Offering practical PWC cruising, tour advice, tips on PWC riding, maintenance, etc

THE INTREPID COTTAGER: Sea-Doo Watercraft Buying Tips

Posted on May 22, 2013

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

2013 Sea-Doo GTX S 155 - Action 11smaller for blog

If you’ve never owned a personal watercraft and don’t know much about them, this blog is for you. Sea-Doo watercraft from BRP are jet-propelled boats that operate much like a motorcycle or snowmobile. They provide the same exhilarating sensation of skimming over a surface and being able to go almost anywhere. Virtually unsinkable, family-friendly and completely reliable, an advanced technology Sea-Doo watercraft is easy to operate, with unmatched handling and turn-on-a-dime maneuverability.

So it’s time for you to go shopping. You’ve already made a good choice by visiting Sea-Doo’s On Board Blog, so now familiarize yourself with available models and technologies on the Sea-Doo website. Then it’s time to hit the pavement. BRP sells Sea-Doo watercraft through its own global dealer network, much like automobile manufacturers do. Sea-Doo dealers are not only very knowledgeable about Sea-Doo watercraft, they also offer parts, service, storage, trailers and accessories galore. Yes, your Sea-Doo dealer can outfit you with everything from PFD‘s (Personal Flotation Devices) and wetsuits, to covers, dock ties, bumpers and anchors…plus an array of colourful inflatables for towing the kids.

Want to try before you buy? Some dealers rent Sea-Doo watercraft, while others have demo units you can arrange to sample. Tracking down a rental outfit may be a bit of a challenge, but start by asking your local dealer or googling “PWC rentals”. BRP also offers demo tours each summer. Many dealers, all over the US and Canada, are participating in the Try a Sea-Doo program this summer where you can make an appointment at the dealership and they will let you test ride their Sea-Doo watercraft.  Once you climb aboard 2013 Sea-Doo GTX 215 - Action 6 smaller for blogyour first Sea-Doo watercraft and go for a ride, I guarantee you’ll want to try it again!

When it comes to purchasing a personal watercraft, there are two major questions to ask yourself: “What brand should I buy?” and “What model should I buy?” Let’s assume that you’ve already decided to buy a Sea-Doo watercraft because it’s the only one with a brake, hands-on-the-handlebar reverse, suspension and many other industry-leading exclusive features. So what model do you choose? To help make this choice, ask yourself who, what, where and how much…

Who Will Be Riding Your New Sea-Doo Watercraft? If it’s intended primarily as a family-friendly watercraft, then it needs to be versatile, flexible and easy to ride for all skill levels. Will it frequently or seldom be used by multiple riders (operator and passenger(s)? Do you have lots of friends and guests who might also be using it? But if you think the primary use is for adults to go cruising and do some exploring, then that’s another thing. Maybe the purpose of your new acquisition is to keep your tow sports happy teens entertained. Or could it be that you’re a performance buff who’s looking for new thrills on the water. Of course, the reality is that it’s often a combination of the various “who’s”, but try to nail down a hierarchy that snapshots your present situation, including factors like experience, gender, weight, age and availability.

What Will Your New Sea-Doo Watercraft Be Used For? The answer to this one falls naturally out of your “who” answer, but also think about the 2013 Sea-Doo GTX Ltd iS-Action7 resized for blog“what” separately. What can a Sea-Doo watercraft do? What are the specialties of each specific model? What uses are you most beneficial to you? What if you or members of your family are really into tow sports? How might your “what’s” change over the next couple of years as ages, interests and priorities change?

Where Will Your New Sea-Doo Watercraft Be Used? Fresh or salt water? Big water or sheltered back channel? River or lake? Always on your own lake or primarily on other waterways – or a mix of the two? If your home waters are navigable and interconnected with adjacent waterways, will you want to go exploring? Your “where” will help you determine which model best suits you.

How Much Can You Afford to Invest in Your New Sea-Doo Watercraft? For me, this question breaks down into: “What can I afford now?” and “What can I afford for tomorrow?” After years in powersports, I’ve found that it always pays to invest in the best technology available today because I’ll enjoy it longer and get more for it on resale. It’s also interesting to remember that that unlike with other new boat transactions, Sea-Doo watercraft are all-in-one priced as an integrated, turn-key package including its purpose built and perfectly matched 4-stroke Rotax engine (instead of boat and motor from different manufacturers).

