to-head in a five-lap moto during the IJSBA “Bounty Under the Bridge” show, under the London Bridge. Then, on Sunday October 12, Sea-Doo racers will need to complete another three-lap moto 2 on the official World Finals track. The winner of the combined motos will take home $1000 while the other four competitors will claim $100 for their efforts.

2014 Sea-Doo Bounty #GOXTEAMGO SPARK Challenge Invitees include:

With identical Sea-Doo Spark units the competition should be ultra competitive and make for an entertaining show.  The Sea-Doo Spark is the most affordable, light-weight, and easy to use watercraft on the market making the dream of owning a Sea-Doo watercraft more accessible than ever before.

Be part of the world’s strongest performance brand, cheer on the Sea-Doo X-TEAM.

#GOXTEAMGO

TBT-Throwback Thursday: The 1991 Sea-Doo XP

09 Thursday Jan 2014

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1991 XP

#TBT to the 1991 Sea-Doo XP. The XP was the first high performance runabout (or sit-down) watercraft offered by any manufacturer. The XP cruised at speeds of 44 to 46 mph in magazine tests—the fastest of that time. The handling was characterized by the “lean out” riding style of all early Sea-Doo watercraft.

We would love to hear about your experiences with your Sea-Doo XP. Please share a memory or picture with us!

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF THE MODERN SEA-DOO, A VIDEO HISTORY

29 Monday Oct 2012

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In 1988 two young men brought to market a product they knew in their hearts would create an entirely new product segment that would change the recreational products industry forever. These two men were the sons of two men who attempted to do the same thing 20-years prior, but proved to be ahead of their time. In 1988 it was the right time for Pierre Beaudoin (who is now CEO of Bombardier Inc. and son of Bombardier and BRP chairmen of the board, Laurant Beaudoin) and Denys LaPointe (who is now Vice President of BRP product design and innovation and son of Sam LaPointe) to launch the modern Sea-Doo watercraft.

Pierre Beaudoin with the first modern Sea-
Doo watercraft coming off of the Valcourt, Quebec production line.

The 1988 Sea-Doo 5801 model changed what a watercraft was and could do. It was the first two-passenger watercraft with a V-Hull (thus the V-Shape of the logo between the ‘A’ and the ‘D’) rotary-valve engine producing a class leading 55 hp, and capable of cutting through chop and physically capable of pulling a skier (legally, you must now utilize a three-seaters to tow). The 1988 Sea-Doo gave birth to an industry with huge potential and gave Ski-Doo snowmobile dealers a product to market when it wasn’t snowing.

A lot has changed over the past 25 years for the modern Sea-Doo watercraft with technological advances outpacing nearly every other motorized product in the world.  As a result of these advances and focus on on-water performance, fun, and safety, well over 1.2 million people have bought and enjoyed Sea-Doo watercraft with their families and friends.  BRP has been the market share leader in the watercraft industry for 19 of those 26 years and this stems from the passion Bombardier and now BRP puts into every product. Jose Boisjoli (the current President and CEO of BRP) leads the company with the mantra, “product is king” and no where has that proven more true than with the modern Sea-Doo watercraft.

We take a look back over some of the milestone Sea-Doo watercraft models, innovations, awards, accomplishments and fun over the past 25 years. The Sea-Doo brand story is one of historical magnitude in the power sports and marine industries as very few brands have dominating an industry the way the Sea-Doo brand has led the personal watercraft industry.

CELEBRATING 25 YEARS OF THE MODERN SEA-DOO > 1998 SEA-DOO GTX RFI, FIRST CLEANER TECHNOLOGY WATERCRAFT

10 Monday Sep 2012

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By the late 1990’s the personal watercraft industry was nearing ‘maturity’ in the marketing product lifecycle and Bombardier spearheaded the responsibility of responsibly leading the sport into the next era with new, cleaner technology. 1998 marked not only a monumental model year for the Sea-Doo brand but for the entire industry.  The drive for the industry to be more environmentally responsible equaled that of becoming more socially acceptable.  The goal of the Sea-Doo brand team in 1998 was to not only to meet these objectives but also surpass them and ensure Sea-Doo watercraft would elevate the sports status to becoming socially ‘desirable’.

