Anyone who has ever hung off the back of an old-school standup PWC knows the power of the thrust exiting a PWC’s jet pump. What once knocked our shorts off (or caused us to sing in a slightly higher octave) is the same blast of water that now propels modern runabouts past the 65 mph mark. Or, in the case of the JetLev, FlyBoard, or Jetovator, what could be used to propel you not just across the water, but up into the air as well. Yup, hang onto your shorts. This trio of high flyers is ready to send you skyward using the same water-jet propulsion that pushes your favorite PWC.

Brakes vs Off-Throttle Steering

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Several years back, WaterTop Unlimited (now Look Marketing) head Tim McKercher brought side-by-side drag racing to the PWC market, reasoning it would be an innovative new twist on a sport typically dominated by closed-course, motocross-style competition. While not a runaway hit, it proved successful, enticing everyone from the Average Joe to hardcore speed freaks to give it a try. For the former group, drag racing was just a fun way to battle your buddy without any real fear of collisions or injury; for the latter, a chance to go head-to-head on heavily modified craft.

Sea Doo 210 Challenger S

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Wow, go out for an early-morning bike ride and you come home to a seeming explosion in emails, voice mails, and texts. Or at least you do when the news concerns Sea-Doo exiting the sport boat (i.e. jet boat) business.

Yes, as unlikely as it may sound, that’s what BRP announced this morning, less than two weeks from its 2013 dealer meeting. The reason? BRP’s blaming it on the “continued global sales decline in the marine industry, particularly the drop in sales of sport boats since the financial crisis.”

Wave Blaster

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Get together some people who have been riding personal watercraft for a lot of years (yeah, Patrick Butler, I'm talking about guys like you), and it's almost inevitable that the subject of the coolest, or the most influential PWC ever will arise. Coming up with a definitive answer is next to impossible, akin to asking a parent to name their favorite child. Different craft appeal to different people for different reasons. It goes without saying that if you're into touring you're likely not going to pick a performance two-seater and vice versa.