The logic of good answers to these questions should make your Sea-Doo watercraft shopping easier and more cost-effective. Hopefully, it will also make dazzling colours and appealing graphics less of a distraction!

By Craig Nicholson, The Intrepid Cottager

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THE INTREPID COTTAGER: Riding in the Rain

Posted on November 13, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

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/

 

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THE INTREPID COTTAGER: Riding Protected

Posted on October 23, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

Photo by Virgil Knapp

I do most of my Sea-Doo riding in Canada, where the season can run from early May to early October, with temperatures running into the 30˚ Celsius (85˚ F +) range from June to August. We run into a variety of weather conditions, both over each month and even during some days. We rode one August morning on the Ottawa River that was only 12˚ Celsius (54˚ F) to start, but went up to 28 C (82 F) by afternoon!

Now I’m no delicate flower, but these variations are one reason I always tour totally covered. I have to chuckle every time I see a PWC promotional photo with the riders only in bathing suits and PFD’s. Excuse me, won’t they get burned to a crisp during a long day on the water?  I certainly do.

That’s why I apply a 30 SPF or greater sunscreen and wear sunglasses. It’s also why I cover up. When riding a PWC, parts of my body are especially vulnerable to sunburn, namely the ones I can’t do much to shift out of direct sun while riding: face and head, back of hands, top of thighs, points of shoulders, back of neck, and ankles and tops of feet.

So I wear a ball cap or doo-rag, plus gloves, long pants and a long sleeved shirt, and water booties. The shirt and pants are very light, quick dry material. They also provide some wind protection: even on sunny days, a light breeze combined with the wind-stream of a moving PWC can be chilly.

When extra protection is required, I wear a Sea-Doo Men’s X-Team Neoprene Riding Jacket. I wear it for warmth and to be visible on the water. I also got it a couple of sizes too large so I could wear it over my regular riding gear and PFD. This riding jacket worked great on those cool mornings when we leave on tour before the heat of the day kicks in or when the weather turns bad unexpectedly en route. Depending on the severity of the weather conditions, I either tuck the hood inside or wear it up and tied tight around my head.

Sea-Doo riding is great fun and dressing right keeps it that way. Talk to you next time!

 

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A refresher: Winterizing Your Watercraft

Posted on October 11, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

In our eagerness eager to ready our Sea-Doo watercraft for the summer, we often forget that the best preparation happens months before during the  winterizing process. A little TLC at this time can add years of life to your Sea-Doo PWC. Do it yourself winterizing is easy if you’re so inclined, but for many riders like me, your Sea-Doo dealer is the best bet. Whoever does it, here are some of the basics, remembering that details may vary with model, so check your Sea-Doo Operator’s Guide before starting…

Clean It: Removing the summer’s dirt and grunge includes cleaning the jet pump inlet and outlet, the engine compartment (bilge cleaner or hot water with mild detergent) and the body and hull (XPS Wash & Wax), especially if your PWC has been used in saltwater. This is also a good time to remove anything you may have carried on board and store it separately for the winter. And don’t forget to remove, clean and store the battery. Tip: preserve battery life by putting it on a trickle charger.

Dry It: Moisture or condensation left anywhere inside can cause problems, so be sure to thoroughly drain and dry the watercraft inside and out, including the engine compartment. The exhaust system and the intercooler on external intercooler models (255/260) must be also drained by running the engine with the intake hose disconnected. Tip: A dealer or someone with good mechanical ability should do this.

Check It: Do a visual inspection for cracks, dings, chips, loose or missing parts, broken hoses or loose/missing clamps. Make a list of what needs to be fixed before you ride it again next summer.

Stabilize It: Store your PWC with a full tank of gas to minimize condensation, but be sure to add XPS Fuel Stabilizer to prevent fuel deterioration and system gumming. I carry stabilizer with me on my last ride, adding it about five minutes from the end so it has a chance to work through the entire fuel system. Tip: Another option is to add stabilizer when the engine’s running while flushing the exhaust system (see Dry It, above).

Lube It: Protect as many surfaces as possible with XPS Lube, especially inside the engine (spray into each cylinder), on the exterior surfaces of the jet pump and all metallic components in the engine compartment.

Do It Yourself: For those so inclined, most Sea-Doo dealers offer a ‘winterizing kit’. Follow the instructions in your Sea-Doo operator’s guide carefully, and be sure to…

1-Change engine oil & filter.

