Fast Facts Engine: 1,630cc supercharged triple with external intercooler Fuel Capacity: 18.5 gal. Storage Capacity: 40.6 gal. Seating Capacity: 1 (2 w/optional passenger seat) MSRP: $19,199 Three-hundred-and-twenty-five horsepower. Go ahead, take a moment to let that figure sink in. It’s the highest horsepower we’ve ever seen outside the aftermarket. That it’s in any stock ski, let alone Sea-Doo’s already aggressive RXP-X, is mind blowing to those of us who remember when PWC engines were measured in double digits. But if you’re reading this review, you don’t really care about the good old ..read more

Barely a month into 2024, Kawasaki has already tipped at least part of its hand for the 2025 model year – the Jet Ski Ultra 160LX-S Angler. Based on the successful Ultra 160 LX-S platform that borrowed much of the looks and high-tech features of the flagship 310 series, the Angler promises to offer a sizable, stable platform for both inshore and offshore fishing, with the features to satisfy even the most serious PWC fishing enthusiast. Core Fishing Amenities…And Unique Stability Feature Like the Sea-Doo Fish Pro series and RecDeck/JetFish-equipped Yamahas that preceded it, the Angler of ..read more

Yamaha’s VX Cruiser HO was one of several models that received a new infusion of power for 2024. A new 1.9-liter High Output engine ups horsepower to an even 200, makes acceleration more snappy off the bottom end and edges top speed ever higher, all without relying on a gas-hungry supercharger. Power Hungry Fast Facts Engine: Four-cylinder 1,898cc High Output Fuel Capacity: 18.51 gal. Stowage Capacity: 44.5 gal. Seating Capacity: 3 Price: Starting at $13,599 The 2024 1.9-liter (1,898cc) High Output engine isn’t drastically larger than the 2023-and-earlier 1,812cc, but it’s almost completel ..read more

Fast Facts Engine: Three-cylinder 899cc Fuel Capacity: 7.9 gal. Stowage Capacity: .71 gal. Seating Capacity: 1 MSRP: Starting at $9,099 It may seem hard to believe but an entire decade has passed since Sea-Doo unveiled the Spark, a craft that broke the mold both literally and figuratively in the personal watercraft market. Literally it changed PWC hull construction, swapping out fiberglass-based methods for a proprietary blend of polypropylene reinforced with long-strand glass fibers that was lighter than the norm, traded glossy shine for a matte finish and cost less to produce. It also pr ..read more

Fast Facts Motor: Taiga 120 kW Tractive Unit/Sealed Lithium Ion Battery Range: Up to two hours Storage Capacity: Approx 9 gal. Seating Capacity: 2 MSRP: $19,490 Taiga Motors Orca Performance is the real deal. An electric personal watercraft that produces zero emissions, zero noise and zero smell. Unlike Taiga’s first carbon-fiber based model, it also offers a more affordable composite construction and, dare we say, more bang for the buck. But does it live up to current standards set by its gas-consuming competition? And is keeping a PWC charged and ready to roll something the consumer is r ..read more

Looking back, last year’s introduction of the one-off RXP-X Apex should have probably been a hint that Sea-Doo hadn’t forgotten about high-performance. For 2024 the Canadian manufacturer has done that craft one better, putting a new, industry-leading 325 horsepower into both the RXP-X and RXT-X. Meanwhile the former 300hp engine now reinvigorates the new GTR-X 300, in the process making it quite possibly the ultimate bang for the buck. That’s not to say the ’Doo has gone on some kind of performance bender. At the opposite end of the spectrum, the Spark may not get more power but a redesign and ..read more

When Yamaha first brought out their 1.8-liter engine platform, t-shirts were emblazoned with the logo “There’s No Replacement For Displacement.” The company revisits that slogan once again for 2024, unveiling a naturally aspirated 1.9-liter that’s rated at an even 200 horsepower…and showcases snappy new performance to benefit both the WaveRunner and Jet Boat lines. Supersize Me The new 1.9 L HO (High Output) engine is a naturally aspirated, 1,898cc, 16-valve four-stroke, producing, as noted, 200 horsepower. It’s the largest displacement engine yet from the manufacturer, replacing the former 1 ..read more

You may have missed a rather significant milestone in PWC history last year. With Kawasaki’s introduction of Kawasaki Smart Reverse & Deceleration (KSRD) on the flagship Ultra, all three major OEMs finally offered a modern electronic reverse and deceleration system. Sea-Doo, of course, pioneered Intelligent Brake & Reverse (iBR) nearly 15 years ago. Yamaha followed with Reverse with Intuitive Driver Electronics (RiDE) for the 2016 model year. Both systems revolutionized a PWC’s manners in tight quarters, allowing drivers to dock with ease, precisely navigate crowded marinas or launch r ..read more

Fast Facts Engine: Three-cylinder 1,630cc Fuel Capacity: 15.9 gal. Stowage Capacity: 42.5 gal. Seating Capacity: 3 MSRP: Starting at $13,299 Fast…and affordable. It’s a Holy Grail of sorts for many personal watercraft enthusiasts, but as you might expect easier said than done. Sea-Doo accomplishes the feat on the GTR 230 by following a familiar mix-and-match approach. Power is provided by the 230hp version of the Rotax 1630 ACE engine, while its surrounding enclosure is lifted from the recreational GTI lineup. The result is near flagship speed for a little over $13,000… …and yet a craft st ..read more

Fast Facts Engine: Four-cylinder 1,498cc DOHC Fuel Capacity: 21.1 gal. Stowage Capacity: 44.5 gal. Seating Capacity: 3 Price: Starting at $17,299 We got our first look at the Kawasaki Ultra 160LX in January, and in mid-April we finally got the change to ride the craft, joining a press-only, nearly 120-mile run on the Sacramento River. Since our first look story was fairly thorough, we thought we’d do our full review a little differently, focusing on some of the craft’s most-hyped features…and if they lived up to the pre-ride hype. Standout Feature For all the cool new tech that trickled d ..read more