1998 Sea-Doo RFI watercraft

The 1998 Sea-Doo GTX RFI watercraft would be the first production watercraft equipped with cleaner technology including fuel injection and sound suppression. The RFI (Rotax Fuel Injection) system would reduce emissions by up to 30% and increase fuel economy by up to 15% and the D-SEA-BEL sound reduction system would substantially reduce sound emissions. The model would lay the groundwork for all cleaner watercraft technologies to follow.

The RFI system was a semi-direct fuel injection system that supplied fuel at a much more precise, metered rate than standard carburetors. The D-SEA-BEL sound reduction system utilized a series of baffles acoustical foam and Hemholtz resonators to cancel the frequencies irritating to the human ear.   The Sea-Doo GTX RFI would help lead the charge in educating governing bodies around the world on the proactive efforts the industry was taking to address any and all concerns.

1998 Sea-Doo XP Limited watercraft

Performance was also at the forefront of the 1998 Sea-Doo watercraft line with the launch of three ‘Limited’ models with the Sea-Doo XP Limited, GSX Limited, and GTX Limited, all equipped with the new 160 hp Rotax 1000 series twin cylinder engine.  These Limited models distinguished themselves as a “step above” the rest with unmatched power and performance. The 1998 Sea-Doo line will hold an important place in the history of personal watercraft

 

 

25 YEARS OF THE MODERN SEA-DOO > 1994 – Sea-Doo Goes Racing

06 Thursday Sep 2012

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1994 Sea-Doo XP watercraft

In 1994 personal watercraft were all the rage and the industry was growing at an unprecedented rate among recreational products.  The Sea-Doo brand continued to strengthen its new found leadership position with product innovation and aggressive marketing of this relatively new sport.  Performance was at the forefront of product innovation while the cottagers and all around watersports enthusiasts found a new found freedom and the brands new tagline “Everybody’s Doing It!” held true.

Watercraft racing was a prime time sport on ESPN and the personalities were becoming household names as many of the stars began migrating to the runabout class as factory sponsorship and support was now in play. The first Sea-Doo factory support team riders were introduced at the Sea-Doo factory in Valcourt, QC with a dozen of the world’s top riders competing on Sea-Doo XP models. Sea-Doo riders would dominate the IJSBA National Tour that year with a major handling component being developed, the curved sponson. The curved sponson gave these higher performance watercraft better stability at speed and helped cornering ability by digging into the water. Sponsons would make their way on nearly every watercraft that followed.  1992 National Champion Bo Dupriest claiming the hotly contested Pro Runabout National title again in 1994 with a hull/sponson combination elements that would be carried over to future production models.

1994 Sea-Doo GTX watercraft

The 1994 Sea-Doo GTX received upgrades including the addition of the 657 cc Rotax rotary valve engine with tuned pipe and brass insert in the water jet pump, introduced in the XP the year prior.  The growing popularity of the three-seater for towing led to a standard mirror being added for observing skiers.

Development of future product was intense in Valcourt and the Grant, Florida test facility with benchmark models in development as the marketing efforts reached the general population with a mass TV and radio campaign and a dealer network that now spanned North America.

25 YEARS OF THE MODERN SEA-DOO – 1993, TAKING THE LEAD IN MANY MANNERS

05 Wednesday Sep 2012

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1993 Sea-Doo XP watercraft

The Sea-Doo brand was solidified as the design leader of the personal watercraft industry in 1993 with the launch of the second-generation Sea-Doo XP model. The 1993 Sea-Doo XP was truly the next generation high performance watercraft with modern visual design utilizing smooth, flowing lines and integrated vents, handles and seating on an entirely new top deck and hull. The 1993 XP also upped the performance ante among two-seaters with a marine use specific 657cc Rotax rotary valve engine with twin Mikuni carburetors and a tuned pipe producing 65 horsepower.  The power was put to the water with a new brass insert jet pump, capable of efficiently processing the higher horsepower and utilized the first electronic trim system.

1993 saw runabout racing take a strong hold at IJSBA and APBA watercraft races and the Pro class races were now broadcast on ESPN’s Hot Summer Nights coverage of summer sports. Watercraft racing was one of the original extreme sports and the Sea-Doo XP was at the forefront of this movement as the manufacturers began to see the “what wins on Sunday sells on Monday” phenomenon take affect and factory support of racers began.