 

2-Check engine coolant / replace every 200 hours or two years. In cold regions, make sure your antifreeze is good during outdoors storage to prevent freezing damage.

So now your baby is ready for storage. Be very careful choosing a place. I’ve seen carefully winterized units coated in bird droppings by spring. Last year, I witnessed two PWC’s that had been stored in an old barn. By spring, rat gnawing had made both units total write-offs! Tip: Consider blocking any possible entry points to your PWC to keep pests out. If possible, put your watercraft in a secure, climate-controlled space such a heated garage or utility shed. Second best, place it in a secure, unheated, indoor facility. Third choice, park it outside, but never in direct sunlight. Whichever you choose, always use your Sea-Doo cover and an opaque trap for protection – yes, cover it even under a roof.  Tip: whatever you do, never store it in the water!

If you store your Sea-Doo watercraft in an unattended, insecure or remote facility, or don’t check it frequently, my recommendation is to lock it to its storage bunk or trailer, and affix both hitch and wheel locks to the trailer. Tip: if stored outside, remember to park your trailer wheels on boards, not directly on ground, and wrap them in plastic to protect against the elements. All this may seem like a bunch of rigmarole, but if it leads to hassle-free riding next summer, plus helps maintain the resale value of your PWC, then why not? Talk to you next time!

Craig Nicholson, The Intrepid Cottager

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THE INTREPID COTTAGER: Sea-Doo PAC Team Hits the Water!

Posted on August 28, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

Have you ever wondered who comes up with the stuff in the Sea-Doo store and catalogue? I found out when nine of the top guns from Sea-Doo PAC (Parts, Accessories & Clothing) met me at the McIntosh Country Inn at Morrisburg, Ontario for a 250-kilometre (155-mile) round trip to Kingston and back on the St Lawrence River.

Man, these guys rock! Their “day at the office” was a mission to discover more about what touring riders need for real world comfort and enjoyment. I promise that it was all work and no play! I was assured that they are always this happy and grinning ear-to-ear every day in the office.

We chose this tour through Canada’s famous Thousand Islands because it has most of the characteristics typical of day ride on a Sea-Doo watercraft: trailering to get there, an unfamiliar launch, varying weather and water conditions, a good distance to travel to a specific destination, different routes to navigate there and back, diverse fuel stops along the way, the need to carry extra gear and lunch, and plenty of other boat (and PWC) traffic to be aware of. And fabulous scenery, too!

Each of these various attributes added to the experience. I could almost hear the creative juices churning about new ways to enhance Sea-Doo touring. Believe me, after more than seven hours on the water, this PAC team was really into it – it was all I could do to get them to end the ride!

There was nothing like sharing the same kind of adventure that many Sea-Doo enthusiasts love so much to stir up the excitement among these BRP staffers. I bet they had some crazy dreams as they lay their weary bones to rest that night. And I’m more than certain that at least some of their imaginings will become reality on the pages of the Sea-Doo catalogue in coming years. PAC goodies designed by folks who actually get out there and ride!

But perhaps what impressed me most about this whole ride was that it’s yet another affirmation of BRP’s overall commitment to understanding and improving the rider experience. With Sea-Doo, this manifests itself in such exclusive (and in my opinion) must-have innovations as brake, suspension, hands-on-the-throttle reverse and the many other Sea-Doo features and benefits I’ve come to rely on. I can hardly wait to see what these creative minds from Sea-Doo PAC come up with – and I know it’s gonna be good!

Craig Nicholson, The Intrepid Cottager

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THE INTREPID COTTAGER: Protecting your Assets

Posted on August 14, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

It doesn’t take more than a few minutes after each ride to keep your Sea-Doo watercraft looking like new after a freshwater ride. As soon as I load up and tow my units out of the launch area, I use a soft cloth and one of Sea-Doo’s XPS line of cleaning products to remove water spots and other marks from all deck surfaces. I also clean the mirrors, gauge cover and seat. Performing this chore immediately after a ride has three advantages: one, marks come off easily when they are fresh, not having a chance to dry or set; two, this cleaning process gives me a chance to do a visual inspection for any new scrapes or damage that I might not otherwise notice; and three, the PWC looks great each time I start the next ride.

