The official RU-vid channel for WatercraftZone.com.au, a website about Jet Skis and personal watercraft based in Australia.
Watercraft Zone is a website about Jet Skis and personal watercraft.
We cover news, reviews, advice on Jet Skis and personal watercraft - on Sea-Doo, Yamaha, Kawasaki and others - and lifestyle aspects of the sport.
Based in Australia, Watercraft Zone is a website to help buyers make informed decisions when choosing a Jet Ski or personal watercraft.
We chose the name Watercraft Zone so we could include all brands - and leave room for new types of personal watercraft.
You can read about the evolution of personal watercraft, its inventor, and the Jet Ski name here. watercraftzone.com.au/jet-ski-history-personal-watercraft/
Good luck in your search for a new Jet Ski or personal watercraft, and please let us know what else you would like to see on the site: info@watercraftzone.com.au
Great question. It’s not clear at this stage whether Kawasaki will make those parts available as accessories for other Ultra owners. However, at some point, we expect the pods will be added to the spare parts list so owners of the Angler can replace damaged parts. Perhaps that is the way to get them. The parts list for this model is yet to be released to the best of our knowledge. Be sure to check with your Kawasaki Jet Ski dealer. Thanks again for the note.
The whole problem with these from the beginning and still today is they have no brakes, maneuverability is very difficult. You have to scoot around on the seat since you cannot stand and walk around the craft with the seat being in the way of everything or every position you might want to be in on either side or front to back. If there are other crafts near you, boats and otherwise you are going to struggle moving around them without hitting them. Out in wide open water it is not a problem of course.
Thanks for your note. In fact the latest models from all three brands - Sea-Doo, Yamaha and Kawasaki - have very effective reverse triggers that act like a brake and help wash off speed. The Sea-Doo reverse trigger delivers even sharper deceleration than the Yamaha and Kawasaki set-ups. Low speed movements are also much easier now thanks to forward and reverse triggers.
Now, now. Don’t be like that. This query comes up a lot. Jet Ski is now a widely used, globally accepted, generic term for these craft. Anytime they are mentioned on the TV news they are referred to as Jet Skis. When people research online they search ‘Jet Ski’ not ‘personal watercraft’. Kawasaki hasn’t fought the generic use of the Jet Ski terminology for years.
Too big. Too heavy. Starts to roll over in the sea when the gunnels fill up. Doe’s cut throu chop well. Buy a boat instead 😂. Sold my one after 4 hours.
We hear you. It’s a close call in many ways. But if choosing between the Kawasaki Ultra 160 and the Yamaha FX HO 1.9, we would lean towards the Yamaha. Both are thirsty (for non-supercharged skis) but the Yamaha has a more comfortable riding position, larger bow storage, a larger centre console, a higher top speed, better acceleration, and the FX is also a great hull in the chop.
@@WatercraftZone I am likely a couple years away from purchasing a new pwc, but looking to do a lot of riding and exploring in both fresh and salt water. Reliability, comfort, range and storage are probably my main concerns. Looks like there are a lot of good options out there. The explorer pro and fish pro are good looking options too. Do many people leave Yamaha or Kawasaki to buy a Seadoo?
Thanks for the note. That is Yamaha’s claim. But we have the fuel bills (and consumption and GPS distance data) that prove otherwise. Testing the new 1.9 FX HO over hundreds of kilometres over several riders has demonstrated to us at least that the 1.9 is not only thirstier than the previous 1.8, it’s as thirsty as a supercharged 1.8. So it will be interesting to see just how thirsty a supercharged 1.9 is when it is eventually released. We sincerely hope Yamaha is over-fuelling the new 1.9 engine in its early phase to mitigate any dramas. Over time we hope Yamaha finds ways to make it run more efficiently.
thing is a beast,but,some of the maintaine design and the workmanship needs to be reviewed the 23 ,battery placement makes it one hell to get at it ,and to secure it,the other is the stapling of the seats material,that is a cheap way to do it.the jet ski wasnt low priced ,so the workmanship shouldnt be low cost
Looking at buying one shortly still deciding between the fx ho or the cruiser . I’m wondering how people find the tiered seats on the cruiser ?compared to the regular seat on the ho ?