Also collecting airtime during ESPN’s programming was the Sea-Doo GTX on the Pro Wakeboard Tour where half of the competition was conducted behind the new Sea-Doo GTX three-seater platforms. Pro wakeboard legends such as Scott Byerly, Darin Shapiro, Gator Legert, Russell Gay, Shaun Murray and others took this fledgling sport to prime time behind Bombardier’s support.

This year also was monumental for the industry as the Sea-Doo brand became the new market share leader, surpassing the Kawasaki watercraft brand.

1993 Sea-Doo watercraft line included; Sea-Doo XP, Sea-Doo SPX, Sea-Doo SPi, Sea-Doo SP, Sea-Doo GTX and Sea-Doo GTS, and the unique Sea-Doo Explorer a Direct Drive jet propelled RIB (rigid inflatable boat).

25 YEARS OF THE MODERN SEA-DOO > Defining Luxury Performance Watercraft = GTX

04 Tuesday Sep 2012

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1992 Sea-Doo GTX, the first luxury performance watercraft

Bombardier lead the way in defining specific watercraft for specific users. 1992 was the year the ‘luxury performance’ watercraft customer was defined and a model was specifically designed for those looking for a more refined on-water experience through a more refined watercraft. The Sea-Doo GTX (Grand Touring with Extras) was born and again a new segment of the industry was introduced.  With the GTX people experienced the maximum in engine and Direct Drive Jet Propulsion performance with the engine package introduced in the 1991 XP nestled in the shell of the GT three-seater package with – relative of the times – plush seating and high-end graphics and colorization.

With the launch of the GTX model the Sea-Doo three-seater line was complimented with a more value minded three-seater model, the Sea-Doo GTS.  It was added to the line-up for the all around watersports family.

To promote the fact that the new Sea-Doo GT watercraft were more than capable of doubling as watercraft superstars and viable tow vehicles, Bombardier sponsored the budding Pro Wakeboard Tour. Anheuser-Busch, parents of Budweiser, sponsored ESPN’s “Hot Summer Nights” programming that brought lifestyle sports to the mainstream during prime time Tuesday night summer programming. Part of this programming was the Pro WaterSki Tour and new Pro Wakeboard and Kneeboard Tour where half of the scored pulls were done behind the new Sea-Doo GTX. This marketing effort was done to promote the ability of the Sea-Doo three-seater watercraft in being more than capable of towing these new ‘extreme’ sports and characteristic of being easier and more economical than traditional inboard boats while towing.

Performance was further pushed following the introduction of the Sea-Doo XP.  As the performance runabout continued to gain popularity the 1992 Sea-Doo XP was upgraded with V.T.S. (a manual Variable Trim system) in addition to the rear grab handle and twin carb and tuned pipe performance package. 1992 also marked the first IJSBA National racing Championship for runabouts in which Palm Bay, Florida racer Bo Dupriest claimed the first ever title aboard a Sea-Doo watercraft.

 

25 YEARS OF THE MODERN SEA-DOO – 1991 AND THE BIRTH OF THE MUSCLECRAFT

03 Monday Sep 2012

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Up to 1991, watercraft were general purpose ‘get around on the water’ vehicles. Riders would ride around in a relatively defined area and in some case this led to riding around a “bouy-course” which leads to going around the buoy-course faster than the other guy and this led to looking for more performance.  If they wanted a little more performance they had to look to the aftermarket as production models were very, well, ‘vanilla’ performance wise yet there was a wealth of aftermarket products available to up the performance or give that customized look. Performance out of the box had not been a consideration, until 1991.

The 1991 Sea-Doo XP changed the game. This model changed the perceptions of what was possible straight from the ‘factory’ when Bombardier launched the XP with the first production twin carb (carburetors) system, tuned exhaust pipe, and screaming neon graphics. The XP (extra performance) was the new ‘must have’ vehicle for performance enthusiasts and quickly become the watercraft of choice for the fledgling runabout (sit-down models) closed course racing.

The 1991 Sea-Doo XP was the first high-performance specific production model and gave birth to the term, “Musclecraft”.