To keep my Sea-Doo watercraft looking good and protect them from road dirt, stone chips, bug splatter and sun damage, my units are always covered when not in use. I‘ve had the most success with covers from the Sea-Doo catalogue. They fit well, provide good protection and durability, and look great trailering down the road. Once you know how, they also go on easily…

It took me a while to figure this out. With your unit on the trailer, start with the inside of the cover down and the front of the cover facing the front of the PWC. Swing the cover up and over the unit at the handlebars (Can be a challenge if it’s windy!). Then shift it so that the handlebar section of the cover settles into place over the handlebars, with the handle bar ends fitting snugly into the two “pockets” provided. With the cover in place over the handlebars, pull the front of the cover over the lip of the Sea-Doo’s front bumper, making sure that neither side gets hung up on a mirror. Now walk along one side to the rear, pulling the back of the cover with you until you can slip it over the rear bumper. Check along both sides to make sure the cover is down over the bumper all the way around. Next, the clips…

Some riders have trouble developing the knack for clips. On each side of the cover, a plastic clip is designed to go up between the inside of the side bumper and the hull to secure the cover in place. Find the clip, check its shape and then feel with your fingertips under the bumper for the inner ridge where the clip attaches. Place your thumbs at the base of the clip and push it up between the bumper and hull, then pull gently down and towards you until you feel the clip lock into place. Finally, check that all cover zippers are closed. Now your covers won’t blow off or suffer any wind damage as you trailer.

When taking the cover off, I’ve found the easiest way to release the clips is to lift the back of the cover off the rear bumper of the unit, and then go to the front to lift it off the front bumper. Lifting off both ends of the cover with the clips still attached eases the tension on them. Next, continue to lift the front of the cover over the handlebars until the only thing holding the cover in place is the clips. Go to the back again and ease the entire cover towards the rear. This sides the still-attached clips back in their slots and makes it easier to release them. Do so by pushing up and away from you with your thumbs at the base of the clip, but be gentle because if the plastic hook part snaps off, you’ll have to secure your cover with bungee cords or straps from then on.

By taking a little time for TLC, you can keep your Sea-Doo PWC and cover in great shape. Talk to you next time!

Craig Nicholson, The Intrepid Cottager

 

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THE INTREPID COTTAGER: PWC LESSONS LEARNED THE HARD WAY

Posted on July 31, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

Being an experienced PWC rider, I’m embarrassed to screw up. But this blog is like reality TV – you get to see the smart and not so smart. Hope I don’t qualify for the latter category too often! And just so you don’t think every riding day goes perfectly for me, here’s one I’d rather forget…

I had just finished a perfect Sea-Doo tour when I learned three important lessons about trailering and launching. I had loaded my 2011 RXT  iS 260 and GTX iS 215 Sea-Doo PWC’s back on to my 2-bed trailer at the launch and started to pull it ahead out of the water. I must have pushed the accelerator pedal on my tow vehicle too forcefully, because I heard a distinct “pop” behind, followed by a sickening swoosh of pressured air bubbling up through the water. Apparently, the underwater part of the ramp had a lip on it that scrunched my tire when it hit too hard.

So lessons one and two: always scout a launch carefully before launching so you know what it’s like. And pull out gradually (in 4-wheel drive if you have it) to avoid hard impacts like this one that actually bent the wheel rim slightly where it meets the tire rubber. Seal broken, no more air.

As usual, bad things come in three’s. I confidently pulled out my properly sized lug wrench and fully inflated spare, only to discover that the tire was the right size, but on the wrong rim. It’s tough to replace a 5-holer with four-holer! Need I say more about Lesson three? Always check your spare carefully for fit and size (and correct pressure)!

Fortunately, I quickly found a local garage that banged my rim back into shape and it was as good as new for the 180-kilometre (112 mile) drive home. The next day, I picked up the right spare. Talk to you next time!

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

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THE INTREPID COTTAGER: Getting Used to Riding a Watercraft

Posted on July 3, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

Many of the people I introduce to Sea-Doo Watercraft riding are already powersports enthusiasts. Mostly, they ride snowmobiles, ATV’s or motorcycles. That helps when it comes to their first Sea-Doo ride, but sometimes what works on the snow, dirt or pavement does not on the water.

The first point I make in my orientation is that riding watercraft is not a linear activity. It doesn’t occur on a trail or road, where I mostly have to watch front and back for other traffic. Riding watercraft is a 360˚ activity, so it’s imperative to watch all around you all the time. I tell my friends that traffic can come at you from any direction on a PWC, so don’t make a move without first checking your mirrors and looking to each side. So far, no close calls, but I can never be too sure.