Great question. The tiered seating is really only helpful if you plan to have a passenger or two. That said, even full size skis are not very stable when more than one person is on board. It’s really only suited to one adult and one or two kids behind the driver. If you mainly ride solo, the flat seat will be fine. Hope this helps. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a note.
@@WatercraftZoneyeah I will be taking passengers every so often i just love the look of the standard ho not sure how that seat would be for carrying passengers though, silly question but would it be possible to fit a tiered seat from a cruiser to a standard ho if I decided to do so later?
Won't this be uncomfortable for one's internal organs, liver, kidney, whatever if it gets shaken through that much? Is the seat somehow on a suspension?
Sea-Doo had a model with suspension under the platform about a decade ago but it was too costly to maintain and so it did not continue with the technology. In rough chop riding any Jet Ski can be tough on your back. Which is why crouching or standing is better.
Thanks for the feedback! Since this review published there is now new generation Sea-Doo Spark and (just around the corner) a new generation Yamaha JetBlaster. We will be sure to revisit the battle between this pair as soon as we are able. Thanks for stopping by and leaving a note!
so 3 more. mph top speed heavier and shitty fuel economy than my gp NA nah im good yamahas have their issues like the shitty paint but ill ecu flash mine and smoke the kawi with no SC
its got a kick ass hull for rough water and the roots SC is ultra responive but this is a decade old its time to innovate sea doo and yamaha is leaving kawi behind
Thanks for the note. We love the Kawasaki Ultra hull and the new top deck but we hope Kawasaki is working on an engine upgrade or a complete power overhaul. Especially the Ultra 160 which is thirstier AND slower than its non-supercharged rivals from Sea-Doo and Yamaha.
Thanks for the question. You can use this ski in fresh water or salt water. However it is recommended to flush with fresh water for about 90 seconds after each ride.
That's a great question. I have refuelled on the ocean with the Sea-Doo Explorer Pro and the Fish Pro. If possible, go into a bay to shield the craft from waves and wind. However, even in swell it is possible to refuel. Be patient (it is easy to lose the fuel caddy lid which is in three parts) and use a jiggle hose or a battery-powered suction hose to transfer the fuel into the ski. Don't rely on the Sea-Doo fuel caddy nozzle, it is very hard to use and you will spill a heap of fuel. Helpfully, Sea-Doo ST3 models have a fuel filler cap up high near the glovebox. You can rest the fuel caddy on your lap or seat. Good luck! And thanks for the question.
I have one it does not like the rough water as much as my rxtx 300 but it is a blast to ride and throw around or literally jump right out the water and the big plus.... no bow hunting!!
Thanks for your feedback. We totally agree the GTR-X is a huge amount of fun (and really hope the next-generation ST3 hull addresses the ‘bow hunt’ of the current model). That said, we are a little bit jealous of your two ski garage. Nice one!
Thanks for all the performance data, exactly what I want to see. Big fan of the GTR-X. The TX is too big and the PX is a little more closed course racer than I’d like. Seems this hull has quite a bit of drag though as top speeds seem to be under 70mph even with SCOM’s. Guess if I want an 80+mph ski it’ll have to be one of the 325 offerings.
Thank for the note. As you can appreciate it takes a lot of effort to collect that data so we are grateful for your feedback. As we say in the video, we know some people get higher speeds (and sometimes lower) but we are aiming to deliver a guide on how various skis compare. Same rider. Same stretch of water. And sometimes we do multiple craft in one day for even closer consistency. All that said, we reckon even the slowest skis are still a huge amount of fun. And we’re quite happy with the fastest FACTORY delivered ski topping out about 120kmh. We don’t really want to go too much faster than that :)) Kudos to anyone who wants to travel in excess of that speed. Thanks again for stopping by and leaving a note!