Next, if I say they may have to forget familiar operating habits from their other powersports vehicles. The step-by-step start up procedure on an iControl equipped Sea-Doo watercraft may be different than what they’re used to, especially if they ride Ski-Doo snowmobiles. The new iControl equipped Sea-Doo watercraft also have a finger throttle and that may take some getting used to initially. The left hand brake lever may look familiar, but on my Sea-Doo model it also operates reverse and neutral, so it’s much more than just a brake.

But the biggest surprise is the multitude of new technology options that come from iControl. This isn’t your father’s Sea-Doo! It’s a masterpiece of integrated systems that can take some getting used to. So I tell new-to-iControl riders just to relax and enjoy their first ride. Yes, they need to know how to start and stop the engine, how to use throttle, brake and reverse and learn how to steer, turn and look all around. But some of the main iControl systems, like VTS and iS, operate automatically, while others work unobtrusively in the background. Others can be learned as each rider becomes more experienced with the PWC.

With every first timer, I get a kick out of riding for the first half or the ride (or until I think they are comfortable) in Touring Mode. By this time, they are usually grinning ear to ear with the thrill of the ride and feeling pretty confident. Then I casually suggest they try the Sport Mode and hang on tight. WOW! I think I’ve seen a few jaws dislocated by mile wide smiles, and heard more than a few yahoos and yippees! Nothing like Sport Mode to ramp up the excitement. Talk to you next time!

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

 

 

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THE INTREPID COTTAGER: Cruise Control for Cruising

Posted on June 5, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

What can Sea-Doo’s iControl do for me? Well, I really love the Cruise Control feature. I didn’t use it much at first, mainly because I thought it would be too limiting. I tried it a couple of times, but I hadn’t read my manual at the time. I throttled up to the speed I wanted to set, and then depressed and held the cruise button. A beep sounded and the green “Cruise” appeared on the upper left gauge. So far, so good, but when I wanted to change the set cruising speed I didn’t know how. Or how to shut it off. Then I read the manual…

Changing the set speed is as simple as pressing the up or down arrow on the far right handlebar switch. This works just like most automobiles with cruise control. But there’s a difference with Sea-Doo Cruise Control. In my vehicle, I take my foot off the gas pedal after cruise is set.  With Sea-Doo Cruise Control, what really happens is that I pick and set a maximum speed. To maintain this constant, selected speed, I squeeze the throttle lever to the bar. If I let off the throttle, my speed will decrease like it normally would without Cruise on. Squeeze it again and the maximum speed will be what I selected with Cruise.

So how is this useful? First, it’s very relaxing for a long distance run. I don’t have to be working the throttle or checking the speedo all the time. And I can keep my throttle hand relaxed in a comfortable position. Second, by eliminating any speed variations with Cruise, I can optimize my fuel economy, which is essential on a Sea-Doo tour.

There’s a second way Cruise is useful. When the water gets choppy, I find the best speed for that particular set of wave conditions, and then set Cruise so I’m skimming the crests as much as possible. Without Cruise on, maintaining such a constant speed is difficult because my throttle hand and fingers have a natural tendency to move and shift with the waves and the motion of the Sea-Doo. But with Cruise set, all my throttle hand has to do is grip the throttle lever tight to the handlebar to keep speed constant. That same grip also helps me maintain better control of the watercraft and hang on for dear life if the waves get really hairy!

A summary of how to operate Sea-Doo Cruise can also be found on the handy info card that comes with all 2011 and later iControl models. Talk to you next time!

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

 

 

 

 

 

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THE INTREPID COTTAGER: SEA-DOO TOUR – Ottawa River, Ontario, Canada

Posted on May 29, 2012

by Craig Nicholson - The Intrepid Cottager

Although this is primarily a wilderness ride from Pembroke to Mattawa, Ontario, following the voyageur’s fur trading route, a riverbank on either side keeps you from getting lost. Just go up one side and back the other. It’s a long day ride (330 km / 205 mi) with one transfer at Swisha, so some riders may want to make it a 2-day overnighter (stay in Mattawa). The Province of Quebec is on the east side and Ontario is on the west, with its Highway 17 paralleling the river all the way. Pembroke is the place to stage from, with a good public marina and lots of lodging choices. The way is well marked, the water deep with very few obstacles. It’s a truly majestic ride, but check for gas in Mattawa before starting. Recommended for moderate to experienced riders. Decent cell service in most places. Talk to you next time!

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

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