SCOM doesn’t work on 2024 models. Before GPS kicks in, I’ve seen it hit 73mph. Mind you if tuned it would see the more drag, but 1-3mph from what I’ve heard from racers.
Thanks for the feedback. Yeah they’re both pretty thirsty these days. Especially as newer craft have gotten heavier and more powerful over the years. As it stands, though, you’re better off on the SVHO because the new 1.9 naturally aspirated uses just as much fuel but without the SVHO power or acceleration. Crazy times. Happy riding and thanks for leaving a note.
If you don't use launch control and just put the trim all the way down and slowly raise it as you speed up you will out perform the launch control 100% of the time and this works for every ski no matter the brand
Thanks for the note. We use launch control on each ski we test (when available) purely for consistency and to explore what the manufacturer has deemed best. Otherwise if we adjust trim on the fly, it comes down to technique, which could vary from craft to craft and from test to test.
Both are fine in salt water it really depends on your riding style. If you prefer to sit (even through chop) then the Sea-Doo RXP-X 325 would be the go, but if you want the option of standing or crouching (to protect your back) then the Yamaha FX SVHO has a better riding position for that. Hope this helps!
@@WatercraftZone what i really wanted to say is this. I am originally a yamaha fan but but performance plays a huge role in my riding experience so i am thinking of getting a see doo i am looking for smth that goes 72 mph or more but i am afraid see doo will give problems in salt water as yamaha is known for more reliable jet-skis my yamaha fx svho limited can berry squeeze 67 mph
@Baltintroshku the best ski if you're looking for performance is 100% the rxpx325. If you get a SCOM unit for 200 bucks some people have seen over 80mph. I do beat the stock 325 on my modified 300 but the launches are pretty similar and I pull away hard at 30 ish mph. It's the only ski I've ever raced that's been able to hang with me off the launch. Never lost to a yamaha. If you like launching then seadoo all day because the yamahas have a tendency to cavitate.
Thanks for the note. We hear you. All the entry and middle of the range skis need to step up their game when it comes to the digital instrument cluster. Full colour technology is relatively accessible, affordable and proven now. Time for old school LCD screens to make way for the good stuff.
We hear you. That’s a huge amount of power for that hull. We wouldn’t talk anyone out of buying a Sea-Doo GTR-X 300. But we also reckon the Sea-Doo GTR 230 is great value. Thanks for the note!
Thanks for the note. Good reminder. We are doing a video on that and other stuff we use. It’s a small Australian company so we are just checking if they ship overseas.
I just want to say good on you mate . Your a legend 👏. Im thinking about doing the run myself to raise money for cancer. So if everyone sees this in a few years n says thats him well its me all right . Again good on you mate mens mental health is a big thing in Australia God bless you
Lindsay Warner is a legend guy and his feat is a massive achievement beyond a scale many people can fathom. To cover that distance is one thing, but to do it solo is an entirely different challenge altogether. He’s an inspiration. Thanks for leaving a note.
It’s a great concept. We’re not surprised so many customers have embraced it and that Sea-Doo has expanded the range to offer a 230hp version as well as the 170hp unit. Thanks for the note.
1)How many miles does it get you on, with one fill of gas?? 2) At Greece the price of Kawasaki '24 ULTRA 160 LX-S 2024 is 24.200. But i can find a Sea-Doo '24 GTR 230 20.800. Which is your advice? I need one which would be able to move me into a cluster of islands that are all together within a 7 mile radius Thanks...
We will let you do the maths and the conversion but in our testing it used 55L/100km and it has an 80-litre tank. By our calculations it could cover 120km on a single tank (with some to spare) but best to try it yourself first on a shorter journey. Consumption can increase depending on riding style and rider weight. Hope this helps.
